Playing D with Phil Housley

By Bob Cunningham
Oct 29, 2001, 19:41

©BBS

Perhaps only Paul Coffey is more renowned than Phil Housley for his scoring among defensemen. Housley, now with the Calgary Flames, is in his 13th NHL season, a tour of duty that included stops in Buffalo, Winnipeg and St. Louis. And without a doubt, the smooth-skating blueliner has had his greatest impact on the game in the offensive end.

But the first thing Housley points out when asked to assess his game is the gradual improvement in his defense. Relatively undersized at 5’10” and 185 pounds, Housley has increasingly relied on savvy and anticipation to ward off would-be attackers. And when they make a mistake, he’s there to capitalize in the form of a goal or assist.

“I’ve been known primarily as an offensive defenseman, although I kill penalties at times,” Housley explains. “My best assets are seeing plays develop, getting to the puck first and making that good first pass.”

For most defensemen, offensive-minded or otherwise, anticipation is a vital requirement. According to Housley, players who try to get by solely on reaction are usually a stride behind the play—which is often the difference between preventing a goal and allowing one.

“Seeing the play develop before it happens, I guess that’s something you get better at with experience,” he says. “On defense, I try to know when the shot is coming and then maintain position.

“My defense has come a long way.”

Housley’s lack of bulk can be detrimental at times, but he’s done well with his ability by adjusting to alter a forward’s path at the right moment.

“If I know when the shot is going to be tried, I’ll try to use my body to get in front of a guy who’s in front of the goal,” Housley explains. “There are a few ways to stop a play in the middle. Pushing a guy in his lower back, and timing it so that you can move out of the way of the goalie’s line of sight. That’s something I try to do whenever I can.

“You’re not going to move a 200-pound player away from the front of the net, so what you have to do is try your best to interrupt his timing, which usually stops the play. There are ways to do it.”

Still, Housley is at his best in the open ice, leading the transition and setting up for scoring opportunities.

“I try to create offense from behind the play,” he says. “Finding the open man during transition and creating opportunities through turnovers. Creating offense from your own end, without taking a lot of chances. You can’t afford to be loose with the puck anywhere, especially in your own end.”

Housley points out a common error made by young defensemen.

“They don’t put enough emphasis on good passes in their own end. Too many risky passes,” he laments. “Sometimes I’ll see inexperienced players trying a backhand pass in their own end. They get out of position, and they try a tough pass to get out of trouble.”

Skating, stickhandling, hard work

A way to counteract mistakes, says Housley, is through a technique he passed on to younger players when he was involved in youth hockey clinics earlier in his career.

“I used to work mainly with skating and stickhandling,” he recalls. “I would have them see themselves in their heads playing the game. They would visualize what to do out there.”

Housley believes you can never work too hard at your craft. The longevity of his career speaks for that.

“It’s mainly hard work. The less time you spend in your own zone, the more time you should have to handle the puck.”

Housley has handled the puck in the opponent’s end enough to record 838 points in 886 career games. His best season came in 1992-93, with the Winnipeg Jets, when he finished with 97 points (including 18 goals) in 80 games.

His first eight NHL seasons were spent with Buffalo Sabres, where he remains that franchise’s all-time top scoring defenseman. He was dealt to the Jets in 1990 in the trade that brought Winnipeg’s all-time leading scorer, Dale Hawerchuk, to Buffalo.

Having undergone major back surgery last season after playing only 26 games for the St. Louis Blues, Housley is surely closer to the end of his career than to his prime. But after being traded to Calgary (for another top offensive threat from the blue line, Al Macinnis), he’s still a major contributor to the team, despite what he sees as a trend toward bigger, more physical defensemen.

“There’s no doubt that the kids are getting bigger and stronger and more physical,” he says. “You see that all around the league now, and even in the minor leagues. The exception is kids like (Anaheim’s) Paul Kariya, young players who see the ice well.

“To be successful you have to have the right chemistry. You have to have a mixture of bigger and smaller. Guys that are fast, and guys that are physical. I think some (teams) are getting away from that a little. They want size.

“Everyone wants bigger players. There aren’t as many players like me as there used to be.”

But big or small, the position must still be played correctly.

“Well,” says Housley, “you have to know what you’re doing out there. That’s for sure.”

— Bob Cunningham

This first appeared in the 05/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

A collection of valuable lessons (Part 1)

By Mitch Korn
Oct 29, 2001, 19:39

On my long seven-hour drive from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio to join the Buffalo Sabres, I thought back to all the goaltenders I have had the pleasure of working with since I began my coaching career in 1979.

My interaction with all the collegiate, professional and youth goaltenders has taught me a lot about the position (both physically and mentally); helped me develop or reinforce existing philosophies; and taught me valuable lessons which are important both on and off the ice. I also realized that no one—even a coach—ever has all the answers, and that I could not have had coaching success without their help.

In return, I hope that I managed to provide input and feedback that helped make their game better as well.

This column, the first of two, will focus on the lessons I have learned during my career, and who I have to thank for them.

Fundamentals are not enough

While the fundamentals of goaltending are critical, experience has shown that they alone will not guarantee success. Tom Draper (now with the IHL Minnesota Moose) was a classic stand-up, patient goaltender. But he relied too much on the fundamentals, the technical aspects of the position. Together, we worked to make him less patient, less fundamental, with more ability to scramble and deal with quickly changing situations.

Former Miami University goaltender Richard Shulmistra (now with Quebec’s AHL affiliate Cornwall Aces) not only had size, speed and fundamentals, but he constantly challenged me with his cerebral, analytical approach to the game. We discussed every “what if” possible. He developed a “system” for himself as he analyzed his moves, every possible situation, and the shooters he faced.

Some goalies just like to play the game. Richard not only plays it, but he thinks it, too.

Statistics can be misleading

Alain Chevrier, who had a fine NHL career with New Jersey and Chicago, and Steve McKichan, who played minor pro (plus one game with the Vancouver Canucks), were both at Miami University in the early years of Division I. Back then, Miami’s teams were not very good. Both produced goals against averages that were high, and save percentages that were low.

But the high number of shots they faced, and the many good scoring situations against them, helped both goalies develop mental toughness and great skills. While others were getting headlines, these two were getting better! And their statistics were not solely a reflection of their individual performances.

Conversely, current Sabres prospect Steve Shields played his college career at Michigan. He posted great numbers, won all the awards, and faced an average of 22 shots a game on a fantastic team. But despite his college success, Steve—great stats and all—was perhaps less prepared for pro hockey than the other two guys.

The moral of the story, it seems, is that in developing your skills, it’s better to stay busy.

Have confidence and persevere

You must persevere, work hard and believe in yourself—even if nobody else does.

It’s easy to give up when things do not go your way. But hard work and the ability to overcome a negative situation demonstrates to everyone a player’s special qualities.

I met Olaf Kozig in 1992, when he was playing in Rochester of the AHL. Olaf was Washington property “on loan” to Rochester because he was the last guy on the Capitals depth chart, and was playing out the remainder of his contract. That year he took the Americans to the AHL finals, and now he is in the NHL with the Capitals!

Charlie Thuss is a senior at Miami University and one of the top goalies in Division I hockey. What is special about Charlie is that he never played one minute until his senior year! But he never quit, worked very hard, and beat the odds.

And how about the Buffalo Sabres Dominik Hasek, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner? When he was with Chicago he was sent to the minors before eventually being traded to Buffalo. Then, after half a season (and an injury in Buffalo), the Sabres traded for Grant Fuhr—in essence telling Dominik he wasn’t good enough to be their Number One. But Hasek never quit, worked very hard, and has now emerged as one of hockey’s premier netminders.

Leave your feet

David Littman, a former AHL all-star in Rochester, and Dominik Hasek are perfect examples of the style of goaltending required today. They seem to have it down to a science.

In today’s hockey, a goaltender must leave his feet to make most saves. The key is when to do so. If you drop too early, then the shooter will go over or around you; if you drop too late, pucks will go under you. Timing is so important. How to leave your feet is another key element. The “how” refers to the position of your arms and legs, and how they move together to close holes while making the save. Too many times a goaltender opens up holes while moving to make a save because his arms are sloppy, or his back leg plants or slips.

Catch more of the lessons I’ve learned in coaching in next month’s issue!

Mitch Korn is the goaltender coach for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. In addition, he is an administrator at Miami University (Ohio) and directs the 8-week Summer Hockey School. Miami has Division I ice hockey in the CCHA.

This first appeared in the 05/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

On Contact: How to hit like the pros

By Bob Cunningham
Oct 29, 2001, 19:35

©Linda Marczak

Their names are easily recognizable to even the most casual hockey fan; Cam Neely, Wendel Clark, Chris Chelios, Scott Stevens, and Rick Tocchet. These are among the big-name players of the National Hockey League associated with toughness. And while they may be noted for their scoring, too, what these superstars really have in common is that they usually spend more time dishing out punishment than absorbing it.

But how does this come to pass? Are these guys just born big, bad hitters, or did they work on becoming hockey’s most feared freight trains? The answer is…a little of both.

As is so often the case in hockey, anticipation is a critical element in giving or taking a monster hit. Most great players have a seemingly innate ability to read the play before it develops, but that kind of anticipation can also be acquired through game experience. A key link with these stars is their ability—both natural and acquired—to anticipate plays in order to time their hits appropriately.

“It’s a timing thing,” explains Clark, whose combination of physical prowess and scoring talent has helped the Quebec Nordiques to the NHL’s second-best record at press time. “At the same time (as) you skate into a guy, you put your shoulder down. Keep your center of gravity low, not high.”

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Rob Blake adds his own take on technique. “There’s a lot more to throwing a check than just running into somebody,” says the 25-year-old blueliner. “You have to position yourself a certain way so that you don’t get yourself injured. And you have to know when it’s a good idea to make a hit, and when you should avoid it.”

The best in the game

Tocchet, an NHL teammate of Blake’s for the first time this season (courtesy of an off-season trade with Pittsburgh) lauds Blake’s physical prowess. “(He’s) the best hitter in the game, for my money,” says the right winger. That’s high praise considering the source. Tocchet is one of the NHL’s few tough, talented members of the 30-300 club—that’s 30 goals and 300 penalty minutes in the same season

“He can be three or four feet away from you and then he’ll lunge at you,” Tocchet said of Blake’s striking technique. “He’s like a snake.”

Whatever their individual techniques, one thing is certain: the players that are widely regarded as the game’s best hitters each have their niche within the craft.

For pure big hits, the ones that earn the loudest oohs from NHL crowds, there may be no better craftsman than Neely.

“He can lay waste to you if you’re not expecting it,” says Tocchet of Neely’s physical prowess.

Because his primary role on the Boston Bruins is offense, Neely doesn’t hit routinely. But he’s big and strong and savvy—a lethal combination for unwary opposing players—and his physical play is an important element of his game.

“He doesn’t hit a lot, but when he hits you, he hits you,” Clark notes.

Chelios, the kind of player everyone hates to play against but yearns to have on their team, has acquired a more outwardly intimidating persona through his hits.

“There’s nothing better than a good, clean hit,” he says. And the bigger the better.

“Give them something a little extra. When you give them a good shot, you’re putting it in their mind that you can do it again at any time. That can be a real advantage for you.”

Clark can come up with the big pop, too, and has his own favored technique.

“The main thing is to keep yourself compact,” Clark says. “And something else that is very important is to not throw a hit before you’re ready. You have to make sure you’re in full control if you’re going to play a physical style.

“Players are bigger and stronger now. It’s more important to be in control when you make a hit now than it used to be. You have to work your hit so that you’re more ready than the other guy.”

David vs. Goliath?

And while the average NHLer is bigger than ever before, you don’t have to be a giant to unleash a giant hit. At 5’10” and 185 pounds, Clark has endured more than his share of bumps and thumps during a 12-year career; he’s missed the equivalent of nearly three full seasons with a variety of ailments.

But still, virtually any NHL watcher will agree that Clark is one of the NHL’s most effective hitters. He hits big and he hits often, especially for a forward. His philosophy? His tricks of the trade?

“Early in games, I like to get hits. It gets everyone in the game,” he says. “And in forechecking, you have to finish your hits.”

Clark dismisses the notion that physical size is necessary to be a big hitter.

“A big hitter, especially considering he’s a 175-pound defenseman, is Todd Gill of Toronto,” Clark notes, citing his former teammate with the Toronto Maple Leafs. “He hits as big as just about anybody.”

Being a defenseman, Chelios may seek out the hitting opportunities more than a forward like Clark, but you can’t just hit randomly. It’s combining his smarts with his physical play that makes him the all-star he is.

“Don’t be afraid to follow your instincts on a play,” Chelios advises.

Tocchet concurs: “You have to be smart out there, but don’t get to where you’re analyzing every single move you make. If you need to make a check, make it with confidence.”

Following the old adage that “He who hesitates is lost,” Tocchet says that the worst thing a player can do at a moment of collision is psych himself out.

“If you’re hesitant, you’ll end up (getting) taken out of the play yourself, or you may get injured. That can do more harm than taking a check,” he says.

Clark adds his own take on when to hit.

“You do have to follow the situation, “ says the left winger. “Sometimes it’s better to play the puck than to play your man. It’s doesn’t do you any good to make late hits. That’s just wasting energy and taking you out of the play.”

Steven’s hits: “ferocious”

Tocchet’s pick as among the game’s most consistent hitters is New Jersey’s Stevens. His is a constant physical presence at both ends of the ice, and although it’s most vital in the defensive zone, the ferocity of his hits are felt rinkwide.

Stevens is the consummate “team hitter.” He’ll never shy away from a check when it’s called for, but he’s never observed taking himself out of the play just to complete a check.

“It’s a team. It’s not any one individual,” Stevens says. “It’s everyone doing whatever it takes.” And if that means giving up the opportunity to lay a juicy hit, so be it.

A consistent hitter of a different sort is Hartford’s Jocelyn Lemieux.

“He’s not a great hitter, necessarily,” says Tocchet of Lemieux, “but he hits everything in sight.”

Lemieux’s whirling-dervish role on the Whalers is well defined—they want everyone to pay for coming within a few feet of their burly defenseman.

“He’s on you constantly,” says Tocchet, who has played his entire career prior to this season in the Eastern Conference, and is very familiar with Lemieux’s style. “There aren’t many players like that, but it’s a good philosophy—(being) constantly in everyone’s face.”

Clark notes that the game, because the players of today are bigger and more physical, has slowed down a notch. The big hits don’t come as often, which lends credibility to his “hit early and often” philosophy.

“It’s a slower game, with more close checking,” Clark says. “There’s more clutching and grabbing.”

Stevens stresses that players can always learn, regardless of their skill level or the league they’re competing in, to hit or hit better.

“I’ve played 12 years and I’m still learning,” he says. “I’m not afraid to admit that. I’m a veteran and I believe I’ve learned a lot, but there’s still more to learn. You never stop learning.”

Blake agrees. “Without a doubt, I’m picking up little things all the time,” he says. “Almost with every game I play.”

Another key to hockey in general is no less important when it comes to hitting: you have to know your opponent.

“Early in my career, Brian Engblom taught me that,” says Stevens. “He was my partner, (and) taught me about other players in the league. It helped me out a lot.”

Still, says Clark, when a hit needs to be made, it doesn’t matter who’s on the receiving end.

“Make sure you’re under control, and get to it.”

This first appeared in the 05/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Backing up strong

By Robby Glantz
Oct 23, 2001, 18:17

A common myth in hockey, which I hear repeated quite often, is that only defensemen need to be strong backward skaters. While it is true that, overall, a defenseman will skate greater distances backward than the forward, it is still vital that the forward make every attempt to master backward skating techniques.

These days, with the game evolving to feature all five players on both offense and defense, forwards are constantly required to make quick change of direction moves, as well as the controlled backward-to-forward moves needed for new forechecking systems. And besides, all you have to do is watch Wayne Gretzky or Jari Kurri and notice how often they are skating backward. It will become clear that the best players are also the best all-around skaters—and that means in both directions.

The following is a checklist to improve your backward skating stride and crossovers.

Backward stride

Here are some key points to concentrate on:

• Bend your knees deeply, so that they are “covering” your toes. Your back should be straight, with your head up and eyes forward.

• Start each push from directly under your body, the most powerful starting point.

• Pivot the heel of the pushing foot up-and-outward so that it is perpendicular to your glide foot (forming an upside down letter “U”).

• Push one foot at a time, using all your weight on each thrust. Be firm.

• The pushing foot drives to the side, to full extension—forming a “C” in the ice—while you glide straight back on the other foot.

• Do not swivel your hips like you are dancing; maintain as direct or straight a line as possible.

• Return each “finished-stride” foot to the middle, under your body, and repeat the exact maneuver with the other foot.

Skating imagery

When skating backward, your body posture and positioning is vital. You should feel like you are sitting on a stool with your rear end almost parallel to the ice—keeping your back straight and your weight centered directly over the middle of your skates. Positioning your upper body and chest too far forward while skating backward will put too much weight to the front part of the skate and definitely detract from your balance, speed and power.

Backward crossovers

Again, some key points to concentrate on:

• Keep your rear end down, so that it is parallel to the ice, by bending at the knees (with the back, as always) straight.

• You should make one push at a time, using all your body weight centered over each push.

• The outside leg should push a C-cut into the ice, to full extension (see explanation above in Backward Stride).

• The inside leg should pull hard under the body, also to full extension, finishing on the outside edge with a flick of the toe (your legs should form the letter “X”).

• You should then step out as wide as you can with that inside leg so that you have the ability to pull that leg under the body again. This will help you gain more speed.

Skating imagery II

I’ve said it before with forward crossovers, but the same applies here: try to picture this maneuver more as a “crossunder” than as a crossover. Both skates should remain on the ice at all times, with that inside leg constantly pulling under the outside leg.

I like to have my students make believe they are playing tug-of-war with their inside leg. In other words, try to pull against as much ice as possible until you have fully stretched the inside leg—in effect, “tugging” against the ice.

And finally, remember to bend your knees so they are about two inches over the toes of your skates. This will allow you to stretch your legs to the maximum, and it will give you much improved balance and control.

Robby Glantz, power skating coach for the Los Angeles Kings, Swedish champions Malmö, and the German National Teams, conducts skating programs throughout North America and Europe.

This first appeared in the 04/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Breakout basics

By Bill Ferguson & Quint Randle

Breakout 1

Have you ever noticed how effortlessly NHL teams breakout of their zone? Why is this? Wouldn’t it stand to reason that if the opposing team put enough pressure on your D, that would make it tougher to break out?

In truth, it does. But pro players have the experience to know that, short of being outskated, anything the other team does can be countered. There is nothing that forces the other team to respect you more than the ability to break a man out quickly and send him in alone on their goalie. The team that regularly gives up more breakaways than their opponents do will have trouble winning.

So how do you know where to go, and when?

At the risk of belittling America’s most popular team sport, hockey is not as simple as football, where you line up two guys to bash heads together, and the biggest or strongest guy wins. Hockey is a thinking man’s game (or so we like to think!). The key to gaining an edge over your opponent is the ability to anticipate what the other team is going to do. If you can do this, you can counter it.

Forwards need to develop the instincts to know when to drop the defensive coverage in their own zone and go to their position for a breakout. Defensemen love the forward who is always open for that first pass, and always hits his man for the second pass. This guy is the “wheel” who makes your whole breakout happen.

Be the “wheel”

All forwards need to learn to be that guy, and the best way to learn is to watch the guys who are already good at it. You’ll notice they all play “heads up” hockey, and already know where they want to go with the pass before the puck gets to them. A forward who waits until the puck gets to him before deciding where to go with it won’t get the job done. So learn to anticipate.

There is nothing as frustrating for a team as spending an entire shift trying to break out of your own zone and being unsuccessful. If this happens to you regularly, you’re either in the wrong league, or you’re doing something (or a lot of things) wrong. Let’s look at some ways of improving the breakout.

Breakout One

First of all, let’s make sure everyone is in the right place. Wingers, your job is to cover the points, making sure the opposition’s two defensemen don’t have a free shot at your goalie. You must be close enough to their D to cover them, and hopefully so close their forwards won’t even attempt a pass to them. This limits their options. Center, your job is to help your defense, either by covering their center, or covering whoever is open in front of your net. D, you know what to do. Then, once your team gains control of the puck, everyone’s job description changes.

This is the simplest breakout in the world. One D takes the puck behind his net. Most forecheckers won’t chase him there. Prior to this, as soon as your team has gained control of the puck, the two wingers covering the opponent’s D should come back a little deeper in your zone—usually between the faceoff dot and the top of the circle, right against the boards. By this time, at least one, if not two of these wingers should be open.

Seeing this, the D with the puck skates to the side of the net with the least pressure and passes to that wing. This first pass is the most critical one in the breakout. It must be perfect—on the ice, right on the tape. When your team first gains control, the center starts to circle, always keeping the puck in sight.

As the first pass goes to a wing, the center starts to angle toward the faceoff circle outside your zone, on the side where this first pass went. His movement allows the wing who received the first pass to hit him on the fly, and (hopefully) he’s gone. The idea here is that as your center angles toward the neutral zone, their defenseman must go with him or risk a breakaway. This should always open up some passing lanes for you, either for hitting the opposite wing with a cross-ice pass, or allowing the first winger to skate the puck up himself. If their defenseman pinches in on the first wing, the wing must either pass around him or backhand it off the boards, which should still result in a good breakout for the center.

Two things are critical with this breakout. 1) The winger who gets the first pass must control the puck. He should be standing with a skate perpendicular to the boards to prevent the puck from sliding under him. His upper body should also be against the boards, so the only puck that can get by him is either flipped up in the air or banged off the boards at such an angle that he can’t get to it. If it’s the latter, the center will often pick up the puck. 2) The wing who gets the first pass must clear the zone with his pass. If the winger misses the first pass, it goes right to their D—meaning not only are they still controlling the puck in your zone, but now your center has just skated out of the zone, so they also have an outnumbered attack. However, if everybody does his job this won’t happen.

Breakout 2

Breakout Two

To open up some ice for your breakouts, try floating a wing out at the red line. This “floater” has to be one of your fastest skaters, because he not only must be able to outskate their D, he also has the responsibility to come back and help out if the puck doesn’t get through to him. If your D can hit him with a long breakout pass, their D will not be so quick to pinch in on your breakouts. If you have confidence in your D, and the ice time to practice breakouts, you can have your center flying and ready to receive the quick pass from a wing stationed on the red line.

This epitomizes what “the worlds fastest team sport” is all about. If you can make this play work you can really string out their defenders and create some good scoring chances. There is no need to wait until late in the game when you’re down a goal to try this play. I suggest trying it early on, which will force the opponent to respect the play, and open up some passing lanes for your breakouts. Your offense will “flow” more smoothly if you have the open ice to make some good, long passes.

And what do we mean by flow?

When you think “flow,” chances are you think of the Montreal Canadiens. Their transition game (going from D to offense and back) has always been one of the best in the NHL. This is partly because their players always seem to be in position. When you watch them, notice that there are three, four or even five Canadiens in the play. They move up and back as a unit. This is team hockey.

They also practice. Most players at the amateur level get little or no practice time. If you want to look better as a team, and have more fun playing hockey, rent some ice time (you can split it with another team) and practice your breakouts. There is nothing like practice to help give you the instinct to make the proper play. Practice until it becomes second nature. While you’re at it, work on your defensive and offensive face-offs, too, so everyone on your whole team knows who has who and who goes where. There is nothing in hockey more exciting than the bing-bang-boom passing play that results in a goal. These things don’t just happen by accident; you have to work on it.

Flow Drill

Here’s a great drill to help foster flow between your forwards and defensemen (see diagram below). Pretend the opposition is doing a dump and chase into your zone (although there is no actual opposition in the drill). The coach is stationed on one side of the ice at the red line with plenty of pucks. Your forwards are on the opposite side of the ice, ready to return to their zone. The coach dumps a puck into your zone and the appropriate defensemen picks up the puck. As the coach dumps the puck, the three forwards break back into their zone and “swing” back the other way, usually no deeper than the tops of the circles. As the defenseman gains control of the puck, he then passes to one of the wingers.

As in the diagram, the D swings around the net and passes to the left wing, who has swung in towards the boards. The winger then moves forward and passes across to the center. At this point the drill can become a standard three-on-two exercise with two D and an opposing goaltender in the other zone.

Trick Plays

No article would be complete without a few trick plays that can help you late in the game. If you have a defenseman who can flip the puck high, and a center who can win a faceoff in your zone when he has to (as well as being one of the fastest guys on the ice) then check out Trick Play 1. It’s fairly easy to face-off deep in your zone, have the center draw the puck back, then take off up ice. Some defensemen won’t notice him if the puck is still deep in your zone. By the time they make the decision of whether or not to go with your center, it’s too late. Your D flips the puck over their D at your blue line and there’s no one to pick it up but your breaking center. This play can obviously only be rarely used without revealing itself to the opponent.

A more conservative variation on this face-off play is shown in Trick Play 2. If your center wins the face-off clean and draws it back to your D, the winger on the far side of the ice takes off as soon as the faceoff is won, and breaks laterally to the far boards. This predetermined play allows the defenseman to bang the puck behind the net to his far wing, who should have a fairly high-percentage pass to your center.

In the attacking zone, a trick play that works well is for your center to tie up his man, then kick or pass the puck slightly in front of the net. If their D is napping and allows your wing to get by them, he should have a chance to redirect this pass or get a clean shot.

Flow drill

Trick play 1

Trick play 2

This first appeared in the 04/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

What you can learn from other sports

By Robby Glantz
Oct 23, 2001, 15:00

Robby Glantz

At my schools I often show the kids photos of NHL players executing proper techniques in skating. One of the pictures I inevitably display is of that renowned hockey star, Michael Jordan.

How’s that? Is he playing hockey now, too?

Of course not, but I show the picture of Jordan making a move on a defender in basketball—his knees bent to 90°, his back straight, his head up—to illustrate a point. That is, that the body mechanics needed to generate speed, maneuverability, balance, etc. in hockey can directly correspond with the body mechanics in nearly every other sport. In this column, I will depict for you certain body mechanics used by athletes in sports other than hockey. Hopefully, this will allow you to improve your skating and give you a better understanding of how we use our body in sports, particularly in hockey.

Basketball

As is the case with Michael Jordan, all great basketball players have incredible strength in their legs. They have the ability to play an entire game with tre-mendous flexibility in their knees. Basketball players also have unbelievable balance, especially when they get all their body weight centered over one foot while taking off for a monster dunk.

If you are familiar with my methods, then you are aware that much of what I mentioned above is at the center of how I teach faster skating. For example, since skating strength comes from the legs, the ability to flex the knees past the point where you feel comfortable (“The Comfort Zone”) is the most important and quickest way to improve your overall skating. Also, as in basketball, to attain maximum power and thrust from your pushes, you must develop the ability to center 100% of your body weight over one foot, which, I should add, is a lot harder to do on a skate blade than it is in a tennis shoe.

Skiing

When I be-gan to thoroughly learn the art of ice skating, I noticed that my skiing ability improved dramatically along the way, and not by coincidence. Skiers use their edges exactly the way we do on ice skates. That is, in order to make sharp turns on the hill they roll the edge, either outside or inside, to 45° (halfway), which gives them their grip in the snow. Also, watch the champion skiers, like an Alberto Tomba; they are masters of the “Counterbalance Technique,” the ability to shift your body weight in the opposite direction of your edges, thus countering the balance and allowing for an extreme turn.

So much of what is discussed above, use of both inside and outside edges, rolling the edges at the ankle to get the proper grip and the art of counterbalancing, is parallel to that in skating. The main benefit of watching the top skiers perform will be in helping your turning maneuvers. If you can mimic the skier by learning to shift your body weight to the outside, rather than leaning into a turn and running the risk of having the skates slide out from under you, then soon you will be making much faster and more controlled turns.

Sprinting

Sprinting is, obviously, all about speed. However, the greatest sprinters are the ones that combine their raw speed with hard work and a dedication to rehearsing proper techniques—just as in skating. From a technique standpoint, the sprinter gets a quick start by exploding out of the blocks forward—not upward—on the balls of their feet. After a few quick but efficient strides, they settle into full extension of the legs. Also, notice how the sprinter extends his or her arms fully to the front (in the direction of travel) and not side to side, or against the line of travel.

The explosive start is a vital element in the sport of hockey. You should try to emulate the sprinter coming out of the blocks when practicing your starts. Do this by springing forward on the front part of the skate and making 3-to-4 quick (not short) strides before settling into your longer, gliding motion. The importance of a correct arm swing when skating cannot be minimized either. Make every attempt to have your arms swing to the front, with one hand on the stick, in the direction you are going. If your arms pass the mid-section of your body, that can take your momentum from side to side and throw off your balance, all resulting in a loss of speed.

And by the way, the defender we referred to in the opening paragraph upon whom Jordan is making the move, John Starks of the Knicks, is also executing a perfect Crossover Maneuver—knees bent, inside shoulder parallel to the floor (not leaning in) and inside leg crossing under the body to full extension. So these are principles that work on both offense and defense!

Robby Glantz, power skating coach for the Los Angeles Kings, Swedish champions Malmö, and the German National Teams, conducts skating programs throughout North America and Europe.

This first appeared in the 03/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Playing angles: Part 1

By Mitch Korn
Every coach, parent and goaltender talks about “cutting down the angle,” but I doubt very much that they all understand the intricacies of the process.

While moving forward, moving laterally, or backing up is the physical part of playing angles, the most critical aspect of the process is mental.

The three steps required in cutting down the angle are; 1) coming out; 2) being square to the puck; and 3) getting set. Simple?

Not really. These physical aspects will be discussed in Part 2 of “Playing Angles,” in next month’s issue. But before a goalie can begin to accomplish these three physical challenges, he or she must totally understand a variety of other concepts that have enormous impact on the decision-making process. Here they are:

Front Door vs. Back Door

Photo 1: The front door.

If a goalie comes out when the puck is on the wing, he is always involved in a tradeoff of “front door”, (photo 1) vs. “back door”, (photo 2). The farther a goalie comes out to take away the front door, the more the back door is left vulnerable to a pass play. While the goaltender does not want to be beaten by a shot from the wing (front door), he must also be aware and prepared to react to the back door play. Simply, the goalie must read the situation. If there is no one on the back door, the goalie can come out a bit farther and cover more front door. If the back door is open, and is a threat, the goalie must give up a bit of the front door (not too much) to be ready to get to the back door.

Photo 2: The back door.

In other words, your positioning is based on the location of all players—not just the puck. Therefore, all angle decisions are based on the situation, and how you read it.

Photo 3: A goalie rarely has to leave the posts to fill the net.

Marginal Returns

Sometimes goalies come out too far. The term “marginal returns” means that for each additional foot the goalie comes out, there is less and less benefit. If a goalie comes out too far on a situation, certain things happen—none of them good. He opens too much back door; becomes very vulnerable to a rebound; has a much tougher time adjusting to even a small change in the position of the puck; actually wastes effort by covering area outside the net; and may take their gloves “out of the net” as well.

Photo 4.

The Ice is Divided into Thirds

Picture this, the ice is divided into three lanes: the left lane, the center lane, and the right lane. The outside lanes are the least dangerous, while the middle one is the most dangerous. Strive to eliminate all goals from the outside thirds, or lanes. When the puck is in the outside lane, a goalie does not have to come out as far to fill the same amount of net as he does when the puck is in the middle third of the ice.

In addition, on extreme angles (with the puck positioned down below the dots) a goalie rarely has to leave the posts to fill the net (photo 3). Remember, at bad angles, a goalie should close up, because the only way a puck can score is through the goalie (5-hole, under the arms, etc.).

Photo 5.

Understand a Shooter’s Hands

A good player will try to “open up” net with his hands by changing the location of the puck. A goalie tries to “close net” by playing the angles (photos 4 & 5). It is a continuing on-ice chess match. Remember this, a good player will rarely shoot the puck from where it is presented. The puck is almost always shifted, thus forcing the goalie to adjust. To play proper angles, a goalie must continuously adjust, and never let the 5-hole get too large while adjusting. The 5-hole is a scorer’s favorite place.

Photo 6.

Understand the Aerial Angle

When a goalie comes out, he not only makes the shooting triangle smaller, but also shrinks the aerial angle; the triangle created from the crossbar to the puck and along the ice. The steeper the angle, the tougher it is to score. Too often a big goalie comes out and puts his gloves actually outside the aerial angle (see photo 6). This is why we see so many goalies lower their gloves in tight in an effort to keep the gloves “in the net.”

Finally, remember: just because you are out of the net does not mean a shooter cannot score. A goalie must still react to the puck, and not be a spectator.

Mitch Korn is the goaltender coach for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. In addition, he is an administrator at Miami University (Ohio) and directs the 8-week Summer Hockey School. Miami has Division I ice hockey in the CCHA.

This first appeared in the 03/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Tips from Tony Granato

By Bob Cunningham

©BBS

Let’s face it: there are quite a few pretty good hockey players in North America. Literally thousands possess the basic skills to be effective scorers and defenders, and a precious few even have the privilege of being recognizable by single-name monikers.

Mario. Jaromir. Gordie. Gretz.

But for most of us, there’s little hope that we’ll ever become a one-word household name. So, as sub-superstar players, what can we do to increase our value in the big picture?

The answer is that there is no single answer. And that all the answers might be summed up in a single word—versatility.

That characteristic seems to be especially true at forward. Forwards often have several things demanded of them simultaneously. Over a single 10-second stretch, a winger can be called upon to take control of an attack, get off a shot or a pass, switch gears and forecheck, and then play a defensive role in attempting to regain possession of the puck.

A taste of everything

One NHL player who has become adept at that kind of gear-shifting is Tony Granato of the Los Angeles Kings, who will be into his eighth season at the game’s top level when and if the owners’ lockout ends.

The best way to summarize the 5’ 10”, 185-pounder’s career is to note that he’s had a little taste of just about everything. But what sets him apart from most is his ability to play whenever and wherever he’s required.

“That’s the definition of being a team player. No one’s a hero for it,” he says.

Granato has played almost equal stints as both left wing and right wing for the Kings, and also earlier in his career for the New York Rangers. He’s even dabbled at center.

For the layman, it may sound fairly routine to bounce back and forth between opposite sides of the lineup, but the truth is that hockey is a very one-sided sport.

“I’m not going to say it’s something you can’t do, but it’s more difficult than most people think,” Granato said following a workout at The Iceoplex, in North Hills, CA. “You get used to playing on certain sides with certain guys, and they get used to you being in one spot, and it takes some adjustment (to switch).”

In reality, very few NHLers are asked to bounce back and forth on the wings. Coaches realize the sacrifice required, and usually resort to such maneuvers only when teammates are lost to injury or, occasionally, when a high-profile player is obtained.

“Not every player, even at this level, is capable of playing effectively on both sides, but Tony has proven himself able to do so,” says Kings head coach Barry Melrose.

Granato’s secrets to success are more mental than anything else, and he actually builds flexibility into his attitude.

“I try not to get too comfortable doing any one thing, because then it makes it harder to adjust when you need to,” he says. “In practice, I work out whenever possible on both sides, and with as many of my teammates as possible.”

Learn to get “off”

Although the course of a hockey game requires players to cover the entire ice countless times, Granato recommends becoming as proficient as possible with your “off” hand, regardless of your position.

“It can really help you in a lot of situations if you can get comfortable going either way (right- or left-handed),” says the 30-year-old Illinois native.

Granato maintains that it is not just he who needs to be able to demonstrate flexibility. Teammates accustomed to seeing a certain teammate on the left must make the mental adjustment when that player comes down the ice on the right instead.

“You have to be aware every time out there, or it results in turnovers and missed chances,” Granato says. “When you play with certain guys long enough, it works pretty well.”

Granato has been one of those fortunate ones to spend some time on Wayne Gretzky’s line during his five-plus seasons in L.A., but the player he has skated with most often in his career is no longer a teammate.

Tomas Sandstrom played with Granato in both New York and Los Angeles, before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

“That kind of thing is never easy, but it’s part of the business. You can’t afford to get too caught up in it,” says former-linemate Granato.

Which brings up another aspect of versatility; not just varying sides, but varying teammates as well. And even teams.

“That just means you have to keep things basic and fundamental,” Granato says. “Hockey is still hockey, regardless of where you’re playing or who you’re playing with. It’s better to be in a familiar situation, and I’ve been lucky to find that here in L.A., but it’s not required.”

It doesn’t seem to be for Granato, anyway.

This first appeared in the 02/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

When the stick is a magic wand

By Bob Cunningham

Rick Kehoe. ©BBS

Some players, like Brett Hull and Al McInnis, are known for their blistering shots. Others, like Scott Stevens and Marty McSorley, are known for their punishing physical play. Still others, like Mike Gartner and Alex Mogilny, can skate like the wind. But the players who go end-to-end, and make the big play around the net, are most often those who can stick-handle like magicians.

Mario. Pavel. Federov. Jagr. Oates. And, of course, The Great One.

These guys weave through traffic, pushing and pulling the puck, offering up fakes that leave jocks and disoriented players in their wake, all the while maintaining control of the puck and heading for the net. Whether they finish the play themselves, or dish the biscuit to a Hull, a Gartner or a Neely, their magic wands are what makes the play.

Wayne Gretzky is who he is because of, more than any other single factor, his talent with a hockey stick. Is he the biggest and strongest to ever play the game? No. Is he the fastest or the quickest? Nah, he’s a little faster than the average NHL forward, especially at this stage of his career.

But he is, without question, the best at manipulating his stick and the puck at the end of it.

“It’s all about quick feet and keeping control,” says Rick Bowness, the head coach of the Ottawa Senators. “Being able to go any direction at any time with the puck without having to stare at it. Look at Gretzky. He does it by feel. That’s why he never gets hit, because he can avert anything he needs to while keeping control.”

Bowness also singled out Vancouver’s star forward Pavel Bure as someone who can “move sideways as quick and easily as he can move straight ahead. And he never leaves the puck behind.”

For younger hockey players just beginning to get comfortable handling the puck, there’s no sense in dreaming of being a Gretzky or a Bure. Unless, that is, you’re willing to put in the time and effort, in the form of practice, that it takes to become “automatic” with the puck.

Heads up

The most common but critical fundamental lacking among younger players is the ability to skate and carry the puck without looking at it. Keeping the head up and facing straight ahead is crucial. Plays simply cannot be executed if the puck-handler can’t see what’s developing around him.

“A lot of kids who are really pretty good young players still skate with their heads down,” says Bowness. “If they don’t get to the point where they can feel the puck on the end of their stick, and be able to move the puck to different planes on the blade, they won’t have real offensive potential.”

Plus, with his head down, a player is more likely than not to take a big hit.

“The most basic drill for practicing control,” points out Rob Laird, the head coach of the International Hockey League’s Phoenix Roadrunners, “is to set up an obstacle course, and vary the pylons or whatever you use. You don’t even have to have ice to practice this. A stick and a ball in the backyard works. We did it in a back alley near my home when I was growing up.”

Rick Kehoe, an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has a variation of that practice drill, with one added element.

“I like to have chairs set up, and have players attempt to move the puck through the legs of the chairs,” he says.

My, what soft hands!

Walt Kyle, coach of the IHL’s San Diego Gulls, emphasizes “soft hands.” In a game as physically demanding as hockey, finesse still comes first.

“The biggest thing is to have the ability to handle the puck with soft hands, yet maintain strength on your stick,” Kyle says.

While recognizing that soft hands are often a natural gift, Kyle nonetheless has a favorite activity for developing that feathery feel—and for keeping the head up. And it doesn’t even involve a rink.

“Let them play street hockey with tennis balls,” suggests Kyle. “It’s the best thing for developing so many of the stick-handling skills. It’s actually harder than handling a puck because the balls bounce. That requires you to have a good touch.”

Most coaches agree that a deft touch is developed only through loads of practice. But a player needs to have strength in his hands and wrists in order to maintain fluidity. And for that, Kehoe suggests wrist curls.

“They make you stronger, and that helps improve your ability to gain that feel,” Kehoe notes. “And that can be the difference. Some players can make plays, and some can’t.”

Laird agrees that stick-handling can often make up for other deficiencies. “Those who can stick-handle can survive in this game,” he says, “even if they are lacking in other skills or physical gifts.”

Of course, before a player can expect to properly harness a slippery puck with only a slightly curved stick, he must know how to hold the stick, as well as when and how to manipulate it for different purposes.

“I would say that a good rule of thumb is to have your hands about 8-to-12 inches apart,” says Laird. “Of course, they’re going to be a little further apart when you’re shooting.”

Kyle notes that the strength of the grip, “allows you to rotate the stick as you need to without losing control, either of it, or of the puck.”

And don’t forget having a stick that is the proper length.

“Generally, it should (measure) somewhere from the ice to your chin or your nose (when on skates),” Laird says, depending on an individual’s preference.

Another aspect of successful stick-handling has to do with positioning the stick while handling the puck.

“It’s a good idea to position it slightly toward the side of your ‘good’ hand as you move,” says Kehoe. “Some passes get there in a hurry, and some have you questioning why there was nothing on it. A little difference (in positioning) can make a lot of difference (in result). And (with the puck on your strong side) you can always adjust to make a backhand pass.”

Three’s a crowd

A commonly used drill that requires all the fundamentals of stick-handling, especially with regards to ice vision, is to allow several players to skate about the ice with a puck simultaneously.

“You can put three lines facing each other at opposite ends of the rink,” explains Kyle. “The first man in each line skates off with a puck and is to remain within the neutral zone for a designated amount of time. They are forced to keep their head up while maintaining control of the puck because otherwise they would run into each other. When they get better, you can increase it to five lines at each end.”

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a designed drill, points out Laird, who likens it to when “skinnies”—pick-up games with little strategy—are formed.

“It’s kind of every man for himself.”

Not only does a player have to deal with his own ability to keep the puck under control, he must also be able to maintain it as defenders try to poke it away or knock him off the puck. Under those circumstances, which are routine under game conditions, a player is forced to do all he can to keep his body between the puck and the defender.

“It’s the best and most simple way to keep possession and keep the ability to make a play,” Kyle says. “Simple is almost always better. Keeping your body in proper position as you go down the ice or make a pass is always better than trying to thread a pass between a defender’s legs.”

A drill Kyle likes for puck protection comes down to one-on-one.

“Put two players in each (faceoff) circle, and give one guy a puck to protect,” he explains. “The guy has to protect the puck from the other guy within the circle for 15 or 20 seconds. So he wants to get his body in the right position, not (be) chest-to-chest.

“After about 20 seconds, switch off.”

Kyle also talks about the myth of body fakes as a player makes a rush with the puck. “The one thing that is really neglected—kids think (about) upper-body faking—but it’s more important to utilize the lower body. You have to be able to move the upper body over the legs. That way, you’re setting your weight so that you can move the other way quickly.

“Defenses focus on the upper body,” he says, and you stand a better chance of beating them if you don’t let them read from it.

Faster, faster, faster

Once a player is comfortable controlling the puck under “safe” circumstances, he needs to take the same practice to a new level.

“Lateral movement. Quick feet, up on the edges of the skates,” says Bowness. “Set that obstacle course up and blow through it faster and faster each time while keeping control and vision.”

Bowness says a good drill is to “put all the players at one end, and have them take off with a puck.” Keeping control while not colliding or mixing pucks with a teammate equates to success.

“At this level,” said Bowness, referring to the NHL, “the players’ puck-handling skills should be developed. But we continue to work on it because we conduct high-tempo practices most of the time.”

Kehoe agrees. “You can always improve stick-handling. Just because a player reaches the NHL doesn’t mean he’s got it down pat. Up here,” he says, “it’s more demanding—a lot faster than anything they’ve encountered at any other level.”

“Always try to go at it at top speed,” adds Laird. “Place your obstacles, stagger them, then go at it full throttle while keeping control.”

The practice formula in all this is clear: speed plus control equals success.

You have to go at it fast in order to play a fast game.

This first appeared in the 02/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2011 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

In Goal: Playing the puck

By Mitch Korn
Jan 29, 2007, 05:34

It all started with Jacques Plante “roaming” from the crease. Then Ed Giacomin became the New York Rangers so-called “third defenseman.” And now, Ron Hextall, with two goals under his belt, can fire the puck harder than many forwards.

Goaltending has evolved to the point where a goalie cannot excel without being able to handle and move the puck. The problem is that most goalies do not know how to handle the puck, or where to move it.

Once the goalie gains possession of the puck, he has a couple of choices. The first and best choice is to leave the puck for a teammate (most often a defenseman). Sometimes goalies will overhandle the puck, and make a bad decision when choosing to move it.

One task, two skills

There are two basic aspects to handling and moving the puck. First is how the goaltender physically positions his hands, and second is the mental skill of reading the play and selecting the correct option on how and where to move the puck.

The goaltender has six options on how to position his hands in order to play the puck. The best and quickest way is to move the stick hand to the top of the stick, with the catch glove supporting the stick at the paddle. This is the forehand set-up. It is difficult for some netminders to master because a right-hander (stick in the right hand and catch glove on left) has to learn to move the puck, effectively, as a left-hander. The second, and most difficult, is the backhand. The hands are set the same way as in the forehand example above, but the puck is moved on the backhand.

The third option is a one-hand sweep backhand, a move that has become very popular in making a direct pass or sending the puck around the boards from behind the net. This is actually easier than the two-hand backhand. Fourth, there is the one-hand, forehand push pass. The puck does not move very hard, but is a quick move.

Fifth and sixth (forehand and backhand) are the “turnover methods.” Here, the catch glove goes to the butt-end (top of the stick) and the stick glove remains at the paddle, with the stick “turning over.” The advantage of these two choices is that a right hander can move the puck as a righty normally would, unlike our very first example. However, it’s a move that often takes too long and leaves the goaltender’s stick way out of position.

Move it!

Now that the goalie has gained possession of the puck, he must move it. Too often the goaltender either moves the puck past his teammates (too far), or just blindly throws it—seemingly with no reason—to the corner, possibly getting his defenseman crushed into the boards.

Ideally, the goalie should make every effort to leave the puck in a good position—behind the goal line and away from the boards—for a defenseman. But, if the goalie has to move the puck, he must have an objective in mind when doing so. The netminder usually has three choices.

First, the goalie can make a pass to a teammate. Whether he chooses a direct pass, or chooses to move the puck around the boards, the puck should not be sent too hard. Firmly, yes. But send it too hard and miss your man, and the opponent is sure to gain possession, and possibly create a good scoring chance.

Often, in order to assist the netminder, a defenseman “peels off” to avoid a forechecker and gets into a passing lane to wait for the goaltender’s pass.

A second objective would be to clear the zone. Many goalies are just not strong enough or quick enough to clear the zone—even though they try—and end up turning the puck over for a good scoring chance. When clearing, always avoid the middle of the ice. Try to get some elevation on the puck, and clear it toward the boards, close to the blueline. By taking this angle (close to the blueline), the puck will leave the zone most quickly.

A bad time to move?

However, there are times when nobody is open (forehand or backhand) for a pass and no open lanes exist to clear, so the goaltender must simply clear the puck to a “safe haven.” That means putting the puck in a place from which a reasonable, or direct, shot cannot be taken. In this case, the netminder must simply try to give his team a chance to set up defensively, and keep the squad “out of trouble.” Often this is accomplished by dishing the puck toward the corner, creating a “battle” in a non-threatening location. This avenue is better than a turnover.

Remember, do not just aimlessly fire the puck up the boards. Do that, and odds are it will wind up on an opponent’s stick—and then quite possibly in your net!

Mitch Korn is the goaltender coach for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. In addition, he is an administrator at Miami University (Ohio) and directs the 8-week Summer Hockey School. Miami has Division I ice hockey in the CCHA.

This first appeared in the 01/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®