Wednesday Drill of the Week: Double Angle

A technique drill this week: angling.

The drill starts with two players going at once. The first player skates straight ahead and takes a long loop around the far dot. The second player leaves with a puck and makes a tight turn around the near dot. The first player needs to time his swing to take a great angle on the puck carrier, taking away time and space and shutting him down along the wall.

Angling is all about timing and positioning. Body and stick position are critical. When angling, use your body to take away time and space. You need to move your feet to gain and maintain good body position (just off the inside shoulder). Stick position should be up ice – you want to utilize your stick to take away passes against the grain and behind you. It becomes similar to a slowly collapsing wall – you take away time and space with your body, limiting passing options with your stick until you finally crunch down on your opponent.

Angling is a critical skill in the game today. Players who are great at angles become players who are successful in the game.

Wednesday Drill of the Week: German Angle

 

A simple drill to teach a hard to master skill. Angling is a skill that even the best forwards in hockey struggle with sometimes. Being able to effectively angle your opponent away from the middle of the rink shuts down his options and takes away time and space.

The drill starts with players standing on opposite hash marks. Player one makes a long, cross-ice pass to his opponent and then begins to skate. As soon as player two receives the pass, he takes off towards the far net. The defensive player needs to time his angle so that he takes away the middle of the ice and forces his opponent towards the corner of the rink.

Proper angling technique involves using your body to take away space and your stick to take away passing lanes. Position your stick up ice to take away any back passes and utilize your feet to take away space in front of your opponent. When angling, your priority is not to get to your opponent quickly, it is to time your approach so that you effectively take away time and space and eliminate the option of cutbacks or passes. Be careful not to engage your opponent physically too soon  – this creates an opportunity for passing lanes to open. Put your opponent in a position when he cannot make a play, then finish your check.