With respect to J.R.R. Tolkien, I chose the play on words for this Chapter title considering power play and penalty killing are both powers – the power to take and the power to take away. With the efficient handling of both, your team can be the Lord of the Rinks. Sections of this discussion may not apply to the house league coach. Often, a coach has no control of what combinations are on the ice and must play A, B and C lines as units. Each may be subject to a buzzer system for player changes. If a coach understands the principles of power play and penalty killing, however, there will be a greater appreciation of the game and the coach will be in a position to work with teams in the future, which do not have those restrictions. In minor
…show more content…
Be businesslike and organized the same as you would for a call against your squad. Calls both ways are part of the game. There should be no stick slapping, taunting, or any action on the part of the team other than getting ready for the drop of the puck.
● Use everyone. If you have read earlier chapters, I must sound as if I am a broken record but this is a key fundamental. I am not saying you should not have a special power play group for the end of a game when you need a goal in a vital game. I am discussing the other ninety-five percent of the time. Every boy loves the opportunity to skate power play and to score. If you want team harmony, it helps to give everyone a chance to be a hero.
If you only skate your best, you will grind those boys into the ground. This is particularly true in a tournament when you have a series of games over several days. If you go with your first liners, who will you put onto the ice when the power play ends? You might have a hodge-podge line with little playing time together competing against some of the best opposition …show more content…
This allows each line to work a scheme to suit its personnel. On one team, I had a line with a skillful center and two strong stickhandling defensemen. We used a top overload (an umbrella) with that line. The two wingers were tall, strong kids who had lesser hockey skills. They took positions at the front of the net and attracted the opposing defensemen. Once attracted, I told our players to act as "tar babies" and not to let the defenseman loose again. (The term tar baby is from the Uncle Remus tales with Brer Rabbit.) Their defensemen thought they were doing a terrific job and allowed them to believe that. In the meantime, we played 3 on 2 at the top of the zone. Another line had three quick wingers and average defensemen. We played a side overload and worked both sides with quick give and go plays. The last line had one great scorer. We played a box around a box with the shooter in the center. The other four players worked to feed the puck to the scorer for the shot or his deflection from the slot. As you might expect, these systems were challenging for opposing teams to defense. Every forty seconds they were seeing a completely different way of manipulating the penalty killing box. Each line loved its individuality and the kids chose their systems in meetings with the coaches. They appreciated they were essential to the decision. We adopted, and adapted, a power
Be businesslike and organized the same as you would for a call against your squad. Calls both ways are part of the game. There should be no stick slapping, taunting, or any action on the part of the team other than getting ready for the drop of the puck.
● Use everyone. If you have read earlier chapters, I must sound as if I am a broken record but this is a key fundamental. I am not saying you should not have a special power play group for the end of a game when you need a goal in a vital game. I am discussing the other ninety-five percent of the time. Every boy loves the opportunity to skate power play and to score. If you want team harmony, it helps to give everyone a chance to be a hero.
If you only skate your best, you will grind those boys into the ground. This is particularly true in a tournament when you have a series of games over several days. If you go with your first liners, who will you put onto the ice when the power play ends? You might have a hodge-podge line with little playing time together competing against some of the best opposition …show more content…
This allows each line to work a scheme to suit its personnel. On one team, I had a line with a skillful center and two strong stickhandling defensemen. We used a top overload (an umbrella) with that line. The two wingers were tall, strong kids who had lesser hockey skills. They took positions at the front of the net and attracted the opposing defensemen. Once attracted, I told our players to act as "tar babies" and not to let the defenseman loose again. (The term tar baby is from the Uncle Remus tales with Brer Rabbit.) Their defensemen thought they were doing a terrific job and allowed them to believe that. In the meantime, we played 3 on 2 at the top of the zone. Another line had three quick wingers and average defensemen. We played a side overload and worked both sides with quick give and go plays. The last line had one great scorer. We played a box around a box with the shooter in the center. The other four players worked to feed the puck to the scorer for the shot or his deflection from the slot. As you might expect, these systems were challenging for opposing teams to defense. Every forty seconds they were seeing a completely different way of manipulating the penalty killing box. Each line loved its individuality and the kids chose their systems in meetings with the coaches. They appreciated they were essential to the decision. We adopted, and adapted, a power