I think if most coaches went around their locker room and asked how many player watch NHL games, a good number of kids (generally speaking) would raise their hands. I would venture to guess if you asked who watches a game without texting their friends, updating Facebook, or Tweeting – the number of hands raised would be drastically decreased. Players (and coaches) who watch professional hockey have tons of opportunities to learn from the best in the game every time a game is televised.
Back in December, we broke down the offensive side of a 2 on 1 rush in our 2 on 1 Dissected (Part 1) post. In part 2, we will be discussing the strategies and common mistakes made while defending a 2 on 1 rush. The general rule of thumb for defending a 2 on 1 rush is: the goaltender should take the shot and the defender should eliminate the pass across. While this is a good general rule, there are more instances to look into and a couple key additions to be made.
Harry Guittard was kind enough to share a practice plan he used for a body checking clinic recently. Much of the content is based off of Hockey Canada’s recommendations, but it’s great to see how different coaches put this content together and present it. Download the entire practice plan today for free!
So, now you have taken the time to properly plan out your tryout sessions, and now find yourself with an evaluation sheet in hand. Many coaches get overwhelmed during this process – after all, there is a lot to watch. Assuming you’re breaking your tryout into three distinct drill categories – skill, competitive, scrimmage – we will take a look at what skills and subtleties to watch for in each of these three areas.
Goal scorers score goals because they put the puck on the net when they’re in the prime scoring area and they shoot the puck with a purpose.
Spring time marks the end of a long-cold (but exciting) hockey season – and for many, brings with it a set of tryouts. Older players begin trying out for junior teams, younger players try out for select spring teams, and many Tier I teams hold their tryouts for next season.
If you’ve ever heard a coach (in any sport) tell you they don’t have favorite players, there’s a pretty good chance they’re lying to you. I believe every coach has favorite players.
There are several subtle differences between the playing rules in the NHL and USA Hockey. This article outlines some of the more notable differences.
Two recent dirty hits in the NHL provide a great learning opportunity for players and coaches of all levels.
USA Hockey recognizes the number one reason for players dropping out of the sport is because they aren’t having any fun. If hockey becomes a mundane task, it’s no fun. Time off from the rink is healthy – it helps keep the game special.