What is the proper way to block a shot?

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Then...they were talking to McInnis a few days ago, and he said he tried - whenever possible to step around guys that were trying to block his shot. Ruining the shot wasn't his biggest concern...he was more worried about hurting somebody.

That is a sportsman.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

TSN did a thing on shot blocking last week. They showed the Hab (Trent McCleary) that got it in the throat a few years back. He went down too soon and slid right into the shot.

Timing, and protecting yourself (head/face and privates) seem to be the keys.

Then...they were talking to McInnis a few days ago, and he said he tried - whenever possible to step around guys that were trying to block his shot. Ruining the shot wasn't his biggest concern...he was more worried about hurting somebody.

He created a half-dollar sized hole in a player's leg once. I forget the player's name.

[All Torhs Team 0]

TSN did a thing on shot blocking last week. They showed the Hab (Trent McCleary) that got it in the throat a few years back. He went down too soon and slid right into the shot.

Thats why you tilt your cage down to your throat. and hold it there

[Neal 41]

TSN did a thing on shot blocking last week. They showed the Hab (Trent McCleary) that got it in the throat a few years back. He went down too soon and slid right into the shot.

Timing, and protecting yourself (head/face and privates) seem to be the keys.

Then...they were talking to McInnis a few days ago, and he said he tried - whenever possible to step around guys that were trying to block his shot. Ruining the shot wasn't his biggest concern...he was more worried about hurting somebody.

He created a half-dollar sized hole in a player's leg once. I forget the player's name.

Troy Murray when he was with the Jets. Broke the shin pad and ripped a chunk out of his leg...

[fatwabbit 93]

i used to just slide into the guy, maybe too used to soccer style tackles... worked a lot of times for me, esp against this guy i hated to play against... he would slap slot from EVERYWHERE, even try it backhand...

doesnt matter, blocked most of his shots anyways...

[Langenbrunner15 0]

I am actually really good to blocking shots, I never turn my head but make sure to keep your neck down a lil' so it blocks your neck, never twist away, keep body together, no sperad eagle or anything! When you slide, make sure you aim for the shot to be blocked by your shit pads, that way your usally more spread out with your upper body, blocking a pass if needed. Hope this helps. Cheers

[kmatt333 0]

...blocked by your shit pads...

:o Pampers or Huggies?

:lol: God, I'm immature.

[Langenbrunner15 0]

be quite!! lol

[sweetblazer 0]

DO NOT SLIDE UNLESS YOUR WITHIN ABOUT 10 FEET. I slid at a shot because I was in one of those "we are gonna win this game if it kills me modes" as usual. Took the shot right in the chest ribs contacted my lungs and caused internal bleeding. Not a pretty sight to come off and be gettin tapped on the back "nice block" then spit and all u see u see is blood.

[cause4alarm 7]

You guys are all dummies. This is how you block a shot:

Grab your stick with one hand about halfway down the shaft and place the blade flat on the ice. Spread your legs wide apart on either side of the stick and bend your knees down. Hold your free hand up and open, so that you can catch the puck if necessary. Your overall body positioning should resemble a sort of "butterfly" stance.

Lastly, if the puck is moving toward your stick hand, try to deflect the shot into the corner with your blocker.

[gavin 0]

A lot of older guys have told me to:

1. Skate at the shooter hard

2. Put your skates about a foot apart, pointing straight at the puck

3. Arms out, palms facing down, with the stick coming across your skates so the blade is in your "five hole."

It sounds like an old man thing, a guy that I consider my personal trainer told me to do this instead of my soccer style shinpad slide tackle. But watch NHL games... most shot block attempts are guys standing straight up like I've described here. Way less injuries and the chances of you getting a nice bounce off your stick/shinny straight ahead of you / up to the blue line for you to jump on and get a BREAKAWAY!!! So it's not so dumb after all, I've been trying this meathod for a few weeks now and it's definately a good technique for my arsenal. Too bad I hardly ever play winger anymore.

[Chadd 916]

TSN did a thing on shot blocking last week. They showed the Hab (Trent McCleary) that got it in the throat a few years back. He went down too soon and slid right into the shot.

Timing, and protecting yourself (head/face and privates) seem to be the keys.

Then...they were talking to McInnis a few days ago, and he said he tried - whenever possible to step around guys that were trying to block his shot. Ruining the shot wasn't his biggest concern...he was more worried about hurting somebody.

That's the game that made me stop going down to block shots. If Therien hadn't fumbled the puck before shooting, there wouldn't have been a problem. That one was scary.

[Project824 0]

Nobody's mentioned it yet, but with the exception of a baseball slide, ALWAYS lead with your stick whether you're standing up two shins together, one knee down or two knees down.  It will get there much sooner than you will, and no matter where it hits you afterwards, some pace will have been taken off the shot.  If you're laying out with a baseball slide, you want that shot to hit you in the front of your shins.  There's different situations to use each block, but always face the shot with the front of your body and never turn to your side or back, or turn your skates sideways.

many people have lost teeth thanks to using their sticks, so you may want to watch out....

Yes, I was taught by some ex-pros that it is very dangerous to have your stick in front of you if you're trying to block a shot because the puck could ramp up your stick which is often in line with your throat or face. Me, I still have a hard time breaking myself of the instinct to try to stop the puck by catching it.

The thing about leading with your stick is valid. Watch a pro game sometime and see how many shots don't make it to the net because they deflect off a stick. If you play at a high level, you simply won't have time to get in front of the shot and lay out before it's released. The stick will get there a good 5-6 feet before your body will and the closer to the shooter's blade you/your stick is, the better the chance you will alter the shot. With experience you will have your stick positioned to make the block without getting hit in the face. Here's a hint: Don't make your face the next thing in line after your stick. In blocking a shot, you take the risk of getting hit by the puck - essentially that is what you want to happen. At higher levels when the puck and players are moving faster, you'll rarely be in a position to make a full out body block, it comes down to making the play, which is getting a piece of the puck. The closer to the release of the shot you are, the better the chance you actually make the block.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

TSN did a thing on shot blocking last week. They showed the Hab (Trent McCleary) that got it in the throat a few years back. He went down too soon and slid right into the shot.

Timing, and protecting yourself (head/face and privates) seem to be the keys.

Then...they were talking to McInnis a few days ago, and he said he tried - whenever possible to step around guys that were trying to block his shot. Ruining the shot wasn't his biggest concern...he was more worried about hurting somebody.

He created a half-dollar sized hole in a player's leg once. I forget the player's name.

Troy Murray when he was with the Jets. Broke the shin pad and ripped a chunk out of his leg...

He also screwed up a player's knee. He dumped it along the boards, player stuck out his leg to stop it, caught him on the side of the knee.

I'm old because I am forgetting these guys's names.

[BK 0]

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/54064

I was goal judge for this game..

After this, I have a hard time trying to block shots.

I agree with the comment about letting the goalie with the pads stop it.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

Have you guys seen Steve Bégin of the habs a few days ago against Ottawa, WOW, I've never seen that. This was just ridiculous.

[gavin 0]

No I missed that play... must have been getting pizza. What happened?

[chippa13 1844]

I go with the legs together, standing method. You want your legs together because if the shot comes between your legs it is difficult for the goalie to pick up. I move toward the shooter in a straight line between him and the net, free hand goes in front of the chicklets. If I'm too far away then I step aside since I don't want to screen the goalie.

Once a guy continued with his slapper when I was no more than a couple feet from him. I was shocked he still tried to shoot when there was obviously no way the shot would get by me. The shot ricocheted off the top of my skate and caught him in the face just over the eye.

[All Torhs Team 0]

DO NOT SLIDE UNLESS YOUR WITHIN ABOUT 10 FEET. I slid at a shot because I was in one of those "we are gonna win this game if it kills me modes" as usual. Took the shot right in the chest ribs contacted my lungs and caused internal bleeding. Not a pretty sight to come off and be gettin tapped on the back "nice block" then spit and all u see u see is blood.

this will happen how many times within how many shots? I understand that it sucks but blocking shots show dedication and you should do it for your team and if your saying do not block shots at all cause you may get hurt then....

another thing that is sorta connected with this subject is clearing guys outa the crease when a shot is taken . of course you wana get you and that other guy cleared for the goalie but sometimes I get hit and theres really no protecting yourself at those times. All I do is get behind that other guy.

[EndBoards 0]

Thats why you tilt your cage down to your throat. and hold it there

Suprised it took so long for someone to reccomend this too..

To me the key is to hustle hard so that you can close the distance on the shooter quickly. Lots of times doing this will make them hesitate and/or pull back on the shot.

If he does go through with it, just pull your legs together, tuck the chin, cover the jewels, and make sure your skates are pointing right at him. Your skates have lots more protection around the toes than they do on the inside or outside of your foot.

[alvinator 0]

I let the puck hit anywhere apart from my crown jewels.

yup, cover up your nuts w/ one hand, and the other hand cover up your face, and hope it hits your shin pads

[pantherfan 0]

I try to get as close to the shot as i can so it wont hurt as much

[warrior37 0]

after reading some of these methods like "spreading out like a butterfly goalie" and "covering your nuts with your hand" id like to have a bucket of pucks to unload on some of you...

[technophile 0]

If he does go through with it, just pull your legs together, tuck the chin, cover the jewels, and make sure your skates are pointing right at him. Your skates have lots more protection around the toes than they do on the inside or outside of your foot.

That's my philosophy as well. I'll go down to one knee when I've got a forward going for a pass or wrister from the outside, but on a hard slapper I want the puck either going off my shinguards or missing me entirely, which means getting close and staying up.

Another trick is to have your feet in a fairly tight V (with your heels together/toes apart). It covers the space between your skate blades, but shots off your foot will hurt less since it's more of a glancing blow.

[Langenbrunner15 0]

after reading some of these methods like "spreading out like a butterfly goalie" and "covering your nuts with your hand" id like to have a bucket of pucks to unload on some of you...

roller hockey, what do you expect?