Last Updated on Friday, 04 January 2013 11:09
By Diane Ness
In today’s game it is very important to have puck control or “puck management.” If you watch any kind of high level hockey, you are able to see that the players are very good at keeping control of the puck and not carelessly turning the puck over.
Whether it’s along the boards, in the corner or in the slot, good players are able to protect the puck using their body along with excellent footwork from their skating. Even at the younger levels they are calling checking from behind so tight it is important to take advantage of puck protection.
The puck protection move I will be teaching requires the skater to have excellent flexibility and footwork. For a righthanded shooter (follow pictures above), the skater will have a solid base with knees bent in a power turn position. The puck will be out in front of the skater while turning to the right. The skater will begin to pull the puck back as the stick and hips come back as well. Notice the right foot stays out and does not turn in.
There are a number of reasons for this. As the leg is out, you can see the right knee is in a perfect puck protection position. The knee will shield defenders sticks while maintaining forward progress. If that right foot turns in, you are now actually heading backwards and will expose the puck on the other side of your body. Keeping the right foot out keeps you going in the forward direction.
Now that the puck is protected, you will give a good push from the left leg (back leg) to continue in a forward direction. This move can be repeated a number of times depending on the situation. The move can also be done the other direction.
Mastering the footwork is key. Using this technique will allow you to constantly keep the puck shielded. Knowing that your opponent cannot hit you from behind allows you to really keep control of the puck for a long time or until you’re ready to make a play.
This movement can be done by any player, no matter his or her physical size as long as the skater can do the footwork and is strong on his/her skates. Players with longer reaches and/or longer sticks can be extremely proficient with this skill once they learn to perfect it.
If you get a chance to watch Evgeni Malkin, he has mastered this maneuver and seems to use it all the time in the corners and along the wall. Some of my NHL skaters say that it is extremely difficult to take the puck from players like this and they usually just have to try to contain them rather then try to chase them around.
Practicing this maneuver along with small area keep-away drills can make a huge difference in a player’s game. My skaters say the keep away drills are a lot of work and are exhausting but can be extremely beneficial.
Diane Ness has been a full-time professional skating coach for over 35 years. She has coached both figure skaters and hockey players alike and is a former U.S. gold medalist in figure skating. She is the Director for the Pro Edge Power hockey camps and the Learn to Skate program at Highland Park Arena. Ness is the skating coach for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team. She has trained players in the NHL, AHL, NCAA, USHL and NAHL.
