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Month: November 2018

Improving your chances on the 2-on-1

A 2-on-1 is one of the most exciting plays in hockey – turning the tables in a game and, aside from a breakaway, it’s one of the best chances of scoring. There’s less chance of a turn-over as your team-mates are in the neutral zone, and it puts huge pressure on the defenseman and goalie – which is exactly what you want. If you’re a highly skilled player with experience, then you can make any play into a scoring opportunity, however, for basic to intermediate players – having an advantage such as this can really change your game and give…

Shea Weber

Proven techniques for forwards to beat the defensemen

Beating a defensemen is one of the most important and useful skills you need to know as a forward. Using these 5 proven techniques, you’ll be able to gain an advantage over most defensemen.   Chip and Skate This one is the easiest to get started, and it is as it’s described – approaching the defensemen along the boards, chipping it by the defender and skating around them, either on the goal side, or using the boards to your advantage. Whilst it is simple in theory, it takes practice and, as always, a good bit of luck to pull off.…

The difference between pro and retail curves, sticks and shafts – Sydney Crosby

Most people are not aware that they’re not using Sydney Crosby’s actual curve, or stick, even though it’s one of the most popular curves out there Pro v Retail Curves Most of the sticks solid en-mass to kids and rec-league players worldwide are actually stock curves that have existed for a long time, and their names simply changed to represent popular current players; being more of a marketing gimmick than a representation of the actual players curve. For example, a lot of people remember Sakic, Modano, Nash or Lidstrom curves from the 1990’s and the early 2000’s, but the manufacturers…

Edmonton Oilers new strategy of goal line defense

Tips for Defensemen Playing Defensive Hockey

Playing defense is a challenging position to play, you’re generally the last line before a forward gets a shot on goal, and you’re the one clearing the scrum in front of your goaltender. Like a goaltender, it takes many years of training to hone your skills, if you’re new to the position, or just need some reminders, here’s some great tips to apply to your game to raise your defensive skills.   Read the Play, Read the Play, Read the Play Always keep your head “on a swivel”, keep looking around you and be aware of who is in front…

Offensive zone tips

Offensive tips that will make you a better hockey player

Take the puck across the net If you happen to find yourself approaching the net with speed or if you’ve just beaten a defender wide, you should almost always take the puck across the crease if you can. When goalies come out to challenge a shooter, particularly if they trust that a defensive player will be able to block a player from cutting across the net, they tend to come out fairly aggressively. If your sole mindset is to get across the crease and tuck one in, you just may be able to. Even if the goaltender doesn’t come out hard,…

stick handling skills

10 tips to improve your stickhandling skills

Stick-handling is one of the most important skills in hockey, and practicing this skill will give you the confidence you need to concentrate on other areas of the game – aim for 10,000 stick-handle touches over a weekend! Quick top 10 tips for stick-handling Your top hand should be doing most of the work and the main action of holding and cradling the cup. Practice by placing an empty toilet tissue tube in your lower hand and concentrate on just using the top hand to move and control the puck. Use your bottom hand to control where around your body…