A hockey skill that is frequently required but seldom practiced is how to steal the puck from an opponent. This comes down to two simple concepts: getting to the puck fast and winning battles.
Let’s dive into this a little deeper.
Hockey is a sport of possession. If you have the puck more than the other team, the odds of you winning the game are much greater. Basic hockey drills that focus on passing will help your team control the puck for longer periods of time. But, what happens when the other team has the puck? Here are four tips on how to regain possession as quickly as possible:
- Take away "time and space". Starting from a very young age, coaches can introduce beginner hockey drills that work on this concept by having one player with the puck and another player trying to steal it. You get to the player quickly, forcing them to make decisions faster than expected, which can result in turnovers. Concurrently, you can teach players about puck control, deceptive stickhandling techniques, how to use stick, legs and backside to shield the attacker from their puck, and even practice escape turns.
- Stick on puck. This concept helps to deter your opponent from making easy passes. When approaching a player with the puck, the forechecker should have his/her stick on the ice and clog the passing lanes, forcing the defender to make a different decision. Once you reach the player, use your stick to poke check to force the defender to lose possession.
- Engage in a board battle. A lot of games are won or lost in a board battle. The key to winning these battles is to gain inside position on the player, where your body is between the puck and the opponent. Once you gain this position, your opponent has to go around you to get the puck back. Keep your feet moving and with a quick turn or two, you have won the battle.
- Go into stealth mode. When you are chasing the player with the puck, try to move into the opponent's blind side so they are unable to see you as clearly from their field of vision. With your feet moving, get close, lift the stick, breakup the play and steal the puck.
Teams that dedicate time to practicing these techniques will tilt the time of possession back in their favor, resulting in more scoring chances and more goals.
Concurrently, the teams and individuals that are able to recognize these vulnerable puck control situations are able to counter-act the threat through increase passing drills. And even when you're away from the rink, grab a friend or a Passmaster to practice some low, flat tape-to-tape passes that your teammates will appreciate. Then in the next game when you're retrieving the puck and you glance your opponent bearing down, you'll be ready to find your wingman along the wall for a breakout.
Edited in August 2024 from original article written by Lance Pitlick in 2017. Based in the Minneapolis area, Lance is a former NHL player with Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers, played collegiate hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, is top hockey training professional both in-person and through onlinehockeytraining.com, and is the founder and former owner of Snipers Edge Hockey.
