Checking tips

[raygunpk 0]

How do you stop a guy going full towards you? I'm a forward and I have major troubles checking people. If I try to pokecheck them in the neutral zone they will just deke to a side and steam through full speed. If I skate back a little they will just go outside on me... I can never seem to check anybody as easy as it looks when I see other people doing it, or NHL players.

[Rustpot 1]

NHL players make it look easy because they're a lot better.

If you're a forward you should be backchecking. Try to focus on skating with the opponent instead of backwards in front of him if backward skating isn't doable, and work on it in practice.

When you watch NHL players they rarely transition from backward skating to a check. Let the D do their job and take the attacking forward. Cover the pass, take your man and focus on forcing the play the way you want and take away opportunities instead of trying to take the attacker out of the play.

[fgcc 0]

It's all about angles.

If you straight ahead attempt a poke check you are asking to get burnt by someone with good hands.

Your real goal is to force the player to skate where you want him to skate. You want to angle yourself to force him to beat you wide in most cases.

When he runs out of open ice he is in trouble and you can close the gap and go for the check.

To see an example of this in action watch NHL forwards penalty killers as the opponents reach neutral ice. The forwards will attempt to angle the opposing player into having no choice.

[Aussie Joe 0]

You need to perform the check in more of a sweeping motion. Coming from one side to another. Forcing the direction of the play. Its funny but you body check someone in the same manner. Coming from one direction, to the other. Straight forward means the person can dodge you or in this case puckhandle around you.

Also something I instruct my D to do is throw in a fake check every now and then. You exagerate the motion with your shoulder/arms then stop half way and don't commit your whole body/balance to the check, this will mean a slower rate of recovery.

Practice every chance you get and do it against people that are better/quicker then you. This will be the best and quickest way to learn.

[raygunpk 0]

Okay so no stabbing checks. I noticed watching the Canucks tonight there was only one play where a player got side stepped easily because he was just standing there, every other time it seemed the D was just skating with the opposing team's forwards until they had to dump it in.

[Aussie Joe 0]

You need to be patient, thats what the D are doing in that NHL eg. Waiting for the perfect time to stick or body check. You can't force it if it isn't there.

[phunky_monkey 6]

As above, as a defenseman that's your job. Push the rushing player where you want them to go, force them to make the move that you want them to make. If you go for a hit and miss you pull yourself out of the play. However, don't back yourself into your own goalie. You'll notice they wait patiently, but they know when to force the play so as to not be a screen for their own goalie.