For sure, breakaways are among hockey's most exciting plays. That being the case, I'm really surprised at how often I notice these -- and related skills -- being taught wrongly. Anyway, hear me out, huh? I think what is to follow should make sense.Proper Breakaway Skills Every time I approach this subject with my students or players, I begin by having them envision us holding footraces out in the rink's parking lot. That picture planted in their minds, I'll then ask which runner they'd like to be -- the one with his hands in his pocket, or the one allowed to use his hands as he runs. Of course, it doesn't take but a few seconds for everyone to agree, that anyone can run faster if he's able to pump his hands and arms while sprinting.
-- Dennis Chighisola
The reason I raise this point is because I frequently see coaches teaching their kids to hold a puck on their sticks as they race down the ice on a practice breakaway. The adjacent photo shows what I mean... The sample player holds his stick in one hand with the puck kept right on his stick-blade, which means that he can really only pump one hand. If you click on the photo you'll see a slow-mo video of that youngster in action. Oh, by the way, I sense that he's initially doing things the way he's been taught elsewhere; but, he ultimately starts doing things a little differently when I yell to him.
Again, did you notice that he could initially only pump his left arm, but then he eventually shifted to my way of doing things (I guess you can tell at which point I yelled, huh)?
Now, the next photo pretty much shows what I recommend... First, I want my players to achieve maximum speed by having both hands free to pump -- almost as if they don't even have a puck ('cause they don't). Secondly, my guys don't really need to control the puck on their way down the ice. In fact, I'll suggest to them that, "You and (most likely) a chaser are going to have a footrace to a point just inside the offensive zone, and all you have to do is beat him there and have the puck!" In other words, there's absolutely no reason to stickhandle or make dekes on the way down ice; all one needs to do is go straight and have the puck in the end.
Once you (click on the photo to the right and) watch the video, notice that near the end of his rush -- after he's done pretty nicely, this youngster finds the puck almost in his feet. Purposely, I've really slowed the video at the end, just so you can see that my guy is nearly upright. And, you know he can't be going at full speed in that posture. So, the lesson to be learned from this? A player needs to gain a certain "feel" for tapping that puck ahead -- not so far that he can't get to it, but not so short that it's going to break his stride. Again, about three touches of the puck seems to do it, in order to cover the distance I've described.
Next, let's deal with grabbing the puck and attacking the goal...
The photo to the left shows my guy just after he's picked-up the puck about mid-zone. Now, I can appreciate both sides of the argument -- for carrying the puck the rest of the way out in front of the body or off to the forehand side. For a lot of years I'd taught the latter, but more recently I think a player can hide his or her intentions better with the puck held out-front. Again, though, both arguments make some sense, and I think the best answer is that the attacker have an idea of what he or she wants to do in the end.
My final bit of advice is to suggest that a player NOT move his or her body left and right in order to make the goaltender move. Sure, a player can make head and shoulder fakes, but I don't advise skating side to side. For, I believe that the stick (with puck in-tow) can travel faster and farther, and the goaler has to respect that as much as if the attacker moved his body (after all, netminders line-up on the puck, and nothing else). In other words, if the attacker is able to move the goaltender towards one side with just a wide deke, he or she should be able to move the puck quicker across to the other side than the goalie can react back.
Finally, while I've covered a lot here, the one thing I want to emphasize is that long dash towards the far end NOT being slowed by much handling of the puck. Tap it ahead, fly, tap it ahead, fly...
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Have any questions or arguments with what might be some controversial territory? You know I really appreciate your Comments!
