Hockey Styles

[Speedz98 15]

I was wondering what were the particular styles and schools of hockey in regards to what country they're from.

Like Russian hockey seems to have a lot of dynamic hockey, Sweden makes good two way players.

I'd like to further understand the types of players countries develope.

[TBLfan 25]

Russian seems more focused on quick feet and good puck control.

Sweden seems to focus on strong defense.

North America seems to focus on well-rounded and efficient.

[Law Goalie 147]

USA Hockey's program seems very much dominated by Small-Area Games that focus on tight positional play and quick puck-movement: very tactical.

Despite efforts in similar directions, Canada still seems to be doing mainly full-ice stuff; we've also developed a big reliance on teaching full-ice systems relatively early. I've actually seen Atom house-league coaches teaching a dumbed-down version of the weak-side lock in which the best skater forechecks and the weaker skaters trap in the neutral zone. (I'm not suggesting this works, only that it was being tried to the exclusion of any other form of on-ice development, and against all better judgement.) Most of this is, IMO, from a glut of ice with relatively little icetime combined with an almost insane cultural emphasis on winning at every level. It's just assumed that kids will spend six hours a day shooting pucks at their parents' laundry machines - when you're on the ice, it's gametime, or a pretty tight simulation of it. You want to 'horse around' with individual skills, do it on your own time. (Or so it seems everywhere implied, if not often said.) Also, bear in mind that most of our hockey has nothing to do with Hockey Canada. I have met few coaches who know anything about the long-term development model, and fewer who have read it; of those, the vast majority dismiss it out of hand.

I get the sense that the Fins are doing much the same thing as the Canadians, but with way, way more emphasis than anyone else on goalie training, and a slightly less parochial attitude.

The Russians seem to be really pushing individual skillsets (especially shooting), which is a total 180 from thirty years ago, when you'd hear stories about one puck on the ice for forty players, practices without shots, etc. I do remember seeing a few Russian sites that listed small-area games, but the focus seemed (bearing in mind that I don't speak/read Russian) more on pitting small numbers of players in a small-area skills competitions (like 1-on-1 puck-control inside a faceoff circle) than on the kind of tactical positioning and thinking USA Hockey advocates.

The Swedes seem to be taking a pretty balanced approach between individual skill development and medium-area play (for lack of a better word). They seem to have very clear ideas of what they want to do in the three major zones on the ice, and less interest in the kind of end-to-end stuff (I don't just mean rushes, but whole-ice gameplay) that we Canadians are into.

Personally, I think the Latvians have it figured out: be psychotically competitive during games and drunkenly lackadaisical otherwise. On that basis, they have produced my favourite international ice hockey team in recent memory.

[Chadd 916]

Even in the US, there is a heavy emphasis on systems and winning at an early age. Much more so than anyone in their right mind could consider beneficial.

[furlanitalia 1]

Canada focuses (or tries to through their development plan) on individual overall skills up until bantam before really putting a push on a team systems. Frankly I feel the biggest problem is no coach follows it enough because they all want to stroke their ego by showing their system works. Good luck building anything without first planing, sanding, measuring and properly cutting your lumber

[adam14 182]

Switzerland is about skating, and moving the puck quickly and efficiently.

[tonguesOUT4life 17]

kazikhstan is all about agitating your opponents by making on ice documentries asking pointless questions such as wich stick is a pusssy magnet.. and singing the kazakh national anthem to star spangled banner and o canada tunes.. oooooh very nice!!!

[Drewhunz 3]

Switzerland is about skating, and moving the puck quickly and efficiently.

Switzerland??? Efficiency????? NAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :)

[Speedz98 15]

This is all very interesting. If any one has any more to offer please do so.

I was wondering if USA hockey focuses more on grinding games out than out danglin' your opponent

[fiimb 1]

there is a definite lack of certified coaches in Canada, in nearly any sport. experience alone does not always produce quality coaches.

but at the same time there is a lack of coaches on the whole. so to get them certified with the proper coaching skill sets and technical and teaching mastery is not practical.

you run into the problem of authoritative coaches preaching their way of hockey and setting up kids for failure.

[furlanitalia 1]

there is a definite lack of certified coaches in Canada, in nearly any sport. experience alone does not always produce quality coaches.

but at the same time there is a lack of coaches on the whole. so to get them certified with the proper coaching skill sets and technical and teaching mastery is not practical.

you run into the problem of authoritative coaches preaching their way of hockey and setting up kids for failure.

This is true. I think the biggest problem we have in Canada is that every dad who ever played the sport feels that because he is Canadian he is a hockey god. My brother's coach last year was a classic example of a washed up Junior player who used coaching techniques from 20 years ago instead of adapting to today's game. Gone are the days of yelling and screaming at players to get them to work harder and perform. Enforce the fact that the sport is about having fun, and correct kids when they make mistakes because yelling at them is only going to disconnect them from you.

Ultimately though it comes down to not enough resources from the associations to get coaches certified and interested at a younger level, and developing them while they develop the players.

[Speedz98 15]

Is it considered a little bit Russian to shoot with Toe curves? From an ignorant stand point it almost seems so because of Kovalchuk, Semin, and Backstrom and even the russian kid that comes to stick time at my rink.

[troy 12]

Backstrom is Swedish.

[Speedz98 15]

Backstrom is Swedish.

But does he not have influential Russian team mates?

[troy 12]

Even if he does, it would be those teammates that make it Russian to shoot with toe curves, not Backstrom. And even though it would be tough to ascertain, I would bet Backstrom shot with toe variations before he had influential Russian teammates.

[TBLfan 25]

Both Hossas, A. Ward, J. Allison, Stillman, Comrie, Elias, Peca, Iginla, S. Koivu, Ryan O'Rielly, Kamil Kreps, Prospal are all Russian? It's a shame they had to find out this way.

[Speedz98 15]

Hence why I said "considered a LITTLE bit russian" See I don't know thats why I'm here, we're learning.

[Aussie Joe 0]

Australian hockey is a very physical style, allot more so due to the smaller size rinks that are used here. Having just coached two teams at a National level the style of play I saw can vary depending on the state in question. NSW seem to rely on their main stars and physicality. Victoria uses different systems depending on the situ and will use physicality in diff situations.

At the moment there is a push for uniforming levels of development for on/off ice situations. The issue is that some states suffer from lack of basic coaching and others lack facilities. Its a strange toss of the coin as to what you end up with in different places.

A few friends of mine that play on the national team atest to higher levels of skill and team play now at world championships. This is obviously a good sign and means that individual players, coaches and systems are improving.

[DarkStar50 679]

I think the system that has not been mentioned is "The Philly System". I see it in all their travel teams in the Atlantic District. The essence of "The Philly System" is to beat the crap out of your opponent because no USA Hockey ref has the guts to call every penalty he sees in travel hockey against one team. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[Chadd 916]

I think the system that has not been mentioned is "The Philly System". I see it in all their travel teams in the Atlantic District. The essence of "The Philly System" is to beat the crap out of your opponent because no USA Hockey ref has the guts to call every penalty he sees in travel hockey against one team. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

That's why I never want to work high level games in this area again. When you are the one guy calling it the way USA Hockey allegedly wants it called, you get all kids of threats.