The Importance of the Hockey Puck!

The hockey puck is a little black rubber object… 1 inch thick, 3 inches in diameter and weighing approximately 5 to 6 ounces. Without the puck, a game of hockey cannot be played! This little black object takes a lot of abuse in a game… it is slapped around, passed around, tossed around and gloved/covered up repeatedly etc. It often travels in excess of 100 miles per hour!

Depending how an individual is involved in the greatest game on earth, the following provides a different prospective on this little black object!

Viewers watching on T.V. – The eyes of the camera men are your eyes. The cameraman loyally follows the puck’s progress on the ice. Television viewers must be constantly focused to see this little black object on their screen. The puck can be difficult to see on occasion… innovative ways have been tried over the years such as the “Fox glow puck” to assist the viewer. However, this did not win over the traditionalist. Since the camera follows the puck, the television viewer does not see things developing away from the play. This is a luxury available only when watching the game in person.

Spectators in the Arena Stands – After the sad incident of the young girl being hit and losing her life by a puck at a Columbus Blue Jackets game, it has made every spectator young and old conscious of the importance of keeping one’s eye on the puck, i.e. like a goalie. After this unfortunate and tragic incident, the NHL has installed safety nets at every NHL arena. This will surely help… but folks… always be alert to the location of the puck. The puck has a “mean streak”! A few years back I caught an errant puck in the forehead while playing a fun pickup game. After receiving 15 stitches, it was time to “smarten up” and I bought a visor for my helmet!

The Players – Wayne Gretzky had the playing philosophy… “It’s my puck… you get your own puck!”. He loved to play with the puck, to control the “biscuit” and create beautiful plays / scoring chances. “If you control the puck, you control the game”. Most players cannot play without the puck i.e. defensive hockey. It can drive coaches crazy when players are not complete hockey players and especially when players turn their back on the play i.e.puck. During an average game, a player will handle the puck no more than 25 to 35 seconds. Bobby Orr was the best at controlling the puck and therefore the tempo of the game but even the great Orr handled the puck less than a minute per game. Many players try to out skate the puck but the puck usually travels faster than a player can skate. No matter what, the puck is always faster than the skater. If a coach stood on one goal line and a player started on the far blue line and had a race between a puck that coach shot / passed and the player skated, the player would lose every time. If hockey is one of the fastest games in the world, it’s important to make the best use of the fastest object on the ice. Two good passes can move the puck all the way down the ice faster than most players can stick handle with it. Therefore, it’s of paramount importance to “headman the puck” and use the “give and go” tactics. As mentioned above, the puck can hurt if a player gets in the way of its travel… many defense men fearlessly block shots and goalies use any part of their body to the puck out of the net. Many observers may think a person must be a little crazy to play in goal… no, just a little different!

View from a Fan

By Christyne - Executive Assistant, Tucker Hockey

So the boss gave me the night off, and tickets too to the Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars hockey game on February 16^th. Now I know this comes a little late, given the fact that the Flames just participated in and won the Heritage Classic on Sunday, but I thought I’d record my thoughts on the indoor game (the boss attended the Heritage Classic – lucky guy that he is!).

This was the fourth game this current season that I’ve been privileged to attend, and I have to say I was a little disappointed, at first … hear me out!

The Flames came out of the gates “guns a’blazin”, and the first five minutes of the game were the most enjoyable in the entire game… The Flames scored in that five minutes and then seemingly disappeared for the next 35 minutes… The Flames were slow to the puck, not as aggressive on the forecheck and got through the first period with a resounding lead on shots on net, I believe it was 16 to 4 Flames advantage. I have to say the bulk of their shots came in that first five minutes.

So, after the second period I go and get myself a $6.50 frozen fruit slushee and settled in for another 20 minutes… did I mention the $6.50 slushee? Really?!

The Dallas Stars, in my opinion dominated most of the play in that 2^nd period, they had hustle and were very aggressive, and before you know it they tied the game. Now this is where one would think the Flames would take a quick moment for a reality check and get back on the offensive… nope, nada, keine! Then comes another goal by Dallas… “Oh Boy” I think! But somehow they manage another goal and we’re tied 2-2 going into the third…

Have I mentioned I’m still nursing that $6.50 slushee?!

What can I say, the third period was more of the first five minutes for the Flames. They came out and dominated the Stars, and added 2 more tallies to seal the deal. That’s what I was waiting for!

As a fan who rarely gets to watch games, even on T.V.(my partner is not a sports fan at all – he only watches if I beg!), it was refreshing to see them win, and in such a fashion. I can definitely say live games are entertaining, from watching the jumbo tron, listening to catchy tunes and watching the boys fight it out…

Hockey is definitely tops in my books!

The Outside Edge - The Weak Edge

Balance and edge control is the foundation of skating. The inside edges are mainly used for starting and striding. Even with a minimal use of the inside edges, it will provide greater stability than using the flat of the blades. The more a player digs into the ice with his/hers inside edges and bends the knees, the more traction is available and the more difficult it is to get knocked down.

Balancing on the outside edge is initially more difficult than balancing on either the flat or the inside edge. Regardless of difficulty, it is an essential aspect of skating on a curve. To skate and balance on the outside of the right foot, it is necessary for a player to lean his or her right skate, knee and thigh strongly towards the outside of his or her body so that the outside blade edge cuts into the ice at a strong angle about 45 degrees. Using the left foot as the push foot, the player thrusts off and glides forward on the right outside edge. The player lifts his or her left foot off the ice after the push and holds it close to the skating foot. It's important for the player to keep his or her skating knee well bent and his or her body weight on the back half of the blade. The player will be turning in a clock wise direction.

The outside edge is mainly used for turning and stopping. For example in order to perform a forward crossover properly it is imperative to obtain a full extension (step- crossover - under push). Then crossing over e.g. left foot over right foot, to acquire a proper leg extension and to avoid loss of power, a player must feel the outside edges of his or her inside (right) skate cutting the ice. If the outside edge is neglected,  a player will lose half of his or her power. Besides the forward crossover, the outside edge on the inside skate is required for completing a strong two foot stop, a tight glide turn and a powerful backward crossover.

It is truly amazing how many players progress through the minor hockey system often up to the midget level and above without having good control of his or her outside edges. As a result, it adversely affects a player's stopping, turning, crossovers and overall skating agility. Many minor hockey coaches do not teach this skating skill well enough and often players as well do not practice outside edge skating skills properly.

Players will often practice an outside edge drill without getting out of his or her comfort zone. A player is reluctant to push on the outside edge to the point of falling so as to stretch his or her game. As a result. a player will develop a deficiency in his or her overall skating which continues to follow the player throughout his or her hockey career. Many players are cut during tryouts due to inadequate skating which is supported by a weak outside edge!

... Food For Thought

Accept Me

I am I
Do not change me
         condemn me
         nor put me down
Accept me for what I am
No... you need not agree with me
          But accept me
for I am total in being
          I have my faults
          I have my guilts
But that is who I am
          Perfect I will never be
Allow me to be uninhibited
           Do not pressure me into feeling what I do not feel
Accept me when I am flying high
           As I have accepted you when you were flying high
Do not put me down... nor make me fell unhappy about me
I am I and I like being what I am
Me.

~Larry S. Chengges

Proper Stick Length

As a general rule, the length of a hockey stick should be from the ice - to between the sternum/above the armpits and below the chin of the player. However, after many years of teaching power skating to player's ages 5 to 60 plus, I have discovered that this rule is often ignored. Ignorance is bliss... Not! Rather poor performance in the norm.

It truly amazes me how many sticks being used are too long! At the start of each minor hockey season, the coach should inspect and correct to ensure a player is using a proper stick length.

When a player's stick is too long, he or she will bend from the waist and not the knees and it will reduce the effectiveness of the forward stride. A shorter stick forces a player to bend his or hes knees... all the great skaters have tremendous knee bend when they are skating.

Proper knee bend occurs when the knee is over the ankle over the toe. This forces the butt to be lower to the ice. It causes a player to have a longer skating stride, i.e. full extension.

A proper stick length allows a player to have better puck control skills as well. A player will dribble the puck from side to side with less difficulty. When trying to perform this movement, if the elbow of the top arm has difficulty crossing in front of the body or only the top of the stick is on the ice, the stick is definitely too long. A good test is for a player to perform a tight turn on the forehand side with the puck. Is the elbow of the inside arm getting in the way? Is only part of the blade on the ice? Is the player loosing control of the puck?

The choice of the right hockey stick depends upon the player's strength and height. For young players, junior sticks with smaller shafts and blades for easier handling are available at all major hockey supply stores. Often parents spend so much money on a hockey stick they are reluctant to cut it down, especially the $200 plus graphite models. This is a poor decision and will slow the development of the player and reduce his or her ice success.

On occasion, parents or players will say "What about the poke check?". If a player plays as a defenseman, a longer stick may be preferred but think about the percentage of time performing a poke check in a game vs. skating and handling the puck. For example, Detroit Red Wing's defenseman Brian Rafalski is a world class player using a short stick. Rafalski's skating, puck handling and shooting skills as well as defensive skills are exceptional.

On occasion, the argument surfaces "A shorter stick will reduce the ability to shoot the puck". I disagree. If a player bends his or her knees properly and gets lower/over the puck the player can use the same mechanics to have an equally powerful shot.

When players are jumping to a higher/faster level of play example division or league, a player will find if they cut off a half inch/inch off their stick, it will improve their skating and improve their adjustment to the faster pace of the game. If a player is accustomed to a longer stick, it's a fair adjustment to use a shorter stick. I recommend gradually cutting off a half inch to an inch over each practice or game. A player may find he or she will cut upwards of three inches off their stick!

After adjusting to a shorter stick length, a player will have improved skating and puck handling skills. As well, their overall hockey development - as a result of using a proper stick length ( i.e below the chin) - will be enhanced!