Simple tips they teach minor leaguers, now for adults?

[SemperSens]

I grew up playing house league, and our coaches mostly focused on skating drills and positions. Every once in awhile I hear about tips people who played higher levels were taught, and I wish I knew that stuff myself. Does anyone have any super basic, easy to do stuff that is still effective?

For example, I remember years ago watching PJ Stock on HNIC, and he was explaining how coaches would always tell their forwards to do something specific when coming down the wing with a puck against a defenseman who was let's say a left shot playing RD, or vice versa. It was something about trying to get them to pivot and then being able to get an easy shot off. Wish I could find the clip.

Another one I have seen a lot in the NHL is when someone is heading into retrieve a puck on the boards, they'll angle their skates on the way in as if they are going to head one way along the boards with the puck, then as soon as they get there they go the other way. Example is the second clip in this video, starts about 48 seconds in: . You can see how hard the forechecker bites.

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[Yukon Joe]

I know. I learn so much from just being out on the ice as an assistant coach for my son's minor hockey teams when they have experienced coaches. I wish there were more organized classes or clinics for adults, but to the limited extent there is it is all tailored from complete new players, or towards pro/semi-pro players. Nothing for the average schlub who'd like to get just a little bit better.

Just two examples of things I've learned from my kids coaches. One, as defence, if you're holding the line but the forward chips the puck around you - just stand your ground. The forward often can't physically get by you / crashes into you, and then just trust your D partner to pick up the puck. This is as opposed to immediately turning and chasing the puck - but the forward has the jump on you.

And even more simply - if you're on the wing looking for a break out pass or a stretch pass - make sure your stick is pointing up-ice so you can get the puck and go!

 

[Filthy Dangles]

The two things you mention in the OP fall under deception, sending false information and doing something else. Easy to see and understand but hard to teach as it requires skill and smarts.

Most low level or average beer leaguers struggle with really basic stuff, imo. When I've played shinny or filled in for team, lots of forwards don't pick their heads up and just force plays to the net that aren't there, very rarely do they cycle the puck to the point.

 

[Laodongxi]

I've been able to pick up quite a bit from Jason Yee's free videos on Youtube. He tends to go on and on and is always selling the paid version but there are some real gems in many of these videos as far as simplifying advanced technique.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Train2point0/videos

 

[tarheelhockey]

, very rarely do they cycle the puck to the point.

This is one of the major things I've noticed missing from lower-level play. Frankly, between the poor passing skill of the forwards and the slow reactions/low skating skill of the defensemen, moving the puck up to the point is more likely to clear the zone than result in a scoring chance. As a result, forwards tend not to use that vertical passing option and end up just running into the teeth of the defense and hoping for the best.

Often times, the difference between a good and a bad team in beer leagues is simply the ability to activate defensemen in the offensive zone. Of course, this also usually correlates to the defensemen on one team being a lot better hockey players than anyone else on the ice.

 

[SemperSens]

Thanks for the replies guys. I found this other channel, seems pretty interesting stuff as well:



A few more that seemed good:

https://www.youtube.com/c/AndreLePuck/videos

 

[HansonBro]

I'll share one with you boys tonight...

One sneaky play I used to run was off a face off directly infront of your bench, but on the opposite side of the ice. Line up 4 vs 5 (leaving the winger on the boards missing) and just b4 puck drop have a speedy guy hop on the ice.

He's wide open for a breakaway.

This of course never works, because your center never wins the face off during this play lol

You can pull this play lining up 5vs5 btw. There's no rules where you need to line up on a face off as long as you're behind the dot

Good luck