The RinkFor the not so ready for prime-time players, coaches, referees, and the people that have to live with them. Discuss experiences in local leagues, coaching tips, equipment, and training.
1-"Look at the waist" when challenged 1 on 1. This has been stated several times, but it is important. He is not going anywhere without his belly button so ignore the 19 headfakes, the slick stick handling, his "fake look" to the winger and watch his belt. Where it goes, he goes!
2-"Cheat to the forehand" when challenged one on one by a player coming up the middle. Make the forward go where you want him to. I am a big and surprisingly fast for a big player, which makes me a very good defensivly! (I also have zero offensive vision and can't stickhandle just in case anyone thought I am bragging about my rec hockey prowess). As a big and fast player, I know that I am fast enough not to be taken wide, and those few jack rabbits who are faster, still will not escape my reach...
Anyways...my point on cheating to the forehand is this. He's not getting around me with the puck, so I'll cheat to the forehand and make him think his best option is to go around me on his backhand side. I know he wont be able to cut to the net, leaving his only option a backhand shot, or a "curl and pass". Just be careful not to cheat so much that he can get around you. You have to have the wheels to back it up.
3-"Cheat to the centre" when challenged one on one by a player coming down the wing.
this will force him WIDER, rather then him cutting back into the slot. Again, only cheat as much as your speed allows. And if you are lucky enough to force him wide while also force him to his backhand he might as well pack it in for the night.
Forwards/coaches keep this in mind as you decide to have a left handed shot playing the right wing and vice versa. Playing the offwing makes the onetimer a posibilty, but makes things near impossible if you like to challenge dmen 1 on 1.
4- "Meet him at the post"- Does he have a step on you? No worrys, meet him at the post. you KNOW he is going to cut to the net, so don't race to where he is, race to where he will be! Draw a map of the hockey rink. Put him at the boards, and you closer to centre ice while both standing on the blueline. Measure the distance he has to go, and the distance you have to go. You have a much shorter distance, so make the most of it and head straight to the post (keeping yourself in the passing lane of course). your job is to keep him from passing and to keep him from cutting past the post and in front. All you leave him is a full speed bad angle shot on the fly....if your goalie has faith in you he can challenge knowing the forward can't deck or pass.
5-"Never chase a player behind the net"- You'll never catch him...cut through the crease and meet him on the otherside! Boom!!...He can't come out front and you are in the passing lane! This is the number one mistake I see new dmen make chasing the forward behind the net who simply curls or passes back out in front giving you a great view as you stand behind the net and watch the puck cross the goal line.
6-"Talk with your goalie!" I know, goalies are different cats and aren't the best conversationalists, but let him know you will play the pass on the 2 on 1 and will meet someone testing you wide at the post preventing him from cutting in front.
Also talk during the game. Let him know when someone sneaks into Gretzky's office, and let him know where the rebounds and deflections go. "My Corner" "Far Corner" "straight out". The puck ricochets like crazy...just because u see it doesnt mean he does.
7- "Leave something in the tank" i know "i still have gas left in the tank" isn't a good sound bite in the post game interview, BUT as a dman, you always have to have that Emergency Wartime Power if you get pinned in your zone. Give 95% and save the other 5 until you really need it. Keep your shifts short as well. A good dman corp realizes that 30, 1 minute long shifts is EXACTLY the same amount of icetime as 15, 2 minute long shifts.
8-"Be safe" when in doubt, dump it out. Off the boards, off the glass, ice it, over the boards...all of those are far better options then throwing a pass up the middle and having it picked off. Sure the 130lb fowrard may throw his hands as he stands all by himslef at the far blueline. But it's better that he is upset when you safely chip it off the glass and into the neutral zone, then having your whole team pissed because your attempted a 130ft pass through a set of legs, over one stick and under another got picked off and quicky buldged your own twine.
9-"Look and Think" keep your head on a swivel and make a conscious effort to remember where your teammates and your opponents are and are going.
10-"***** or get off the pot" when blocking shots....either block it or get out of the way!
11-"Don't fight in front of the net on the PK" If you can't clear him from the crease, you are just putting two bodies infront of your goalie while leaving the entire side open for cross ice passes. Don't let him get the rebound, but dont fight him for position.
12-"Don't trust a forwad" They are all self absorbed playboys who get all the credit while you do all the hard work! Everyone knows that defense wins hockey games!!
Also don't watch the puck. A forward can move the puck side to side alot faster than he can move his body. If you get caught watching the puck you'll find your jockstrap in the rafters.
Keep your eyes and body on the player, let the goalie worry about the puck/shot.
Starting out, don't worry about owning the rush as soon as they get possession. Learn to stay with the attackers as they come into the zone, making sure you don't get caught on the outside or behind. Imagine there's a box between the player and the net, you need to stay in that box as he gets closer.
Be patient, as long as you're in position you make the forward do all the hard work.
I'm a converted defenseman and have recently had some issues with coverage in my own zone. Any insights or advice would be helpful.
Just to touch base on what Woodford said. Make sure that your outside shoulder is in line with his inside shoulder. Check out this picture below;
Plus, you job as a defensemen is to move or allow the attacking player to move into the white area as shown below.
Once you have him in this are, you have placed him in a lower scoring percentage angle.
The last thing that is very important is gap control. That's the distance between you and the attacking player. The proper distance is one stick length away from you. This is why it's important to place your blade of your stick in line with your skates or as close to your skates. If you place your stick out towards the shooter, it acts like a tape measure for the shooter to you and this tells him how far he can come.
So don't allow him to know this distance by placing your stick off to the side in line with your skates. What this does is make it harder for the shooter to determine the distance in the gap and by placing it off to one side, if make the space look closed.
Example; If you shoot left and you are on the left defense, place your stick on the right side of your body making the center of the ice closed. this will force him to go towards the outside and towards the open white area. Then you can use the boards to angle him off or drive him into the boards like a nail.
Not sure if this has been said: play the body.
Do not care about the puck. Unless being outnumbered (1:2/2:3) you want the puck moving man being separated from the puck. Do not let the attacker get past you. Block him. Your teammates will take care of the puck.
Like we all learned in Mighty Ducks 3, let the forward make the first move.
also, don't worry because you can't be anywhere near as awful as Goldberg
all jokes aside, i'd suggest just staying low in a balanced position, and force the guy to make a mistake. also, delaying so your guys can catch up to the play and help out is always a good idea
Here is a question for you guys; if you are playing shinny/stick and puck, is it still okay to take the body? Not a check or a rub out, but just slow him down to a stop. I've been wanting to practice this whenever I play shinny against the stronger players, but I'm a little worried they'll react poorly and start some drama.
Here is a question for you guys; if you are playing shinny/stick and puck, is it still okay to take the body? Not a check or a rub out, but just slow him down to a stop. I've been wanting to practice this whenever I play shinny against the stronger players, but I'm a little worried they'll react poorly and start some drama.
i wouldnt if they dont have pads on, its ok in mens league if you bump them a bit but people do get pissed off like its not a contact sport
Shinny meaning pond hockey, no, I only really use the stick (poke checking and directing the player).
Stick and puck, no games are allowed.
Pickup/open hockey, I might tie a guy up, but I'd never play physical because there's always a ton of hotheads who will try and drop the mitts if you look at them funny.
