Playing defense in hockey requires all-around talent. A defenseman's first responsibility is to stop the opposition from getting scoring opportunities. A defenseman also has to carry the puck out of the defensive zone and then move it into the offensive zone. Having a propensity for making offensive plays, too, can turn a good defenseman into a star.
Clog the Passing Lanes
A defenseman wants to keep the opponent from getting scoring opportunities by breaking up passes in the offensive zone. He can do this by using his stick to slow passes and by sliding out and getting in the passing lanes. The offense wants to work the puck from one side of the ice to the other because this will give shooters time and space. When the defenseman can take away time and space, it makes it much easier for the goaltender to stop the shot.
Getting Physical
The defenseman has to handle the contact when he has an opportunity to get physical with his opponent. Body checking your opponent is one of the most effective ways to separate him from the puck. When a forward gets hit with a check and loses the puck, the defenseman is doing her job extremely well. Getting physical and throwing body checks can be risky because a missed check can lead to scoring opportunities.
Carrying the Puck
This is on of the most overlooked aspects of the defenseman's job. It's one thing to take the puck away from the offensive player, but it's quite another to create a scoring opportunity for your team. You have to be able to carry the puck out of your zone without losing possession. Carrying the puck effectively takes speed, stick-handling ability and confidence.
Shooting the Puck
A good defenseman can create excellent scoring opportunities by handling the puck at the point and firing low, hard shots on net. A defenseman must be able to fire the puck quickly so opponents can't step in and block the shot. If the defenseman can get the puck on net, it can result in rebounds, deflections or occasional goals. In some cases, you will want to fire the puck on net, but in other cases you will want to shoot it wide so it can be deflected or rebound off the end boards and create scoring opportunities for alert forwards.
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