7 great hockey habits

By Darren Eliot –

Good Sticks (stick to the puck):

• All over the ice – Defensemen & Forwards
• Passing lanes – Defensemen & Forwards
• Defensive zone – lead with stick, flush, play up boards – Defensemen & Forwards
• Going to the net – Defensemen & Forwards
• 1^st man on fore-check must make long pass difficult – Forwards

Body Position:

• Make them come through you to the net – Defensemen & Forwards
• If the puck is in doubt, be on the defensive side – Defensemen & Forwards
• Battle hard, stick on the ice, and keep position – Defensemen & Forwards

Stop in front:

• Go to the net hard – Defensemen & Forwards
• Stick on the ice – Defensemen & Forwards
• Battle for loose puck – Defensemen & Forwards
• Bury your chances – Defensemen & Forwards
• Hit the net – Defensemen & Forwards
• Traffic in front of the net – Forwards
• Any shot is a good one – Defensemen & Forwards

Feet Moving:

• All over ice – Defensemen & Forwards
• Winger getting puck out – Forwards
• Quickness through neutral zone – Defensemen & Forwards
• Cycle vs. slow D-3^rd man rotation going to the net finishing the check – Forwards
• On the back check – Defensemen & Forwards
• Work this defense; take puck to the net (every opportunity you have) – Forwards

Support Teammates:

• Hold up with feet moving – Defensemen & Forwards
• Get available and want the puck – Defensemen & Forwards
• Puck side support on all outs – Defensemen & Forwards
• Defense support through middle – keeping gap tight – Defensemen
• Scrums – five guys in – do nothing after the whistle – Defensemen & Forwards

Discipline:

• On attack get it behind their D – using soft dumps – Forwards
• Shift length – Defensemen & Forwards
• Don’t retaliate after the whistle – Defensemen & Forwards
• Getting the puck deep – Forwards
• Finishing checks – Defensemen & Forwards
• Be positive all the time – Defensemen & Forwards
• Remain disciplined under ALL circumstances – Defensemen & Forwards

Great Decisions:

• Commitment to the team – do whatever it takes – Defensemen & Forwards
• Supporting on outs – Defensemen & Forwards
• Dump in away from goalie and with a purpose – Defensemen & Forwards
• Changes – hard and be aware – Defensemen & Forwards
• Defensemen – when to jump – when to get back and out of the offensive zone – when to pinch
• Forwards – fore-checking 1 or 2 men depending on possession other team has – 3^rd man all the time in rotation especially when puck is in doubt
• Getting the puck to the net or deep – Defensemen & Forwards
• React – trust your decision – Defensemen & Forward