Puck and Stick

Many coaches throw the term ‘stick handling’ around as though it happens every time a puck touches a stick blade. Skating unopposed up the ice, turning to go around an opponent, and making a deke on a goalie seem to always be called ‘stick handling’. I prefer to distinguish between these movements.

I find the term ‘puck control’ is a more accurate description of what a player does with the puck when they’re not around an opponent. The goal is simply to maintain control of the puck; to keep it in a position that allows you to move it as you like and eventually make a pass, take a shot, or ‘stick handle’. There isn’t a lot of fancy stick movement while controlling the puck, as excess movement creates the opportunity to lose control and turn the puck over. Sometimes good ‘puck control’ is carrying the puck up ice or even just pushing it out on front of you in a controlled manner. Everyone knows you have the puck, but no one is close enough to make an effort to steal it from you.

Simply skating around with a puck is a good ‘puck control’ drill. Maintaining good puck control can also entail the use of the skates to kick up and pucks that are lost in the feet. Any way to maintain control of the puck counts.

‘Stick handling’ comes into play once you enter high-traffic areas. At this point, you’re close enough to opponents that they can attempt to steal the puck or knock the puck away from you. ‘Stick handling’ moves are used to confuse the opponent and get him reaching for the puck. Continuously moving the puck makes this effort harder for the opponent.

When in close on a goalie, ‘stick handling’ comes up again. A simple deke is a 'stick handling' move intended to confuse the goalie and cause him to make the first move, or ‘commit’. Once committed, a goalie’s options are very limited and the chances for a goal increase.

‘Stick handling’ involves creativity and improvisation. Your actions depend on those of another skater or goalie and are constantly changing based on those reactions. A good ‘stick handling’ move is often unexpected or done quickly enough that an opponent cannot react in time. Trying a new ‘move’ in practice often leads to its use in a game situation.

Just remember, it’s all about controlling the puck. You can’t score without it and neither can the other team.