Stick Handling

 
Wayne Gretzky once said, "This is my puck, if you guys want to play go get your own". You maY never have this much confidence with the puck or stick handle as well as Wayne Gretzky but here is some insight, drills and tips to help anyone improve their stick handling.

On Ice
For starters don't over handle the puck. Instead try to make one good, solid move rather than a bunch of little fancy moves.

Keep'em churning. Stop skating and you are done like dinner. Once you stop skating with the puck you are telling your opponent that you are passing or shooting. By skating with the puck you leave all your options open.

Most of the time when you see player beat a defender in the NHL it is from going wide. Cutting to the middle in the neutral zone with the puck is never a good idea. Ask Eric Lindros about that, on second thought ask Scott Stevens - Eric can't remember what happened. Cutting to the middle in the neutral zone usually results in your opponent standing over you saying, "Welcome to Disneyland".

Puck Protection is an important fundamental . Keep your body between the opponent and the puck. This will allow you to control the puck for longer periods of time and keep you from getting stripped of the puck.

Saving your ice is a great concept. Try stick handling from blueline to blueline three feet off the boards and you will likely get rocked. Instead try manipulating your opponent so that you create open ice. Think of where you may want to go and keep that ice open so you can go to it when the time is right.

An excellent way to practice stick handling is by going through pucks on the ice. Try to find some time during practice to set up a line of pucks spaced equally apart. Then stick handle through the pucks as quickly as possible without hitting the other pucks.

Off Ice
Here is a drill for practicing Stick Handling off the ice. Find an area where you can stick handle and draw a square on the surface. Then draw a X in the square. Remaining in one spot practice stick handling on the lines that have been created.

It is not always easy to stick handle with a puck off the ice so here is an idea. Get yourself a wiffle ball which is a plastic ball with holes in it. Next, cut up a tennis balls and squeeze the pieces into the wiffle ball. Do this until the ball weighs the same as a hockey puck. This is a great way to practice stick handling off the ice with a ball and have the same feel as you would with a puck on the ice.

The Skill
Remember when stick handling to roll the wrists and cushion the puck. It should not sound like you are chopping wood for winter when you stick handle. Also, keep your head up when stick handling. Use peripheral or split vision. The ability to see the puck on the stick without looking directly at it will make you a better and less injured hockey player.

It is important to be able to handle the puck in may different situations. Practice stick handling close to your body and away from your body. Work on developing your range of motion by stick handling with a wide pattern and quickness with a narrow pattern. Practice dragging the puck into your body with the toe of the stick. These are only some examples. Learning to handle the puck in many different ways will increase your craftiness with it.

Becoming a good stick handler comes with gaining confidence with the biscuit. Practice your skills on and off the ice and keep in mind good fundamentals and you will soon own the puck.

- Article written by Jim Wheatcroft. Permission for reproduction may be granted by email: info@mrassist.com

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