Hockey Sense: The Key to Success on the Ice

by Jeff Lynt

March 10

Hockey is a fast-paced and dynamic game that requires players to make split-second decisions while on the move. Skating, shooting, and stickhandling skills are undoubtedly important, but what separates the best players from the rest is their hockey sense. Hockey sense is the ability to read and react to plays quickly and effectively, anticipating plays before they happen and making smart decisions with and without the puck.

One NHL player who is often cited as having exceptional hockey sense is Connor McDavid. Known for his lightning-fast speed and incredible offensive skills, McDavid also possesses a remarkable ability to read the play and make smart decisions with the puck. This allows him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates, even in the most challenging situations.

Anticipation is a key component of hockey sense, as it allows players to read the play and predict where the puck is going to be next. This requires on-ice awareness, an understanding of the game's systems, and experience. The best players can anticipate a play several moves in advance, positioning themselves to make a play or disrupt the opposition.

To develop anticipation skills, players can focus on improving their on-ice awareness and understanding of the game. They can pay attention to positioning, read the play, and study their opponents' tendencies. They can also think ahead and anticipate how the play will develop based on the current situation. Players can improve their peripheral vision and situational awareness by participating in small area games, where they have limited time and space to react, forcing them to rely on their instincts and anticipation abilities. They can also work on reading the play by predicting what will happen next based on their knowledge of the game and their opponents.

Decision making is another crucial component of hockey sense. Players with good decision-making skills can quickly and accurately assess the situation and make the best possible play. This requires confidence, experience, and an understanding of the game's systems. Good decision-making skills help players anticipate the game and create scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates.

To develop decision-making skills, players can work on improving their confidence and ability to read the play. This means staying calm under pressure, understanding their options, and executing the best play quickly and efficiently. Players can study game tape and analyze their own performance to identify areas for improvement. Coaches can set up drills that simulate game situations such as odd-man rushes, power plays, and penalty kills. By practicing these situations, players can improve their ability to make quick and effective decisions on the ice.

Influencing the game's flow is another important aspect of hockey sense. Good players can influence the game in various ways, such as by controlling the puck, positioning themselves well, and creating scoring opportunities for their teammates. They can also disrupt the opposition's game plan by creating turnovers and disrupting their plays. The best players are often the ones who control the game's pace and flow, dictating how the game is played.

Mental skills are an essential part of developing hockey sense. In addition to meditation and visualization techniques, players can also practice self-talk to quiet their minds and stay focused on the present moment. This can help eliminate the "monkey mind" and create confidence to get into the flow of the game. By focusing on the present moment and trusting their instincts, players can improve their decision making and anticipation skills.

Watching games can also be an effective way to improve hockey sense. By watching how other players read the game and make decisions, players can start to pick up on patterns and develop their own sense of the game. They can also learn from mistakes made by others, and apply that knowledge to their own play.

Experience is another critical component of hockey sense. It takes years of playing and practicing to develop the ability to read the game and make quick decisions on the ice. Experienced players have seen it all and can anticipate the play, making it easier for them to make quick and effective decisions on the ice. Players can gain experience by playing at different levels, practicing regularly, and studying the game.

In conclusion, hockey sense is an essential skill for success on the ice. It requires a combination of anticipation, decision-making, influencing the game's flow, mental skills, and experience. To develop good hockey sense, players need to focus on improving their on-ice awareness, understanding of the game's systems, and decision-making skills. They can also practice visualization, meditation, and self-talk to stay focused and calm on the ice. By gaining experience through playing and practicing regularly, players can improve their ability to read the game and make quick decisions.

The best players in the world have exceptional hockey sense. Players like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Patrice Bergeron are known for their ability to read the play and make smart decisions on the ice. McDavid is known for his lightning-fast speed and incredible offensive skills, as well as his remarkable ability to read the play and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Crosby is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, and his ability to read the game and make split-second decisions is a major reason for his success. Bergeron is known for his ability to anticipate plays and create turnovers, disrupting the opposition's offensive zone entries before they even have a chance to set up.

To summarize, developing good hockey sense is a combination of many different factors, including anticipation, decision-making, influencing play, mental skills, and experience. Players can improve their hockey sense by focusing on improving their on-ice awareness, understanding of the game, decision-making skills, and mental preparation. By studying the game, learning from the best players in the world, and practicing mindful techniques like visualization and meditation, players can improve their hockey sense and become true difference-makers on the ice.