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Every player on the ice has a role in playing defense. Going hard on the backcheck, taking away opportunities and ability to turn over pucks plays a significant role in minimizing an opponent's scoring chances, and winning puck possession and creating chances for your team. Some of the best players in the game achieved that status because of being two-way players. So whether you play defense or not, here are the top-5 hockey defense tips that any player can easily apply in their next practice or game to shut down opponents.
1. Know who you've covering and where to be. After the puck turns over to your opponent, every player on the ice now has an opposing player to cover as their assignment. It doesn’t matter where this is on the ice. At advanced levels you might be told to stop a particular player, whereas at other levels you're tasked with guarding certain regions of the ice or taking away chances from certain positions. Whomever the player is you are supposed to be covering, the most important thing is to make sure you are in between that player and your net.
2. Have an active stick. If you are covering the puck carrier, be pesky with poke checks and on his/her stick and to force them to make quick decisions and/or move the puck, which often can lead to fumbling and a turnover. When you’re not on the person with the puck, have your stick down and in passing lanes he/she may use, moving that stick from lane to lane as either the puck carrier or players behind you move.
3. Move your feet. Both interference penalties and highlight-reel deke moves happen when a defensive player gets mesmerized by the puck and forgets to move their feet. Don't get caught flat-footed...keep your feet active, lock your eyes on the opponent's belt to know which direction they're going, and match their speed and movement and make their path harder.
4. Head on a swivel. You have to constantly be looking over your shoulder, both sides, to assess where players are around you. These are dynamic situations and defensive-minded players must constantly recalibrate where they should be and who they should be covering in response to the other team's movement. If your defenseman ventures too far from the net and someone tries sneaking into the slot or back door, you might need to course-correct to help them.
5. Communication is key. Be your teammates "eyes" when they can’t see. If a line mate is battling in the corner, let them know what they can do with the puck, eat it, over or right up are some universal commands on the ice. This however requires a team that trusts one another. Yell out to mark up the guy in the slot, or the point, to make sure teammates are aware and can help.
No matter where you in neutral zone, the opposing end or your own end, know your defensive coverage strategy and follow these tips to disrupt your opponent's scoring chances. If you do this consistently, you will be very difficult to play against and will create more opportunities for your team as well.
Edited in February 2025 from an 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 a top hockey training professional both in-person and through onlinehockeytraining.com, and is the founder and former owner of Snipers Edge Hockey.
