Puck Protection Skills

Puck Protection 

Protecting the puck is an essential skill for any hockey player, and one of the key techniques for doing so is using body protection. In order to protect the puck effectively, it's important to be aware of your body positioning and use it to your advantage. One technique that can be used is the back side, using your back to shield the puck from the defender. Another technique is using your leg/ knee to push the defender out of the way and maintain possession of the puck. Additionally, using one hand to control the defender and the other to control the puck and then back to two hands to control and protect the puck effectively.

Another important aspect of protecting the puck is owning the lane. This means positioning yourself so that you have the inside track to the puck, and making it more difficult for the defender to take it away from you. In order to own the lane, it's important to have your shoulder inside, which will give you more control over the puck. Pre-bumping the defender can also be an effective technique, as it will disrupt their positioning and make it more difficult for them to take the puck away. Additionally, having your knees bent will give you more leverage, making it easier to maintain possession of the puck.

Overall, protecting the puck is an essential skill for any hockey player, and by mastering the techniques of body protection and owning the lane, players can become more effective at maintaining possession of the puck and creating scoring opportunities.