Most common hockey habits to break

Habits are natural and everyone falls into the comfort of the subconscious act.  But not all habits are good to keep (e.g. biting your nails). On and off the ice around the game of hockey, we must break out of the habits that are holding us back.

The first and most detrimental habit in young players is over-stick handling the puck.  Watch some of the greatest players skate through the open ice.  Connor McDavid skates coast to coast with two puck touches and only stick handles and massages the puck for the shot starting at below the top of the circle in the offensive zone.  Watch carefully when the player receives the puck.  Do they have to backhand and forehand before making a pass instead of just catching and releasing it in one motion?  Hockey is about creating time and space.  The more time and space, the more time to make a decision, the better the opportunity.  That's a habit we need to break.  Stick handling skills should be used more in tight corners and battles.  

Another habit we need to kick is looking for perfection.  There is beauty in chaos.  Hockey is structured but bounces and unanticipated touches happen every second on every inch of the ice.  Don’t wait for the perfect pass and stop your partners on the blue line on the rush or slow your forwards on a break out.  Look to move the puck quickly by scanning the ice before you get possession.

Lastly, skate without the puck, not with it.  Many players are so focused on puck possession or puck watching rather than creating passing lanes and opportunities for your teammates.  Change the mindset to play without the puck and success on the ice will start finding you almost on its own.  But in reality it is just you finding opportunities and taking advantage of the space.

See you on the ice…