Reply To: One hand or two?

[Tom Molloy]

One Hand or Two on Defense:
It all depends on the situation.
– If you need to reach farther then one hand on the stick allows you to do this.
– When playing defense you can have one hand on the stick to block a passing lane.
– If you are in a crowded area two hands on the stick is important to have and power and if you need to pass or shoot then two hands enables this.
– If you watch the defenders in the NHL now fight along the boards you see then have the stick on the inside jamming at the puck and the free hand on the players back.

This is a video of Detroits coach Mike B. talking about the pk and leading with the stick on the puck.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/video.php?n=20080719161205559 Mike Babcoxk

This video is of Gene Reilly who was a skills coach in the American League and now is in Austria having players practice the stick on the puck and always on the ice.
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/video.php?n=20090817105910820 Reilly

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If you get beat to the outside when skating backwards defending a 1-1.

It is a simple case of taking a shortcut. There is no use turning toward the player and chasing if you are caught flat footed. Instead the defender should turn to the inside and race to the near post to cut the attacker off.

The reason is that turning inside only requires a 90 degree turn and then you skate a straight line to the near post. If you turn outside you must make a 270 degree turn which takes longer, before skating to the near post. There is no secret to where the attacker is going (if he goes to the corner then who cares because you are on dside now).

So it is a simple calculation of time and space.

'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'