Playing with players that a better then you

[SolarWind 23]

Might sound like an open ended question, but here it goes anyways :)

If you happened to play (talking about drop-ins mostly, but if someone wants to cover a league then by any means please do) with players that are better then you - not in basics such as skating or stickhandling, but in overall hockey experience - hockey sense, field vision, positioning plus with more refined individual skills overall [current or ex junior players] - what strategies would you employ to still enjoy the game without just having to just skate around & rarely touch the puck?

Thanks!

[Ahriman 1]

I'd Skate my ass off to get into good positions where they can make a play happen for me. They good at moving the puck around the corners and to the D men? Sweep up the garbage in front of the net. Look to be an outlet in the breakout/neutral zone and by all means send a good pass.

Get assists and garbage, sounds like a good team player to me.

[Darkbyte 0]

^^ as above.

If you are in the right place a good player will send the puck your way. Just play your position as well as you can.

Dont try to be a moth to the flame because you will loose out to all the stronger moths.

Most of all dont worry... this kind of thing happens to lots of people and they improve and hold their own in time

[Too Old 1]

Ditto... it's been a steep curve for me after 34 years off the ice, lol. Each week things get better though.

[minwookie 0]

One thing I learned was if I kept my stick on the ice, good things happened. You always gotta be ready for that puck, because the guys with eyes in the back of their heads will find you.

[Aussie Joe 0]

There are so many basic things you can and/or SHOULD do. Skating with them is the hardest part. If you are playing with them talk to them. I always chat to guys on a team after a shift to see where we could improve. Even if they are below or above me in skill, chatting always helps to A: Break the ice and ease the tension between you and them and B: Allows you to sort out where you are/should be on the ice in any particular situation or play. The worst thing is playing with someone similar to you in positional play.

Most of all no matter what, keep trying to keep the pace with them. Backcheck like a man possessed and you'll soon see gains from turnovers alone.

[metalwinger13 1]

if i notice theres a good number of "danglers" on both teams ill just sit back on d and just work on my D play or atleast try and stop these guys.. to me its fun and probably seems "uncool" at drop ins but i get a good kick out of it.

[SolarWind 23]

if i notice theres a good number of "danglers" on both teams ill just sit back on d and just work on my D play or atleast try and stop these guys.. to me its fun and probably seems "uncool" at drop ins but i get a good kick out of it.

actually that's what I've been doing as well, plus as mentioned above in case I happened to be playing forward then driving the net like crazy, anchoring in front & getting garbage rebounds in

it's just stuff like that pales in comparison to what some good danglers can do out there - makes me jealous :) oh well...

[metalwinger13 1]

ya if i jump up to forward during this i do my best homer, not the screening the goalie, but chasing the puck down and giving it to the other guys on missed shots etc.. basically just look to clean up

[fawn111 0]

HUSTLE

[Chadd 916]

if i notice theres a good number of "danglers" on both teams ill just sit back on d and just work on my D play or atleast try and stop these guys.. to me its fun and probably seems "uncool" at drop ins but i get a good kick out of it.

If those guys are like the ones around here, you might as well play defense because you aren't going to see the puck, no matter how good you are.

[chippa13 1844]

Might sound like an open ended question, but here it goes anyways :)

If you happened to play (talking about drop-ins mostly, but if someone wants to cover a league then by any means please do) with players that are better then you - not in basics such as skating or stickhandling, but in overall hockey experience - hockey sense, field vision, positioning plus with more refined individual skills overall [current or ex junior players] - what strategies would you employ to still enjoy the game without just having to just skate around & rarely touch the puck?

Thanks!

Hustle, take a peek BEFORE getting the puck on your stick, and get to open ice. Guys who think and play at a high level often move the puck to areas because they know other guys of their ilk know to go there.