Winning More Loose Puck Races by Winning the Puck Line
Winning more puck races by understanding the opponent's puck line
While being fast and strong are clear advantages in hockey, having an understanding of leverage and body positioning is a critical element to winning more battles and foot races.
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Winning the Puck Line
The ‘puck line’ is the imaginary line that runs from a given player to the puck. It’s the shortest distance between a player and the puck.
In the below video, former Toronto Maple Leaf forward Ilya Mikheyev wins a foot race battle against Connor McDavid, one of (if not the) fastest players in the world. While being fast was crucial, his technique was the differentiator.
Getting shoulder in front
Lean into the other player
Using arm leverage
It’s not enough to worry about getting there first or focusing solely on skating your best footrace. It’s about understanding the entire situation and the relativity of needing to address the pressure you are facing. As the saying goes, you don’t have to be the best runner when a bear is attacking… you just can’t be the worst!
Owning the Puck Line
Next time you find yourself in a footrace next to someone, think about owning their puck line. Force them to take a long way around. Often they push you and actually give you more separation, as Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy shows below.
Further Reading