Any good websites that detail hockey positions....?

[Fletch 219]

One of my friends is looking into getting into playing and he wants to know if there are any good sites that can explain what the roles of each skater on the ice is. For example, once the puck drops, what is the role of the centerman, offensively and defensively? That kind of stuff. I tried explaining it to him, but didn't do a very good job....haha.

Any help would be great...thanks!

[Theodoras 0]

Google.

Bound to find something here...

[Fletch 219]

Yeah, I saw some of those but I was hoping someone here would have something as definitive as I am looking for. Thanks though :)

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Here is a quick fundamental explanation.

Divide the ice into 3 lanes up the ice for the forwards and two for the D. Label the Offensive Lanes LW, C, RW and LD and RD for the D Men.

Right Wingers tend to stay in their lanes. In their own zone they usually mark the opposition Left DMan. Once your team has received the puck, the Winger tends to come as low as the hash mark on the outside of the faceoff dot to begin a breakout. In the opposition zone Wingers and Centermen tend to roam to open space to create passing opportunities and shooting lanes. In the neutral zone wingers should try to stay in their lanes to provide outlets for passes from teammates and to disturb the lanes and outlets for the opposition.

Same would be said for the opposite wing, just a mirror image of course.

Centers have the most positionally important role on the ice. In their own zone Centers usually tie up the other player in puck possession or in front of the net that either defenseman doesn't have tied up. They are usually the outlet for the pass from the winger in a breakout and make the final exit pass out of the zone. Generally the Center man needs to occupy the C lane in the neutral zone to close off opposition passing lanes and skating lanes.

D Men will play in front of their own net in their own zone when the puck is on the other side of the ice (Left D in front of the net if the puck is in his partners corner, and vice versa) If the puck is in your zone on your side of the ice, that Dman is usually battling for the puck or supporting (playing just off the battling player, probably a center man in this case, anticipating either an offensive pass or defensive pass) the player that is battling. When the puck is switched from left Corner to right corner, or vice versa, the D men switch.

some general rules: Last D Man back (no other player between him and goalie) should NEVER EVER try to pass through the middle lane or try to individually beat a forechecker as any turnover would most likely result in a breakaway. Wingers and Centers crossing over or changing lanes when entering the opponents zone causes havoc for opposition defenders, and often times leads to at least one open attacker for a shooting opportunity, should the pass make it in time and on the mark. Supporting your passes by following your pass in your own zone and through the neutral zone is imperative as any mishandling of said pass or any of your bad passes can result in turnovers, and as such, supporting the puck gives a line of defense to any turnover occurrences.

I think that is pretty much the basis for any and all hockey systems play, at a very very basic level.

this site here has an excellent database of drills that can help you and your team learn how to practice basic systems play. It is free, has good animations and diagrams, and no, I do not design it or stand to gain by recommending it. http://www.jes-hockey.com/hockey/index.html

[fieldofdreams 0]

Really? Players stay in their own lanes? No criss-crossing on breakouts or anything??

You know, between this thread, and the one about getting in shape, the more I wish JohnnyCanuk had a glass bellybutton...

that way when his head is that far up his ass, he can look out and see what the rest of us are doing.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

Really? Players stay in their own lanes? No criss-crossing on breakouts or anything??

You know, between this thread, and the one about getting in shape, the more I wish JohnnyCanuk had a glass bellybutton...

that way when his head is that far up his ass, he can look out and see what the rest of us are doing.

"I think that is pretty much the basis for any and all hockey systems play, at a very very basic level."

I'm just wondering if maybe you missed that part??? The guy wants a simple explanation for his friend who's new to hockey. Positions were explained to me the same way when I was new. Typically when you first get into the game, you don't worry about criss-crossing on the rush and that good stuff until you can actually receive a pass. It's easier at first to keep it simple until you get better at skating and understanding the game. Playing in lanes or man-to-man is easier to understand for new players. For most beginner teams, a breakout is just someone throwing it up the ice and having a team mate get to it first.

[fieldofdreams 0]

When you learn to stay in a certain lane as a beginner adult player, you tend to stay that way. MOSTLY, only youth players posses the ability to progress from that. There are certain exceptions to that of course.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

When you learn to stay in a certain lane as a beginner adult player, you tend to stay that way. MOSTLY, only youth players posses the ability to progress from that. There are certain exceptions to that of course.

Yeah but you have to remember that a lot of adult beginners don't progress very quickly. I've seen some people who have been playing at the very bottom level of hockey for 4 or 5 years. Not because they haven't learned more of the game, but because they haven't progressed with their skating. I think as you start to move up the ladder so to say, you start to learn more about playing your positions. Mostly because the higher level teams have people that know more about plays and breakouts and all that, so you end up learning and advancing your playing and skating to keep up.

But for people that just want to give hockey a shot, playing in lanes is a simple way to make sure they're not completely lost out there. If they really like hockey and decide to stick with it and try to get better, they'll seek out advice and tips on how to play their positions better. I think breaking bad skating habits is a lot harder than breaking bad positional habits.

[Chadd 916]

Really? Players stay in their own lanes? No criss-crossing on breakouts or anything??

You know, between this thread, and the one about getting in shape, the more I wish JohnnyCanuk had a glass bellybutton...

that way when his head is that far up his ass, he can look out and see what the rest of us are doing.

Warning issued. Disagreement is fine, abusive posts are not.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

@ fod.

I agree with you and what you had to say. However, at the basic fundamental levels whether it is adult or kids, teaching them about lanes is how to get them to visualize the "zones" we play on the ice, and positionally everything spawns from there.

Like I mentioned before in other posts etc...I have coached tykes (5 & 6 Year olds) all the way to Bantam AAA hockey. The youngsters that are putting on the skates for the first time is hilarious, it is like watching moths to a flame. Puck goes to the corner, 10 kids go screaming after it. That is the way some of my mens shinny games go too when there are many new hockey players there. We (my buddy and I that organize some of the games) started having guys call their positions out as they come to the bench to be replaced. We also tried to tell some of the guys about lanes etc, and players that showed no signs of improvement are now actually playing better, having more fun, and actually picking up on things some of the advanced players do and are excelling at some of the positioning aspects, which translates to them scoring more goals, which also equals them having more fun.

To the comments I made in the kid that is trying to get noticed and move up a rank, I was a late bloomer myself, and coaches and scouts I talked about forwarded to me the advice I forwarded to him, it worked for me, and some of the kids I coached in the past that have made the jump to Junior Hockey from playing B Rep and House, moving to AAA Rep and so on...