Do the right thing!

[Aussie Joe 0]

All through my playing life I've heard the term "Do the right thing for your team". Now that I am coaching it, it has occured to me that its not quite a simple statement as it seems.

I guess it means different things to different people, but would love to know what it means to you when you are on the rink playing/coaching. Not off the rink stuff like fitness or bonding but, the real nitty gritty of what it takes to be a good hockey player in a game.

Some of things I have thought of are...

- Keep your feet moving, never stay put, especially when in the slot.

- Play your lane and its assignements. Know your opposite number and watch him when your team doesn't have the puck. Then when rushing forward, know where you should be to help the team score.

What else do you guys think is worth adding?

[interpathway 9]

Keep that fricken stick on the ice! Slot especially!

[biff44 0]

Always wash your socks!

[automorph 0]

keep your head up and on a swivel

[Cavs019 708]

Doing the right thing + Junior hockey players usually involves decisions made at the bar post game. :)

[lampliter87 8]

Junior as in junior a, b, c, etc. leagues or junior as in not-adult?

[Jarick 5]

I'm still learning, but if I know anything so far, it's this:

- Keep your head up always

- Keep your feet moving, especially when you have the puck

- Understand your system and your role and what you should be doing at any given time

There's a ton of little things like passing on the forehand, getting yourself open, communication, etc, but those are the big three for me that I concentrate on every time I hit the ice.

[chippa13 1844]

Simple: leave it all out on the ice.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Looks like I'd be a stud on your team since you don't emphasize backchecking.

[mgoblue 0]

Take care of your equipment, and it will take care of you.

Experiment with ROH and find what's best for you.

Master your edge-work.

Do as your coach says.

Go hard on every drill.

Zetterberg: Watch and learn.

Learn to check properly.

Use your backhand.

Train off-ice as hard as you do on-ice.

Don't argue with officials.

Speak softly on the ice, let your actions resonate.

Be the type of player you'd want to play with.

Long hair is for girls.

Find open ice.

Put the puck on the net.

Go hard to the net.

Respect your goalies in practice and warm-ups.

Don't wear shoes with wheels.

In your entire hockey career, you may score 1 goal through your legs; practice wrist shots instead.

We're able to play this beautiful game for only a finite amount of time. Every half-assed shift is a shift you can never have back.

[thejackal 46]

no stupid penalties

[mgoblue 0]

Act like you've been there.

[adam14 182]

respect everybody on your team.

REspect recieved is respect earned, it doesnt come to you.

dont showboat, be professional.

[-venom- 0]

One not mentioned yet...

Defend your teammates.

[Law Goalie 147]

Don't screen your own goalie... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

[Aussie Joe 0]

Great stuff guys, I got the feeling I could write a book on this lol.

Keep em' coming!

[phunky_monkey 6]

respect everybody on your team.

That's a top one. A team that respects each other works well together.

As Law Goalie said, don't screen your goalie! Force the play

Keep the pressure on always

Hockey is a two way game

Protect your goalie

Clear the slot, and if you can't clear it, then at least tie up the stick and give your goalie a clear view of the play

Hold the blue line

[tdjb 0]

Find open ice.

We're able to play this beautiful game for only a finite amount of time. Every half-assed shift is a shift you can never have back.

Pretty much your entire list was dead on, but I think these two are things that a lot of people just don't think about. If you watch a lot of the top players you'll see that they generally have this uncanny ability to find the open spots of ice or they create them.

On the other one, my personal pet peeve is players who don't go 100% each shift. Do you have to score or level someone each shift? No, but you also should be half assing it all over the rink or waiting at center ice for the pass when your team is trying to break out.

[Quintin 16]

Don't fart on the bench

[adam14 182]

if you can haul ass into the oppositions zone, you're sure as hell capable to haul as back on D when you screw up.- Coach of mine this year yelling at my winger.

[Jason Harris 31]

Well, if the criteria is "Do the right thing for your team," then it's obvious there's something big missing from the list.

PASS THE FREAKIN' PUCK!!!

[#44wannabe 4]

Take their top player out of the game

[kosydar 0]

You are seriously a moron.

[Jarick 5]

To be fair, you could do that by shadowing.

[#44wannabe 4]

You are seriously a moron.

Meant slightly tongue in cheek as to the double meaning of the way i worded it, looks like someone forgot their sense of humour today... However, back on topic, in the truest meaning of the way i meant it then Jarick would be correct. If the guy can never get into open space because someone is always there then you are effectively taking them out of the game.

So is the extra 20% warn really necessary?