In ice hockey, stickhandling, or the ability to manipulate the puck with the stick, often separates elite scorers from average players. While necessary when weaving through defenders and tricking goalies for spectacular goals, stickhandling skills also play a part in basic puck possession. Working some simple drills during practice can help improve stickhandling, enhancing all aspects of a team's offensive and defensive game.
Triangle
Place three pucks on the ice in a triangle, with about 2 feet between each puck. While only shifting slightly from side to side, stickhandle through and around the three pucks as quickly as possible, working both forehand and backhand transitions. Players need to develop soft hands and proper wrist action to avoid the stationary pucks and to keep the triangle in place.
Slalom
Place six cones or pucks in a line on the ice, with about 4 feet between each obstacle. Stickhandle around each cone, weaving in and out in a slalom-like pattern until you reach the end. Try to complete the course as quickly as possible and remember to keep your head up the entire time. Continue running the drill until you can perform the course without losing the puck.
Neutral Zone Weave
Start with at least three lines of players at each end of the ice and facing each other. On the coach's whistle, the first player in each line, grabs a puck and skates into the neutral zone, where they must continue to skate and stickhandle without crossing either blue line. The drill lasts between 30 seconds and one minute. Players must learn to keep their heads up while stickhandling to avoid colliding with teammates. Two more lines of players can be added at each end of the rink to create even more congestion at center ice and increase the degree of difficulty.
Circle Drill
Two players take position inside a face-off circle, with one player in possession of the puck. On the coach's whistle, the defender attempts to take the puck away from his teammate, while the puck-carrier attempts to stickhandle around and maintain possession without ever leaving the circle. Keep the drill live for at least 25 seconds or until the defender takes the puck or forces the offensive player out of the circle. The puck-carrier must learn to stickhandle in tight quarters and to use his body to protect the puck. This one-on-one drill does a good job recreating game situations.
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