1 on 1 Sprints

Drill:

1. Line up 1 D at the blue line
2. Line up 1 F at the top of the circle
3. On the whistle, D breaks backwards, F skates forward with the puck trying to beat the D

Focus:
1. Forwards concentrate on beating the D
2. Defense works on quick backward starts and then transitioning when the time is right so they don’t get beat

Notes:
Good full length drill to get the kids skating.

Related Drills:
Windmills
Russian Suicides II (The Admiral II)

4 on 2 Forecheck

Drill:

1. Line up 4 players at the blue line
2. Line up 2 coaches near the goal line
3. Have one of the Forwards dump the puck into the corner and each forward covers a Coach
4. Coaches work to get the puck out of the zone
5. Forecheckers work to get the puck and then set up a play in the Offensive zone.

Focus:
1. Forwards concentrate on getting to the pucks and working along the boards to gain position
2. Defense works on holding the point and keeping the puck in

Notes:
Start with coaches so they focus is on gaining puck control and then setting up the play.
Add players at a later time so they can focus on working the puck up the boards.
Have them make XX number of passes before shooting.

Related Drills:
Dump and chase

Getting Prepared for a New Season

Getting prepared for a new season
By Robby Glantz
Oct 31, 2001, 15:59

In order to skate better in the season ahead you must prepare yourself technically, physically and mentally. And the preparation must be all-inclusive: if you are lax in any one of these three areas then you will be hard-pressed to reach your full potential as a skater.

If you read this column regularly, then you are aware that we consistently discuss and stress the importance of the technical aspects of becoming a better skater. However, understanding the techniques required is only one-third of the battle. You must also have the physical ability and mental toughness to apply those oft-discussed techniques. That means being dedicated and in shape.

This month, I want to focus on the best ways to prepare yourself for the new season by looking at each of the elements mentioned above.

Techniques

Forward Skating: Concentrate on bending the knees deeply, so that they are about two inches out over the toe of the skate. Place 100% of your body weight over the inside edge, rolled halfway to the ice, of your pushing foot. Then drive directly out against it until it snaps to full extension, finishing at the toe of the skate, with the knee and the toe turned outward. Finally, return that foot all the way under the body and repeat these steps with the other foot.

Backward Skating: Having the proper body posture is imperative. You must stay extremely low, sitting back into your skates while keeping your back straight. Then drive up and out against the edge, cutting the letter “C” into the ice with the pushing foot. The other foot remains directly under the body and glides in a straight line.

Physical Preparation

Off-ice: The best way to prepare yourself off the ice is to really concentrate on strengthening the lower body, and that means from the abdomen down. Wall sits, squat thrusts and one-leg hops are all excellent exercises. For the wall sit, stand with your back to a wall, then gradually lower yourself to a sitting position, and stand back up.

To do a squat thrust, bend the knees out over your toes, then springing upward and land with the knees bent the same way and your back straight. The one-leg hop is the same as a squat thrust, but performed on one leg. These off-ice exercises will help effectively strengthen your legs.

On-ice: Knowing you should bend your knees deeply or get a better grip with your edges is one thing. Physically executing these techniques in training is quite another. For better knee-bend, make an exaggerated effort to break out of your skating “comfort zone.” How can you tell if you’ve “broken out?” Well, if your legs aren’t burning when you get off the ice, then you haven’t. And you’re still not bending your knees enough.

In looking to strengthen your edges, try loosening the top few laces on your skates. This should allow you to roll your ankles more, which, in turn, will give you a stronger grip in the ice from which to push off.

Mental Preparation

Of the three elements we’re discussing, mental preparation is generally the most neglected. But it may, in fact, be the most important. We continually stress at our schools that “Power Skating starts in your head.” You think first, and then you move your legs. We, as teachers, can not bend your legs for you, or force you to get all your body weight into each push. It is up to you—individually—to accomplish these things. And you have to want to do them.

A good starting point is to accept the fact that skating up to your full potential or expectations does not, can not and will not happen overnight. It takes years of repetition and dedication to accomplish these goals. So don’t get frustrated!

Once you have mentally dedicated yourself to taking the steps necessary to go faster, you will be able to trash the comfort zone we discussed earlier. After that, you can work on (and burn!) those newly-found muscles until the “right way” to skate and train actually becomes your comfort zone, and—more important than that—your speed increases.

Robby Glantz is an internationally certified Laura Stamm instructor. He is a power skating coach for the Los Angeles Kings, European champion Malmö, Sweden and the German National Teams. He conducts Power Skating schools for all levels throughout the U.S.

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

Learning to Score

Learning to score
By Fred Pletsch
Oct 31, 2001, 15:58

Dr. Vern Stenlund vehemently disagrees with the hockey adage that states: “It’s easier to teach a player how to check than it is to teach him how to score.”

Stenlund is a former 2nd-round NHL draft pick who currently teaches at the University of Windsor (Ontario) and coaches the Leamington Jr. “B” Flyers. And he’s heard all the supporting lines about players who “can’t” score. “That guy couldn’t put the puck in the ocean if he was standing on Daytona Beach.” Or, “He couldn’t find the net with radar.”

But Stenlund says he can make players into better scorers by giving them three rules to live by. Rather than talk about the goal itself, however, Stenlund prefers to start by talking about getting into position to score goals. It’s what he refers to as “ice vision.”

Three simple rules

“A player has to learn to read rebounds properly, so that he or she can know where to get to as the offensive attack is underway.” And these are things that he says can be taught. “I believe you can improve a player’s offensive abilities if you take certain steps.” And those steps take the form of three simple rules.

Rule #1: Always follow the puck to the net.

“I ask my players to follow the puck until it hits the twine,” says Stenlund. “When you do that you naturally stay in line with the puck right to the goaltender. It keeps you on line for a potential rebound, and is one little thing that can be done to help a player finish up and get in position for important second-shot opportunities.”

Stenlund advises coaches who use video to review their games to watch closely for players who shoot and then miss a tremendous rebound opportunity because they did not follow up properly to the net.

Rule #2: Practice the one-time shot.

“You see a lot of awful shots go in the net, but they go in because they’re released quickly,” states Stenlund. “If you can work your hands to the point where you can one-time, either off a pass or a shot, you don’t have to be a great goal scorer to get the puck to go in regularly.”

Stenlund offers up some numbers as proof. “From 20 feet out a 50-MPH shot, which is no big deal for a junior hockey player, takes under a second to get into the net. But it takes a goalie over a second to get his glove hand from where it’s normally positioned up to the top corner. So that tells me that, physiologically, a netminder cannot stop you if you locate the puck properly.”

Then why aren’t most players scoring 70 goals a season? “Because over time goalies become very good guessers,” says the Doctor.

Rule #3: Concentrate on the task at hand.

Great goal scorers, Stenlund observes, “are able to block out physical punishment at the right moment in time. They’re prepared to take a beating to keep their concentration and keep the puck on target.”

They also concentrate on what a goalie does in certain situations. “One of the things you quickly discover as you watch goalies telescope across the crease, is that there’s going to be a certain time in any given offensive sequence where a goalie is more susceptible than he is at another time. So if you can learn to shoot, learn to capitalize when that goalie is most susceptible, there’s a better chance of the puck going in.”

Coaches can help concentration

Stenlund says coaches have the ability to improve their players’ powers of concentration and observation. Just as people often work on becoming better listeners and observers, coaches can help their players work on increasing their concentration through drills. Stenlund is a strong proponent of what he calls “intelligent repetition” at practice.

For example, he suggests putting a one-time shot into any drill you normally do that doesn’t include one right now. “Most coaches should try and be progressive,” declares Stenlund. “Start with a basic foundation drill. Then once the kids know that they’re doing, instead of completely changing gears—which is confusing for kids and frustrating for coaches because the kids keep messing up—build on it. Just keep adding one little twist.” Since the kids already know the drill, they can concentrate better on that certain secondary part. “That’s what I mean by intelligent repetition.”

Good coaches also learn to recognize when players have a favorite scoring spot. “Certain hockey players seem to have that sense of radar from key spots on the ice. So a coach has to look at his athletes individually an ask himself, ‘where is this guy’s zone?’ Is it the right side or the left side? Down low, tight to the goalie, or camped out deeper in the slot?”

Once a coach finds a player’s sweet spot, he has a tremendous opportunity to play players—whether by designating power play assignments or putting together line combinations—in specific positions that are well-suited to them.

Hockey is all about putting the puck in the net, and following Dr. Stenlund’s three-rule prescription should help your players get that done more frequently.

Fred Pletsch is a veteran OHL and AHL broadcaster who currently covers the Cornwall Aces for CJFS radio.

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

How to Choose a Goalie

How to choose a goalie
By Mitch Korn
Oct 31, 2001, 15:57

Well, it’s the start of a new season and coaches everywhere are faced with a common dilemma: how to choose a goalie when they themselves know very little about goaltending.

Many coaches fall into the trap of believing that “bigger” is better than “smaller,” and that “flashy” is best of all. But in the long run, that’s usually not the case.

In order to help those confused coaches, I’ve tried to outline some key things to look for within three broad categories. By no means is this all-inclusive, it’s merely a guideline to point coaches, goalies and parents in the right direction. It is up to the coach to develop drills that accurately test and evaluate a goaltender.

Physical Skills

Stance is important. A goalie must have fundamental arm and leg positioning, along with the ability to remain in the stance position throughout all of his/her moves.

Skating is critical. Goaltenders must be wonderful skaters—not only forward skaters, but backward and lateral skaters, too! They must be able to skate and stop like a goalie, not a forward. In addition, solid balance and agility on skates is important for movement, recovery, and positioning. Pay close attention to this one!

Athleticism. Even without the checking associated with other positions, goaltending is a demanding physical position. Being a good athlete just makes everything so much easier for a goalie.

Save Execution. Goalies must possess the basic saving skills. Certainly, age level will determine the advanced level of these skills. But skate saves, 1/2-butterflies, two-pad slides, use of the blocker and catch glove, and stick saves must be executed in an efficient, crisp and clean manner. Beware of the goalie that consistently “overreacts.”

The Goalie’s Size. Many coaches feel that big is better than small. Not true! Tall goalies have pluses and minuses, as do small goalies. In most cases, size is really not an issue. Remember, Tom Barrasso is 6’3”, 210 and Curtis Joseph is only 5’10”, 185.

The Goalie’s Speed. Also known as “movement time.” Again, coaches generally feel the faster the better. That’s usually true, but it’s also only part of the total package. While speed is a good guide to athleticism, conditioning, muscle tone and flexibility, it should be considered only as one part of the goalie’s skills. I’ve coached goalies who were very fast, but not very good!

Conditioning. The goalie is the only player who plays the entire game. Therefore, he/she should be well-conditioned and in reasonable shape. An overweight goalie’s deficiencies manifest themselves with other physical weaknesses in the areas outlined above.

Little Things. Look for things like the ability to break up centering passes, stopping pucks dumped in, freezing the puck, moving the puck, rebound control, etc.

Overall, when considering physical skills, the goalie should be able to do everything with one leg that he/she can do with the other. Everything that can be done from a stationary position should also be able to be done moving both forward and backward.

Mental Skills

No goalie can make it big without quality physical skills, yet just having quality physical skills is no guarantee of success. Mental skills are equally important.

Angles & Positioning. While “getting there” is a physical skill, knowing “where to go” is a mental one. The goaltender should challenge shooters, avoid hanging back on the goal line, and limit goals surrendered from bad angles. The better the goaltender’s positioning, the more “blocking” rather than saving is done. A well-positioned goaltender, therefore, will not look as flashy as a scrambling one, but will be much more consistent.

Proper Save Selection. The ability to “read and react” to a situation, anticipate, and have “hockey/goalie sense” directly affects the goalie’s ability to make the correct save choice. For example, if a player is parked in front of the net and tips the puck, a 1/2-butterfly move is much better then a skate save attempt. Often, however, the same shot from the same spot might be played differently based on where the other nine players are positioned on the ice. In other words, a change in situation can dictate changes in the way a goalie must be positioned and the save selection required.

Reaction Time. This is the speed at which a goaltender can mentally recognize a given situation and decide what physical skill to execute. Once a decision is made, the goalie’s physical speed comes into play. Together, they add up to the “response time” of the goalie.

Mental Toughness. The ability to maintain concentration and intensity, and to “shake off” being scored upon are skills to be admired. Be wary of goalies who use excuses, blame others, or who pull themselves from the net.

Overall, mental skills cannot be measured by rapid-fire drills or showdowns, but rather by drills that simulate game situations.

Emotional Skills

Self-confidence. It’s a must. Confidence is important for all players, but many goalies are downright cocky…and that’s not so bad! That cockiness may be an important part of the goalie’s emotional make-up. The coach must then consider that “part,” and decide if he can work with the goalie, as well as how the team will react to it. Remember: the goaltender, while a different animal, must still be part of the team.

Work Habits & Heart. Put simply: you practice as you play, you play as you practice. A goalie should have excellent work habits, setting a work-ethic example for the rest of the team. It is easy for a goalie to loaf during many parts of practice. If he or she does, you should wonder just how badly that person wants to be a better goalie.

Coachability. The goalie must be open to new ideas and constructive criticism. This is often a problem if the coach is not perceived as a credible source by the goalie.

There’s much that goes into being a successful goaltender. A judgment should not be made based on one scrimmage, 10 breakaways, or a series of rapid-fire shots. Choosing a team’s goaltenders is a big decision that affects everyone on the squad. So work these tips into your evaluation process, and good luck! Because after everything’s been analyzed, we all still need some luck.

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 10/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

How to Win Faceoffs

How to win faceoffs
By Bill Ferguson
Oct 31, 2001, 15:52

©BBS

In talking about faceoffs, let’s start with this: hockey is a team game, and during faceoffs, as in so many other aspects of the game, if one man doesn’t do his job, disaster will surely follow. And you thought we were only going to talk about centers?

True, the most important job in the faceoff is that of the center, but how well the other players do their jobs will greatly determine the success you have in this special teams area of the game. Even though most amateur teams don’t have “special teams” dedicated to faceoffs, it should still be considered as such. Why? Because rarely do you have as good an opportunity to execute set plays. And rarely can one man’s execution, or lack of it, have such an impact on the outcome of the game.

In the 1994 playoffs, Mark Messier, Craig MacTavish and Doug Gilmour each did well on the draw, but Peter Zezel probably outperformed them all. Zezel, a former pro soccer player, would often tie up his man’s stick, step into him and kick the puck back to his winger. This is the type of play the creative center must learn to master if he is going to consistently control the faceoff. And whether it’s in blocking out the opposing center, or outdeuling him for the puck, there is nothing that will help the successful center like arm strength. So all you centers, drop down and give me 20!

As for the draw itself, the best way to win it is to “cheat.” Anticipate. Start early. Learn a linesman’s rhythm. Guess. The best centermen are the ones who most often guess right.

Smart teams often send out two centermen in a must-win situation, so that the first can be very aggressive in taking the draw. If he wins the faceoff, great. But if he gets tossed out—with or without the opposing center—all he’s done is “waste” a draw. The second centerman then steps in, either facing a non-center or perhaps with an official who might not be as picky on the second or third drop as he was on the first.

The idea here is not just to see how many rules you can break and get away with. But the truth is that if you constantly take faceoffs “by the book,” with your stick on the ice, outside the dot, with both feet completely square, you won’t win many.

Where is the draw?

What to do during a faceoff depends where on the ice it is taken. In the defensive zone, the most important thing to do is prevent the opposition from getting clean possession of the puck. In the offensive zone, you strive to get the puck yourself, and put it somewhere where you can generate a scoring chance.

Since defense comes first in hockey, we’ll begin with a faceoff in the defensive zone. The center is your quarterback on the ice, and it’s his job to position players based on what he’s hoping to do with the puck. He also has the most difficult job, because he needs to both control the faceoff and neutralize the other center—regardless of whether he wins or loses the draw. Many centers, if they lose a draw, want to chase the puck to the point, but that is exactly the wrong thing to do.

If the puck goes to the point and the center follows, then all the point-man needs to do is get a shot on net. The other center, left unattended in front, will end up with an easy chance at a deflection or rebound. The center must stay with his man—win, lose or draw. The only time the center does not want to tie up his man is when his team is shorthanded and he loses the draw, in which case he must break free to cover the point.

Now for the wingers. In the defensive zone, the winger’s primary job is to neutralize his “opposite number.” If he can then get the puck back to his defensemen, he should. And if not, he must get out and cover the point.

If your “defensive assignment” drops back to the high slot or the top of the circle in order to be set for a shot, then he usually gets picked up by the other winger on your team. You must then concentrate on getting right out to the point. It is imperative that the wingers take direction from the center, and have a clear understanding of who has whom.

Be three places at once

There are minor differences between a left wing’s job and a right wing’s job, depending, of course, on which side of the ice the defensive faceoff is held. But just assume that it’s the winger’s job to be three places at once: neutralizing your man, working the puck back to your defense and covering the point. Impossible? Sometimes. But it does become easier when you do certain things.

First, get a good jump. Picture the baseball player looking to steal: he’s full of anticipation. Watch the referee’s hand—not the puck—to get the best possible jump. The play starts as soon as he releases the puck, not when it hits the ice. If you wait until the puck has dropped you’ll never win possession. The moment the ref opens his hand you should make your first step—a crossover with your opposite foot. Why the opposite foot, the one further away from the dot? Because you’ll be a half a stride closer to your destination than if you made your first step with the closer foot. Plenty of players never think about this kind of thing, but you should. A little bit of an edge is all you need to look great.

As for the defensemen, one should stay back on the goal line to move the puck if your center wins it. It’s a good idea in a must-win defensive faceoff for this back defenseman to shade slightly toward the net, in case the other center breaks through. Your team should have a standing set play for when your center wins a defensive faceoff: the opposite wing breaks to the far boards at the top of the circle for a break-out pass. This spreads out the other team and opens up some passing lanes for your break-out. All your defenseman has to do is fire the puck hard-around behind the net, and off you go.

The other defenseman will cover the offensive winger closest to the net. His job is to block that winger out of the play, or get a stick on the puck if a shot comes through. Obviously, interfering with a man who doesn’t have the puck is illegal, so you have to be discreet. If he’s a big, strong forward, line up facing him directly, creating as wide an obstacle as possible. This way he not only has to get by you, he also has to get by your stick. Try bumping your man as soon as play starts to slow him up a bit—odds are you won’t get called for it. There is nothing in the rules that says you can’t stand your ground.

What’s most important here, as it is for each player in a faceoff, is for the defenseman not to quit on his man. It does no good to control your man, only to let him go just as a shot comes through. Cover your man until your team gains possession, or until the zone is cleared.

Who’s going to shoot?

Taking an offensive draw, the first thing to decide is who’s going to take the shot—who are you trying to set up? If you have someone on D with a cannon, you probably want it to be him. But since the other team may know your tendencies, you might want to consider some alternatives.

As for the wingers, their job on an offensive draw is to give your team time to get a shot on net. One wing should step into the defensive winger who’s going out to cover your defenseman on the point. The other wing should work on the second defenseman—the one who’s away from the slot—as well as his opposite winger. Once you’ve gained clear possession, crash the net.

Just as on D, you want to execute a set play off the offensive draw. It’s up to your coach to diagram it, and everyone on the ice to execute it without fail. One such play is simply drawing the puck back to your best shooting rearguard while everyone else ties up their men. Another is for the center, just prior to the drop, to move his winger back to the top of the circle. Then the center can either pull it back (as everyone is expecting) or push the puck forward to a winger charging in from the other side.

Since the play always starts with action at a standstill, there are no excuses for making mistakes in set plays off faceoffs. Everyone should know where to go at all times, and if a player screws up it’s due solely to a lack of concentration—and that player won’t find himself on the ice for many more critical faceoffs.

Always remember that while a center has the job of actually taking the faceoff, it’s up to the whole team to successfully convert his work into puck possession. If you can do that, you’ll come out on top two ways: by increasing the number of scoring chances for you, and reducing the number of scoring chances against you. l

Bill Ferguson has been a player/teacher/ coach for 20 years.

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

Windmills

Drill:

1. Line players up in opposite corners
2. Place a coach at each wall on the blue lines (4 coaches)
3. Players start by making a pass to the opposite side of the blue and the skate the middle
4. Player receives return pass and passes to the next blue line (again opposite side from where they started)
5. Player receives pass and then skates in on net

Focus:
1. Hard passes
2. Head up play as there is another player coming the other way
3. Receiving and making good passes

Notes:
Replace coaches with players so they can work on their give and go passes.
Thanks to Nino Febbraro for this drill.

Related Drills:
Russian Sucides II (The Admiral II)
Russian Suicides (The Admiral)

Goalie – 3 Shot Drill

Drill:

1. Player skates down from wing and shoots
2. Player on opposite side gives the goalie a chance to recover then skates in and shoots
3. Coach lets the goalie recover then tries to stuff a puck in the net

Focus:
1. Players should focus on skating hard to the net and shooting. Shots should wrist or slapshots
2. Focus on Goalie movement from side to side, playing angles and recovering
3. Players should not try to make dekes or trick shots

Notes:
You can sub a player for the coach so they can work on their close range shots
You want a quick pace for the goalies. Give them enough time to recover but not a lot. This drill helps with their quickness and stamina.

Related Drills:
3 Shot Drill Variation
Goalie Warm Up

On Wheels: Rolling in Goal

On wheels: Rolling in goal
By Wayne Anderson
Oct 31, 2001, 15:54

This summer I had the pleasure of working with Mike LaZazzera, the national Goaltending Program Director for Huron Roller Hockey school. Now that winter approaches, Mike is back at his other job—goaltending coach for the University of Maine Black Bears. At Maine, Mike has tutored and worked with standout goaltenders Garth Snow and Mike Dunham, the netminding duo for the 1994 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Because of Mike’s experience with netminders both on the ice and in roller hockey, I turned to him for help addressing this month’s topic: how a goalie must adjust in going from the ice to the roller hockey floor.

Shuffle step

Mike says the biggest difference is in the “shuffle step.” On ice, a goaltender moves only one foot, while gliding with the other. On rollers, a goalie must move both feet—one at a time. This creates a larger 5-hole for shooters. When working on the shuffle step, remember—the smaller the steps, the smaller the 5-hole.

The other big difference, which all hockey in-liners experience, is stopping. For a goalie, though, stopping is a critical part of tracking and challenging. On rollers, a goalie requires more time for these aspects of his game. For example, on ice, a goalie would start tracking when an opposing player crossed the red line. On rollers, however, the goalie must start tracking a player almost as soon as he breaks out of his own zone. The goalie must think further ahead to keep pace with the approaching play.

Another big difference is the two-pad slide. On ice, a goalie needs less power from the “t-push” which initiates the slide maneuver, and will slide further than on a roller hockey surface. On rollers, you need to generate a greater amount of power just to slide a shorter distance. Plus, you will come to a much more abrupt stop when you complete the maneuver.

Iced edge

In terms of skill level, Mike and I both feel that while a great deal of talent is required to play net both on ice and in roller hockey, the ice hockey goalie tends to have a slight edge in athletic ability. Mike attributes this partly to the newness of high-level roller hockey. I also believe that roller hockey goalies are more susceptible to fatigue due to the higher temperatures they play in while wearing all the same equipment as their on-ice counterparts.

And speaking of equipment, another important difference for goalies on wheels is the puck itself. Huron Roller Hockey schools use the Arena Puck, which generates a greater amount of movement (dipping and curving, for example) than an ice hockey puck. This movement comes both from the lighter weight and from the holes bored into the puck. John Hord, of Arena Puck manufacturer Sun Hockey, explains that the holes in the puck are designed to keep it from “floating.”

Making the switch

Mike urges all roller goalies to concentrate four basic areas of training; balance and agility, rink geography, recovery, and puck-handling skills.

In balance and agility—the most important area—a goalie needs to work on the ability to move quickly while keeping themselves in a proper hockey stance. Remember the small steps that reduce the 5-hole?

Rink geography is also critical for the crossover goalie because a roller rink has no blueline—which is traditionally used by ice hockey goalies to help map out their territory and anticipate the approaching play. So familiarize yourself thoroughly with the playing surface. Study the distances from point-to-point, and the time it takes a skater or the puck to get from one spot to another…and then to your net.

As to recovery, a goalie must be able to execute a move—that two-pad slide, for instance—and get back into proper position (with full knowledge of where he is on the playing surface) quickly and without hesitation. In other words, you need to combine your balance, agility and knowledge of rink geography to put yourself in position to make the next save.

Finally, puck-handling skills. Mike feels this is probably the most neglected skill in most goalies’ training, but an important one to concentrate on. He emphasizes these skills because he always views the goaltender as a potential “third defenseman” for the team. Anyone who watches hockey—roller or ice—knows that an active, puck-handling goalie can be extremely effective in helping his team clear their zone and transition into an offensive attack.

These are some of the things to consider and work on when adjusting to being a goalie on wheels. And, as always, the best advice is “practice, practice, practice!”

Wayne Anderson is Managing Director of Huron Hockey’s new roller hockey schools.

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

Interview: Martin Brodeur

Interview: Martin Brodeur
By Stan Fischler
Jun 9, 2006, 13:01

©BBS

Martin Brodeur is the quintessential chip-off-the-old block. His father, Denis Brodeur, was a first-rate professional goaltender who starred on several minor league teams, and also played for Canada’s 1972 bronze-medal Olympic club. After his playing days ended, Denis became the team photographer for the Montreal Canadiens. Thus, young Martin grew up exposed to the professional hockey life from a young age, and began a goaltending career that eventually landed him in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Brodeur played so well in Quebec’s top Junior league that he was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 1990 Entry Draft. Since the Devils were blessed with solid goaltending at the time, everyone expected Brodeur to remain in the minor leagues for several years. But when Peter Sidorkiewicz arrived at the Devils 1993 training camp with a serious shoulder injury, coach Jacques Lemaire decided to gamble on Brodeur as the back-up to No. 1 goalie Chris Terreri.

Brodeur excelled when given the chance to play, and soon found himself getting more and more opportunities. By mid-season it had become apparent that Brodeur was not only a bona fide rookie-of-the-year candidate, but also a legitimate threat to dislodge Terreri as the Devils primary goaltender.

Eventually, the youngster from Montreal accomplished both feats. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top freshman, and got most of the starting assignments during the New Jersey’s run to the 1994 Stanley Cup semi-finals.

In this month’s interview, Martin Brodeur reflects on his life as a player, and his maiden season in the NHL.

When did you start playing hockey, and have you always been a goalie?

I started playing when I was three years old. At first they had me playing up front and I was very good. As a matter of fact I probably would have remained a forward but one day our regular goalie didn’t show up so I decided to try going between the pipes. Ever since then, I’ve been in the net.

Needless to say, I wouldn’t have stayed there if I didn’t play well, but I took to the new position. When our coach asked me, “Do you want to be a goalie or a forward?,” I had no hesitation answering. I said “I want to be a goalie.”

Did your father influence your decision?

I was so young at the time that I didn’t even know about what a terrific goaltending career my father had. (But) this much is certain—whichever position I decided on was okay with my father, because the primary thing was that he wanted me to play hockey. He wanted me to play just for the fun of it. He never pushed me. In fact, I never went to a hockey school in my life. Maybe if I had, I would have gotten tired of hockey and not stuck with the sport the way I did.

Once you became a goalie, did he give you any advice?

He would observe me a bit more carefully. It was interesting because, despite his professional background, he never gave me a hard time if I played badly, but he would ask me questions about what I was doing. And when he would ask me questions, I would come right back and ask questions of him. That’s when I began learning more about his background and what the bronze Olympic medal was all about. Up until then, I had never made the connection.

Tell us about your days in youth hockey.

I went from one league to another—Bantam, Midget, on up—until I reached Juniors. I did well, although there’s one incident that still sticks out in my mind. I was playing in a Midget tournament, and one that I really wanted to play well in, and there was this one situation when the opposition forward was coming down on me and the puck was out between us.

I took a gamble and rushed out, trying to poke check the guy at the blue line, but I missed him completely. He just went around me and put the puck into the empty net. To this day, when friends want to bug me, they’ll phone up and say, “Hey, do you remember that poke check you missed in Midget?” The funny thing is that it’s one of the few things I remember from my youth hockey days.

What do you like best about being in net?

The pressure. That you can always make the difference in a game. Even if a goalie doesn’t have a great game, he can make the big save that will make the difference between winning and losing. I like making the difference in a game, and the goalie is the best person to do that.

You mentioned pressure. How do you react to a bad goal?

From time to time every goalie lets in a bad one, and when that happens you just try not to think about it. When it’s a tight game I have to really concentrate and look at the puck all the time. If I lose sight of it, that’s when I get into trouble. A bad goal is damaging to your confidence. If it’s a good goal, I say to myself, “Well, I did my best,” and that’s it. Just like that, you erase it from your mind.

(But) you have to do that even if its a bad goal because the next one could be even more important. Hockey is a mental game. If you’re strong mentally, everything will go right.

For example?

I had a big mental test early in (the) season. It was December 8, 1993 when the Devils played Montreal at The Forum. Jacques Lemaire told me that I would be in goal that night. It was quite an occasion and, as you would expect, the media made quite a big deal about it.

I must say that it was the first time that I ever experienced such an exciting feeling as I did that night. Usually, I’m not a nervous guy at all but on this night I was pretty nervous. (But) once the anthems were over and the game started, the Canadiens took their first shot and my nervousness went away—just like that!

We beat the Canadiens, and the next day I had 20 calls on my answering machine with people congratulating me. It was great.

A lot of players have game-day rituals. Do you?

It’s very important that I watch my favorite soap opera, Days of Our Lives. After that, I have to take my nap—but not more than two hours sleep. If I sleep more than that, I’m too tired for the game. Then I eat a little snack, like a banana or chocolate bar, and I’m ready to go. The main thing is my soap and my sleep, that’s it.

The problem is, when I play on weekends Days of Our Lives is not on the air and that presents a problem. What I try to do is find something else on the tube that catches my attention, but nothing can match my soap. What it comes down to is being in the best frame of mind for the game.

Do the coaches work with you a lot, or pretty much leave you alone?

I do everything I can to help myself, but there’s always my goalie coach, Jacques Caron, available to help. He’s always talking to me in practices and between periods during the games. He wants me to watch the puck, look at the puck everywhere on the ice, all the time. He wants me to stay on my feet as much as possible. I’m a big guy, so if I stay on my skates I cover a lot of the net.

When I got to the NHL, I knew that I had the talent. But Caron’s instruction has helped me improve on what I originally brought to New Jersey. My work ethic is very good. I love playing hockey. For me, being a professional goaltender is not a job. When I go to a practice, I could usually stay at least another hour after we have to leave. That’s how much I like what I’m doing. Usually, I’m the last person to leave the rink.

Was your rookie season everything you expected?

My rookie season was funny. When I got to New Jersey and made the big club, I figured that I’d play a couple of games here and there, and that would be it. The next thing I knew, Jacques was playing me every two games, which was really good. It gave Chris a rest, and me, too. That left us more sharp when we had to play.

What made it even easier was that Jacques’ system emphasized defense, and our defense played very well. When your club is good defensively, you don’t need so many goals to win a game. When we would get a lead of two or three goals, we knew that we could keep the lead and win the game.

What about the atmosphere in New Jersey?

I like being a Devil. I go back to the day that they drafted me in Vancouver. Everyone said that I would be picked in the middle of the second round, maybe 30th overall, so it was a surprise and an honor to be picked in the first round. When my name was called out, it was hard to believe. And then moving up to New Jersey at the age of 21 and being so close to New York City!

Some players find that the big city is a distraction to them. I figure if you want to make it a distraction you can, but I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to go out and party. I always have to keep in mind that my primary purpose is goaltending and I must do everything I can to perfect my job.

How do you stay ready, night after night?

I know that I don’t have to be as strong as a forward, but I do need stamina and I try to be very well-conditioned. I bike and run—constantly work my legs. Hockey is also a mental game, so I’m always thinking about that. Your mind is like your body: it has to work and work and work. Part of that work is communicating with teammates, especially the defensemen.

When one of my defensemen goes into the boards for the puck, I have to be sure that he doesn’t get hit from behind. I talk to them as much as possible because I found that some goals just happen because of a lack of communication. A team with good communication is going to be a very strong defensive team.

Was it tough making the jump to the NHL?

As the 1993-94 season progressed, I developed more and more confidence. Part of it came from just looking around the league and seeing how former teammates of mine were doing. Felix Potvin was the starting goalie for Toronto and he had been a teammate of mine in Midget hockey. Stephane Fiset had made the big club in Quebec and he, too, had been on our Midget team. Not bad, eh?

Which is not to say that it was easy. There are too many good shooters in the league—guys like Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull. The way they score is unbelievable. Everything they do seems to create a goal or go in. It’s unbelievable.

I also got a lot of help from my teammates. Bruce Driver talked to me a lot, and anytime I got scored on Claude Lemieux would come up to me and say “Come on, kid, don’t worry about it.” The Devils took good care of their rookie.

Did your teammates believe in you right from the start, or did it take some time?

I guess they started getting confidence in me when I won my first NHL game against Boston. I beat the Bruins, I think 4-2 and then 5-2 over Quebec. In my first game, I was picked the first star. That was some kind of blast for me.

You mentioned some of the good shooters. Do you ever worry about getting hurt?

I’m more afraid in practices than in an actual game. In games, a goalie doesn’t have time to be afraid. I just try to stop the puck any way that I can. If I had to stop it with my mouth, I would do it. I’m not afraid of the puck—not in a game. If you’re afraid, you can’t play the game. We’re well protected, and when it’s going to hit you, it’s going to hit you.

When my dad played, goalies didn’t even wear face masks. As a result, my father had about 114 stitches taken in his face. I can’t imagine what it would be like playing without a mask in today’s hockey.

What will you remember about the 1994 playoffs?

I learned a lot from the experience. One lesson came from playing New York during the regular season. I didn’t do well against the Rangers during the regular games, but what I came to realize after the playoffs was that it doesn’t really matter what happened in the past. You can only control what will happen in the future. Another lesson is that you can’t let yourself get too down or too up.

Give us your impressions of the Game Six marathon against Buffalo.

That was the one that was 0-0 after regulation and then we played into a fourth sudden-death period. It’s difficult to explain what it was like to be part of an experience like that. When I was playing, my concentration was so intense that all I was thinking about was finishing the game—getting it over with. Granted that Buffalo got the only goal, but I was still proud to be part of such a classic.

After the game, I was more mentally than physically tired. Actually, in the last two sudden-death periods, the skaters were so tired that neither team had that many shots on goal, so I had to work more with my mind than anything else.

What was it like facing the Rangers, knowing you were only one win away from playing for the Stanley Cup?

When we went up against the Rangers, I felt very good about myself because the coaches, in starting me, gave me a lot of confidence. I went into the series really open-minded and played my heart out. In the seventh game, I gave up one goal in regulation and so did Mike Richter for the Rangers. I can’t get down on myself for giving up the other goal in the second period of sudden-death. But it was really hard to take, because when you play a close game like that, and you’re so close to winning, you feel sorry and bad.

But there were so many happier moments in my rookie year. Winning the opening series against Buffalo was very important. When the coach picked me to start, a lot of people were saying, “Well, we’ll see what the kid can do now.” There were a lot of skeptics who thought a rookie couldn’t hack it in a pressure situation like that. I showed them that I was capable of handling playoff pressure.

To what do you credit your playoff success?

It all happened because early in the season the coach played me a lot, and that gave me experience and confidence. Playing in Montreal and beating the Canadiens, (then) playing me in the playoffs against Boston. Especially when Chris won the two games in Boston to tie the series at two and then Jacques came right back with me in Game Five at home. Things like that are what I’ll never forget.

Rookie of the Year. How does that sound?

The Calder Trophy really made me feel good. I was thinking that the year before Teemu Selanne won it after scoring 76 goals for Winnipeg and then they voted for me the following season. Well, that’s some honor because, to me, the Calder is the hardest trophy that you can win. You only have one chance at it in your entire career. So now I have to build on that.

But anytime I see a problem coming, I’m going to think about 1993-94 and what I accomplished that season.

Stan Fischler writes regularly for several major sporting publications.

This first appeared in the 10/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
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