The game is full of little small plays that many people don’t even notice but it is many times these plays that separate players from good to great.  There is an old saying in hockey that goes like this, “You can’t give a good player a bad pass” meaning that no matter where that pass is a good player can not only get it but make a play from it without losing control of it. Here are some ways to practice small skills within the game

A. Pick Up Every Puck in Practice

Take pride in being able to receive every pass that hits your stick. If you miss a pass stop and get it.  There is only one puck in a game, use one puck in a drill. If someone gives you a bad pass work on handling it anyway.  No matter how much we want things to be perfect in a game, they seldom are.  You will always have to have to ability to adjust even just a little bit.

B. Work

Practice all types of scenarios that you could see in a game.  Work on getting pucks on your backhand and bringing them to your forehand then shooting quickly.  Practice using your skates first to control a pass like the clip above.  Be creative and imagine things that could happen in a game.

C. Build a Bank of Skills

Try to build as many of these small skills as possible as you never know when you are going to have to use them.  You should be able to handle the puck with confidence, receive passes within one stick length of you and shoot the puck of either foot to name a few.  The list goes on and on and all of them take time to practice!

All players now are skilled.   Being able to execute in games and under pressure are what set many players apart.  Come work on YOUR Skills in our Summer Camps or Pre-Season Clinics

Helping to take YOUR game to the next level. See you at The RINK

Coach Cameron

This is YOUR moment, YOU are meant to be HERE!

91 Lowson Cres/Winnipeg Manitoba