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Stick on Stick
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Recently I have noticed a disturbing trend that is appearing all too frequently at
all levels of hockey. This trend has caused many bad goals, bad rebounds and many
needless losses. As a result of this approach that is currently being taught to
position players, low percentage scoring chances are being turned into high
percentage scoring chances. Why then would head coaches teach this defensive
zone approach if it creates more problems than it solves? What exactly are we
talking about and why is this cancer creeping in the game?
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“Stick on stick” is a defensive zone strategy where ill-informed coaches stress
the importance of ALWAYS trying to block the offensive players shots by placing
their sticks in the shooting lane.
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Please donʼt get be wrong, if this strategy is employed with intelligence and in
the proper situations it can be very effective. As a blanket, all encompassing
approach to every shot on net you get in to trouble. This strategy should only be
used when the defender is very tight to the attacker (ie. Stick length or less) and
only on shots in very dangerous locations like the slot. A shot from above the circles
or near the boards on the poor angle should NEVER be interfered with. The goalie
must be given a clean look at these pucks. Any decent goalie will stop these
perimeter shots at an amazingly high percentage if things arenʼt complicated with
unnecessary, ill advised sticks in the shooting lane.