• Fitness & Health
• Sport & Exercise Science
• Physical Education
• Strength & Conditioning
• Sports Medicine
• Sport Management
• Dance

Shooting from the point

This is an excerpt from Elite Hockey Defense by Dave Cameron.

Types of Shots
Players can work on a variety of shots and release points. The more options that players have with the way they release the puck, the more dangerous they are as shooters. The same applies to a defensive player who is shooting the puck. They should be able to shoot with their hips facing the net or their hips turned. They should be able to release the puck off either foot and while sliding one way or the other. As players work through shooting, they should try to identify the areas in which they are strong and the areas that need some work.

Wrist Shot
When working on shooting in practice, starting with the wrist shot is a good first step. Whether players are learning to shoot or are working to improve an already effective shot, they can always take something out of a session focused on the wrist shot. This shot allows contact between the blade and the puck until the puck is released to the net. The puck starts on the heel of the stick, and as the blade moves forward, the puck spins off it. This spin is important in getting the puck to travel harder to the net. The faster that players can move through the shooting zone from loaded position to released position, the harder the shot will go to the net.

One common error that players make is moving the puck too slowly from the loaded position through the shooting zone to the release position. They then try to lift the puck at the end to raise it. I tell players to shoot the puck as hard as they can first: “Shoot the puck, don’t lift the puck.” When players try to lift the puck, it goes up instead of forward. Often, the error here is releasing the puck too far in front of the skates. With the wrist shot, players should be trying to release the puck before the front foot so that they can use weight transfer, the technology of the stick from a strong bottom hand, and explosive speed through the shooting zone to shoot the puck harder.

Hand Position
Hand position is important in shooting. Players’ top-hand position should have the area between their thumb and pointer finger on the thinner side of the knob (see figure 3.1a). The top hand should hold the top of the stick, and the bottom hand should at a distance of roughly shoulder width. I say roughly shoulder width because some players like their hands closer together and others like them a little wider. Many younger players (and some older players) hold their stick incorrectly, which makes shooting the puck more difficult. If the top hand is rotated under the stick when they shoot, they will not have sufficient wrist mobility to release the puck with power (see figure 3.1b). Players should be able to go from stickhandling to shooting in one smooth motion without rotating the stick in their hands. Their wrists can turn and load the puck to their back hip with their top hand coming in line with their belly button.

Timing and Balance
As the puck moves forward, the player transfers their weight from the back foot to the front foot as the puck is loaded and released. This weight transfer turns a wrist shot into a full-body shot, allowing the player to use the legs, hips, core, arms, and stick when releasing the puck. In golf, even smaller players can hit the ball more than 300 yards off the tee. The exquisite timing of their body enables them to make a perfect, powerful swing. The same thing occurs with hockey. Whether a player is small or big, they can shoot the puck hard with a simplified and smooth shooting motion with either a wrist shot or a slapshot.

I work with many players who are simply not comfortable shooting off their front foot because they do not (yet) have the timing with their body to release the puck with balance. When players develop the necessary balance and timing, they can typically shoot the puck harder in stride. They also have more options in the way they release the puck. They can load the puck and push it, they can pull it, they can fake it, or they can shoot it directly. Having the ability to change the way they release the puck gives players more options to get the puck through from the point and to the net.

The stationary shooting drill is always a good way to work on becoming more explosive through the shooting zone with good timing. Working with the feet turned sideways and transferring body weight is a great position to start in. Players can also work with their hips facing the net and shooting off their inside foot. From there, they can add motion to drills. The motion does not have to be fast; they can simply glide in toward the net if they are on the ice. With the gliding motion, players can work to aim pucks to specific spots such as the area that the goalie has not reached yet (long side) or the area the goalie came from (short side or back across the net). Accurate aiming keeps pucks out of the middle of the net and forces goalies to make tougher saves. If players can shoot at home, they can add a stickhandle to load the puck quicker. The stickhandle can be away from them or coming back toward them to change the release point of the shot. This action will change the balance point and force the player to work on keeping their weight in a good spot to shoot the puck harder.

Puck Release for Wrist Shots and Snap Shots
When looking at wrist and snap shots, players can also work on changing the way they release the puck. They can push or pull the puck in toward their feet to change the angle of the release, but they can also change the way they shoot the puck and release it off different feet. They can use a weight transfer from back foot to front foot to engage more of the body or snap the puck off the foot that is closer to the puck. The foot they use depends on the game situation, where the shooter is, and the position of their hip. I encourage players to be balanced and work to shoot the puck as hard as possible. Being able to change the way they release the puck with both wrist shots and snap shots allows players to keep goalies guessing about when and how the shot will come. Being able to pull the puck with a snap shot or push the puck with a wrist shot causes the goalie to adjust their weight and footing. Shooters gain an advantage if the goalie does not have their feet set to make the save.

When talking about balance with players, I address the amount of space available if the opposing team moves into their space (and possibly hits them). Players should not be off balance when shooting because they will not get as much on the shot and their momentum will likely carry them to the corner or away from the net. When the player releases the puck off the stick, they should try to finish in a position where they can see where the puck goes. A situation that often comes up in practice is the way in which the player finishes when shooting from the point. Defensemen often shoot and turn quickly toward the neutral zone. They have no idea where their shot went because they are getting ready for their next shot. I encourage players to follow their shot to the net and know exactly where it goes. Players should be able to keep their eyes on the puck and be aware of the possible plays that result from where that puck goes.

Having the ability to change the way they release the puck adds another layer to a player’s shooting repertoire. They will be less predictable and more able to react to the game situation. Always a consideration in shooting is the power that players can generate from the front-foot release (weight transfer) versus the inside-foot release (foot closer to the puck). The front-foot release generates a good amount of power from the blue line to the net, whereas the one-foot release is a little quicker. Defensemen who are adept at taking both types of shot can choose the shot that works better for them based on the amount of space available in the offensive zone.

More Excerpts From Elite Hockey Defense

---