Horrible at 1-on-1's

[tareatingrat 4]

Doesn't help much with one-on-one's, but if an attacker happens to get past you and you're on a breakaway, screaming at them might help throw them off.

I always joke to the kids I coach that if they're ever one-on-one with somebody to just scream at them to get into their head.

As it happens, I was on a breakaway a few games ago, heard this bloodcurdling scream behind me, and missed the net because I was laughing.

Well done, defenceman, well done.

As far as what I do in that situation, it all depends on the D. If they're slow or I've got a step, I'll go around and cut in hard at the net, try to slide one five-hole or roof it when the goalie is out.

If the D is skating with me but isn't great, I'll try to put the puck through them, but that usually doesn't work so well.

To just create opportunities, if the D is stronger and looking right at me when I'm coming in, I'll dump the puck in but do it close to their body. Usually surprises them and then I turn on the jets and get behind them, then make a play.

You really have to watch the D you're playing against and adjust from there. If they're decent on their skates, it's hard to undress a guy one-on-one. You're better off getting it deep and working for it, otherwise you'll just give it up more often than not.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

In my game the other night, I pulled a Burmistrov, pulled the puck b/w my legs with an inside/outside move. But then I flubbed the shot on goal and get hounded for not finishing from my bench. It was the first time I even tried the move and it worked. Usually I just use a simple inside/outside or outside/inside move, go wide and lower the shoulder, or go down the left wing (off wing for me) and cut hard inside and let a snapshot go.

[NextBobbyOrr 0]

Watch the deke on number 1. This became my favorite move going end to end. And if you don't think you could do it as well as that, don't worry I can only pull off a half-ass fake then drag to the outside then in. I play my off wing too, and I guarantee that works pretty well. (Played AA at highest, worked like a charm)

[All Torhs Team 0]

Doesn't help much with one-on-one's, but if an attacker happens to get past you and you're on a breakaway, screaming at them might help throw them off.

I always joke to the kids I coach that if they're ever one-on-one with somebody to just scream at them to get into their head.

Just my opinion, the screaming thing on the ice is one of the most annoying thing to see/hear people do.

Alot of times I laugh to myself that the guy actually tried that and hoped it would work. Although its usually coming from a backchecker who really isnt backchecking.

All I was getting too, is that as a coach giving that idea to kids to resort to on 1v1 situations is NOT smart hockey basics.

But I am not trying to critisize your coaching, I do see that you said you joke to the kids when you tell them that.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

The only thing I've seen work in that sense, is a backchecking player telling the guy on the opposite team to drop pass when he gains the offensive zone. Kid drops it and the backchecker just takes the puck and walks out of the zone.

It seems like a lot successful dekes pull it wide, once the D commits, you pull it back through and go around them. I'll most likely have to work on my timing and sellinng the D on the move. I'll see what I can do in my game tomorrow night.

[tareatingrat 4]

Just my opinion, the screaming thing on the ice is one of the most annoying thing to see/hear people do.

Alot of times I laugh to myself that the guy actually tried that and hoped it would work. Although its usually coming from a backchecker who really isnt backchecking.

All I was getting too, is that as a coach giving that idea to kids to resort to on 1v1 situations is NOT smart hockey basics.

But I am not trying to critisize your coaching, I do see that you said you joke to the kids when you tell them that.

Oh I agree. It really just caught me off guard because the guy sounded like he was auditioning for a screamo band. Deep, throaty growl that made me laugh.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

How practical is stuff like this? Do you folks ever find room for it in a game?

[Chadd 916]

People that work on moves like that tend to try and use them every chance they can, even of it won't work. Better to work on your stickhandling overall and then you will be able to pull whatever move you need when the time comes.

[Speedz98 15]

I've watched that video at least a hundred times and never find a chance in a game to use it or have done it successfully. It's a very situational thing. It's pretty obvious that D-man in that video is told to bite down on that move. I don't know any D-man that would fall that hard for that .

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

Chadd, that wouldn't surprise me. Hockey's such an improvisational sport, it's tough to consistently be a one-trick pony.

Wow, some sick stuff in this vid...

I've watched that video at least a hundred times and never find a chance in a game to use it or have done it successfully. It's a very situational thing. It's pretty obvious that D-man in that video is told to bite down on that move. I don't know any D-man that would fall that hard for that .

I always personally watch their chest and don't worry about the puck unless it's that easy to poke check. I tell the D I coach to watch their chest and stay with the body.

[BlackIce 1]

People that work on moves like that tend to try and use them every chance they can, even of it won't work. Better to work on your stickhandling overall and then you will be able to pull whatever move you need when the time comes.

Very nicely put when you have great stickhandling you can have a bag of tricks. Without the hands you can't pull those moves off.

[Sav25 1]

Haven't read the other responses but i'll give you my best tip (and I struggle with this too)

I always play the puck 'short' to give the impression that I don't have much reach. What I mean by this is I almost 'pretend' that I'm weaker than I really am, only playing the puck within a short deaking range and skating a bit slower than usual.

The defence tend to fall for this 90% of the time, and when they go for what they believe will be the simple steal, I go drag the puck very wide and shoot off in one direction...leaving them in my dust.

Then it's just you and the goalie........If you try it, let me know how you get on. I guess you have to be confident that you can keep the puck on your blade, and you will get the occasional hit that you need to be able to stand up to.

Good luck

[mnpucker 33]

Sorry I did not take the time to read this entire thread. If you are a fast player I would consider keeping something in the bag and then exploding when in closer to defender. I once heard a coach say you dont have to be super fast to play hockey you just have to know when to change speeds. Additionally, work on your hands. Specifically a quick forehandor backhand fake followed by expansion of reach to the opposite side. The tricky part is altering your foot speed while doing this but the combination will create the most time and space for you.

[tareatingrat 4]

The thing about working on moves like in the videos above is that it will just improve your stickhandling, regardless of whether you actually get to use it.

Nothing wrong with practicing it. Just know you'll probably never get many chances to pull it off in a game. I'd just make it part of my practice when I got bored with doing the fundamentals.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

Nothing crazy tonight. Just one rush, protected the puck and beat the D to the outside, I was pretty much in the corner, though. Fed it cross-ice to a teammate on the far side of the high slot for the assist. I'm happy with facilitating plays, especially if I'm not much of a finisher. Going to try to take this all in an implement it when I can.

Aside from being 5'7" on a good day, I also use a short stick, mostly so I can control the puck while it's in close to me.

[wrangler 157]

Nothing crazy tonight. Just one rush, protected the puck and beat the D to the outside, I was pretty much in the corner, though. Fed it cross-ice to a teammate on the far side of the high slot for the assist. I'm happy with facilitating plays, especially if I'm not much of a finisher. Going to try to take this all in an implement it when I can.

Aside from being 5'7" on a good day, I also use a short stick, mostly so I can control the puck while it's in close to me.

Sounds like your team scored because you made the play. So what if you're not the one who got the goal?

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

That's what I'm saying, I'm fine being a facilitator/play-maker. Just wish I had some more flash here or there.

[Hipster 5]

I'm horrible at 1-on-1's. I've got speed, but I'm very much a point 'A' to point 'B' player. I'm not very tall (5'7") so my reach is fairly limited. No frills or flair. Any recommendations to add to my library of moves? Videos are more than welcome.

What are your favorite moves? What do you have decent success with?

There are a lot of good replies on this thread so far. I would concur with Chadd, Flaming_June and Hradsky's thoughts in post #12,#13 and #15 I think. I'm like you. I played at 5'5" and 135 in midget major and 5'6 158 as a sophomore in college. If I have any constructive advice it would be first to use every moment on the bench to scout the opponents defensemen and their individual tendencies. If one D backs up too far, maybe use him as a screen and shoot between his legs. If another D likes to decide for himself when to stop and stand people up , maybe make your fake a bit earlier so you can go around and still have time to get a decent angle shot.

Also scout which of their forwards are lazy and hang their own D-men out to dry and which work hard to backcheck. Nothing worse than pulling a perfect fake on a defenseman only to get leveled by the back pressure just as you are sure you're about to score the slickest goal of your life.

Second, it sounds boring, but I would really work on wrist strength. I always thought wrist strength was just for shooters and not playmakers but Best coaching advice I got as a small player was that wrist strength was important to staying "strong on the stick" in traffic. Watch some Valery Kharlamov highlights and see how often he split the D with their sticks swinging and still came in on net with the puck. Even HOF guys like Larry Robinson and Serge Savard could not disrupt the puck by disrupting his stick.

Third, little guys are never pure danglers. That is to say they have pull off their puck moves and footwork at the same time....every time. A pure dangler can beat a guy on puck moves alone, usually because of reach, size and strength.

Lemieux could use his reach so the D had to choose 100% one way or the other, body or puck. Because of this he could vary his speed in a one on one either up or down. Little guys, however, can not afford to slow down or stop moving their feet. You must either use a burst to increase speed or stop dead to slow down. As soon as you coast into a one on one to set up a puck "dangle" they'll put you on the ice every time. Keep your feet moving!

Lastly, work on turning your shoulders through the "move". D-men read shoulders too, especially on little guys so even if your toe drag is whispering sweet, sweet lies to him, it won't work if your square shoulders are screaming the ugly truth to him.

Good luck and have fun

[biff44 0]

1 on 1s are about deception. If you are D, you have to figure out where the guy is going and not be fooled into seeing any fake moves the guy is trying to get you to believe. If you are F, you need to be not so obvious about where YOU are going. Physics dictate that a guy skating backwards, once he starts off in one direction, will need a lot of force to change direction. You want him to think you are going one way, and when he starts in that direction to block, you go the other way. You need some good agility and crazy stickhandling skills, and a good head fake to pull it off. But when you do, it is very sweet.

[shotty 7]

and a good head fake to pull it off.

are you kidding?

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

Thanks, Hipster. A lot of good info in there. I'll apply it to my game on Wednesday night.

Shotty, the funny thing is I've noticed with a little head-fake is that it works well in the lower of the two divisions I play in. It causes the lower level players to change course and they can't switch back quickly enough, letting you just skate on by. Nonetheless, my scoring drought continues. I really am much more of a stay-at-home defenseman.

[tareatingrat 4]

Totally burned a D yesterday. Was coming in straight at him with the puck, made a really sharp cut to the outside and as soon as he turned, put the puck through his legs as I cut hard to the middle.

He totally bit.

Too bad it wasn't a one-on-one and his D partner swept the puck away. :(

Nicest move I've ever made, and it was totally the wrong thing to do in that situation.

EDIT: I should point out that for the majority of the game, when I was coming carrying the puck into the attacking zone I would take the puck wide and skate hard. The D probably wouldn't have fallen for the move if it was the first thing I did all game. I'm pretty sure he expected me to go wide as normal.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Here's Bolland's goal from the other night and Edzo tells you how he did it.

[MilleniumFalcon 5]

Watch Marty StLouis. May be you could take something of his moves?

[doodman 0]

Kick me out if I'm hijacking your thread but my questions are related I believe...

Since I play D how do you beat people one on one to get out of the zone? I want to be the 'puckmoving' D-man not the stay at home shut down D.

I'm really frustrated with my game right now because I'm a great skater and I can stick handle but I just can't consistently make the moves I need to.

It's frustrating, I can toe drag, spin away, deke etc. but when I get in a game I DON'T do those moves. In games or pick up I see guys do moves and I know I have the skill to do it but I DON'T, I'm mental I know.