Improve your Scoring Sense (with a gargage can!) – Learn when to shoot

Some hockey players seem to have a knack for scoring, it seems like whenever they shoot they find the back of the net. How do they do that? Well, it takes a lot of practice and a lot of time around the net before you get that scoring touch but in this video and article I am going to help you get there sooner.

In an average hockey game a good player will get about 4-6 shots on net. That means to get a hatrick you have to score on at least 50% of your shots. Does it seem like you always shoot for the open net but end up hitting the goalie? Does it seem like the goalie is always blocking the entire net? Watch the videos below to learn how to see the net through the eyes of the puck and hone your scoring touch.

Learning When to Shoot

Knowing when to shoot the puck is very important and that is why I developed this simple drill to help you. This drill will train your brain to recognize when you can score, and when it may be difficult to score. You see the problem with the hockey puck is that you move it to your side to shoot it, and when you are close to the net this will create an effect known as the shooters illusion. Watch the video to learn where and when to shoot.

In the video

• Use an obstacle to block of portions of the net
• Stand so that you can barely see an opening to shoot at, and now look at what the blade of your stick can see
• Now shoot and see if you can score, and remember what you can see VS what your stick can see
• Repeat this process from many different angles
• Remember to move the obstacle closer and further away from the net to create different angle
• This drill should help you better recognize when to shoot, and where you should shoot

Thanks for reading, if you haven’t already watched my video on the shooters illusion you probably should, also you should definitely subscribe to my blog to be notified of new articles and videos!

Green Biscuit Snipe Review

A few years ago I did a review of the Green Biscuit. It instantly became my favourite off-ice puck and I have been recommending it every since. In the review I was only testing it for it’s stickhandling capabilities because that’s what the puck was designed for, and it worked great. The only two problems with the original Green Biscuit was that it was a bit noisy, and if you shot it and hit something hard it would probably break. In comes the Green Biscuit Snipe

The Green Biscuit Snipe is made with a tougher type of plastic that can withstand the force of hitting hard object. The original biscuit is made of a hard brittle plastic, this makes it slide well on cement and rough surfaces, however with a hard direct impact it will shatter. In the video below I compare the Green Biscuit to the Green Biscuit Snipe, I stickhandle with the Snipe, and I test it with some direct slapshots to the post.

Green Biscuit Snipe Video Review

Green Biscuit VS Green Biscuit Snipe

Original

• Slides great on all surfaces
• Made with a hard brittle plastic
• 4.5 ounces compared to a 6 ounce regular puck
• If shot against a hard surface it will break

Snipe

• Slides well on smooth surfaces
• Made with a durable plastic with a softer feel than the original
• 5.3 ounces
• Will not break (under normal circumstances) when shot against hard surfaces

What is the GB Snipe good for?

If you want to improve your shot I would stick with normal pucks. The Green Biscuit Snipe currently sells for $14.95, you could buy 14 pucks with that money and I think that would be a lot better for working on your shot.

For stickhandling on rough surfaces I would still go with the original Green Biscuit. If you have a smooth surface and a net and you want to work on your hands and still be able to shoot then the Green Biscuit Snipe is for you.

I think it will be great for people who want to work on their moves and shooting at the same time. It is great for anyone who wants to work on those game-situation moves and plays.

What do I recommend?

I like the idea of having one Snipe around for when you need it. Personally if I were to order I would get two original Green Biscuits and one Snipe. I would do this to even out the shipping (it’s about the same for 3 as it is for one) and then I would have backups because I am always misplacing my stuff.

Where to Buy the Green Biscuit Snipe

You can buy the Snipe on this page at HockeyShot.com it currently retails for $14.95

My Favourite Training Aids

The Green Biscuit is among my favourite trainings aids to use, if you’re interested in more of my favourites you can check out my Hockey Products page. I fill you in on all of (in my opinion) the best products to use for training at home.

Millersville University Men’s Ice Hockey Looking for New Head Coach

The selection committee at Millersville University has asked me to help find a new head coach for the program. They had a quality coach who had to resign for personal reasons today and now the team is beginning the search for his replacement.

The team is funded by the university and has a quality program. The team has made it to the league championship the past two seasons and is returning most of their top players. The head coaching position is a paid position (modest salary along the line of a AAA coach). The team is looking for a coach with experience and a willingness to run the program at an elite level. The team plays home games and practices in Lancaster, PA. If you are interested in the position please send me your contact information and I will pass it along to the committee performing the search.

If any of our readers are interested or know of someone who is interested please pass this along to them. I have a personal interest in this team since my son plays for them. The team is made up of all AA, AAA & junior level players who are committed to being successful. They have a load of returning talent and two quality goaltenders. This could be a nice opportunity for the right coach to begin his college career.

Small Area Games from Jim Johnson Part II

Here are another set of small area games and drills from San Jose Sharks assistant coach Jim Johnson.

2×2 Confined Area

2×2 Offensive

3×2 Transition

3 Way 1×1

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Last Minute Puck Races

Drill:

1. Lineup pucks down the middle of the rink between the blue lines
2. Make 2 lines of players in each corner
3. On whistle, players race for the puck
4. First player tries to score on a breakaway
5. Second player backchecks

1. Speed to a loose puck
2. Speed carrying the puck on a breakaway
3. Speed on the back-check to breakup the play

The Admiral II (Russian Suicides)

Learn the Quick Release from 3 different positions

At a young age a powerful shot with good accuracy will help you score a lot of goals, however the older you get and the more competitive the hockey gets the faster the game becomes. Soon a powerful and accurate shot is not enough, because if you wait to long to get the shot off you will never get a good scoring chance. This is where a quick release comes in. 

Before we get started… A little demonstration

Before I teach the quick release I want to show you an example of a quick release. The video below has all of Steven Stamkos’ goals from the 2011 season where he popped 60 goals to win the Rocket Richard trophy. How many seconds is the puck on his stick for most of the goals?

Answer: 0.1

I know Stamkos is mostly taking one-timers, however it goes to show how important it is to get the shot off when you have the opportunity.

The key to the Quick Release

A quick release means you get the puck off quickly, without much set-up. The key to this type of shot is getting the hands away from the body and using the leverage of the stick to product power. With other shots you draw the puck back, but in this shot we need to release the puck as quick as we can. Check out the video below to learn more.

This quick release method is most helpful in the snapshot however you can use the same principle to finish your shot in the wrist shot and slapshot.

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Small Area Drills from Jim Johnson San Jose Sharks Assistant Coach

Here are a few small area drills/games that you can use to develop specific skills your players will need in game situations.
With more and more organizations going to shared ice practice it’s good to have a variety of small area drills you can use to
keep your team focused and developing. Hope these drills from Coach Johnson help.

2×2 Activation
2×3 From Corner
3×3 Passing
4×2 Quarter Ice

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Goalie: Side to Side

1. Setup players and pucks in two lines in the circles left and right of the goalie
2. Have one player shot and goalie make the save
3. Goalie then slides into position on the opposite side and gets position
4. Player 2 shoots, goalie makes play and slides
5. Repeat

1. Goalie movement left to right
2. Sliding and getting back into position quickly
   
   

Goalie: Side to Side

1. Setup players and pucks in two lines in the circles left and right of the goalie
2. Have one player shot and goalie make the save
3. Goalie then slides into position on the opposite side and gets position
4. Player 2 shoots, goalie makes play and slides
5. Repeat

1. Goalie movement left to right
2. Sliding and getting back into position quickly
   
   

IHD Newsletter – June 2013

This month’s newsletter has been sent.  You can read the June 2013 Newsletter here.

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