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The guys who have been playing a long time will tell you it's the most important thing. It's not. You're right, the stats make it an incredibly low percentage play. The numbers I was given say that in the NHL, a shot that goes in clean from the point and boards accounts for 15% of all goals scored (and most of those are on highly screened shots). 85% of goals originate or are deflected in the small area in the middle of the ice usually called the "house". In beer league, that Dman can hardly even get the shot on net, and there usually isn't a player providing a real screen (they're usually off to the side waving at the puck). As a forward, you're typically better off playing lower in the zone, maybe at the top of the circle, to stop cross ice passes and controlled walk outs from the boards, and just stepping into the shooting lane if that Dman gets the puck. It's interesting to see how many guys scream bloody murder to cover the points if that guy even touches the puck, but don't make a peep if the wing curls off the hash marks, walks to the middle, and scores.

a few members helped make these happen. True/VH boots, LightSpeed holders with Step BlackSteel. Replaced the tendon rivets with bolts, and rivets with MLX screw system

This would be a good place to share coaching clips - anything related to individual play, tactics and motivational/informational clips.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been screamed at for not being all over that point guy. Even had a center start charging out to him off draws cuz I wasn’t getting there fast enough. Of course he had no problem leaving his man down low to bang in rebounds. I see how far off the wings play the points in the NHL. Looks like they are more concerned with the break out than trying to block point shots.

I love playing against one team in particular because they have a left handed defenseman that just hammers the puck around the boards along the ice every time he touches it, and a wing that stands 3 feet from me. I creep to the middle of the ice to move the wing with me, then break to the boards as soon as the dman winds up. Even if I'm going full speed towards the puck, and it takes some strange hop and gets past me, the guy covering me is trying so hard to get back on me that he can't get to the puck either. It just goes down for an icing, or my d partner/goalie to get it and bring it back up.

Sure, it's annoying as the point guy. But I look at it and laugh because I'm like the least dangerous guy on the ice (especially as the RD in beer league when most guys are RH and throw the puck around the boards to their forehand, which is the other side). If you want to stand next to me and do nothing and open up the middle of the zone, not be able to get the puck out on that side, and not keep with me if I decide to skate in for a quick pass to the high slot, then be my guest. Being annoying to the point guy is probably the least effective thing to be doing. I don't know of many times that guy has actually done anything to disrupt my play, being annoying aside.

Thanks!

Assuming it vacates the point and leaves it empty, the pinch side wing should cut the corner off the box and come down towards the middle. Box+1 is a zone defense so that wing doesn't necessarily have to stay on that point guy. You want to squeeze out more of the middle passing lanes. An extra guy down low isn't a big problem if you are still taking away those lanes. The wing can't go too far from his area because he needs to be there in case the point gets replaced and to be in the right spot for the breakout.

simple is good at the beer league level and the tips above are all helpful. for players who've never really paid attention to that side of the game, I'd suggest first getting a feel for what their current habits are before trying to get them to make conscious tactical changes. 1) be mindful of your check's body language - if you see his numbers, pressure him against the boards and try to take the puck away. if you see his crest, hold your ground and look to a) take away passing options to the middle of the slot and b) deter him/her against walking with the puck into the middle 2) be mindful of your stick position - if you can't physically get to your check, try to influence his play either up to the point or down to the corner by inviting that option with your stick and overall body language. either outcome is better than a pass to the slot, which you should be taking away with your skates and stick blade 3) be mindful of skate position - good offensive players either consciously or subconsciously try to manipulate defenders' feet in order to cross them up and open up space to attack the net. if your skating technique is already deficient (cant stop/turn/pivot in both directions) this is where you may run into problems. at the elite level, the best defenders react quickly, sprint to their check, and are able to keep their toes pointing at the check for as long as possible before having to stop or turn "on a dime" depending on how the play develops. if you turn away early because you don't trust your edges, you're very easy to beat with a shake on one side and a pass or carry to the opposite side.

Smooth and unassuming backhand.

Would have preferred a 5th straight championship but we’ll take a 5-2 win for 3rd place!

Found this pic of me circa 1993-94. God, I loved those Mega Air 90 skates, they were awesome. My two-tone Cooper SK2000 and mullet went together quite nicely too, I must say :)