Steve Duchesne’s Skating Secrets

Steve Duchesne’s skating secrets
By Robby Glantz
Oct 31, 2001, 16:39

I have had the honor and pleasure of coaching Power Skating to some great players, including all-star defensemen Steve Duchesne and Rob Blake, and one-time all-world forward Mats Naslund, as well as other top-level professionals. And I discovered that all these great players have a few common traits.

First is their understanding that there is always more to learn. And, second, they know the importance of working on all aspects of their game in order to continue to im-prove.

I also had the opportunity to spend some time with these players off the ice, discussing their theories and thoughts about skating techniques and fundamentals. Following are some excerpts from a conversation with Steve Duchesne. I believe that the ideas and hints he brings up will really benefit you with your approach to, and understanding of, skating fundamentals—and perhaps more importantly, show you that no matter what your level of play—from novice to all-star—there is always room for improvement!

Duchesne on skating

What techniques have helped you the most?

The skating techniques I have learned have been invaluable, and I just wish I had someone teaching me these fundamentals when I was a youth player because I (recently) really learned the importance of skating fundamentals. What I really have to remind myself, and it’s something that we talk about in our training, is that speed does not just come from moving your legs super fast, but rather from moving them properly—like fully extending the leg before you return it, and using your edges to push from so you don’t run on the flats of your skates. 

What have you done to work on your weaker side, and do NHL players even have a weaker side of the body?

Everybody has one side that is stronger than the other. And what I’ve done is simply work harder on that side, like doing more drills on it and concentrating on that side more in practice. What is really important is that you should never be afraid to fall down; don’t let people laugh at you if you fall, because the only way to learn and get better is to exaggerate the movements.

As a defenseman, what do you feel your skating strengths are, and what have you done to work on these skills?

In short distances and one-on-one I feel very confident in my abilities, and I am very tough to beat. The stop-and-go, forward-to-backward movement and quick turns are all important for my position, and I train these skills by working on turning and stopping both directions in practice. Good balance is important for all players. Staying low, using your legs and keeping all your weight over an edge will help the balance, especially when checking.

Too many players try to check with the upper body (only using the shoulders), but a good, solid hit comes from the lower body—the strength in the legs—and also a strong abdomen and lower back.

What other tips do you have for aspiring defenseman?

Try to keep one hand on the stick as much as possible. I like to use my stick a lot in tight situations to take the puck from the forward or intercept a pass. But freeing one hand from the stick, I find, really helps my balance and my speed because I can extend both my legs and arms when I am skating.

Also, like most other defenseman, I like to use the crossover a lot when going backwards. But crossing over too much can get you burned, because a smart forward will watch your feet, and when you crossover one way he goes the other direction and it can be very hard to untangle your feet. So when the forward is near, it is better to go straight backwards and let him make the first move.

What do you do to prepare yourself for the season?

In the off season, I like to ride the bicycle, work on the treadmill and inline skate and, this year, I have concentrated on strengthening my abdominal area. But there is nothing like getting on the ice to get your wind back. The drills that you have put me through, short bursts (12-18 seconds at top speed with 60 seconds in between the drills to recuperate), mixed in with the technique training, has really helped me with my wind, balance and strength over my skates.

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 09/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

DROP THE PUCK! Getting Started in Hockey

DROP THE PUCK!
Getting started in hockey
By Bettina Young Prochnow
Oct 31, 2001, 16:35

©BBS

Hockey is in everyone’s face—from the rinks to the streets to the TV set. Is it any wonder that the question on everyone’s lips is “Where and how do I join up?”

If ice hockey is your game—or you want it to be—take a ride to your nearest rink. There you will find programs for the novice skater, for new players, and for more experienced ones. Posted somewhere at the icehouse will be the local hockey bulletin board, with practice schedules, pictures, upcoming tournaments and other information about teams that play there.

With a glance at the practice schedule, a future hockey-parent might see Midgets are scheduled for the ice at 10 PM Tuesday nights. Pretty late for a bunch of little kids, you think to yourself! When you check out the upcoming tournaments, you see a trip planned for out of state. That’s probably going to cost quite a bit for the “road” team. One look at the pro shop, and the price of skates, and you’re probably rethinking this whole idea.

But your child is more wide-eyed than ever, and asking when does he or she get to skate?

Suddenly the bottom corner info on the in-house league catches your eye, and you get a chance to come up for air. An in-house league can’t be too expensive, can it?

Welcome to hockey. Midgets are players who are 16 and 17 years old; Mites are under 8, and yes, practices can be very late or very early 4 am even!). As your child’s eager face looks longingly out at the skaters on the ice, you’re thinking “Hey, even soccer and Little League charge a fee.” So where to begin?

“If a kid can skate from one end of the arena to the other without falling down,” says Robert Harkins, program director and coach for the Royals Minor Hockey Association in Willowgrove, PA, “I put them in our Learn to Play Hockey program. If not, they sign up for our Learn to Skate.”

All rinks offer similar kinds of skating programs that include a group lesson along with admission to a public skate session. At Wintersport Ice Skating Arena, where the Royals skate, this basic program consists of a six-week, one hour per week group class, for a cost of $60. No equipment is needed other than hockey skates, which can be rented from the rink.

Costs, of course, will vary depending on which part of the country you live in. In Dallas, for example, skating school consists of an eight-week program, with a once a week half-hour lesson, for $69 without skates or $64 with skates. The key as a new skater is to get in as much ice time as you can by taking classes and attending public sessions.

The next step is learning the game. “Our Learn to Play Hockey program,” continues Harkins, “is nine weeks in length, with one hour of instruction and drills, and also includes admission to the public skate sessions. The cost is $125 and the player is taught the basics of the game: ready position, how to fall down, shooting, stickhandling, and controlled scrimmages.”

Dress me up, too

For all this, the player needs the proper gear: helmet, elbow and shin pads, hockey stick, gloves, pants, and skates. While most pro-shops at the rinks carry all this equipment, there are less expensive ways to get it.

“We’ve got a Donation Bin,” says Harkins. “It includes lost-and-found stuff, outgrown equipment, and even my kids’ old stuff!

“I had a 16-year-old boy who wanted to learn how to play, so I let him use my old equipment,” Harkins recalls. “He’d bring it back a piece at a time as he gradually bought his own gear.”

Many sporting goods stores also have used-equipment sections. Others, like “Play it Again Sports,” specialize in previously-owned gear. And many hockey clubs have organized “swaps” or sales. New equipment is available from sporting good chains, or, if you’re pinching pennies—and in hockey, they can add up!—through mail order catalogues, which typically offer a bit of savings over local Pro Shop prices. Of course, it never hurts to have a good relationship with your local hockey supplier, so factor that in when comparing the value you’re getting for your dollar.

If you’re lucky enough to live in Minneapolis, America’s traditional hockey heartland, some clubs even supply the equipment. That’s because many of them are underwritten by pull-tab charitable gambling, which raises enough money to help pay ice and equipment costs. For example, Edison Youth Hockey’s director, John Meyers, is quick to point out that “we’re a little different from most clubs in the Metro (Minneapolis/St. Paul) area in that we’re able to supply the kids with all of their equipment at each level of hockey.

“I ask parents if they have a pair of skates that fit (their) kid,” says Meyers, “and not (their) big brothers. And (urge parents) to keep those skates sharp while they’re learning.”

Mary Trygestad, in charge of buying all of the club’s equipment, echoes that sentiment. “I tell parents not to buy skates that a child will grow into. The skates have to fit properly as of right now.”

As for the rest of the equipment, she recommends thinking safety, then fit. “You don’t have to buy the most expensive pads for little ones just starting out,” says Mary. “Learn how to measure properly so that (equipment) fits correctly.”

Hockey skates, for example, are sized differently than shoes. Many times you need to go down one or two sizes from your shoe size to get a proper fit.

Parents of young players can use some equipment, too, she adds. “Buy yourself a knee cushion to kneel on, and use the help of a skate tightener key to help lace up your child’s skates!”

All told, brand-spanking new hockey equipment can cost upwards of $500, so cutting costs by borrowing, buying recycled equipment or purchasing through lower-priced mail order definitely makes sense.

A league of their own

Now that your player can skate, has the necessary equipment, and has learned the basics of the game, it’s time for a league. Most youth hockey clubs offer two types; a House league and, for the most advanced player, a travel league. Obviously, costs throughout the country will vary depending on rink access, proximity, and number of players.

The regular hockey season starts in October and goes through February—and even into March with extended tournament play. During the summer season, look for a “Rink Rat” program near you. Many of these are just drop-in and pick-up scrimmages classified by age groups.

“Kids can sometimes learn more by getting out there on the ice without a coach and freelancing,” says Mark Finley, Hockey Director for the McFetridge Center in Chicago. “That’s how I learned when I was little. We would play outside and watch and imitate the older kids.”

His program offers a weekly drop-in on Sundays from 5:30 to 7:30 am for that kind of play. “It can rekindle your desire to play,” adds Finley, “when you can do whatever you want and try out new things.”

That desire to try something new can hit at any age. Just ask John Prince, who plays in the Master’s Hockey League out of the McFetridge Center. “I got off the couch myself four years ago at age 40,” he says, “and found myself playing along side Michel Roy (father of goalie Patrick Roy) in Montreal’s Forum against Canadiens alumni like Serge Savard, Jacques Lemaire (coach of the new Stanley Cup Champions), and Yvon Lambert just last year!”

“One of the best parts of the game is the camaraderie,” says Steve Demitro, president of the Master’s Hockey League and a player on the same All-Star team. He uses a computer system to rate and draft the league’s 84 players, resulting in balanced teams where games can be decided in the last five minutes. The cost for a 20-game season is $295, including jerseys.

Young or old, novice or experienced, anyone who wants to skate can find a league to play in for their skill level.

“It’s one big, happy world out on the rink,” adds John Prince. “You get to meet new people, everyone helps one another, and besides, the elbowing will always keep you awake!” l

This first appeared in the 09/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Living on the Wing

Living on the wing
By Sam Laskaris
Oct 31, 2001, 16:33

Paul Ranheim believes being versatile is a vital asset. ©BBS

Though it’s also a business in the upper echelons of the sport, hockey at any level continues to be just a game. And like most other games, there’s a wide array of opinions on technique and strategy. Each position has its own do’s and don’ts, of course. Sure, hockey is hockey. But playing center is nothing like playing defense, and playing the wing is a little world unto itself.

This article will focus on that winger’s world, as seen through the eyes of some professional ice and roller hockey players. And following their advice is bound to improve the fortunes of all of those—at any level of the game—who play on the wing.

Positional play

Since the playing surface covers a large area, sticking to some basic guidelines is important. But that can be tough for a winger to do; even the pros need some reminding occasionally.

“Don’t get caught out of position,” warns Winnipeg Jets left winger Darrin Shannon. “Always be sure to stay on your wing, because that’s where your teammates will be looking for you. If you are out of position in the NHL, your opponents are always good enough to make you pay for it.”

Shannon, who is heading into his seventh pro season, believes perpetual motion is another key for wingers.

“At all levels of hockey, make sure to keep your feet moving all the time,” he says. “Don’t stand around and watch. Start and stop quickly, keep your feet moving, and you will be sure to improve your game.”

Though the old expression says “Talk is cheap,” Shannon’s former teammate Russ Romaniuk, also a left winger, gives it much more value than that.

“When playing on the wing, always make sure to communicate with your defensemen,” Romaniuk says. “This will insure that you always know what to expect from your teammates in any situation.”

Romaniuk, the former University of North Dakota star who’s gearing up for his first year as a Philadelphia Flyer after five seasons in the Jets organization, has another tip for wingers when they’re in control of the puck.

Heads up!

“When stickhandling, always make sure to keep your head up,” he says. “By looking to see where your teammates and opponents are, you will be able to make the right decision (pass or shoot) and avoid being hit by defenders.”

Though wingers are frequently instructed to stay on their side, Hartford Whalers left winger Paul Ranheim believes being versatile is a vital asset to have, especially in the big leagues.

“If you want to be creative you have to exchange your lanes,” says Ranheim, a former University of Wisconsin standout whose creativity earned him an IHL-leading 68 goals with Salt Lake City in 1989.

“You have to be able to criss-cross. That’s important in the NHL. Look at me; I play left wing but have a right shot. I prefer it that way.”

As for those who play the sport at lower levels, Ranheim believes they should try to stick to the basics, even though some pros are not good role models in this sense.

“It’s important for wingers (at lower levels) to stay in their lanes,” added Ranheim, an eight-year pro. “But it’s hard to do. Even in the NHL, we find all we want to do is chase the puck.”

Ranheim’s teammate Geoff Sanderson, a gifted scorer who notched 46 and 41 goals in his last two full seasons, says wingers are expected to do their share of digging for the puck.

“There are a lot of fast-skating, shooting wingers in the league,” says Sanderson, a fifth-year pro who fits into that category. “But usually wingers are the bigger or faster players who don’t play center. It’s their job to go to the corners and do the crashing and banging to get the puck.”

It’s about speed

Jason Krywulak, a member of the San Diego Barracudas of Roller Hockey International, offers the following tips to wingers on what to do after they get possession of the puck.

“Putting the puck on the net and driving at the net is important,” he says. “The biggest key, though, is controlling your speed. It’s harder to stop in roller hockey so you have to know when to go hard and when to go slow. You don’t want to go flying by the play if there’s a rebound in front of the net.”

Krywulak, who also plays ice hockey for the University of Calgary, adds the following tip that should help snipers in the roller game.

“Set up for the one-timer on your off-wing because goalies have a hard time moving across in roller hockey,” he says. “If you have a good one-timer, you should be able to score all the time.”

As for the defensive zone, wingers have a role to play there, too. Buffalo Sabres left winger Matthew Barnaby offers the following advice.

“When you come back, pick up the point man (opposing defenseman),” says Barnaby, a feisty 22-year-old. “A lot of times that doesn’t happen in minor hockey. That’s where you see the difference between minor hockey and junior hockey up to the pro game.”

While attacking, however, Barnaby said the following should be kept in mind.

“Always keep your head up and keep in full stride,” he says. “Guys are a lot bigger in the NHL and you have to work hard in the corners to try and give the puck to a teammate in front of the net.”

Own the puck

Though passing the puck around tends to break down the opposition’s defensive system, John Vecchiarelli, who’s added the coaching portfolio to his winger duties with the 1994 RHI champion Buffalo Stampede, believes wingers should try to maintain possession for lengthy periods.

“Hold onto the puck as long as you can because it’s hard to get the puck away from the other team,” says Vecchiare-lli, who also plays ice hockey and split his time last season between the Saginaw Wheels of the Colonial Hockey League and Wedvmark, a pro squad in Germany.

“If you can hold onto the puck as long as you can and get closer to the other team’s net, you’ll obviously have a better chance of scoring.”

As demonstrated above, every winger has his or her own style, and his or her own role to play on a team. Bob Gainey and Guy Lafleur, for example, teammates on the Montreal dynasty of the late 1970s, each approached the game somewhat differently. But by keeping some of these tips in mind, you should be able to add to your game, and improve your play on the wing every time out. 

This first appeared in the 09/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Overtime: Hockey’s Final Frontier

Overtime: Hockey’s final frontier
By Dean Chadwin
Oct 31, 2001, 16:30

©BBS

In hockey, the best team wins the big game most of the time. It’s the team that usually has the money goaltender and the superstars, and role players who can score when the game’s on the line. And when the game is on the line, any real hockey fan knows that some goals—big goals—can be flukes.

Deflections off sticks or skates, easy dump-ins that bounce funny or catch a goalie sleeping, and lucky rebounds have brought down even the best of teams. This element of chance sets hockey apart from other sports. There are no fluke home runs in baseball, nor lucky slam-dunks in basketball.

Ugly goals help make sudden-death overtime the most nerve-wracking experience in major professional sports—for fans and players alike. Every shift, every change of possession, every dump-in holds potential game-ending danger. The slightest opening could be all that’s necessary to turn a game’s, or even a franchise’s, fortunes around.

Enter a locker room after an overtime win and you’ll find an air of joy and confidence unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Teammates surround the goal-scorer and the winning goalie, hoping to siphon off some of the luck that put those men in the right place at the right time. During the 1995 playoff run, I found myself amidst such a celebration at Brendan Byrne Arena. The Devils had just defeated the Penguins late in the first overtime of game four of the conference semis on a goal by Neal Broten.

When Broten scored off a great feed by John McLean, teammates mobbed Broten and game-saving goalie Martin Brodeur on the ice. As reporters fired questions at Brodeur and Broten in the locker room, teammates walked by to hug or tease the two centers of attention. The men in that room were floating—so happy that I kept checking the floor to make sure they were still tied to the earth.

The agony of defeat

Down the hall in the Penguins locker room, the mood couldn’t have been more different. This was no ordinary loss. Overtimes seldom are. The Pens had played well, yet came out on the short end of the stick. They felt cursed, believing at least for the moment they were fated to be losers. Answers to even the most innocuous questions were mumbled, eye contact avoided at all costs. To a man, the Penguins wished they could shed their skins so they wouldn’t have to look at themselves in the mirror for a while.

Fans, too, know that feeling. Then a Washington Capitals fan, I endured my most awful night on April 16, 1987. That night the Caps faced the post-dynasty Islanders at the Capital Center in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs. The game was even after 60 minutes of play, and then the torture began.

Statistics show that most sudden-death overtime games are decided in the first 10 minutes, but on that Easter weekend the contest felt like it would never end. Every rush caused my heart to flutter. My mind whirled with every change of possession. Was the winger free? Could he stay onsides? Would the pass get through? Was the goalie tiring? Please let the puck bounce true! And the play continued for what seemed like days.

Both goalies, Washing-ton’s Bob Mason and the New York’s Kelly Hrudey, made key saves, but the man in the bandanna seemed impenetrable. Before the night was over, Hrudey would flop all over the ice in turning away 73 shots from every angle—long slappers from the point, quick wristers from the circles, wraparounds and jammers from the slot. After just one overtime, Hrudey’s invincibility convinced me the Caps would never score again.

It was just before midnight on the east coast. For one long night, Scott Stevens had become the best defenseman in the world—taking extra shifts, hitting people, moving the puck, and clearing the crease. As smaller, less well-conditioned players slowed down, Stevens continued to pick up his game. Maybe the Caps could win, after all.

The second overtime ended, and then, late in the third, New York’s Randy Wood got a great chance right on the doorstep but failed to convert. When the third overtime ended, it was one-thirty in the morning. Most of the fans at the Cap Center had long since gone home. It was the first time since World War II that an NHL game would enter a fourth overtime.

Midway through that fourth overtime, just before two on Easter morning, Pat Lafontaine got clear above the circles and wristed home a shot that beat Mason. It wasn’t a brilliant goal, but at least it was an honest one. The Isles had won the Easter Epic and were, naturally, ecstatic. But as Mason dropped to the ice in exhaustion, the Caps just looked at each other and wondered what more they could have done.

As I watched New Jersey move through the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, I couldn’t help rooting for them. It wasn’t just the presence of Scott Stevens, the Capitals hero-in-defeat during that Easter Epic, on their roster. I felt for the Devils. During the 1994 playoffs, the Devils were burned twice in historic overtime games.

They had lost the second-longest game in the last 50 years. Though Stevens and goalie Martin Brodeur, along with the rest of the Devils, allowed the Buffalo Sabres nothing for six periods—essentially, back-to-back shutouts—it wasn’t enough. Dominik Hasek was even better, stopping 70 Devils shots, before Dave Hannan finally won the game for Buffalo early in the fourth overtime.

Despite what could have been a season-shattering loss, the gritty Devils overcame their misfortune and eliminated the Sabres. They then got within a whisper of the finals before being eliminated themselves on a “garbage goal” in double-overtime by the Rangers Stéphane Matteau. That goal in Game 7 of the conference finals was one the Devils remembered all summer—and all through the 1995 playoffs. They knew that they had come within one ugly, double OT goal, of playing for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

A rare feat

For only the fifth time in playoff history, a team had won a deciding Game 7 in overtime to advance to the Cup finals. Another team to accomplish that feat was the truly remarkable 1950 Detroit Red Wings. The Wings lost the great Gordie Howe to a serious injury in their first playoff game, yet they still won the Cup behind the efforts of future Hall-of-Famers Red Kelly, Sid Abel, Ted Lindsay, Marcel Pronovost, Jack Ste-wart and netminder Harry Lumley. All the brilliance of those stars would have gone for naught, however, but for goals by a couple of journeymen—out of whom overtime often makes its heroes.

Leo Reise, Jr. broke a scoreless tie when he beat Turk Broda at 8:39 of the first OT in Game 7 of the semis, allowing the Red Wings to get by Toronto and ad-vance to the finals. Then, in the finals, Pete Babando’s shot halfway through the second overtime of the Cup-deciding game got by Chuck Rayner, eliminating the Rangers and initiating a De-troit dynasty that would win four cups in six years. It was the first time a final series had gone into Game 7 overtime.

It’s only happened once since then. Amazingly enough, it was those same Red Wings just four years later—this time facing the Canadiens of Maurice Richard, Boom Boom Geoffrion, Dickie Moore, Doug Harvey, and Jean Beliveau. The Red Wings added a healthy Howe, a potent Alex Delvecchio, and a brilliant Terry Sawchuk. Only Hall of Famers Kelly, Lindsay and Pronovost, along with Johnny Wilson, Marty Pavelich, and Jim Peters, returned from the 1950 Detroit club. All told, 14 Hall-of-Famers skated during Game 7, including the Rocket, who remains the all-time leader with six overtime goals in the playoffs.

But the hero that night was a journeyman, and the only member of the vanquished Rangers of 1950 to appear in the 1954 finals.

Tony Leswick, a 5’6” right winger known as Mighty Mouse, had been traded to Detroit by the Rangers in 1951. He’d be traded away to Chicago in 1955, but at Olympia Stadium on the night of April 16, 1954, he was in the right place at the right time. A little more than four minutes into the overtime, the Red Wings dumped the puck hard around behind the net. Leswick gained control along the right-wing boards about 10 feet inside the blueline. He flipped a bad-angle shot towards the net. The shot wasn’t hard—it looked harmless—but it grazed off Doug Harvey’s glove and changed directions. The deflection fooled Canadiens goalie Gerry McNeil and found its way into the net. Another ugly goal brought Detroit hockey’s ultimate prize.

In 40 years of Stanley Cup action since then, there have been six more Game Sevens, but none required extra time. Pete Babando and Tony Leswick remain the only two men to score Cup-deciding goals in Game 7 overtime, proving that hockey’s superstars are not always hockey’s heroes.

Do or tie?

To this point, I haven’t mentioned regular-season overtime. That’s because it’s simply not the real thing. In real overtime you play against an endless clock, and there are no ties. The five-minute overtime of regular-season play lacks the desperate heat found in the playoffs because it isn’t do or die—it’s simply do or tie.

Have you ever seen a player dive headlong across the crease to celebrate an overtime goal during the regular season? Probably not. That type of drama is reserved for the playoffs, like the most cherished goal in the history of the soon-to-be demolished Boston Garden, which ended with Bobby Orr’s Superman impression. He lit the lamp in overtime to complete a four-game sweep of the Blues in 1970. After he scored, he soared—leaping into the air to celebrate Boston’s first Cup in decades. It looked like a belly flop, but to Orr it must have felt like landing on a feather bed. The image of this ultimate hockey moment lives in the mind’s eye of all Bruins fans, just as a giant photo of it loomed over the press dining room in Boston for two decades.

If there ever was a “year of the overtime” in the playoffs, it was 1993. Twenty-eight of 85 playoff games played that year ended in overtime. Not surprisingly, the 1993 champs, the Canadiens, have to go down as the most successful overtime team in NHL history. They went 10-1 in sudden death that year, including 3-0 in the Stanley Cup finals against Los Angeles. Though the Habs lost their first playoff game to the rival Nordiques in overtime, that was an aberration. After allowing Scott Young’s OT goal, Patrick Roy then gave up no goals over the next 96 minutes of sudden death play. Kirk Muller, Guy Carbonneau, and John LeClair each scored two overtime goals during the unbelievable run to the Cup. Montreal also won its only OT game last year, pushing Roy’s remarkable streak to 11 games and 113-plus minutes.

In terms of pure numbers, the Canadiens are the NHL’s most successful overtime team, with 66 wins. However, the Islanders (with a 29-9 record) have the highest winning percentage in overtime games, at .763. From 1977 to 1984, when Billy Smith was the best money goaltender on the planet, the Isles went 19-3 in overtime. That record led directly to four Cups, one runner-up, and two semifinal appearances in eight years.

The lesson is clear: when you win in OT, you win Cups.

Individually, Maurice Richard leads all players with six overtime goals, with Bob Nystrom, Dale Hunter, Glenn Anderson, Wayne Gretzky, and Stéphane Richer all tied for second, with four apiece. Six players ranging from solid to all-time greats appear on this list, yet many superstars have never registered an overtime goal in the playoffs. Almost unbelievably, the list of non-scorers includes Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, Ray Bourque, and Gordie Howe.

Just as Messier’s Rangers needed Matteau’s two overtime goals to escape the Devils and gain the Cup, Howe’s Red Wings needed key overtime goals from role players to win the 1950 and 1954 titles. That’s the beautiful thing about overtime: Hall-of-Famers have no built-in advantage. Any player can claim a permanent piece of history.

Who will be next to join Babando and Leswick? Your guess is as good as mine.

Dean Chadwin is the author of Rocking the Pond: The First Season of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

This first appeared in the 09/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Stick Lingo Defined

1995: Why the Devils Won the Cup

1995: Why the Devils won the Cup
By Alex Carswell
Oct 31, 2001, 16:27

©BBS

Stanley Cups don’t come easily. And with the exception of a few NHL dynasties, they don’t come often, either. So why did the New Jersey Devils, a team that came within one goal of reaching the finals last year, but finished the 1995 regular season just four games over .500, bring home this year’s Cup? Here are 10 reasons.

1) A System

And a darn good one, at that. The much-ballyhooed and oft-maligned neutral-zone trap was the backbone of New Jersey’s game plan night after playoff night. And on nearly every one of those nights, Devils opponents were frustrated by their inability to make any progress into the offensive zone. In the opening round, Boston managed only five goals in the five game series—and was shut out three times. Pittsburgh’s vaunted offensive powerhouse fared little better in their five games, being held to just one goal in each of the last three outings. The Flyers, the only team New Jersey faced that had the size to bust through the trap, had some scoring success against the system, but fell short in other areas—like discipline and goaltending.

2) Discipline

The New Jersey system of clogging up the passing lanes and collapsing on the puck carrier looked simple enough on paper. But, as we all know, the game isn’t played on paper—or Detroit would be the Stanley Cup champion today. Successfully executing the trap as it was designed required amazing patience and discipline on the part of the Devils, each of whom performed admirably. New Jersey’s many cogs elevated the waiting game to new heights, with a “What, me worry?” philosophy that frustrated, unnerved and angered opponents for 16 out of 20 playoff tilts. In an age where everyone wants to score the big goal and be the hero, it was a truly beautiful thing to see 20 Devils hearts beating—albeit slowly—as one.

3) A Good Hotel

Or a real love of riding the dog, because a Greyhound trip out of town was almost a sure thing for this bunch. In taking 10-of-11 games on the road, the Devils became the first team since the NHL’s 1967 expansion to win the Stanley Cup without having home-ice advantage in any round. Much of the road warriors’ success goes to a system which frustrated the opposition’s home crowd as much as it did their players. Paul Coffey lamented after the Game One loss that he had never heard the home team booed during the Stanley Cup finals. But throughout the playoffs, bewildered fans rained down boos on their hometown heroes—a cacophony that registered as sweet music to visiting devilish ears.

4) A Dominant Defenseman

Actually, two. Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer each ruled the ice during the run to the Cup. Stevens atoned for what many felt was a sub-par regular season by playing as if his hockey life was on the line in the playoffs—and in a sense, perhaps he believed it was. At the conclusion of the Philadelphia series, as he stood in line shaking hands with one vanquished Flyer after another, Stevens had a few extra words for Eric Lindros, whom he had handled and manhandled for six games. “Don’t worry,” Stevens said, “you’ll get there. You’ve got time. I don’t have that much time left.” Lindros, 1995’s most dominant single player, probably will get there someday, but not if he keeps running into the likes of Stevens.

For his part, Niedermayer has now officially blown his cover as the best-kept secret on the NHL blueline. His end-to-end rush past and through Paul Coffey in Game Three of the finals brilliantly demonstrated the offensive gifts that have been lurking in the shadows of Jacques Lemaire’s defensive system. Niedermayer is not overwhelmingly physical, but—much like Brian Leetch—he is tactically smart, and his defensive positioning is superb.

5) Martin Brodeur

No team has ever won the Stanley Cup without a hot goaltender. Some—like Ken Dryden—have been great; others—like Mike Richter—just “on fire.” Brodeur was, and is, unquestionably both. The kid who will eat Lou “Hardball” Lamoriello’s heart—and checkbook—out this summer proved beyond all doubt that last year’s sensational rookie campaign was no fluke. Brodeur posted a 2.45 goals-against average during the regular season, then flirted with immortality—his 1.23 GAA through the first two rounds was on pace for the best in NHL history, ahead of Jacques Plante and Ken Dryden—in the playoffs. His finishing totals of 16-4, 1.67 GAA and a .927 save percentage were nonetheless superb. And while he lost his composure a bit during the Philadelphia series, Brodeur was otherwise cool as a cucumber and always made the big save.

6) Special Teams

Not blessed—like Detroit and Pittsburgh—with an abundance of snipers, New Jersey used their special teams defense as a blanket to shut down the opposition. If traditional wisdom for road teams is that you bide your time and then capitalize on power play chances, then the Devils are New Age philosophers. Their 87.9% home efficiency on the kill was second in the playoffs but, like their overall 86.5% kill rate, was the highest of any final-four team. On the road, however, where the Devils felt right at home, traditional wisdom ruled: New Jersey was an impressive 30.8% efficient on the power play, second only to the Rangers’ brief and extraordinary 47.8%. The Detroit power play that seemed to score every other time out in the early rounds? D.O.A. against the Devils.

7) Confidence

There’s a lot to be said for the confidence the Devils gained with every 1995 playoff win, and with every opponent they saw frustrated by their inspiring team play. But New Jersey’s confidence entering the playoffs was largely a result of their near-miss in 1994. Claude Lemieux spoke of how he “cried like a baby” watching the Rangers skate around with the Cup last year, knowing his team had come up just one, ugly, double-overtime goal short of the big show. And they knew, as a team, that they had the stuff to get there in ‘95. Neal Broten, a late addition from Dallas, recalled how impressed he was by the team’s confidence early on. “These guys,” he said, “believed all along they could win the Stanley Cup.” And guess what? They were right.

8) Experience

Experience on a number of levels played a key role in the Devils championship. The players—as mentioned above—gained valuable insight on what it took to win from their efforts in 1994. But experience paid off in the executive suite, as well. Last year, New Jersey went into the playoffs as much the same team they were during the regular season, then watched as one of the Rangers’ late “playoff additions”—Stéphane Matteau—sent them off to the golf course. This year, Lou Lamoriello addressed his team’s needs with two prescient additions, Neal Broten (from Dallas) and Shawn Chambers (Tampa Bay). In true Lamoriello style, he gave up virtually nothing to get them (as opposed to Neal Smith’s Rangers, who paid mightily—in Tony Amonte and Mike Gartner—for their playoff grinders). But wouldn’t you know it? Broten was an inspired scorer throughout, an overtime hero against Pittsburgh, and actually scored the Cup-winning goal. And besides being steady on the back line, Shawn Chambers—hardly acquired for his scoring prowess—had a two-goal game in the finals.

9) Claude Lemieux

That he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP speaks volumes about Claude Lemieux’s performance. It’s no surprise that Lemieux, who had a horrific regular season, elevated his game in the playoffs—he always does. But that he pumped in 13 goals—including back-breakers against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia—while playing tenacious defense, was more than anyone could have expected. The man who is seventh on the all-time list of playoff game-winning goal scorers (with 14, just one behind Yvan Cournoyer and Jean Beliveau) had a truly blessed postseason. Some of his goals dipped and fluttered on their way in; looked “soft” to those who like to criticize goaltenders. But the self-described “most-hated man in hockey” scored when it counted, and lifted his team—along with himself—to new heights. The list of clutch NHL playoff performers is impressive: Richard, Beli-veau, Gretzky, Leach, Nystrom. Now you can add Claude Lemieux.

10) Coaching

Coaching is more than just creating and installing a system. It’s getting your players to buy into the system, and getting them to sell out for it. Jacques Lemaire proved himself to be two things in this playoff year: a master motivator and a master tactician. As a motivator, he kept all of his players into the game all the time—no easy task. He kept the players into his system until they had no choice but to recognize that they were winning because of it. As a tactician, he substituted his players with aplomb—sometimes for no apparent reason—and got huge games out of part-timers Sergei Brylin and Jim Dowd. He knew when to bench Stéphane Richer, and when to unleash Scott Niedermayer. In short, Lemaire knew what it took to win a Stanley Cup, and led his players there. l

This first appeared in the 09/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Outnumbered, but not outplayed!

Outnumbered, but not outplayed!
By Brian Engblom
Oct 31, 2001, 16:01

The most difficult job a defenseman faces in any game is handling outnumbered attacks. When faced with a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 situation, the defender must learn to read the play and make the appropriate defensive decision. This ability to read and react can only be learned through experience, but here are some things to remember.

Know your partner and yourself

Verbal communication is very important, but you shouldn’t rely on it too much. There are so many things happening so fast that it’s impossible to tell your partner everything you are thinking. Therefore, your knowledge of his tendencies will often be the deciding factor as to who will initiate the play. Get to know your partner, but just as important, be realistic about your own abilities. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses, and developing your game around them, is critical.

It’s also important to be decisive, and not worry about being wrong. When you do make the wrong decision, however, go to your partner and tell him you did—and thank him if he bailed you out on the play. The same goes for your goaltender. This will create the bond between you, your partner, and your goaltender which will make all of you better players. Finally, get to know the opposition as well as possible. Who are their best playmakers? Who are their best shooters? Exchange this “scouting” information with your teammates. Forewarned, as the saying goes, is forearmed.

The first thing to do when facing an outnumbered attack with your partner is try and recognize the abilities of the attacking players. Do you know who they are and what they do best? If so, you’ll have some idea of what to expect. Obviously, this knowledge comes mostly with experience.

Force the play outside

Positionally, you and your partner should stay together as much as possible, unless you are sure that one of you can get the puck cleanly or at least turn it over. And you should always force the play to the outside.

Experience will also help you develop a sense of when the puck carrier is in trouble, and when he is, you should attack him instantly. If he’s vulnerable, your chances of breaking up the rush are increased. If the play comes in deep, however, a defender should never run into the corner after one man—because that leaves his partner alone against two men in front.

Much as you try to force the play to the outside, you also want to try and force any shot to the outside. Take away the shot from the slot if you can, and let the opposition shoot from the wings. It’s the goaltender’s job to stop those angle shots. Once a shot is taken, however, prepare to defend against rebounds.

Because you’re outnumbered and vulnerable, try not to leave your feet to block a shot unless you know you’re not screening your goaltender; you feel 100% sure the puck can’t get through you; and you’re prepared to react to a fake shot.

Watch two men

You always need to be aware of two men—the winger on your side and the slot man—as does your partner. And don’t back in on your goaltender. By the time you’ve reached the top of the faceoff circles, you should have forced the play to the outside.

Finally, don’t be stagnant. Do as much faking and poking around with your stick as possible—without pulling yourself out of position. It makes the attackers nervous!

The principles of defending against a 2-on-1 are basically the same. However, since you’re alone, try and protect the middle of the ice—staying between the two attackers as much as possible. You may have to confront the puck carrier if it appears that he has gained good scoring position. Otherwise, protect the middle and prevent the pass. But don’t over commit and try to do everything yourself. Relax. Remember, since your goaltender is behind you, it’s really a 2-on-2!

Quickness, fast thinking and execution are your greatest assets when facing an outnumbered attack. The ability to relax under pressure is very important. If you get too “uptight” you’ll end up making more mistakes. If you can relax, think clearly and react quickly, you will be right more often than not. But remember: highly skilled players can beat the odds. If the attackers make a few pinpoint passes and a great shot, they might score no matter what you do. Just try not to dwell on it.

This first appeared in the 10/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

The Importance of In-Season Training for Hockey Players

Strength and conditioning is critical to the success of hockey players at all levels.  Athletes will spend time in the off-season increasing speed, power, strength, endurance, and agility, as well as, rehabbing injuries.  Considerable amounts of time and resources are spent in these endeavors.

Jarret Stoll, Los Angeles Kings, training with HockeyOT.

Unfortunately, many players end up wasting these efforts during the season.  After all the hard off-season work to get into peak shape, all they end up doing during the season is going to practice, doing some sprints and agility training, mixing in some plyometric exercises and playing games.  With this routine, research shows that performance will begin to deteriorate after about 4 weeks.  What good is all of the off-season work if you are going to let any gains decline by mid-season?  It is important to make time for in-season strength and conditioning to at least maintain any gains from the off-season.  Not only does this improve game performance, it also helps decrease the risk of injury.

Naturally, time is a factor when considering an in-season program.  Research does suggest that a 2-day/week off-ice training regimen can maintain performance.  HockeyOT training is an ideal way to develop in-season programs because it creates time efficient workouts that target specific player needs.  Regardless of what system the player or team uses, strength and conditioning should be a priority in-season.

Some key points for in-season training:

• Strength train at least 2 days per week for no longer than an hour per session
• Decrease volume of exercises in sets and reps vs. intensity
• Continue to target your weaknesses

In summary, in-season training is still a critical part of overall success in hockey.  It can help decrease risk of injury, prevent performance deterioration and maintain strength and power gained in the off-season.

Along with working with HockeyOT.com, Mike Beckman is a physical therapist and founder of Valley Rehabilitation Services.  He has been in practice since 1986.  He has worked with athletes at all levels and sports in both rehab and performance training.

2 on 1 Corner Dump

Drill:

1. Line up 2 player against a Coach
2. Player dumps puck to corner and chases
3. Player 1 chases puck and Player 2 follows
4. Player 1 picks up puck and skate up the wall
5. As player 1 comes up the boards, they drop the pass back to Player 2
6. Player 1 continues around the circle and cuts to the net and gets a return pass and shoots on goal
7. Coach should simply help drive the player outside to help them understand how to get position
8. Run from each side

Focus:
1. Players work on skating to win a corner battle
2. Picking up a loose puck and then driving the net
3. Players work on passing and getting to the open spot for a return pass

Notes:

Related Drills:
1 on 1 Corner Dump
Tight Turns out of the Corner 

1 on 1 Corner Dump

Drill:

1. Line up 1 player against a Coach
2. Player dumps puck to corner and chases
3. Pick up puck and skate around the cone and drive the net
4. Coach should simply help drive the player outside to help them understand how to get position
5. Run from each side

Focus:
1. Players work on skating to win a corner battle
2. Picking up a loose puck and then driving the net

Notes:

Related Drills:
2 on 1 Corner Dump