Maintaining control of the puck is an often overlooked, but absolutely critical, element of hockey that can be the difference between winning and losing.

“It’s simple – if you have the puck, the other team doesn’t,” said East Ridge High School Girls Hockey Head Coach Andy Roeser. “You can control what happens next, prevent the other team from scoring, start offensive breakouts, change lines and keep your players fresh. It’s a huge advantage.”

Probably the most effective way to gain possession is to win the many puck battles that take place over the course of a hockey game, typically in the offensive and defensive zones, and in the corners.

Roeser, also a USA Hockey Coach Developer, believes the goal is the same regardless of what zone you’re in. “You’re trying to get the puck and dictate the play” he said. “Winning those puck battles can definitely help change momentum in a game.”

THE MOST COMMON PUCK BATTLES

Puck battles are most often taking place along the boards and in the corners, though rarely in the neutral zone, as that is typically where transitions are happening. How they impact the game depends on whether your team is on the defensive or offensive end of the ice.

“They are super important in the defensive zone, where you’re trying to gain possession away from the offensive team and hopefully exit the zone,” Roeser said. “You don’t want to be pinned in your defensive zone for a long time, as defending is hard work. So, players can get really tired if they’re losing puck battles and can’t get possession back, chip the puck out of the zone or get a whistle for icing. We want some sort of containment to get that forward contained in an area, like along the wall, so you’re not chasing the puck trying to defend with good stick position.”

“In the offensive zone,” Roeser continued, “you want to try to outnumber the defense, so turning a 1-on-1 puck battle into a 2-on-1, so if the puck comes loose, you’re there to retrieve it. Sometimes, we’ve dumped the puck in, and if we lose the race to the puck, now we’re trying to get it back. If we win that battle, now we can get some good scoring opportunities, some good positive zone time and dictate the play.”

Not all puck battles are created equal, and some are most definitely more important than others, according to Roeser.

“If you’re killing a penalty, working on the perimeter, you can force and then win a puck battle that could result in a free icing and take the pressure off,” he said. “Or, if you can get a loose puck, you can chip or skate it out too and change penalty killers. The defensive zone and penalty kill puck battles tend to be the most important because of what is at stake.”

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY

It might seem that the bigger and stronger player is going to win most of the 1-on-1 puck battles. But, says Roeser, it’s also about having proper positioning, technique, compete level and awareness that help level the playing field. 

“There are some people that have tenacity and the ferocious mindset that when they go into a wall battle, they’re going to win,” he said. “That’s important. But technique is also key. In a wall battle, for example, where the person with the puck is facing the boards trying to protect the puck, you want to contain and make sure your opponent can’t get out or have much room to work. Then you pick your opportunity, whether it’s with one hand or two hands. Try to have some good contact and poke the puck free or pin the player. Avoid the bad habit of pushing too high on the body with your hands or your stick, and use a low center of gravity. You get your leg between their legs and pin them against the boards. In this position you can wait for support to come.”

“In the corners,” Roeser added, “it’s about winning the battle, being able to take one stride and get the puck to your supporting forward or chip it out of the zone off the glass. You want to avoid making a panic play. What tends to happen at the younger ages is kids get the puck, and their first instinct is to throw it up the boards. Usually, the other team’s defenseman is right there. It’s easier said than done, but winning corner battles in the defensive zone is particularly important.”

HOW TO GET BETTER AT BATTLING

There are a variety of drills that coaches can utilize at practice to teach their young players the finer points of winning puck battles. Many of them involve small or contained areas to help kids learn how to use their body and stick to gain an edge.

Roeser shared two examples:

“We have the girls pair up at practice and tell them to stay within an 8-foot space. One of them is against the wall trying to protect the puck. The other is the defender trying to either keep contain or take the puck away. Have them go for maybe 15 seconds at a time, blow the whistle, let them catch their breath and switch. There’s plenty of competitive contact.”

“Another one is a 2-on-2 in a really small zone, or a 1-on-1 against the boards, where the net is positioned facing the boards. It forces them to battle in a tight space. Once a person gains possession, they’re going to have to move quickly to spin out and make a move toward the net or fire the puck at the net if they can. Whoever doesn’t win the battle has to continue to work and have good stick position. So, not only does this encourage the battle, it highlights the importance of the first step after the battle.”

Following are other examples of Minnesota Hockey drills to help develop puck battle skills:

https://www.minnesotahockey.org/news_article/show/1139410

https://www.minnesotahockey.org/news_article/show/1198738

https://www.minnesotahockey.org/news_article/show/1203752

https://www.minnesotahockey.org/news_article/show/1146442-drill-of-the-week-rebound-battle-2-vs-1