Thanksgiving is a great holiday and provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate with friends and family who travel near and far to gather. For hockey families, Thanksgiving is also a big tournament time as youth hockey teams participate in tournaments that often provide some great bragging rights for the season.
So coming off a big Thanksgiving day meal, what are the keys to taking your Thanksgiving tourney? Well of course it starts with not completely over-eating to the point you can't skate, but here are 3 great ways to help your team take home the turkey trophy!
1. Shoot! This is the time to test goalies and unleash that great shot you have developed firing pucks into the shooting tarp in your basement, backyard or garage. If you're in the slot or higher, a hard shot on net creates a ton of opportunities either directly if the goalie is screened, or indirectly by tips, ricochets and rebounds. If you're closer to the net, help your teammate by screening the goalie and creating chaos in find. Next, consider that 30-40% of goalies are scored from inside 10 feet, on both the forehand and backhand side, so next time you have a stack of pucks at home, be sure to focus on those in-tight shots as well. Lastly, consider that many youth goalies are still struggle with going side to side, so as much as you want to go bar down from the slot, consider how a deceptive stickhandling move to your strong side can result in a ton of open net to shoot at.
2. Back Check. We have been out watching a lot of hockey already this season and the one common denominator that we see with great players and great teams is that they all work hard and back check. They don't just watch and assume that someone else will do it. If you are the forward and you are closest to stopping a rush, hustle back and lift the stick or angle that player to the outside to slow them down and take away their passing angles. Further, instead of just lunging at the puck carrier and letting them skate by, you want to skate "through the hands" and use your body to nudge (or more, if needed) them towards the outside to reduce their chances of making a play.
3. Inspire. This is something all great players do, they inspire others around them to take their game to the next level. Be the positive voice on the bench. If a teammate is down or makes a mistake, be the first to vocalize to them "No problem, you'll get it next time." or "I got your back". If your team is down, remind them to focus on winning each shift, then each period. Find the positive, constructive things they are doing that game. Now is the time to use your skills and talent to motivate and inspire others to do their best as well!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our hockey friends and families and good luck in your games and tournaments!
Edited in November 2024 from an original article written by Snipers Edge Hockey co-founder and turkey leg connoisseur Joe Shoults in 2015.
