Puckhandling: Rolling Out The Back
The NHL Player's Association recently came out with their 2021 player poll. A new question this year was "Who is the best stickhandler?" The results: Patrick Kane is clearly an elite puckhandler. This old Bauer Vapor commercial never gets old. Today we want to talk about puckhandling/stickhandling/dribbling technique. Specifically...
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The Widely Known Basics
The fundamentals of quality stickhandling have been known for a really long time.
- Cupping/Cradling the puck - To keep the puck close and under control.
- Tight grip top hand - This is the hand that drives the wrist roll to cradle the puck.
- Soft grip bottom hand - This is the hand that slides and gives guidance. Without a soft bottom grip, a player’s range of motion is drastically reduced.
Rolling Out The Back
- Maximize puck on stick time
- Minimize stick in the air time
- A snap of the top hand at both ends
- Quick, short dribbles
Key Elements of Smooth Hands
- Rolling wrists both ways
- Gentle touch from one side of the stick to the other
- Placing the puck into a great spot for the next play
