• Make sure your skates fit properly – usually 1:5 size smaller than your shoe size.
  • Be aware of your weight on your skates – it should be on the middle of your blades.
  • Maintain a deep knee bend when you are skating – the Sidney Crosby hockey stance is ideal.
  • Proper stick length – below the chin when the tip of the stick is on the ice.
  • Keep your stick on or very near to the ice.
  • Keep 2 hands on the stick especially when handling the puck in traffic.
  • When handling the puck, keep your shoulders and arms loose, and arms away from your body for improved puck handling skills.
  • There are 3 ways to start up in hockey i.e. t – start, v- start and crossover start. The most effective and most popular is the v – start.
  • Always face the play / puck, try to avoid turning your back to the puck.
  • Keep your head on a swivel – be alert on the ice.
  • Head up at all times – beware of the danger zone – 3 to 4 feet off the boards. Avoid getting hit from behind – Safety first!
  • Communicate with your teammates – make eye contact and talk on the ice.
  • Know when to stride (keep your feet moving) and know when to glide (save ice) and read / anticipate the play.
  • Know the short game (stops and starts) vs. the long game (crossover / glide turns) to maximize flow on the ice.
  • Want the puck – track the puck’s movement on the ice with relentless effort and speed. Be an active participant (around the puck) and not a spectator (watching and wondering what just happened!).
  • When receiving the puck accelerate with speed.
  • Drive over the blue line with speed – go hard to the net.
  • Take more shots on net – Gretzky said “You will always miss with the shots you don’t take”.
  • Don’t go behind the net after a shot on net – always stop in front of the net and look for the rebound or a loose puck.
  • Play a 200 foot game – skate hard and smart in all 3 zones.