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 heads into their zone with the puck, their goal is to keep it out onto the boards. His chances of scoring from the outside are much lower than if he beats you on the inside. The best way to do this is with your body position. If the player is coming from the middle of the ice, move directly in front of him.
Own the mid lane
If he’s coming over the wing, line up slightly toward the center of the ice. Your outside shoulder should more or less 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 a wide imaginary 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 the gap, between you and the other player.
2) Control the gap
A Gap Too Wide will allow the striker to cut to the inside. Or, it can give you enough space to get closer to the goalie for a shot, using you as a screen. You don’t want the space to be much wider than two hockey sticks.
Too narrow a gap, and you risk letting it get around you if you can’t control it.
Willie Mitchell of the Canucks takes a much trickier approach. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun, Willie explains how he urges the striker to “take the sweets”.
“I call it taking the candy,” Mitchell said Monday, explaining his ability to attract 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 that 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] you can surround it. They come in to make a move, 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 make the pass from behind. But I gave them that space. Now they make the pass, they take the candy. And I’ll put my stick 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 hard as possible for them.
3) Take care of her hips
One-on-ones in hockey can be tricky against an experienced puck carrier. These guys are just dying to knock you out and score that real standout goal. Watching her hips will help you avoid being stripped in your own area.
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 too many times by guys like this. The infamous toe drag usually gets me. Mr. Deke tempts me with the puck by strategically placing it just within my 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, bringing down the goalie as well. I hate when these guys strip 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, head, shoulders, a changeup, or whatever else he has up his sleeve. If you focus on his chest or the crest on his jersey, he might even hit you with his entire upper body. The worst thing you can do is stare at the drive. Keep the disc 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 disc.
4) Keep your club 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 it tries to get around you.
Be patient
Let the striker make the first move and then react. If you go for the puck and miss, you could end up out of play.
I used to sweep my cane from side to side. Against slower hockey players, I could sometimes get my stick to the puck and slow down, or even slam 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 puck problems, it’s time to try a poke-check. Otherwise, keep your stick in front and be ready when he makes his move.