Amazing Hockey Stickhandling & Deking Tips

Video: Hockey Shooting Training Video – Improve your Snapshot and Wrist shot

Imagine a straight line in the direction of your target. Your stick should follow straight through on this line. If you whip your stick in an arc as you’re passing, it’s harder to predict where the puck will go! The puck could leave your stick at any point in the arc.

o drill: pass with partners for extended periods of time
o drill: use a heavy puck
o drill: practice moving as you pass the puck
o drill: add a turn as you pass the puck

2. Backhand Passing
Again, it is extremely important to make sure both hands move in the direction of your target. Imagine a straight line drawn on the ice that leads to your target. Your stick should travel in the direction of this line as you pass the puck.

3. Pass Reception
These suggestions apply when receiving the puck on either the forehand or the backhand. As the puck is coming towards you, move your stick towards the puck and tilt the top edge of your stick towards the puck. As the puck contacts your stick, let your stick move a bit in the direction of the puck to cushion the impact of the reception. On the backhand it is particularly important to let the puck cross right in front of your body as you’re receiving it. Do not meet the puck with a rigid stick, or the puck will bounce right off your blade.

4. Stick Handling
As in pass reception, the blade of the stick cups the puck when you are stick handling. This applies to both the forehand and backhand motion in stick handling.

You will be a more dangerous player if you have a wide range of motion when you’re stick handling. This makes it easier to pull the puck out of the reach of your oponents, yet while maintaining control.

o drill: stick handing on the spot for 30 seconds.
o drill: w-i-d-e stick handing on the spot for 30 seconds.
o drill: stick handle in a figure-8 fashion around your gloves while remaining stationary.
Make a move on each pilon as you approach it. Be convincing! Practice the fake to both the forehand and backhand.

5. Moving to Openings
o drill: staggered cones around centre circle. Defense passes between cones to a moving forward.

6. Offensive Strategy
As you’re skating through the neutral zone, try to keep one of the forwards in each “lane” of the ice. These forwards should not be in a straight line — they should be at different depths. Always keep one person high in the opposition’s zone. If the puck is turned over, this person is in a better position for backchecking.

7. Defensive Strategy (to come)
Take the body … do not get in a habit of puck watching!
Never outnumber your opposition behind your own net. Remember, the opposition cannot score from behind the net! Pick up the open player in FRONT of the net.

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