Defense playing the puck carrier

Good Hockey Habits by Guy Gadowsky
December 22, 2005 -- Good habits make good hockey players. University of Alaska Fairbanks head hockey coach Guy Gadowsky says that the following are hockey habits he emphasizes at the Division I college level. Most of these habits apply to all the levels. The sooner a player develops these habits the deeper they will root and the more consistent they will be. When college and pro scouts and coaches evaluate players they evaluate the consistency of many of these habits.

General Habits

Defensive Habits Playing the Puck Carrier

These hockey habits apply when playing the man with the puck:

1) 5 on 5 Stick and Pin. When playing at even strength, hit your man and pin him, keeping him from returning to the play. Always beat your man back into the play.

2) 4 on 5 Stick And Move. When playing a man down, hit your man and move on, quickly getting back into the play. Do not get tied up with your man, giving the opposition more ice and your team less defensive coverage.

3) Numbers Hard At. When forechecking and the puck carrier’s back is to you, numbers showing, go at him hard, quickly taking away time and space.

4) Crest Control Angle. When forechecking and the puck carrier is facing you, crest showing control him by angling towards the boards. Make him go where you want him to go. Take away time and space in a controlled manner.

Defensive Habits Away from the Puck Carrier

Offensive Habits with the Puck

Offensive Habits Playing without the Puck

Defensemen Retrieving Dumb-ins

Bench Management

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