The Difference Between Being Puck-Focused vs. Body-Focused
Bringing back sensible physicality to ice hockey
I’m a big fan of physical play. It’s something that is often missing from the modern game, particularly at the amateur level that tends to think “being skilled” is of sole importance. I appreciate players who simply find ways to be effective instead.
Physical play is a part of valuing space, something we know leads to better performance. This is something Auston Matthew learned to become a dominant two-way player.
Below are two videos showing the difference between being puck-focused vs. space/positioning/body leverage-focused. It’s a mental approach more than anything, which you can see because the offensive player has the size advantage over the defender.
Example #1, Puck-focused
Similar to fishing, players who focus on the puck first leave themselves exposed and in adverse positions. They may get lucky and win a few puck battles, but it’s only a matter of time before the natural laws catch up to them.
Example #2, Body-Focused
Quickly, the defender at the net understands where they went wrong and alters his focus from the puck to the opponent’s chest. The next time that same opponent got the puck, they caused a turnover.
It’s an important reminder about why position before possession is so critical and that a mental switch is required to allow players of all sizes to “play big.”
Coaches note - feel free to use these videos as part of your playstyle packages.
Further Reading