Good Habits
Having good Hockey Sense starts with having good habits on the ice.
Learn these things and coaches will consider you a smart player. Guaranteed!
These are not in any particular order. They are grouped based on Offensive and Defensive mode of play.
This video form Jamie Kompon, Assistant coach Winnipeg Jets, demonstrates good habits and details with clips from the NHL.
Probably the most important 'good habit' is Communication.
All players need to talk while on the ice. Goaltenders need to let defenseman know what’s happening. Forwards need to talk to the defensemen when looking for a pass breaking out of the zone. Defensemen need to talk to each other and the forwards to know who to pick up on the zone entries by the opponent. Too many players are too quiet and don’t let their teammates know what’s going on behind them and around them.
Good habits when in Offensive Mode
Quickness / Explosive Starts / Jump starts
Two different types of forward strides.
One to help us accelerate from a stopped position quickly and one to help us maintain our top-end speed.
Use your SPEED – Especially through the Neutral Zone
Be First on Puck (always bet on yourself)
Players need to be first to the puck even if it is just to chip or push it to an area that will help gain possession, too many times you see players back off and let the opponent win the race to the puck in order to protect themselves.
Take the lane, then the puck
It's Not a Race to the Puck... It's a Race to the LANE to the Puck!
Body Protection / Cut hands
Watch how the puck carrier takes away the hands of the defender
- by skating tight in front of the defender
- using the leg/ hip to take away the defenders stick / hands
Watch how they use their free arm to propel themselves forward and or take away the defenders stick
When going for a loose puck, they get in the lane to win the race to the puck. Protection before possession
Watch how they get their legs around the puck to shield it from the defenders so they can buy a little more time before they make a play
Split the defenders – middle lane drive (MLD)
The Mid Lane Driver is vital in creating offensive opportunities on the rush. This player performs two important functions:
1. With speed, D1 must spend some positioning to deny a pass. In return, this typically opens more space for the puck carrier.
2. If D1 doesn't deny the pass to the driver, D2 must shift to cover the potential return pass from the puck carrier. This shift creates a passing lane to F3.
Have your Stick on the ice
Watch Tyler Toffoli and other members of the Montreal Canadiens keep his stick on the ice defensively to create turnovers and scoring chances.
Apply puck pressure
Keys to good puck pressure:
• Good angles
• Stick on puck
• Take away time & space
• Have more than or match intensity
Headman the Puck
No player can skate as fast as a pass. Passing to players that are open ahead of you is a "Cardinal Rule" of the game. It's the key ingredient to the importance of Team Work.
Net front presence (NFP)
Stop at the net
Stopping at the puck is a great habit, especially on the forecheck as seen in those previous examples. But it also pays off around the net.
Check out these next two examples. Rather than drift past the net and lose out on a second chance, the simple habit of stopping leads to a goal.
Use Deceptive skating
Keep your feet moving to create space.
Make "A" Quality Area Shots
Always make shots that can score.
Create Triangles all over the ice
Always protect the puck
Use your feet (skate fast and use edgework)
Cutbacks are a great example of one tool to use in order to make space for yourself
Get open, find open ice, create a seem, be available
Attack the space (Highway or side roads)
Create 2/1's (close support)
Transition Quickly
Make tight turns to change direction to maintain to speed and momentum.
In Defensive mode
Stick on puck/stick
Play the body – route is through the body
Shoulder checking/ head on a swivel
Mind the dots, deny good ice/ force to bad ice
Control the gap
Protect the HIGHWAY (the middle)
Stops and Starts skating when defending in the defensive zone – no circling
The skills of "stop and start" skating are important in Defensive Zone play and especially important in Penalty Killing. When players skate in circles and turn their back on the puck they give up valuable space and time for the offense to execute.
Assume the worst
Use pre-bump on retrievals
Did we miss one? Do you have another 'Good habit' you think we should include in our list? If so, send it to us; include the name, description and good video that demonstrates the skill. Email us at ehockeycanada@gmail.com