Offensive Scoring Skills

🏒 Ice Hockey Offensive Scoring Skills

The Art of Putting the Puck in the Net

Imagine you’re a magician on ice. Your wand? A hockey stick. Your magic trick? Making the puck disappear… right into the goal! Let’s learn the secret spells that hockey’s greatest scorers use.

Our Everyday Metaphor: Think of scoring goals like being a clever fox trying to get treats from a guarded cookie jar. The goalie is the guard, and you need all sorts of sneaky tricks!

🎭 Deking Techniques

The Art of Fake-Outs

What is a Deke? A deke is like when you pretend to throw a ball one way, but throw it the other way. You trick the goalie into moving the wrong direction!

🦊 Fox Trick: Just like a fox fakes left but runs right to escape, you fake one way and go the other!

Types of Dekes

1. The Forehand-Backhand Deke

• Start with the puck on your forehand (the side you shoot from)
• Pull it across to your backhand
• The goalie slides one way… but you’re already going the other!

2. The Shoulder Fake

• Drop your shoulder like you’re about to shoot
• Goalie drops down to block
• But wait! You didn’t shoot - you skated right around them!

3. The Toe Drag

• Pull the puck back toward you with the toe of your blade
• Defender lunges for where the puck WAS
• Now you’ve got open space!

graph TD
    A["🏒 Start with Puck"] --> B{Pick Your Deke}
    B --> C["Forehand-Backhand"]
    B --> D["Shoulder Fake"]
    B --> E["Toe Drag"]
    C --> F["✅ Goalie Goes Wrong Way"]
    D --> F
    E --> F
    F --> G["🎯 SCORE!"]

Example: Sidney Crosby loves the backhand deke. He pulls the puck to his backhand so smoothly that goalies have no idea where he’s going!

🏃 Breakaway Moves

One-on-One with the Goalie

What’s a Breakaway? You’re all alone, racing toward the goalie. No one can catch you! It’s just you vs. the goalie. Like a race where the finish line is guarded!

🦊 Fox Trick: When the fox is alone with the guard, it doesn’t run straight in. It waits, watches, then makes its move!

Keys to Breakaway Success

1. DON’T Rush!

• Slow down as you get closer
• The goalie WANTS you to hurry and make mistakes
• Take your time like unwrapping a present

2. Read the Goalie

• Is the goalie coming out? Go around them!
• Is the goalie staying back? Pick a corner!
• Are their legs open? Slide it through! (That’s called “Five Hole”)

3. The Five Holes

Example: On a breakaway, start skating toward the goalie’s glove side. When they commit, snap the puck back to the blocker side. Surprise!

🌊 Creating Space

Finding Room to Breathe

What Does “Creating Space” Mean? The ice feels crowded with defenders everywhere. Creating space means making room for yourself - like finding an empty seat in a crowded room!

🦊 Fox Trick: A smart fox doesn’t run where all the dogs are. It finds the open path!

How to Create Space

1. Change of Speed

• Skate slow, then BURST fast
• Defenders can’t match sudden speed changes
• Like when you walk slowly, then suddenly sprint!

2. Change of Direction

• Skate one way, cut the other
• Sharp turns create separation
• Defenders are bigger and turn slower!

3. Use Your Teammates

• Skate toward a teammate (defenders follow)
• Teammate screens them off
• You’re free!

graph TD
    A["❌ Crowded Ice"] --> B["Change Speed"]
    A --> C["Change Direction"]
    A --> D["Use Teammates"]
    B --> E["✅ Open Ice!"]
    C --> E
    D --> E
    E --> F["🎯 Scoring Chance!"]

Example: Watch Connor McDavid - he skates slowly into the zone, then EXPLODES with speed. Defenders are left standing still!

🧱 Net-Front Presence

The Dirty Work That Wins Games

What is Net-Front Presence? Standing right in front of the goalie, in the “crease” area. It’s not glamorous, but it’s where many goals are scored!

🦊 Fox Trick: The fox doesn’t always sneak around. Sometimes it stands right at the door, waiting for the treat to come to it!

Why It Works

1. You Block the Goalie’s View

• Goalie can’t see the puck coming
• Your teammates can shoot, and goalie won’t see it!

2. You’re There for Rebounds

• Shots hit pads and bounce out
• You’re RIGHT THERE to tap it in!

3. Deflection Opportunity

• Teammate shoots, you tip it
• Changes the puck’s direction
• Goalie had no chance!

Tips for Net-Front

Example: Tim Stutzle parks himself in front of the net and waits. When the shot comes, he tips it in! The goalie never saw it coming.

📺 Screening and Rebounds

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

What is a Screen? You stand between the shooter and the goalie. The goalie can’t see the puck!

🦊 Fox Trick: While one fox distracts the guard, another sneaks in for the treat!

The Perfect Screen

1. Positioning

• Stand in goalie’s line of sight
• Stay still when shot is taken
• DON’T interfere with goalie (that’s against rules!)

2. Reading the Shot

• Know when your teammate will shoot
• Get in position BEFORE the shot
• Time it perfectly!

Rebounds: The Second Chance

What’s a Rebound? When the goalie saves a shot but can’t hold onto the puck. It bounces back out. You’re there to score!

Rebound Tips:

• Watch the puck, not the goalie
• Keep your stick ready on the ice
• Expect every shot to come back
• Quick hands beat slow minds!

graph TD
    A["🏒 Teammate Has Puck"] --> B["Get to Net-Front"]
    B --> C["Screen the Goalie"]
    C --> D["Shot Taken!"]
    D --> E{What Happens?}
    E --> F["Goal! 🎉"]
    E --> G["Rebound!"]
    G --> H["Tap It In! 🎯"]

Example: Your teammate winds up for a slapshot. You’re screening the goalie. The puck gets through and hits the pad. REBOUND! You’re there with a quick tap-in. GOAL!

🔄 Deflections and Tip-Ins

Redirect for Success

What’s a Deflection? A shot is coming, and you use your stick to change its direction. The puck was going to the corner, but you tip it into the goal!

🦊 Fox Trick: Why chase the treat when you can redirect it right into your mouth?

The Art of Tipping

1. Stick Position

• Hold stick firmly but not TOO tight
• Blade angled toward the net
• On the ice, ready for action

2. Watch the Shooter

• Know when the shot is coming
• Time your tip perfectly
• Don’t swat - redirect!

3. Types of Tips

Why Deflections Are Awesome

• Goalie is set for the original shot
• Deflection changes everything
• Goalie has NO time to react!

Example: Imagine your teammate shoots from the blue line. The goalie is ready. But wait - you stick your blade out and barely touch the puck. It changes direction just enough. GOAL! The goalie was completely fooled.

🔁 Wraparound Plays

Going Around the Back

What’s a Wraparound? You take the puck behind the net and try to wrap it around the goalpost into the goal. Surprise attack from behind!

🦊 Fox Trick: Can’t get through the front door? Try the back door!

When to Use a Wraparound

1. Goalie is Out of Position

• They’ve moved to one side
• The other side is OPEN
• Quick wrap = Goal!

2. As a Fake

• Start the wrap, goalie follows
• Stop! Pass to teammate in front
• Wide open net!

3. Speed Matters

• Come around FAST
• Goalie can’t keep up
• Jam it in before they set!

Wraparound Steps

graph TD
    A["🏒 Get Puck Behind Net"] --> B["Read the Goalie"]
    B --> C{Goalie Position?}
    C --> D["Far Side Open"]
    C --> E["Goalie Following"]
    D --> F["Wrap and Score! 🎯"]
    E --> G["Pass to Front!"]
    G --> H["Teammate Scores! 🎯"]

Pro Tips

Example: Watch how players take the puck behind the net, wait for the goalie to commit to one side, then quickly stuff it in the other side. The goalie is helpless!

🏆 Putting It All Together

Great goal scorers use ALL these skills together:

1. Create space to get the puck
2. Use dekes to beat defenders
3. On breakaways, stay calm and pick your spot
4. At the net-front, battle for position
5. Screen goalies and pounce on rebounds
6. Tip shots to fool goalies
7. Wrap around for surprise attacks

🦊 The Master Fox: The cleverest fox doesn’t use just one trick. It has a whole bag of tricks and picks the right one for each situation!

🌟 Remember

• Practice each skill until it feels natural
• Stay patient - goals come to those who wait for the right moment
• Work with teammates - hockey is a team game
• Have fun! - Even the pros started as kids who just loved the game

Now get out there and start scoring! 🏒🥅🎉