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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.
Stick Basics
This week we move on to the second phase of "The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen." Consider this
our second semester. This section focuses on offense. The first step is learning proper
stick-handling techniques. After skating, stick-handling and puck control are the most
important skills in hockey. Good stick-handling can compensate for
weaknesses in other areas of your game such speed and strength. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's first talk about the basics with the stick and the grip.
Stick Length
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There is a quick way of measuring your stick to ensure the length meets your height.
- You should be wearing your skates.
- Stand upright -- don't crouch.
- Place your stick in front of you with the bottom tip of the blade touching the ice
surface.
- With the shaft of the stick in a vertical position, the top of the stick or what is
known as the "butt-end" should line-up with the bottom of your chin (see Fig. 1).
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Fig. 1
The tip of your
stick should line-up
with your chin.
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A stick that is a few inches too short or long can hamper your game. In order to be an effective passer or shooter, the blade of the stick should remain flush on the ice at all times. A stick that is too long will only allow the back half of the blade or the heel to be on the ice in the normal hockey stance. In contrast, a stick that is short will cause the toe of the stick to be on the ice surface during play. This will result in weak and/or wild shots and passes and reduce your ability to accept passes. If you find when attempting a shot your stick bounces on the ice or you miss the puck all together, chances are you are using the wrong length stick.
As your skill level increases you may find you are more comfortable using different
stick lengths. Some offensive players like to use a shorter stick to get a better feel
when handling the puck. While experienced defenseman normally use a longer stick to give
them a couple more inches to poke the puck away from attacking players.
Taping the Stick
The tape on your stick serves a purpose other than making the equipment a bit more
colorful. It offers you better control of the puck,
preventing the puck from sliding off your stick (see Fig. 2) during play. The tape should be one continuous strand
starting from the the heel (the part of the stick closest to your body) and ending at the
toe (the tip). Also, many players like to tape the top of their stick known as the
"butt-end." A taped butt-end provides a handle to better maneuver the stick,
preventing you from losing the stick when reaching for a puck (see Fig. 3).
Shaft Size
The size of your stick shaft will depend on your skill level. USA Hockey recommends PeeWees
and younger use a junior shaft -- meaning the shaft is more narrow and lighter. Players
above the PeeWee level should use an adult stick with a thicker shaft.
Hand Grip
Holding a hockey stick is similar to holding a baseball bat in that you grip both of these
objects with your fingers, not your palms.
- Your top hand should be placed just below the "butt-end" of the stick.
- Fingers should be wrapped around the stick with thumb and forefinger creating a V-shape
(see Fig. 4).
- Your bottom hand should be placed 6 to 10 inches from the top hand.
- To ensure your hands are the proper distance apart, rest the elbow of your bottom
hand against your top hand and lay your forearm on the shaft of the stick.
- Grab the stick from this position, creating the V-shape between the thumb and
forefinger.
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Fig. 4
The proper grip
will create a V-shape
between thumb and
forefinger.
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Keep in mind that your hockey stick is your wand and you are the magician. If you take
care of your equipment it will take care of you out on the ice.
Next Class
I hope you enjoyed this session of "The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen." The next time
we get together we will discuss the techniques for proper stick-handling.
"The Hockey Clinic with Brian Mullen" Archive
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