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Great Jets puck mystery

Posted by Earl Mcrae, Ottawa Sun on October 24, 2011 at 4:50 AM under
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Morris Lukowich scored the first goal for the Winnipeg Jets, but what happened to the puck is a great mystery.
OTTAWA - I have no idea it is The Great Mystery — not until I ask Morris Lukowich where it is as we speak, and he utters the stunning
words: “I don’t know.”
“What? Morris, you don’t know?”
“Nope.”
“I can’t believe it, Morris. The first one for a new franchise is so huge, so personally significant. It’ll be that way this fall when the Jets
come back to Winnipeg. The great anticipation: Who will it be this time?”
“Right. It’ll be exciting.”
“You didn’t scoop it up right after you did it?”
“Nope.”
“No one gave it to you?”
“Nope.”
“Why, Morris, why?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think anybody thought of it. I was a goal scorer, and in the dressing room before the game I was thinking about
scoring, but not the first goal, just scoring a goal.”
“So, Morris, to make sure I have it right. You scored the first goal for the Winnipeg Jets in their first game as an NHL franchise. You
don’t have the puck. You didn’t think to scoop it up. No one else did, either. It’s not enshrined in your home. You have no idea what the
hell happened to it.”
“Nope.”
The date: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 1979. The place: Civic Arena, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jets on the power play. Left winger
Morris Lukowich is in front of the Penguins net. From the top of the circle, right winger Peter Marsh fires a low slap shot at goalie Greg
Millen.
Lukowich jabs out his wooden Northland stick, Mark Howe model, light in weight with a high lie, and deflects the puck off his lower shaft
over Millen’s blocker and into the net. The historic time: 13:34 of the third period. But the Jets would lose the game 4-2.
“When I deflected it, it changed direction by about three feet. I had my stick about a foot off the ice. Peter skated over and said ‘You
didn’t deflect it.’
“I told him I did and showed him the gouge it made on my stick. The referee asked me if I deflected it in. I said yes. On the bench, Peter
yelled down to me ‘I got that goal.’ I thought he was joking, but I think he was serious.”
A long pause. “You know what? Now that I think of it, I have a vague recollection of a linesman coming over to our bench with the puck,
but I can’t say for sure it happened. If he did, I don’t know who got it. I don’t know, maybe our equipment manager Patty O’Neill or the
trainer Kelly Pruden. It never came to me, though.” And then, lightly: “Maybe Peter got it and kept it.”
2
Peter Marsh from Chicago where he is a vice-president of the Blackhawks Alumni: “He says he tipped it in. Strange — he was over in
the corner at the time.” Chuckling: “Tell Morris if he wants the goal, he can have it. The statute of limitations has expired. But, no, I don’t
have the puck.”
Queen the culprit?
I reach Pat O’Neill who now is equipment manager for the Vancouver Canucks, but he never got the iconic puck, he says for the simple
reason he didn’t join the Jets until their second season.
As for possible suspect Kelly Pruden, I was not able to locate him.
Lukowich, 55, who operates a hockey camp in Calgary (maxgoalscoring.com): “Now that you got me thinking about, yeah, it, it’d be nice
to have that puck.”
Hold it. The Queen. Did the puck somehow make its way to Buckingham Palace and the Queen whose 5X7 metre portrait (the world’s
largest of her) by Manitoba artist Gilbert Burch (for which he was paid $1,600) hung from the rafters at the old Winnipeg Arena, home of
the Jets?
Morris Lukowich, amused: “Terry Ruskowski was on our team. He married a former Miss America. She and my wife were together in
the stands for a game. She looked up at the big picture of the Queen and said to my wife: ‘That lady, does she own the arena?’ ”
The bigger question: Does she own Morris Lukowich’s puck?
The Great Mystery.

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MAXIMIZING “POINT SHOTS” EFFECTIVENESS

Posted by Morris Lukowich on October 24, 2011 at 4:48 AM under
• 0 comments
“Point Shots” are shots taken from the blueline, generally by Defense-men. They are taken during “even up” play,
PowerPlay opportunities and in shorthanded situations.
In today’s NHL, the “point shot” can be a great weapon in scoring big goals or it can contribute to the demise of team’s
chance to win! (When blocked for breakaways!! i.e. Peca in Game 3, Oilers vs Ducks)
How does a Team maximize the effectiveness of these point shots so that the greatest percentage of goals can be
scored per total number of point shots taken during a game?
During my years in the NHL one of the greatest and most effective “point shot” shooters was former Calgary Flame, Al
MacInnis. During his incredible NHL career he recorded 340 goals, 934 assists for a total of 1,274 points. Al MacInnis
was really one of the first Defense-men, who started to “test out” and effectively utilize different types of point shots,
instead of just “burying his head” and drilling it at the center of the goal.
I am a firm believer that simply “putting the puck on the net” point shots, which is preached by many coaches today, is
simply not good enough to accomplish maximum efficiency in point shooting.
KEY POINTS TO MAXIMIZING POINT SHOTS EFFECTIVENESS
To maximize point shots there are the following points to consider by the Defense-men and the forwards:
- DMan: What is the best area of the net to aim at? Center or at the goal posts?
- DMan: Is the goalie screened or am I wasting this shot on goal?
- Forward: Am I willing to pay the price to screen the goalie?
- DMan: Am I shooting with a focus for a deflection and getting an assist?
- DMan: Am I shooting with a focus to score a goal?
WHAT IS THE AREA OF THE NET THAT I AM AIMING AT?
- My mentoring is to aim the “point shots” at the goal posts or just outside the goalposts.
- This allows a screening forward to tip the puck in towards the goalie, especially towards the “5 hole”, where the
highest percentage of deflection type goals beat the goalie and are scored. (Also, it forces the goalie to move and
be off balanced and this opens up holes in his goalie stance i.e. “5 hole.”)
- If the puck is shot at the goalie the player in front is deflecting the puck away from the net, many times into the
corners, instead of toward the net, especially the “5 hole” and for rebounds. (Also, this allows the goalie to
maintain a balanced stance)
IS THE GOALIE SCREENED OR AM I WASTING THIS SHOT ON GOAL?
- A great, important & somewhat obvious rule for the forward’s to have is that whenever the puck goes to the DMan
and it appears that there is a possibility for a “point shot”, is that the closest forward needs to get directly in front
of the goalie and cause a screen. Standing off to the side with no player screening is really a “high percentage”
wasting of this point shot and not maximizing the scoring opportunity. (it takes courage to do this and cause the
screen)
- Ryan Smyth, of the Edmonton Oilers, is one of the best “screeners of goalies” in the NHL today. He is prepared to
“pay whatever the price” to maximize the Oiler’s point shots.
- STABILITY: It is really important for the forward to go with a strong 3 point stance, with his knees bent and the
stick on the ice and directly in front of him so that he can “cup” his stick to either his right or left and deflect the
Original Pub. – May 2006 >> Pg 2
puck towards the middle of the net and be prepared to score on a rebound. If his stick is in the air and at the side
he does not have a strong “3 point” foundation to maintain good balance and absorb interference/crosschecks
from DMan.
AM I SHOOTING TO FOR A DEFLECTION OR FOR A GOAL?
- To maximize point shot effectiveness I mentor DMen that there are three targets to aim for:
o If the DMan is looking for a deflection and the assist on the goal, then shoot the puck on the ice and at the
goal posts. This is the easiest place for a forward to deflect the puck inward and get a rebound off the
deflection.
o If the DMan is looking to score then he can shoot either:
- 1.5 feet off the ice on the blocker side, just over the pad.
- 2 inches under the crossbar on the glove hand side, aiming at the goalies shoulder and not the
glove.
Follow these suggestions and you and your team will have much more success with scoring more goals from your
“point shots”.
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“ONE TIMER” SHOOTING, BRETT HULL STYLE

Posted by Morris Lukowich on October 24, 2011 at 4:47 AM under
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“One Timer Shooting” is a great goal scoring skill to learn. NHLer Brett Hull has perfected it.
In my years in the NHL, “One Timer Shooting” was a “scoring weapon” that assisted me in getting into the
NHL and to beat goaltenders and light up the red light behind them. Brett Hull is one of the very best one
timer shooters that I have ever seen. Brett has not only the strength for a great one timer shot, but he
also has incredible “mechanics” which produce a consistently powerful one timer shot.
KEY POINTS TO HAVING A GREAT ONE TIMER SHOT
PREPARATION OF THE STICK
- Most one timer shots that get “bungled” are because the player attempts to “wind up and slapdown” while the puck is coming at him. Typically, there is not enough time to “wind up and slap
down” and still make good contact (good wood) with the puck.
- I have my players either have the stick either pre‐cocked (Loaded One Timer) or on the ice with no
wind up (The Wall One Timer).
- If the stick is pre-cocked (already pulled back) then the player only has to perform the downward
slapshot movement and will contact the puck more consistently.
- If the stick is on the ice, with no wind up, then the player must execute the correct mechanics to
produce enough power to have an effective and powerful one timer shot. The key is the positioning
of the lower elbow, which will result in producing a powerful one timer shot.
LOWER ELBOW POSITION
- Think of a powerful golf swing. The powerful one timer shot is similar to this. The position of the
lower elbow must be kept inside, nearly on the hip. This allows for the whole body to be compact
and all the joints used powerfully upon releasing the shot. Also, this allows the hips to rotate and
generate power on the shot, with the player’s chest facing the net after shooting the puck. So, very
important, keep the elbow in tight on your side in order to have a powerful shot.
- If the elbow is away from the side, the player will use only his shoulders and arms and will eliminate
his hips in the shot. This causes many “flubbed” one timer shots.
SKATE POSITION
- For the “Loaded” One Timer and the “Wall” One timer the skates are facing the direction that the
puck is coming from. The makes for a well prepared stance that allows the weight to be transferred
from the back skate to the front skate as the player unwinds the slapshot release, and allows the
body to rotate at the hips as the shot is taken.
- For the “T” One timer the front skate is already facing the net and the body is already slightly open
towards the goalie. This allows the player to continue skating towards the goal as the “T” one timer
shot is taken.
AIM
- Very important is where the player “aims” the one timer shot. Most importantly is that the player
hits the net with his shot, even if he hits the goalie with the shot. Yet many times we see players hit
the end boards with the shot/puck instead of the net and scoring what really looked like a wide open
net goal.
Original Pub. – Dec 2005 >> Pg 2
- The puck has a certain force (momentum) as it is being passed across to the shooter and if the
shooter “aims” the puck into the open 1/4 part of the net he will often miss the net as the puck
continues it momentum.
- The key point here is to “aim” the one timer shot, both mentally and physically, back towards the 1/4
of the net from which the puck is coming, instead of the 1/4 of the net that looks open.
- This way the puck will hit the center of the net or the 1/4 part of the net that is open. The most
important thing is to hit the net or hit the goalie and score on the rebound.
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IS “CUSHIONING/CUPPING” THE PASS THE BEST WAY TO RECEIVE A PASS??

Posted by Morris Lukowich on October 24, 2011 at 4:10 AM under
• 0 comments
This article is focused on the Basic Beginners skill of receiving a pass, yet it is a very important skill to understand,
practice and master so that the player’s Maximum goal scoring potential is realized.
For years in hockey schools and on hockey rinks coaches have been coaching and players have been learning that when
you receive the pass that the player should “cushion and cup the pass”. For example, if a player is receiving a pass with
his forehand, that the player is to move his stick blade back and downward as the puck approaches so that there is
some “give” in receiving the pass, thus a “cushioning” and “cupping” effect. Players are also coached that there should
be no “noise” made when the puck hits the blade.
For years I coached the same “cushioning the pass” philosophy in my own hockey schools. In 1986 I was playing my
10th year of professional hockey with the Los Angeles Kings. At one of our morning practices, my eyes were
opened to a new possibility of “how to receive a pass” when a somewhat cocky rookie by the name of Luc
Robitaille Robitaille demonstrated to me that perhaps there was a more effective way of receiving a pass.
(NOTE: Robitaille holds the NHL record for goals by a left wing (653), and most points in one season at left wing (125)
demonstrated to me that perhaps there was a more effective way of receiving a pass.
The night before, we had lost a close game to the Calgary Flames. In the third period, I had a glorious opportunity to go
in on a breakaway and score to give us the lead. I am a left handed shot and Jimmy Carson gave me a pass from my
right side. All I had to do was “catch” the pass, go in all alone and bury it for a goal. These were all great plans except
for the fact that when I went to “cushion” the pass, the puck flipped over my stick, got a few feet away from me and
the opening disappeared as I fumbled with the puck.
It was the next day that Luc Robitaille showed me a different way to do it and I believe a better way of receiving a pass
while playing hockey.
He showed me that the following:
- Keep the blade perpendicular to the ice, not with the receiving face of the blade cupped downward.
- Simply be firm with you grip and avoid moving the blade as the puck approaches.
Quite amazingly the puck hits the blade and stays there. The puck and the blade make a noise when this happens, but
who cares, if it works!! As we practiced both ways of receiving the pass I started to notice how the puck will spin away
or flip over my stick as I “cushioned/cupped” the pass and how the puck stopped and stayed on my stick when I was
firm with grip and did not move my blade.
As we went into the discussion further, I could see how “cushioning” the pass would sometimes take the puck out of
the shooting or passing area. When I stopped the puck firmly, the puck was in a good position to either pass it or shoot
it immediately.
Also, another observation that proves this out is that often in the NHL you will see a player receive a hard pass, and the
player has to reach for it with only one hand on his stick. Most of the time the puck hits the stick and stops right there.
Did the player “cushion” the puck when he is using only one hand – no way.
Really, the only time a player needs to “cushion” the puck is when a DMan is receiving the pass and a forward is right
on him. He may choose to “cushion” the pass in order to create some gap/space between the puck and the fore
checking player.
Original Pub. – Dec 2005 >> Pg 2
I can still remember that morning practice with Luc Robitaille, that I was learning something from a rookie, yet it sure
made “practical sense” when we were finished working on it.
Since that day, when I coach passing and receiving a pass, I coach players to receive the puck with a firm grip, blade
perpendicular to the ice and no “cushioning/cupping” of the puck. And, I love to hear the puck hitting the blade and
stopping right there.
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“SHOOTING IN STRIDE” OR HOW TO SHOOT LIKE NHL GREAT JOE SAKIC?

Posted by Morris Lukowich on October 24, 2011 at 4:07 AM under
• 0 comments
The ABC’s of Maximum Goal Scoring System is designed in three different stages:
- Basic Beginners scoring skills and strategies
- Intermediate scoring skills and strategies
- Advanced or Pro scoring skills and strategies
“Shooting in Stride” is a great goal scoring skill to learn. NHLer Joe Sakic has perfected it.
In my years in the NHL, “shooting in stride” was a “scoring weapon” that assisted me in getting into the NHL and to
beat goaltenders and light up the red light behind them.
Guaranteed, learning to “shoot in stride” will increase the number of goals you score each year.
“Shooting in Stride” is a scoring skill that can be developed at a young age and which can be perfected as a player
develops more strength, power and quickness in releasing the shot.
As a young 10 year old hockey player growing up in Saskatchewan, one of the famous quotes that I heard on Saturday
nights “Hockey Night in Canada” was spoken by the great Alex Delvecchio, Captain of the Stanley Cup winning Detroit
Red Wings and career 456 NHL goal scorer. I clearly remember Mr. Delvecchio say “it is not how hard you shoot the
puck, but where and how quick you shoot the puck”.
I liked what Mr. Delvecchio said because I was a small player and did not shoot the puck very hard (at the time I heard
this I actually had trouble raising the puck let alone shooting it hard). Yet the “NHL Scoring Tip” stuck with me and gave
me hope and determination that “quickness and deception” in shooting could make up for the lack of power in my
shooting at the time.
Understanding “why” this skill works is the first step. “Shooting in Stride” is effective because:
- the shot catches the goalie “unprepared” to make the save/stop.
- the shot catches the goalie “off balance” to make the save/stop.
Normally there are a few ways to score on the goalie: power, deception or surprise. “Shooting in Stride” is more
deception and surprise than it is power.
Following are key points in developing the “shooting in stride” goal scoring skill:
1. Choice of the lie of your hockey stick.
2. Choice of the tape color for you hockey stick.
3. Keeping the puck in a shooting “sweet spot”. (“teeing up the shot” is avoided)
4. Having a quick release that surprises or tricks the goalie. (“telegraphing the shot” is avoided)
5. Shooting/releasing the shot while the legs are moving, with no break in the skating stride.
6. Shooting “back against the flow” and catching the goalie off balanced
HOCKEY STICK LIE
Mark Howe made a major contribution to my becoming a dangerous NHL Goal Scorer. A “high” lie, such as a 6 or 7 lie,
greatly assists in the ability to “shoot in stride” effectively. In my rookie camp with the Houston Aeros in 1976, Mark
noticed that the puck was sliding off the heal of my stick. He suggested that I test one of his sticks. It was a much
Original Pub. – Sep 2005 >> Pg 2
“higher lie” than what I was using. Not only did it improve my puck command, it really allowed me to release the shot
quickly. Thanks Mark!!
A “high lie” stick has the puck closer to your skates and in your “shooting power zone”. Thus, instead of having to pull
the puck a long way into the “shooting power zone”, which takes time and which “telegraphs” to the goalie that the
shot is coming, I was able to release the shot without “telegraphing” my shot and signaling the goalie that the shot was
coming.
HOCKEY STICK BLADE TAPE
In my career I tested out black, white and also no tape at all. I found the most effective was to use black hockey tape
on the blade. There are different opinions on this, yet I found that the black tape hid the puck from the goalie’s sight
better. Black tape worked better for surprising the goalie with the shot and for disguising the release of the shot.
KEEPING THE PUCK IN A “SHOOTING SWEET SPOT”
In my goal scoring camps, this is a detail that we work very hard to accomplish. I believe that players stickhandle the
puck too much (called “dusting the puck”) and that this interferes with their skating and also releasing the puck in
stride. Also, if you stickhandle the puck just before you shoot, you have basically “telegraphed” to the goalie that you
are going to shoot and he gets set/ready for the shot. The player loses the element of surprise. I work with the players
to keep the puck in the “shooting sweet spot”, mostly on their stronger forehand side. This allows the player to shoot
the puck in stride at any moment and off either leg. (instead of “teeing” the puck up and signaling the shot to the
goalie)
QUICK RELEASE
The quick release, instead of taking a long time to pull and shoot the puck, is a must for shooting in stride. Even if a
player uses a low lie hockey stick, he can still develop the skill of shooting the puck from where it is instead of
“telegraphing” the shot by pulling the puck and then shooting.
LEGS CONTINUE MOVING
So important. For years I practiced being able to shoot off either leg and while I was skating. The idea was to have no
interruption in my skating stride as I shot. Not only does this make for more deception and surprise, it also allows for
the player to skate to many rebounds before the DMan or goalie gets to them. NOTE: The key to this is to stop
stickhandling the puck, but to keep the puck in the “shooting sweet spot” so that you can release the shot with the legs
moving. Wayne Gretzky really did not stickhandle the puck that much, he mostly “guided” it and kept it in the
“shooting sweet spot”. He really only stickhandled when he needed to get past a DMan or goalie with a fake or deke.
SHOOTING “BACK AGAINST THE FLOW
This skill was one of the main reason’s that I scored more than 300 goals in professional hockey.
It works better for left‐handed shooters against left handed catching goalies, such as Patrick Roy and for right‐handed
shooters against right handed catching goalies, such as Grant Fuhr.
For me, being left‐handed, it is the ability to skate/move/flow to my right, pull the puck slightly to my right and into the
“shooting sweet spot” and then fire the puck quickly back (to the left) in the direction of the goalie’s low blocker side.
The key was to be able to release the shot just at the moment that the goalie was pushing off his right leg to move
himself across the crease. The goalie was adjusting to my cross ice attack, which I believe is more effective than a direct
attack on the goalie. By changing my angle of attack, by moving slightly to the right, I forced the goalie to move and to
temporarily be off balance with the majority of his weight and balance on his right leg.
Original Pub. – Sep 2005 >> Pg 3
When I shot back at the goalie’s low blocker side, the goalie would have to transfer his weight to his left foot and then
back again to the right leg so that he could attempt a “kick leg save” on my shot. Many times my shot, if slightly inside
the goal post and had beaten the goalie before he was able to transfer his balance/weight and attempt the “kick leg
save”.
The skill is called “shooting back against the flow” and was one of the main reasons that I played in the NHL.
With this awareness and knowledge, good coaching/mentoring and lots of practice, you can become a great “shooting
in stride” goal scorer, perhaps someday as good as Joe Sakic, one of the best ever.
Good Luck in your hockey season and SHOOT TO SCORE!!
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“WINGERS AT THE HASH MARKS IN YOUR OWN END!” IS THERE A BETTER WAY THAT MAXIMIZES SCORING??

Posted by Morris Lukowich on October 24, 2011 at 4:04 AM under
• 0 comments
Today’s article is focused on the positioning and play of the Wingers in their own defensive end, when in a pressured
offensive breakout; usually originating from an opposing “dump in” or turnover. Many “3 on 2’s” and “2 on 1’s” are a
result of how the Winger plays the “direct pass” or “rung pass” from his own D‐Man.
As a plus, there is a two fold reward in the strategy discussed below, as the focus is not only on increasing scoring
opportunities that originate in our own end but preventing scoring opportunities from happening in our own end.
Firstly, far too often I see the Winger defensively covering the outside area (the boards) in our end, not keeping inside
position between the D‐man and the net. Defensive coverage nearly always comes before offensive positioning, thus
the Winger should start from an inside position, say along the face‐off dots. The Winger always has time to go to the
boards to play the puck defensively, but if he is on the boards and the puck “pops” into the middle of the scoring area
the Winger is often too late to cover the opposing forward or D‐Man.
In my Maximum Goal Scoring System, the Wingers are taught to play the following:
- Strong Side (puck side) and Weak Side Defensively: the Wingers maintain an inside position against the D‐Man,
always keeping themselves between the defense man and the net.
- Strong Side Defensively: the Winger maintains a higher inside position when on the strong side, perhaps 10
feet from the defense man, facing the puck, yet looking back and forth (head on a swivel) so that he knows
where both the puck and the D‐Man are at all times. The Winger has to be ready to keep his inside position
against the D‐Man should the D‐Man attack the net.
- Weak Side Defensively: the Winger maintains a lower position, closer to the net, between the “inside
hashmark” and the top of the circle. Again, he must face the puck, yet looking back and forth (head on a
swivel) so that he knows where the puck and the defense-man are at all times. The Winger has to be ready to
keep his inside position against the D‐Man should the D‐Man attack the net.
In watching many games in the Minor Hockey System, I am somewhat perplexed by the positioning and play of the
Wingers in their own zone in response to when the Winger’s Team gets the puck and begins to look at breaking out or
getting out of our zone against pressure.
This is the point that I am interested in focusing on. What does the Winger do and where does he move to when we
get the puck in our own end and start to move out of our own end under pressure?
I have seen far too many times, when the Winger’s Team is under pressure in his own end, that the Winger moves
down to the hashmarks and the boards to receive a pass from his own D‐man or Center iceman.
Following are the reasons why this does not work:
- If the pass is missed by the Winger, the puck goes directly to the Point Man, (the Winger’s Man to cover) the
Point Man has a free lane and shot at the net.
- If the pass is received by the Winger, he has very few “safe” options. His only pass is to his Center-man, and if
that pass is missed, the opposition gets a turn over in a very dangerous scoring area.
- The Winger is stationary, not moving and with his back to the pinching D‐Man, and if the pass is received by
the Winger, the Winger has a long way to carry the puck in order to get it out and over the blue line. It is
perhaps the toughest 25 feet of puck carrying that a Winger will go through.
Original Pub. – Jan 2004 >> Pg 2
- If the opposing D‐Man pinches down on the Winger, the D‐Man has 30 feet of momentum to “hammer” the
Winger with. Also, because the Winger is focused on receiving the pass he usually does not see the D‐Man
coming and BOOM!
- The Winger has to focus on the pass and has no idea if that opposing D‐Man is pinching down or not.
- Sometimes the Winger will attempt to clear the puck out of the zone and the puck goes directly to the Point
Man, his man to cover, and the Point Man gets a free shot at the net.
Following is a far more effective and safer position and play for the Winger. The Winger wants to keep an inside
position, in line with the face‐off dots, stay away from the boards and stay between the ringette line and the blueline.
Following are the reasons why this does work and is more effective:
- The Winger is moving and has his own momentum.
- The Winger can see the pass, whether a direct pass or a “rung” pass around the boards, and the pinching DMan
at the same time.
- There is less distance in getting the puck out and over the blueline, 6 to 10 feet, instead of 30 feet.
- The Winger can simply bodycheck the pinching D‐Man and allow the puck to get out over the blueline.
- Many “2 on 1’s” (the Center-man and far Winger) are a result of keeping the Winger higher, moving and taking
the body on the pinching D‐Man.
- If the puck is “rung” hard around the boards, there are many ways that the Winger can “chip” or “deflect” the
puck past the pinching D‐Man, usually with a resulting “2 on 2” or “2 on 1”.
- There are less turnovers of the puck in the Wingers own end.
Tiger Williams and I were teammates in Los Angeles in 1986/87. Tiger is a real believer in keeping the Wingers high in
our own end. He was one of the best players I have ever seen in getting the puck out of our own end, past the pinching
D‐Man, and into the neutral zone. I loved to watch the opposing D‐Man pinch in against Tiger. Tiger skated from an
inside position towards the boards and towards the pinching D‐Man. Usually the D‐Man would go flying and the puck
would get out over the blueline. You never saw Tiger back by the “hashmarks”, because it just didn’t work.
In summary, when “under pressure” in our own end, I believe that the “hashmarks” and the boards is the last place
that the Winger wants to be. Allow the Winger to move from an inside position to the boards and between the
ringette line and the blueline.
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Blogs

Great Jets puck mystery

MAXIMIZING “POINT SHOTS” EFFECTIVENESS

“ONE TIMER” SHOOTING, BRETT HULL STYLE

IS “CUSHIONING/CUPPING” THE PASS THE BEST WAY TO RECEIVE A PASS??

“SHOOTING IN STRIDE” OR HOW TO SHOOT LIKE NHL GREAT JOE SAKIC?

“WINGERS AT THE HASH MARKS IN YOUR OWN END!” IS THERE A BETTER WAY THAT MAXIMIZES SCORING??