I’ve decided to start a new weekly section called “Learn from the Pros” which will feature plays from professional hockey. The idea is to take small pieces of the game and break them down so they can be used as learning tools for coaches and players. This week, we’ll look at two goals -- the first from Andrew Ladd against the St. Louis Blues, and the second from Justin Williams against the Anaheim Ducks.
Each teaching keypoint will also include the time on the YouTube video to pause the clip so you’ve got a freeze-frame of the the play developing. So, for example, if the intended freeze-frame is at the 8 second mark, it will be denoted before the breakdown in the following format: [0:08]. To scroll to that portion of the video, simply drag the scrubber on the timeline to the desired time sequence. Note: the times are not always exact, as sometimes you’ll get slightly different frames when you “scrub” to the time you want. Use the time-markers as approximate spots where you can start-and-stop the video to get a quality freeze-frame.
Andrew Ladd -- 4/7/10
[0:06] This play starts out with Kris Versteeg getting up the ice ahead of his teammates. Instead of attempting to drive the St. Louis defenseman to get a scoring opportunity, he wisely buys time and space by stopping and using his body to protect the puck from the defending player.
[0:07] The next Blackhawk into the zone is John Madden who drives in strong-side, giving Versteeg an option to throw the puck down the wall. After Versteeg passes to the trailer, Andrew Ladd, Madden drives to the net and is in great position to tip the puck or play a rebound.
[0:08] Now, Versteeg makes an incredible pass (not one I’d recommend many players try in anything other than pick-up hockey) to Andrew Ladd -- BUT, the backchecking defenseman (Mike Weaver) for St. Louis makes two critical mistakes: 1) he fails to identify Ladd as a scoring threat 2) he turns his back on the puck in favor of looking at Byfuglien to cover.
[0:10] This creates a ton of space for Ladd to shoot. Weaver is now forced to play the 2 on 1 rush from the weak-side post.
[0:36] Ladd releases a quick snap-shot off one foot. The key here is the quick release, there is no big wind-up, and only a single stickhandle to release the puck. In this freeze-frame, you can clearly see he has his head up the entire way and is looking for open parts of the net to shoot at.
Justin Williams -- 4/6/10
[0:06] Williams enters the zone on a 2 on 2 rush with a backchecker. Technically, LA is out-manned in this rush. The opportunity begins by Ducks Defenseman Steve Eminger having given Williams a bit too much space as he crossed the blue line. Eminger needed to have a tighter gap when the rush entered the zone. Instead, he’s still about two stick-lengths away from Williams as he gains the blue line. This allows the forwards to criss-cross and open up space.
[0:08] The Ducks backchecker, Saku Koivu, gets caught reaching for the puck. At this point, Williams now has body position established on Eminger, and the Anze Kopitar is driving toward the net, bringing his defenseman with him.
[0:10] Eminger is forced to make a dive in desperation. Kopitar drove the net going to the far post, bringing his defender with him, which opens up ice in front of the goaltender.
[0:34] Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney plays the shot, but is still outside the crease, leaving Williams with room on the short-side to reach around him and stuff the puck in.
I hope you enjoy this new section. If you have plays you’d like to see broken down, find me a clip on YouTube and leave them in the comments.
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NHL and Youth Hockey Rule Differences
Tags: hockey rules, nhl, youth hockey coaching
Hockey is one of the most complex sports to officiate. Coaches are often times quick to reprimand an official for making the wrong call, but sometimes the rules in professional hockey become confused with the rules governing youth hockey. Here are a few subtle but interesting differences between NHL rules and USA Hockey’s rules:
Kicking the Puck (in relation to goals) – Many players, coaches, and officials believe the current rule for “kicking” the puck in the net reads that goals shall be allowed as long as there is “no distinct kicking motion.” Here are the real rules:
NHL Rule #78.5 – Disallowed Goals – ii: ”When the puck has been kicked using a distinct kicking motion.”
USA Hockey Rule #614d – Kicking Puck: ”The goal shall not be allowed if the puck has been kicked, thrown or otherwise deliberately directed into the goal by any means other than a stick.”
Tripping (Clipping) – When a player dives to poke the puck away from an opponent and makes contact with the puck (first), but takes the opponent down, many believe no penalty should be called because the primary play was on the puck. Should it be a penalty or not in youth hockey?
NHL Rule #57.1 – Tripping: “If, in the opinion of the Referee, a player makes contact with the puck first and subsequently trips the opponent in so doing, no penalty shall be assessed.”
USA Hockey Rule #639 – Tripping: “…Any player who deliberately leaves his feet and contacts an opponent with any part of his body thereby causing the opponent to trip or fall shall be assessed a minor penalty.”
Checking from Behind – The NHL, Hockey Canada, and USA Hockey are all working to eliminate checking from behind from the game. There are a couple important distinctions between the NHL and USA Hockey:
NHL Rule #44.2 – Checking from Behind – Major Penalty: ”Any player or goalkeeper who cross-checks, pushes or charges from behind an opponent who is unable to protect or defend himself, shall be assessed a major penalty. This penalty applies anywhere on the playing surface (see 44.5).”
USA Hockey Rule #607b – Checking from Behind: “A major plus a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who body checks or pushes an opponent from behind head first into the side boards, end boards or goal frame.”
High Sticks – NHL fans are used to seeing officials “check for blood” after a high stick to determine how severe the penalty should be. Here are the differences between USA Hockey and the NHL:
NHL Rule #60 – High-sticking: Rule #60.2 dictates minor penalty criteria: “Any contact made by a stick on an opponent above the shoulders is prohibited and a minor penalty shall be imposed.” Rule #60.3 dictates double-minor penalty criteria: “When a player or goalkeeper carries or holds any part of his stick above the shoulders of the opponent so that injury results, the Referee shall assess a double-minor penalty for all contact that causes an injury, whether accidental or careless, in the opinion of the Referee.” The next rule (60.4) dictates the criteria for a Match penalty. There is no verbiage for a major penalty on a high-sticking infraction in the NHL official rules.
USA Hockey Rule #617 – High Sticks: “A major plus a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player who injures an opponent by the use of a high stick.”
Face Off Location – A player comes streaking down the ice and fires a high-hard shot off the crossbar and out of play. Where the ensuing face off is positioned depends on the league:
NHL Rule #85.1 – Puck Out of Bounds: “…One exception to the above shall be when the puck deflects off the goal frame, including the goal post or crossbar, when caused by either team, either shot directly or deflected off any player or official, the face-off shall always be conducted in that end zone at the nearest face-off spot.”
USA Hockey Rule #611f – “When an infringement of a rule has been committed or a stoppage of play has been caused by any player of the attacking team in the Attacking Zone the ensuing face-off shall be made in the Neutral Zone on the nearest face-off spot.”
Don’t be surprised if the officials aren’t aware of these differences. The game is so complex and the rule book is so long and specific, it’s almost an impossible task to know every rule perfectly. When you also factor in many high level officials are officiating in several different leagues – each with their own set of particularities – it can be a daunting task to keep everything straight. Honest officials are trying their best to ensure an unbiased game. In youth hockey, we’re all out here to learn and improve. Help officials in a positive, productive manner understand the differences if they are in error.
References: USA Hockey’s “The Official Rules of Ice Hockey” – Link, “2009-10 Official NHL Rulebook” – Link