tips courtesy of "Hockey Made Easy"

If it’s a 1 on 1, (the puck carrier against you) you play the man;
don’t even look at the puck. Just play the man by staying in front
of him, preventing him from getting around you or getting
to the net for a shot. If allowed in your division of youth hockey,
bodycheck the puckcarrier, if not, move into the puckcarrier and
physically steer him out of the slot area and towards the boards.
Try to create a loose puck for your backcheckers or yourself so you
can regain possession of the puck and start an offensive rush.
Do not grab or hold the player with your free hand or you will get
a penalty, just try to angle/steer him from the center ice area
towards the boards. If he puts the puck between your legs let it go,
but still play the man and prevent him from regaining it.

If it’s a 2 on 2 situation, play it as a 1 on 1 situation with your
defence partner. Each of you take a man and stay with them.
Do not try to help your partner by going for the big hit and leaving
your man unattended as you could give up a breakaway.
Each of you stay with and cover your man. If they criss-cross take
the man crossing over into your lane.

If it’s a 2 on 1, or a 3 on 1 situation, (2 or 3 opposing players
against you) you play the puck. Don’t even think of bodychecking
as you will only take yourself out of the play and allow them to
get to the net for a quality shot. Stay in the middle between the
2 or 3 players and use your active stick to deflect or intercept any
across ice passes. Your goalie should always play the puckcarrier.
Your job is to try to force the puckcarrier to a bad-shooting angle,
outside the slot area, while still retaining your position between
the opposing players protecting the slot area for any passes back
to them. If you bodycheck the puck carrier you will get caught out
of position and he could get the puck over to the open player(s) and
they have a breakaway and could score a goal.

Net Coverage - Click Here

tips courtesy of “Hockey Made Easy


Return To Main Page