Only seven skaters at the start and eleven when the late arrivals finally showed, so Coach went easy on us as far as the end-to-end skating went. Tonight we stayed around the net, practicing deflections.
First off, taking position between the goal and the point, about at the paint of the face-off circle. Face the point, legs apart and stick on the ice in front of you with the blade in-line with the path the puck will take. Now pray that the guy taking the shot from the point doesn’t lift it to groin level, because we had enough of that shit last week.
When I started this drill, I was reacting late and trying to pull my stick back and toward the puck. This created something of a curling motion, which I was told to avoid. So hold the stick firmly and just move it side to side, trying to get it into the path of the puck a bit. By the time the evening was done, I was getting a bit and earned some praise from the goalie when I did it right. Did I get any past him? I have no idea, it was behind me.
Also lots of advice about making a ramp with your blade to lift the puck and how it has to be a way-shallow angle to keep it below the crossbar.
A few reps of this on one side, then Coach set up two shooters, so we’d take a shot from one point, then hightail to the other side of the net for a second shot.
Then we took turns shooting, lining up at the blue line. Take the shot and then follow it to the net to deflect a shot from the next in line.
Last was a two-man attack from center ice. Skate the puck in and pass back, backhand, to the trailer who’s stopped near the top of the circle. Then head for the net and set up to deflect his shot.
This was a high note for me, because my passes were generally on target. I may not be able to shoot or skate that well yet, but if I can touch the puck I have a decent chance of getting it to someone who can.
