tips courtesy of "Hockey Made Easy"

Net coverage- with the new hockeyrules covering opposing
players in front of your net is going to be a challenge. They must
be covered at all times but you cannot tie them up or knock
them down until the puck arrives. Timing will be very important.
Try to control his stick and don’t let him get to any rebounds.
Take a good body position by being close to the potential receiver
staying between him and the puck if the puck is in the corner and
stay behind him if the puck is on the point. You should be close
enough so you can put your stick between his legs to know
where he is, but do not cork screw him with your stick and trip
him or a penalty will be called.

By staying close to him you can intercept or deflect any pass made
to the receiver or lift his stick. S/he is the one most likely to score a
goal not the player in the corner with the puck. Lifting his stick or
bodychecking when the puck arrives is considered legal and you should
not get a penalty. However, cross-checking someone in the back,
knocking them down before the puck arrives or holding them or their
stick with your free hand will draw a penalty.

Your defence partner should go into the corner to check the puckcarrier.
If s/he is late arriving, you must play it as a 2 on 1 situation and when
s/he arrives it’s played as a 1 on 1 situation for each of you. He in the
corner fighting for the puck and you covering the open man in front of
the net.

Do not go rushing into the corner and leave an opposing player
uncovered in front of the net unless there is a loose puck and you
are 100% sure you can retrieve it.

Corner work- if the player is covered in front of the net, 1 defenceman
must go into the corner and try to check the puck carrier. If allowed,
bodycheck, approach him on an angle or he could stickhandle
around you. Be aggressive and finish the check. If not allowed to
bodycheck, stick check the puck off his stick to create a loose puck.
Your closest backchecker should then pick up any loose puck then lead
an offensive rush out of your end zone.

Communication - between defence partners is critical. Let your
partner know what you are doing. “ I’ve got the man out front, you
take the man in the corner.”  This verbal communication will help
you play your position correctly and not have 2 defencemen going to
the same player, as this will always leave someone uncovered for
a potential pass and a possible goal against.

If you retrieve a loose puck in the corner, or anywhere else on the ice,
try to pass the puck quickly up to your open forward with an accurate
outlet pass. This could trap the opposition forwards deep in your end
and lead to an odd man rush and possibly a quality scoring opportunity
for your team.

These are but a few defensive tips to help young male and female
defencemen play their position correctly and will help them prevent
goals against their team if executed properly. Whether you’re 5
or 55, these same defensive skills are required to be an effective
defenceman for preventing goals.

tips courtesy of “Hockey Made Easy


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