Beehives Minor Hockey Tips

Passing is essential to the success of a hockey team at any level.

The good teams pass well. They move the puck fast, create space for themselves and keep the opposition off balance. They are exciting to watch and tough to play against.

The poor teams get bogged down. They chronically work off of broken plays and in lots of traffic. They are not pretty to watch and are easy to play against because they beat themselves.

The basic building block of a good passing team starts with good individual skills.

The best teams have the best skills and are able to execute them really well in order to win.

Lots of coaches run passing drills. You can see numerous versions at any hockey instructional camp and on lots of web sites. Drills simulate game situations but they break down if the skill is not there. “You can’t do the drill if you can’t do the skill.”

Passing, like golf is largely dependent on 4 key components:

Grip, stance, alignment and vision.

Grip: You should grip the stick in the base of your fingers for the best feel. The top hand should be straight with your arm (not bent) and the bottom hand should be shoulder width from the top.

Stance: You should always assume an athletic stance. Knees bent, back relatively straight and head up.

Alignment: In order to make a tape to tape pass your stick should be square to the target. In the forward pass both hands should be clearly our in front and your shoulders moving towards the target.

Vision: Most young players have poor vision particularly when they are in motion. Good vision in passing means being able to clearly see your target, your stick, the puck and your hands all at the same. These are the reference points that you need to put the puck exactly where you want it. Mastering your peripheral vision is vital.

When you deliver the pass keep the blade of your stick closed and zip the puck with lots of spin so it will travel straight to the target. A slow wobbly pass will get picked off leaving you out of position.

Receiving a pass requires many of the same skills only, instead of dishing the puck off, you are taking it in.

Again the blade of the stick should be square to the puck as it comes toward you. Your hands should be soft and the stick should be extended out toward the puck in order to cushion it as it arrives. Many players never master this skill consequently countless opportunities are lost throughout their careers.

Once these basics are mastered you can start working on specialty passes like the backhand, saucer pass, flip pass and dump pass. All require slightly different skills but are grounded in the basics.

Mastering these skills like the pros takes years of practice.

 Remember: “Practice with Passion every day.”  

Body checking has come back into focus in recently with the announcement that Hockey Canada has decided to remove body checking from the game for the younger players.

This comes at a time when we are seeing an increase in concussions and head related injuries both at the amateur and professional level.

It is a hot topic and one that has its proponents on both sides of the fence.

As a minor hockey player there are few tips to keep in mind on this subject.

Body checking is a skill that needs to be learned both in how to dish out a body check and how to take a check.

Body checking is defensive tactic designed to separate the opposition player from the puck and create a turnover. It is not intended to intimidate or purposely injury the other player. Excessive use of force will lead to unnecessary penalties as well as retaliation by the other team. It is also unsportsmanlike and shows lack of respect for the other players.

There are many different types of body checking. From the sensational open ice highlight reel shoulder check or hip check to subtle strategic blocking and body positioning they all have there place depending on the situation.

By knocking the other player off the puck you leave it open for your team mate to come in and pick it up. Playing the body is easier then making a stick check. A player that has been knocked off the puck or blocked out the play is rendered in effective for a brief period creating an odd man advantage for your team.

Body checking requires a few basic skills.

Skating: Good strong skating, stance and balance are needed to deliver a body check and avoid one. Young players should work on their edges, strength, speed and agility.

Vision: Good over all vision is essential in order to time the body check perfectly. You have to   very quickly size up the situation and make a quick decisive judgment call.

Positioning: To dish out a good check you have to get yourself into a position that takes away the opposing players space to maneuver. This allows you to knock the other player off the puck without putting yourself at a disadvantage.

Team Play: Good body checking requires team play. When one player engages in a body check the others members have to lead support in order to recover the puck and back up your player.

Using your body to create an advantage for your team is a powerful tool that if done correctly can have some positive results. Like anything else it requires regular practice, good communications with your coach and your other players.