How to play one-on-one defense

1) Stay between the striker and the net.

When playing defense in hockey, you can never go wrong with the basic principle of staying between the opposing player and the net. One-on-One are a perfect example.

keep it out

When a hockey player from the other team walks into your zone with the puck, your goal is to keep it out toward the boards. His chances of scoring from outside are much lower than if he beats you inside. The best way to do this is with your body position. If the player is coming down the middle of the ice, position yourself directly in front of him.

Own the middle lane

If it’s coming down the wing, line up slightly toward the center of the ice. Your outside shoulder should roughly line up with your inside shoulder. This encourages him to try to beat you to the outside, where he is less of a threat. Imagine an imaginary wide lane in the middle of the ice and keep the other player out of that lane. The tricky part is controlling the amount of space, or gap, between you and the other player.

2) Control the gap

A Gap Too Wide will allow the striker to cut inside. Or, you can give him enough room to get close to the goalkeeper for a shot, using you as a screen. You don’t want the gap to be much wider than two hockey sticks.

Too narrow a gap, and you risk letting it go around you if you can’t control it.

The Canucks’ Willie Mitchell uses a much more deceptive approach. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun, Willie explains how he goads the striker into “taking the sweets.”

“I call it taking the candy,” Mitchell said Monday, explaining his ability to lure in opposing forwards. “The game of hockey is about putting someone in a position where they react, so they take the candy.

“When I have my gap [defending an opposing forward], I hold my staff very close to my body, so it seems like there is a lot of ice in front of me. The striker wants to make his move as close to the defender as possible because he wants the defender to bite [the forward] can surround it. They go in to make a move, they take the candy, but then I swing my stick and push the puck. In a pinch, that’s how I play it.

“In the defensive zone it is the same. I give them the pass and they think: Oh, I’m going to pass from behind. But I gave them that space. Now they make the pass, they take the candy. And I’ll put my stick in there and break it.

“You want to put them in an awkward position. Instead of you taking the candy, you want them to take it.”

Even after the striker makes his move, try to stay between him and the net. You won’t stop them all, but you will make it as difficult as possible for them.

3) Watch Your Hips

One-on-ones in hockey can be tricky against an experienced puck carrier. These guys are dying to shut you out and score that real standout goal. Observing their hips will help you avoid being undressed in your own zone.

Mister. Deke

Once you have positioned yourself correctly between the opposing hockey player and the net, Mr Deke he will try to trick you in any way he can. As you know, Mr. Deke has a hockey bag full of tricks. I’ve had my shorts taken off way too many times by guys like this. The infamous toe drag usually gets me. Mr. Deke teases me with the puck strategically placing it just within reach, sucking me in for a poke-check. But he is way ahead of me. As soon as I reach out to grab the puck, he pulls out his patented toe-dragging maneuver and runs right through me. The next I think I know he’s behind me, taking down the goalkeeper as well. I hate when these guys undress me.

Don’t stare at the record

The best hockey advice I’ve ever been given on this is to watch his hips when he approaches you. An experienced striker will try to trick you with the puck, the head, the shoulders, a changeup, or whatever else he has up his sleeve. If you focus on his chest or the shield on his jersey, he may even hit you with his entire upper body. The worst thing you can do is watch the record. Keep the puck in your peripheral vision, but don’t stare at it.

Hips do not lie

He’s not going anywhere without his hips, so keep your eyes on them. A hip cannot be dropped like a shoulder, or moved quickly like a false head. With your eyes at waist level, it also makes it a bit easier to keep the puck within your peripheral vision. Look at his hips, not the puck.

4) Keep your stick in front

Keep your stick on the ice in front of you, with one hand on the stick. Not in the air, not to the side. Pointing your stick at the incoming hockey player allows you the flexibility to swing it whichever way he tries to get around you.

Be patient

Let the striker make the first move and then react. If you dive for the puck and miss, you could end up out of the game.

I used to sweep my cane from side to side. Against slower hockey players, I could sometimes put my stick on the puck and slow it down, or even hit the puck against the boards. But it doesn’t always work. Hot Shots would often time their movement right after one of my stellar sweep attempts. My cane would be on one side and they would surround me on the opposite side. burned again.

If you notice that the striker is having trouble with the puck, it’s time to try a poke-check. Otherwise, keep your stick in front and be ready when he makes his move.

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