Switching from Forward to Defense

[Ti-girl 0]

Okay,

I just got moved from forward (four years of playing forward) to defense. I don't like defense, but I'm one of the best, if not the best, player on our team.

Do you have any tips for playing defense?

Its in a no contact women's league.

I'm a good skater with good stick handling skills, my only problem is, playing power forward for years my motto has been "I don't like defensive responsability."

I'm a good backchecker and good shot blocker, the only thing is, I dont know what to do in front of the net.

Thanks!

[gavin 0]

I switched to D after years of playing centre and I can feel for you, but I don't know what to say, if you're playing no check. That's sucky, I feel your pain.

In front of the net the idea is the same as if you're a centre trying to screen, except you're trying to clear it. When in doubt, be more physical than not. My coach always says he'd rather risk killing a penalty than have a guy walk in on the net/stand in front of the goalie without getting taken down.

What does no contact mean? Can you touch them? Can you ... move.. them behind the net? If you can't do anything, then just try to play a puck possession game, move it quickly in your own zone (this invovles knowning your partener, I asked my coach if I could play with the same partener almost all season, and that helped me a lot this year), focus on beautiful breakout passes (our league allows 2 line passes now, so that's fun) and every once in a while run the puck coast to coast and put it in the net. And if you're frusterated from not being able to defend (because of no contact), then get your hits in while you're rushing up with the puck. I find pounding a guy on his own blueline is pretty safe, if you lose the puck your team can pick it up and you won't get called for "charging" in this sport. I hope.

Maybe you need to tell me what your rules are like before I can understand. The only no contact I've played has been rather non competetive.

[Ti-girl 0]

Well its girls hockey, so its contact, no checking.

The problem is, I moved to Calgary and when I got here there were no high level women's team left to play with, so Im playing at a lower level than what I'm used to.

Many of these girls are quite weak. There's one other girl who is a strong defenseman, but I dont feel that we should have the two strongest girls on the same line.

I use the boards, but then our forwards aren't there. I make tape to tape passes, but they can't handle them.

We have two REALLY strong forwards (one is my cousin) so I rely on them to get the puck out of the zone, or else I pull a Niedermeyer and skate around the whole other team and go in on goal.

I'm fast enough to get back, and the fact of the matter is, I'm mean enough to give a good whack to get some of the girls off of me.

[millertime99 0]

i switch it up every once in a while too...if they cant handle the puck on ur passes u can rush the puck more often, and in the defensive zone just pick up a gurl and stay with them....in the offensive zone u should be able to pinch in because ur own of the strongest out there just make sure u hustle ur ass back

[forbs02 20]

I play women's league in MN and this past season I ended up playing a lot of D after playing forward for 8 yrs. Its non-check league but you can still move players around. The hardest part for me was knowing when it was my responsibility to pull the puck out of the corner, knowing when to step up on a player, and not screening my goalie. My goalie started to yell at me when I would screen so learned how to not do that anymore. For breakouts with forwards who can't catch passes, start chipping off the glass and letting them run it down. If you don't have a clear outlet, that's a good breakout b/c its rarely icing that way. Just stay tough in front of the net and that will make the other forwards think twice about trying to camp out there.

[technophile 0]

In front of the net, you can try to move people out of the way, mostly by leaning on them. Keep your stick on the ice when doing so, or you will take a crosscheck penalty. Getting your leg or stick between their legs can give you leverage to sort of jack them off balance and help you move them, but you have to be careful not to take an interference or tripping call. Tying up their stick is never a bad decision and shouldn't ever be called, especially if you do it when the puck is nearby or incoming. You want to stay in a position where you can be the first person on the puck if the goalie gives up a short rebound (low slot area). You don't have to do anything fancy with rebounds, just sweep them to the wall or corner; tie up your man and use your skates if you have to.

Try to clear the puck along the wall; never pass in front of your own goal and avoid passes up the middle unless you know it's clear.

As far as who you should be covering, talk to your partner a lot. If the puck goes low in the corner and you're closest to it, go after it if someone else can cover the slot. Basically you want to cover the most dangerous person in the zone, which works like this:

1. If there is an uncovered forward in the slot, cover them.

2. If there is an uncovered forward low in the zone on the wing, cover them.

3. If all the forwards down low are covered, double-team the puck carrier with an eye to cutting passing lanes. The points are your wings' responsibility; you should basically never get up past the faceoff circles when the puck is in your zone.

4. If the puck carrier goes behind your net, don't follow. Prevent them from coming out front for a quick stuff or making a pass to the slot; if you chase them around the net they're going to have a better chance to do so.

Also, if you're the stronger defenseman, then start talking to your partner. If you see them doing something you don't think is right, or that doesn't mesh well with what you want to happen, discuss it with them (they may have a good reason for it, they may not). The more you feel like you can rely on knowing what your partner will/can do, the better.

Your first responsibility is to get the puck out of the zone. Transitioning (either by a pass or by skating it up) is secondary, always. If you don't have a good pass or room to skate, bank it off the boards and make it a footrace. If your forwards can't handle your passes, try taking a little bit off them and putting the pass into empty space just ahead of them, so they can skate into the puck rather than trying to take a pass from behind (which is tricky for a lot of people). Practice passes during warmup with the forwards; one drill we do that works well is to have one defenseman on the goal line on either side of the net. Forwards line up at the blue line and skate in, one at a time. Defense passes to the forward, who takes the pass and shoots. It works on receiving passes as well as quick shots and warms up the goalie.

[gavin 0]

good post technophile

I should add that when it comes to responsibility, you need to yell at your defensive partener, especially if you are paired with a liability because you are a bit stronger. My weakness is to want to go into HIS corner when I should yell at him to get his butt over there and win the puck. Don't be afraid to let them know when to leave their post and dig in the corner: often they will thank you for helping them with the decision. Shifting the defence is one of the most important parts, make sure you can get back in front REALLY fast if you let the puckcarrier get around the net. If you're strong, sometimes it's tempting to chase to the other corner. That is bad. It's better to learn to coordinate with your partener, making sure he/she leaves the front and picks up the check. And she has to be confident that you're going to man the crease.

[biff44 0]

THIS is what you need:

http://www.championshipproductions.com/cgi...tml?id=kp4FaHZ5

[Ti-girl 0]

Well right now I feel like I'm running around. I'm the fastest on our team (well, head to head with my cousin she probably can beat me short distances, but in the long run I'm faster), I just feel like I'm running around the ice.

Because I'm tall (over 5'8) and I have long arms and legs I cover a lot of ice. My partner (at least last practice, though she wants to move up to forward next game) was quite weak, but she has good hockey sense.

She KNOWS where she wants to be, but just can't get there in time.

I did a lot of chips off the boards or off the glass and then it was three forwards chasing in. So then it left us wide open for a 3on2 break.

Going around the boards to make a d-to-d pass is hard when your partner isn't in position. Even the other team doesn't come in and intercept my passes.

When my cousin, Steph, is on the ice, we can do a clear through the middle breakaway pass because she KNOWS where I'm going to pass.

Other than that I'm all over the defensive zone because our forwards don't cover the points and I have to handle 2 girls in front or behind the net.

I feel like tearing my hair out!

I've been a forward forever now, and have always been the backchecker, shotblocker type and this is driving me nuts. I don't want to ream anyone out because I know its a learning experience, but I don't know what else to do. I've rushed from behind the net and all the way through their team and then scored off a nice play from Steph. I did a behind the back pass and then she caught it and passed it back.

This is the ONLY way for us to get out of the zone is either me carrying it, or her carrying it out.

[technophile 0]

Because I'm tall (over 5'8) and I have long arms and legs I cover a lot of ice.  My partner (at least last practice, though she wants to move up to forward next game) was quite weak, but she has good hockey sense.

She KNOWS where she wants to be, but just can't get there in time.

She'll get to that point eventually. Try to resist the urge to chase all over the ice; the other team can pass much faster than you can skate, so staying in position is vital. Be encouraging, and communicate a lot.

I did a lot of chips off the boards or off the glass and then it was three forwards chasing in.  So then it left us wide open for a 3on2 break.

If you have a coach, talk to them about working on forechecking with the forwards; you should have at most 2 forwards forechecking. The third forward doesn't go in until they have possession. If you don't have a coach, tell the forwards yourself. Just let them know that you need help back and not to all go charging in at once. Make sure you praise them when they do stay back; they'll remember that.

Going around the boards to make a d-to-d pass is hard when your partner isn't in position.  Even the other team doesn't come in and intercept my passes.

Maybe your partner can anticipate the pass a little bit to try to get there earlier; even if she can't, you can make the around the boards pass to that winger instead of the D.

Other than that I'm all over the defensive zone because our forwards don't cover the points and I have to handle 2 girls in front or behind the net.

I feel like tearing my hair out!

You just have to keep talking to your teammates. Before the game, remind them to cover the points (doing so will give them breakaways occasionally if they do it well, so that's incentive). During the game, if you see a winger down low in your own zone, yell at them to cover the point -- it's easy to get into a mentality of chasing the puck and forget, and a reminder is all that's needed sometimes.

I've been a forward forever now, and have always been the backchecker, shotblocker type and this is driving me nuts.  I don't want to ream anyone out because I know its a learning experience, but I don't know what else to do.

You're going to have to teach them. Talk to them, before and after games. Point out what they did well, what didn't work, but be encouraging. Try to encurage during the game as well; if a winger made a nice backcheck, tell them at the next break or shift change. Forwards are like puppies; you have to make the action and the praise very close together or they forget. ;)

Talk a lot on the ice -- direct them where they should defend, tell them how you want to break out, get them thinking tactically rather than rushing around. It will take a lot of time and it will be frustrating--but think how much more awesome it will be in the end, when you can make a nice D-to-D pass followed by a breakout that leads to a goal, and the whole team has something to celebrate. These girls aren't up to the standards you're used to, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun and learn to be effective as a team. You're just going to have to lead a little bit.

This is the ONLY way for us to get out of the zone is either me carrying it, or her carrying it out.

Resist the temptation -- I know if I were playing your team I'd have our center shadowing your cousin all game long, and a winger on you as soon as you touched the puck. You need to help the rest of your team be effective; it doesn't take great individual skills, just hard work and communication. If you're not being pressured, take the extra second to look up and yell at your team to do what you want, then make the right pass.

Also, check out this thread for more F-to-D tips:

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=225281

[sonsplayhockey 0]

If your team members don't progress in positional hockey then you are doomed to do all the work yourself. They won't get much better skating very quickly so they are better off learning to get to position then immediatly pass to another.

One other thing our team did last season is if we had a slower D, that D worked the front of the net tying up sticks or clearing out the front of the crease, while the other D kept digging it out of the corners. The center stayed in the slot waiting for a breakout pass from the D or the wingers.

There are 2 girls that are on our team that also play on the Woman's division. Its just starting out here at our rink going into the 2nd season. They have tryouts and spread the talent. But they also start with 5 practices and a coach. MANY are true beginners.

Your best bet may be to teach them BASIC positioning. Wingers cover points and don't collapse to the Net, Look up before you pass...all that stuff.

[Ti-girl 0]

I should explain my hockey background too. I played when I was a kid, but quit because I was better at baseball and kayaking (mainly because I worked harder), but I started a few years ago playing again.

I played tier 2 because, well, there wasn't any other options. So I had to work my ass off every practice and every game JUST to keep up. We had some Dub guys come and work with us and do scrimmages which really helped. Now I just find that I think too fast and play too fast for the level that Im at right now.

She'll get to that point eventually. Try to resist the urge to chase all over the ice; the other team can pass much faster than you can skate, so staying in position is vital. Be encouraging, and communicate a lot.

Since I started as one of the poorer ones on my other team, Im always positive. Even if they make a mistake, I'll be like "Good chip, but next time try to get it a bit harder" ect.

I realise that the team can pass faster than I can skate, but I can skate fast enough to catch them, so then I get caught up the ice and get back in time. Good idea, no, but whatever.

If you have a coach, talk to them about working on forechecking with the forwards; you should have at most 2 forwards forechecking. The third forward doesn't go in until they have possession. If you don't have a coach, tell the forwards yourself. Just let them know that you need help back and not to all go charging in at once. Make sure you praise them when they do stay back; they'll remember that.

We were working yesterday on having One in deep, one about the hash marks and one higher than that. Worked in practice, not in a game. I ended up grabbing one of the girls and told her to "STAY THERE" when we were in our end.

Me: "You can move from side to side, but only half of the ice. You can move two feet down the ice, that's it. Be on her like a couple of virgins on prom night."

It got a good laugh and she stayed there when she was on the ice.

I chatter on the ice and direct traffic (Like Chris Pronger on the Oilers PP) sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't.

I chipped it high off the glass and NO ONE on the ice moved. It was like "WTF? She can do that?!" So then I just followed my chip and went in all alone. So then, not wanting to be a puck hog, I sat by the boards and set up our offense. We were able to get a good chance on the play, but really, I could have gone in and scored. But I'm nice. Or I try to be.

Resist the temptation -- I know if I were playing your team I'd have our center shadowing your cousin all game long, and a winger on you as soon as you touched the puck. You need to help the rest of your team be effective; it doesn't take great individual skills, just hard work and communication. If you're not being pressured, take the extra second to look up and yell at your team to do what you want, then make the right pass.

They actually tried that in our scrimmage. They had one of their better girls on Steph whenever she got on the ice, but shes a crafty sucker and could still get her shots off with a girl on her back.

They had two come in hard on me, but I'm taller than most of them and just pinned the puck up against the boards until I saw one of our girls and kicked it to her or I would do my usual "play with the puck by myself against the boards" until I can get it free.

It's just so frustrating right now.

[technophile 0]

Well, it sounds like you're doing everything you can. Unfortunately they're not going to "get it" overnight, so it will be frustrating for a while. :)

[Ti-girl 0]

:( Yeah I know, but I'm the type of person that if I don't do it well, I don't do it.

I won't golf because I suck at it.

Though, on a positive note, I was able to pull a Roloson and send the puck over everyone, to my cousin of course.

I yelled at her to go for a Riders pass (We're both Sask Roughriders fans, so she knew what it meant) and I did an ariel that went right over her and just about right onto her stick.

The goalie was so suprised she just stood there, about 4 feet out of her crease and let Steph shoot. It made me laugh.

[Cheechoo 0]

Sounds like you don't really need any help figuring out how to play D, but how to help your teammates improve. Technophile has given you some great advice and now it's just a matter of patience, waiting for your team to improve slowy, and helping them along. I'm often in a similar situation because in addition to playing at my level, I also play one league down just to get more playing time. I play defense and usually get the worst D as my linemate. There are a few things I've learned for dealing with this situation and helping the newer players as much as possible:

1. ALWAYS remember that you were once a weak player!

2. Newer players often know WHAT they should do, they just don't have the skating or puck handling abilities to do it. So saying "do this and that" is often pointless, because they can't.

3. Although new linemates are usually very open to suggestions at first, they quickly get tired of constantly being told what to do. They start seeing you as a know-it-all and then tune you out. To avoid that, I try to sit on the bench with my linemate between shifts and instead of the "you need to do this and that" approach, I say something like this: "See how the other teams' forwards keep doing this and that? I have an idea. How about next time we're out there and they do that, I go over to this side, you cover that girl, and then we cross lanes on the breakout." Instead of being told what to do, your linemate will feel like your developing a strategy with her and she'll be excited to try it. I've had success with that approach so many times.

4. Lead by example. As the best, or one of the best, players on your team, it's your responsibility to SHOW them how to play the game, not just TELL them how to play the game. What I mean is if, for example, you have the puck and the worst player on your team is open and in a good position, pass her the puck, even if you are sure she'll fumble it. Resist the temptation to force a low-odds pass to your dominant cousin, and instead pass to the person to whom passing makes most sense based on hockey principles, not based on the individual skill level of the players. Not only will they get better by having to receive and handle the puck more often, but they will also respect your judgment more and realize that the way to be part of the game more is to be in the right position.

Lastly, I imagine that you'll be trying to get onto a team in a higher league as soon as you can (and so you should), but until then, try not to care about winning or loosing. See this as a season to give someting back to the sport you love by teaching others to love it too. See every game as a practice where you're the assistant coach. I'm telling you, once you get back to playing at your level, you'll have a completely different appreciation for the game.

[Ti-girl 0]

1. ALWAYS remember that you were once a weak player!

I tell myself that every practice and I tell the girls on my team that. I tell them that I couldn't stop and had a tough time clearing the zone a few years ago.

Most of them don't believe me.

Then, I do my usual, "wait, I'm wearing skates..." moment where I totally forget Im wearing skates a fall and then the girls usually lighten up and laugh.

2. Newer players often know WHAT they should do, they just don't have the skating or puck handling abilities to do it. So saying "do this and that" is often pointless, because they can't.

Yesterday I was directing traffic and finally when we got a call I was physically moving my forwards to where I wanted them for the face off. I couldn't explain it properly, so I just moved them.

I try to show them how to do some of the little things, like using their body to sheild the puck and how to use the boards.

3. Although new linemates are usually very open to suggestions at first, they quickly get tired of constantly being told what to do. They start seeing you as a know-it-all and then tune you out. To avoid that, I try to sit on the bench with my linemate between shifts and instead of the "you need to do this and that" approach, I say something like this: "See how the other teams' forwards keep doing this and that? I have an idea. How about next time we're out there and they do that, I go over to this side, you cover that girl, and then we cross lanes on the breakout." Instead of being told what to do, your linemate will feel like your developing a strategy with her and she'll be excited to try it. I've had success with that approach so many times.

That's a great idea! I was always the girl on the bench going "Okay, so what do we do now?" or "Ali, Maria, just tell me what to do."

I'm probably one of the odd ones, but thats how I work.

4. Lead by example. As the best, or one of the best, players on your team, it's your responsibility to SHOW them how to play the game, not just TELL them how to play the game. What I mean is if, for example, you have the puck and the worst player on your team is open and in a good position, pass her the puck, even if you are sure she'll fumble it. Resist the temptation to force a low-odds pass to your dominant cousin, and instead pass to the person to whom passing makes most sense based on hockey principles, not based on the individual skill level of the players. Not only will they get better by having to receive and handle the puck more often, but they will also respect your judgment more and realize that the way to be part of the game more is to be in the right position.

Yesterday I had a good rush, well, more like I decided I wanted the puck out and took it out myself, and went and set up in the corner.

I got an earful from the coach because he said that I was "showing off", but it was either that or:

a) go in and score myself

B) give the puck to Steph and she can score

c) set up and wait for the other girls to join the play and then see what we can do.

I would rather set up and let the other girls get in the play. They're not going to get any better just watching us score.

Each shift, I try to say something positive to each player. Like "Good hustle, good shot, good pass" or even "Great stop out there!"

Right now I think its just frustration. I really just want more ice time (okay so maybe its a good thing that Im moving back to d, seeing as we have 9 forwards) and time to work on the "finer points" of my game but I guess my overcompetivness is showing.

[gavin 0]

Don't resort to the 1 D in front of the net, 1 d digging the corners. It's a good way to develop really bad habits, and you want you and the other girls to learn good hockey. Work on the "box" and PK techniques, how to shift the D when the other team swings the puck.

Also, use this as an opportunity to become a power D. Maybe you'll move up next season and the coach will have you play D. That would be a HUGE honour in my opinion, now that I've learned the position I'd rather play D than anything else.

[repus 0]

I have played D for the majority of my hockey lifetime but from time to time I have been demoted to forward ;P

Here are some things that have worked for me playing non-contact hockey.

- Defense is about team work, you need to work very closely with your partner and with your goalie. This takes time to build, but you need to come up with a strategy that works for you. For example: On a 2-1, does the goalie want the shot or the pass (typically its the shot, but you never know).

- Create a box in your mind of the defensive zone. I call this the attack zone. Basically if someone has an open shot within this zone, they have a high chance of scoring. This will vary depending on the skill level. I recommend the box being drawn from the bottom corner of each goal crease, to the face off dots and across. Regardless of the situation, if someone has the puck in that area, attack them.

- Controlling the puck less important than controlling the play. On rebounds etc, if you can use your body (in a non-contact manner) to place it between the puck and the player, they won't be able to play it. Similarly, a bouncing puck in front of the net, it is more important to prevent someone from shooting than being able to pass the puck out of the area. Let the goalie take care of covering it.

- Know your angles. If you are going to stand in the way of a shot, make sure your goalie can still see. You make a better door than a window for your goalie. I typically try and line up on the post. If the puck hits me, it was going for the corner. If it goes to one side, its going towards the goalie, if it goes on the other, its missing the net. This makes it much easier for your goalie.

- Practice your poke check. This is a true art form and your best weapon

- Its better to get the puck out of the zone than to try and make the perfect outlet pass

- Most importantly: Don't trust your forwards!

-dave

[Ti-girl 0]

Okay, so how do you play the body without getting called?

I went out playing yesterday and this girl came at me. She tried to dance around, but I pretty much pulled a Jason Smith and landed her on her ass.

It was awesome. But then I got called for roughing. I mean, come ON!

So what did I do wrong?!

[gavin 0]

lol switch leagues.

Or learn to adapt, just poke check like a banshee and learn the art of putting people off of balance when the ref can't see your hand. Like.. just force them to take the long route... take the long route... and then BANG force them on their outside edge and ooooops you whack on the top of their stick and they either have to go wide or fall on thier butt.

But ya I do'nt think you're going to be doing any Smith-style defence in that league.

[repus 0]

Playing the body in a non-contact league isn't that hard, its about angling. There are two ways to do this. The painful way and the less painful way. The painful way involves a hard collision. Pain is dependant on your size vs the other person's size. I would recommend avoiding it.

Here is the easy way: As the person comes towards you, starting skating backwards about 2/3rds of the speed, you want the person to start making a move around you. As they start to move around you, you want to line your body up with the person and speed up. This will basically tangle the two of you together heading in the same direction. You can then fight for the puck or keep the person to the outside.

In the event that the person stays outside, keep your body even with them so they can pull around you.

This is an angling and speed drill. If you don't give them a line to make it past you, your body position will help keep them to the outside.

The most common thiing that will get you a penalty in this situation is getting your hands up. Contact should be with your torso. Shoulder position is key.

-dave

[Ti-girl 0]

Okay here is my new problem. We had our final scrimmage before our first game.

We have 2 sets of D and 9 forwards.

We seem to have the weaker team so we spend a lot of time in our end. I don't chase the forwards behind the net, whatever, they can't score from there, and I always have the girl in front of the net on my side tied up.

Well we ended up letting a 2on0 go, but Im fast enough to get back so angled the girl into the boards and slashed the puck high off the glass. I chopped at the puck and then lifted her stick. We ended up GRAZING the boards and she started calling for a penalty.

The ref just told me to watch the contact (whatever) but is that the proper thing to do? It was either that or play the pass, but they were really far apart so I decieded to take her.

Grr...

[gavin 0]

lol the right thing to do is whatever you won't get called for. non-contact is stupid anyways, it's not a part of the sport to begin, it's like training wheels. So this is not a question of what is "the right thing to do"

In this situation you just need to find out what the ref will let you get away with. Cause he can't call all contact. I think you did the right thing. In fact, mostly if you're PRETENDING to be going for the puck, lifting the stick etc, then you can try to get away with a lot of body. Just be like "HEY I was just getting the puck" and if you get put in the sin bin for 2, then next time do the EXACT same thing but a little less contact.

[BK 0]

Playing d on a non-check league is hard.. I did it for a little bit but got frustrated because you are at so much of a loss. I am a very physical player. I have a large body and I use it.. its the way I was taught to do it. I am not fast enough to play any other way and my pokecheck is mediocere at best. I just got frustrated because because I am a larger guy, it felt like I was being watched more than others..

One thing that I did a lot was get a good back stride going and slow down into the other player.. Once (if) contact was made, I would do like you would and overplay it a little to give me the advantage... this got me out of more than a few 2-1 pickles..

I agree though.. its hard not to just stop and shoulder down into the oncomming winger.

[Ti-girl 0]

Well the fact of the matter is, I am used to playing a more elite style of hockey. I am playing in this league because I came in too late to register for other teams.

It is a mix of beginner players and ex ringette players. The ex ringette players are great skaters and most of them can handle the puck quite well.

There are 4 of us on my team that have played hockey before. We're now the D-corps.

They told us that "if they fall and you stay standing, you're probably going to get called."

I've been playing for god knows how many years and am strong on my skates. OF COURSE I'm going to stay standing.

I've been working on my poke check, but right now my favorite move is take a step towards them, let them hit me and slash the puck out.

They fall, they were moving faster, I have the puck.

My whole goal for this summer season is to work on my puck handling skills and confidence. Then work up to next year.

I agree with you Badkitty about the contact thing. I'm 5'8 (maybe 5'8 1/2, can't remember) and have been a gym whore since I've been 14. I am physically stronger than any of the girls that I am competing with. I am also very competitive so it makes it even harder.

Though, in our last scrimmage, I blocked a shot and the whole ice stopped and went "Doesn't that hurt?"

I passed it through the middle up to one of our girls who scored and went "No, but that sure would've."