crashing into the boards

[jbyun04 7]

i'm always constantly getting tripped up or hooked down when i'm in the offensive zone and im going at a decent speed. Every time I always seem to be close enough to crash into the boards but not far enough to recover from the time i get tripped up.

Does anyone have any tips on what to do when this happens?

[repus 0]

Keep your knees bent and slow yourself down as much as possible. Don't let your leg/foot get caught at a bad angle. A buddy of mine had this and he snapped his leg in 3 places and is out for a year. As you reach the boards, try and use your legs to slow you down if possible.

-dave

[Andoy 5]

yep. knees bent, runners facing the boards...don't worry about losing an edge, save ur legs!!

[HotBacon 0]

If crashing into the boards is really happening that much that it is becoming a problem I'm going to suggest that you don't be so quick to drop to the ice. Just because someone's stick hits your legs doesn't mean you have to flop. Be strong on your skates, especially going to the net.

[Duder84 0]

If crashing into the boards is really happening that much that it is becoming a problem I'm going to suggest that you don't be so quick to drop to the ice. Just because someone's stick hits your legs doesn't mean you have to flop. Be strong on your skates, especially going to the net.

Are you suggesting he's diving? Thats just not very nice....

I try to turn and let my back make the contact with boards instead. I'd rather get the wind knocked out of me instead of breaking my legs, elbow, or shoulders

[HotBacon 0]

Are you suggesting he's diving?  Thats just not very nice....

Not diving in so many words, but just not being strong on his skates. I've played w/ and against a number of people that would fall after feeling a stick on their legs. Not diving to get a call, but rather just falling because of a lack of confidence or something like that. I understand you get tripped up and hooked when going to the net, but it's not all that common to be going down so much that you have to plan on how you'll go into the boards next time. Since this seems to be the case, the first thing that popped into my head was he could be a "faller".

[jbyun04 7]

i'm not diving at all

it's either i get a stick between the legs or someone jams it in my holder and lifts their stick up or pulls it back

[pantherfan 0]

If you have time just try and get up even a little bit because the higher you hit the boards the more give it will give you.

[chippa13 1844]

yep. knees bent, runners facing the boards...don't worry about losing an edge, save ur legs!!

Going blade first into the boards is a great way to get a nice ankle or knee injury. If at all possible, take impact into the boards with your shoulder/side of your body to dissipate at much energy as possible.

[ctaz 0]

yeah, you definitely want to take it with your body/shuld and not your limbs (legs, head/neck, elbow down to the hand). I've always tried to impact the boards that way when I have to hit them and I've been able to get up from them everytime, some might take a few seconds longer than others, but as long as you can get up without a concussion or anything that would keep you from finishing the game, who's complaining.

[sc37 0]

Well find what's the most padded place on you and use that as the impact point. I find the hip area of my pants are most protective and go in with my side/butt so I hit with that pad area. I hit my knee one time and the shock went up my leg and into my low back-- had a stiff back for a while after so I don't recommend going into the boards with your legs.

[jbyun04 7]

whenever i go blades first in to the boards i get this major shock into my knees and I'm taking it that thats not very good. If I go shoulder first wouldn't I risk having a dislocated shoulder/collarbone?

anyway what i gathered from this is that i should hit the boards with my body/shoulder whenever possible, right?

[gavin 0]

lol I've never had time to think "do I want to hit with my feet or my shoulder?"

I'm thinking ... you're not diving but you REALLY need to work on balance and core strength, so that you don't wind up on your butt so much. Even if you get a stick in your holder, and another guy corkscrews you, there is a good chance that if you are strong enough/have really good balance, you can still stay upright. Just look at old film of Sidney Crosby playing against the Russian Selects when he was in the Q. He NEVER and I mean NEVER hit the ice, and no buddy going more stick and body than he did in those games. Incredible.

[hapamatt122 0]

our perhaps jsut practice skating fast, falling and popping back up without losing too much momentum, maybe if u can pop up quicker you can avoid the boards.

[jbyun04 7]

lol I've never had time to think "do I want to hit with my feet or my shoulder?"

I'm thinking ... you're not diving but you REALLY need to work on balance and core strength, so that you don't wind up on your butt so much. Even if you get a stick in your holder, and another guy corkscrews you, there is a good chance that if you are strong enough/have really good balance, you can still stay upright. Just look at old film of Sidney Crosby playing against the Russian Selects when he was in the Q. He NEVER and I mean NEVER hit the ice, and no buddy going more stick and body than he did in those games. Incredible.

good thought

yeah my core could definately use a lot more improvement

[chk hrd 164]

our perhaps jsut practice skating fast, falling and popping back up without losing too much momentum, maybe if u can pop up quicker you can avoid the boards.

or perhaps just practice skating fast, falling....and sliding into the boards until you figure out which is the least painful way...then let us know for future use :D

[capes921 0]

i'd also have to recommend crashing in with your side, speaking from personal experience. i slid in feet first with my knees bent, runners facing the boards, and i snapped my ankle and its never gunna be the same again

[Chadd 916]

anyway what i gathered from this is that i should hit the boards with my body/shoulder whenever possible, right?

You want to spread the impact over as much of your body as possible. Try to be as close to parallel (to the boards) as you can be.