|
Hi, my name is Brian Mullen. I spent my whole life around the game of hockey.
Beginning with my roller hockey days in New York through my 11 seasons in the
National Hockey League. During this time I found that learning the fundamentals
of the game is essential to succeeding in this sport. And I would like to pass
along my knowledge to you. So lace up your skates,
grab your stick and learn the game of hockey online with me.
BODY CONTACT
There is more to the art of body contact than bone-crunching body checks.
Many of you who read "The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen" play in either
youth leagues or roller hockey leagues which do not allow full body checking.
But there are ways within the rules to "put a body" on your opponent even in
non-contact leagues.
Backchecking
Backchecking is defined as trying to hinder an opponent heading toward and
into the defending zone. Your job as a defensive player is to either stop the
attacking player from entering your zone or slow down his/her progress.
There are different approaches to backchecking, one when the defensive
player is covering an open player and the other when the offensive player
has the puck.
Backchecking the Open Player
The key to backchecking an open man is to maintain an inside position,
keeping your opponent to the outside area of the ice along the boards
(see Fig. 1).
Also, it is important to stay slightly ahead of your check in order to
maintain your position between the player and the net (we spoke about
this in the first part of the checking section). The one disadvantage of the
inside position, however, is that it prevents the defensive player from watching both
the puck and the player. To counter this, maintain a
one stick length or less distance between you and your opponent (see Fig. 2).
Backchecking the Puck Carrier
Similar to the techniques for backchecking an open player, you want
to maintain an inside position when attacking a player with the puck.
We want to force the offensive player out of harm's way - away from the net
and toward the boards. The key is to focus on the mid-section or hips
of the attacking player and not the puck (see Fig. 3).
You will find very quickly that
if you concentrate on the puck instead of the player, the puck carrier will
easily be able to deke around your check. Your goal is to continue
to skate through the check and overtake the puck from your opponent
(see Fig. 4).
Clear the Front of the Net
As we have been saying for the past several weeks, the key to effective defensive play is to
maintain your position between your check and the net (see Fig. 5).
This is especially
true when your opponent is parked in front of the crease. Teams will often run plays
which have at least one player in front of the net to disrupt the goaltender.
It is your job to
prevent this from happening.
Clearing the front of the net
requires a defensive player to not only keep an eye on the puck but also
to be aware of where the offensive player is around the net. You have to know
where your check is at all times on the ice. However, when your opponent is in
front of the net, you also have to know where his/her stick is located. You
do not want your check to have an opportunity to gain control of a loose puck or
deflect a shot from the point. Utilizing one of the stick check skills such as the stick
press or lifting the stick would be helpful in tying up your opponent's stick.
Protecting Yourself from Receiving A Check Along the Boards
We all know it is better to give than receive, but inevitably in the game of hockey
there will come a time when you will receive body contact of some sort. The best way
to avoid body contact or at least lessen the effects is by keeping yourself alert on
the ice. You will be able to react if you are aware
of an oncoming check. If a check occurs as you are facing the boards, you should
use the stick and your forearm to absorb the force (see Fig. 6).
Another important point is to
make sure your skates remain at least one foot from the boards. If your feet make
contact with the boards you will be unable to maintain your balance and will most
likely fall to the ice. However when the check
comes from the side, try to absorb the force with the upper part of your forearm
(see Fig. 7), not your shoulder or your head (see
Fig. 8).
Most hockey injuries occur as a result of body checking. Keep in mind the purpose
of making contact with your opponent is to take him/her out of the play, not to injure.
Next Class
I hope you enjoyed this session of "The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen."
The next time
we get together we will begin our goaltending section.
"The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen" Archive
|
