Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 January 2015 16:02
By Diane Ness
If you have had a chance to watch some NHL hockey this winter, you know how important it is to sustain a good forecheck. A good forecheck is set up by executing good stops and starts. There are a few different ways to do stops and starts, but I will explain the two main ones that you will see in a game, and more importantly why they should be worked on and practiced regularly.
The first way, which may not be the quickest way, but is the one that is often used during a game, is a crossover start. The skater should execute a stop, remembering that if you are able to stop quicker, it will naturally help you start quicker. This means the skater should not “slide,” but rather try to stop as quickly as possible. Once the skater stops, he/she should try to lean in the direction the skater wants to go. It is important to remember to bring the stick and shoulders through, getting everything going the same direction. One common mistake younger skaters make is to drag their stick behind them. Once the stick, shoulders and head are heading the right direction, the skater should try to cover some distance on their crossover. I usually like to see only one powerful crossover and then go as opposed to a couple shorter, choppier crossovers. Another key is to try to keep the foot that is doing the crossover low to the ice. Think of going “out” rather than “up.”
The second way is doing a stop and a start without a crossover. If you notice from the below photos, the skater will stop and, rather than crossing over, will open up, load and push off the stopping foot. The key is the stopping skate. The skater needs to absorb the stop and explode off that same foot, remembering that downward force is the key. This is where leg strength and power come into play, and the harder the skater pushes against the ice, the more power they will have to propel their body forward. It’s very simple, the stronger the skater is, the more powerful the start. This may be a more efficient way, but does take more effort from the skater.
Both skills should be practiced regularly. It takes a lot of effort and energy, but stopping and starting are big parts of the game, no matter what level. Remember that stopping and starting is an extremely important skill that goes beyond conditioning drills. It should be done correctly and executed properly rather than just a form of survival during a conditioning drill. Keep working and good luck.
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.
