IMPLEMENTATION
- Protecting the puck allows players to maintain puck control under pressure from a defender. Players must develop the necessary skills to succeed on the ice by developing their ability to position their body properly.
- Controlling the puck away from the body makes the transition from puck control to puck protection smooth.
- Proper form is necessary in order to maximize on-ice effectiveness, body control and development.
- The largest barrier to a player’s development at a young age is the facilitation of bad habits that become engrained over time. Proper technique and repetition is the only way to break poor habits.
- Once a player is confident with puck protection techniques, we break down the performance of individual skills to fully explain all elements of in-game scenarios a player may encounter on the ice.
BODY POSITION
- Your feet need to be outside shoulder width apart (heel stride) in a wide neutral stance.
- Knees bent over toes, arms extended and reaching away from the body. This will allow players to learn to pick their heads up and be aware of the ice around them.
- Players over time will develop the ability to protect the puck without looking down.
TECHNIQUE
Both Hands on Stick
- Protecting the puck on both the forehand and backhand side of the body. You want your body between both the puck and opponent. This will allow your shoulders to be closed while protecting the puck using your body.
- To minimize the risk of losing the puck to a poke check, the use of tapping the puck behind your body instead of wrist rolling will provide greater puck protection.
- To provide better defense, a player should lead with their front leg when skating to protect the puck.
- Turn forward to backwards after tapping the puck will allow the player to utilize your lower body to protect the puck.
Bottom Hand on Stick
- Protecting the puck with your top hand on the stick while your bottom hand is controlling the puck on the side of the body. You want your body between both the puck and opponent. This will allow your top hand to reach out and protect the puck to hold off any opposition or use to prevent a poke check.
- The players top hand wrist should be rolled over with the palm facing up while keeping your bottom hand on the stick controlling the puck.
Top Hand on Stick
- Protecting the puck with your bottom hand on the stick while your top hand is controlling the puck on the side of the body. You want your body between both the puck and opponent. This will allow your bottom hand to reach out and protect the puck to hold off any opposition or use to prevent a poke check.
- The players bottom hand wrist should be rolled over with the palm facing up while keeping your top hand on the stick controlling the puck.
