Offensive habits with the puck

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

Defensive Habits Away from the Puck Carrier

Offensive Habits with the Puck

These hockey habits apply when playing with the puck:

1) Take What’s Given Deep. Take what is given, but you must get the puck deep, at least behind the defensemen. Getting the puck behind the defensemen forces the defensemen to retreat further, prevents getting caught in transition and sets up offensive pressure deep in the opposition’s zone.

2) Take What’s Given Out. Take what is given, but you must get the puck out of the defensive zone. Getting the puck out of the zone puts an end to the other team's offensive pressure. At worst, there may be an icing or the opposition regroups; At best, offensive opportunities may develop from the neutral zone for your team.

3) Keep Dumps Away From Goalie. Keep dump ins away from the goalie so that the goalie cannot control the puck. Dump ins away from the net may draw the goalie far out of the net and he could get caught if there is a breakdown.

4) Keep On Boards If No Play. Keep the puck along the boards if there is no certain play. This applies in all zones. Dangerous offensive opportunities can be given to the oppositions up the middle.

Offensive Habits Playing without the Puck

Defensemen Retrieving Dumb-ins

Bench Management

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