Hockey Player Magazine

Tag: Behind The Bench

  • Motivation toolbox

    Motivation toolbox

    By Julia Negro Oct 23, 2001, 18:19   Julia Negro George Gwozdecky, a NCAA Division I Coach of the Year, believes motivation is the key component for a successful season. And motivation and leadership starts with the coach. Try these tips that Gwozdecky, now in his first year with the University of Denver Pioneers, used…

  • Passing, shooting and skating drill

    Passing, shooting and skating drill

    By Hockey Player Staff Oct 23, 2001, 15:04 With one player each at Positions 2 and 3 (both just inside the blueline) and 4, the rest of the team starts at Position 1. The dashed line represents puck movement, while the solid line represents player movement.This drill is a great all-around tool because it combines…

  • How to Run Practice

    By Bill Ferguson Printer friendly page Mike Milbury teaches his players NHL fundamentals. ©BBS We’ve all heard the phrase “Practice Makes Perfect.” But when it comes to hockey that old adage can get you in hot water. And as we all know, hot water and ice hockey don’t mix. A more accurate phrase might be “Practice Makes…

  • Keep those passing lanes open

    By Shawn Killian Printer friendly page Passing lanes are not something for the freeway; they are an integral part of hockey. Simply put, a passing lane is any area on the ice that provides an opportunity to advance the puck by successfully completing a pass. Passing, like most other skills in hockey, is an art. The best…

  • Coaching with Jim Roberts

    By Mike Neuman Printer friendly page Jim Roberts. ©BBS On July 17, 1996, Jim Roberts took the position of assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues, joining Roger Neilson in helping head coach Mike Keenan. Roberts brought plenty of coaching experience with him. Starting his 14-year coaching career as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres (1979-84),…

  • Defense zone face-offs

    By Quint Randle Figures A & B Your goalie may have just come up with a big save, but now you’ve got a big face-off coming up in your own zone—right in front of your net. The way your team sets up before the puck is dropped in no small way determines what happens after…

  • Keys to successful practice

    By Shawn Killian As developing players and coaches, we all have an obligation to maximize each and every ice session. If we expect our players to improve, to perform at their highest level, and to grow in their love for the game, we as educators must be well–equipped to meet the challenge. Consider the following…

  • Passing: The key to team play

    By Greg Siller Printer friendly page Figure 1: Flip pass. During a recent pro hockey game that I attended in California, I was reminded just how important passing is to the overall success of any team. Why is passing so important? Because it sets up almost every scoring opportunity. Passing is the quickest and most effective way…

  • Building puck support

    By Greg Siller Printer friendly page Figures 1 and 2 Let’s discuss one of the most important skills you can perform early in the season to quickly (and consistently) help put your team on top. It’s called puck support. Puck support is your team’s ability to maintain control of the puck while moving it into a scoring…

  • The low-down on line chemistry

    By Julia Negro Printer friendly page The Triple Crown Line (Photo: BBS). Certain great hockey players are remembered as much for the lines they played on as for their own individual accomplishments. The French Connection. The Triple Crown. The Kid Line. Even the Red Army’s famed KLM line is etched as a unit in our hockey memories.…