Face Offs

Face-offs are a critical part of any hockey game, as any coach will testify. They make a difference in many ways. It's not just the winning draw, back to the point for the winning goal, with less than a minute to play,....... it's very much about time of possesion.

Every time your team wins the draw, your team has puck possession. The best defense in the game, is owning the puck. The opposition is forced to spend time and energy, trying to retrieve it. When you look at shots on goal, at the end of any game, you can take a look at face-offs as well, and you will usually see a correlation between the two.

Centermen should take great pride in being sent out to win the draw in their own zone, in the last minute of a close game. They should also realize that they can't always win it on their own. Everyone at the face-off circle has a responsibility to fight for loose pucks. Many times, after the initial drop of the puck, the puck will lie just a foot or two from the two centermen......... in otherwords, it was basically a tie. The next player into the circle to get that loose puck makes all the difference.

Wingers and D-men should be active and alert to these situations, especially in their own zone. It could easily make the difference between winning and losing. Remember, the deciding goal might be scored 8 minutes into the FIRST period, because of a decisive face-off win. Don't go to sleep early in the game, thinking that you will bear down as the game progresses. It may already be too late.

NHL centermen practice 40-50 faceoffs every day, escpecially on game days ... (more, when they are having problems). Don't leave this very important part of the game to chance. PRACTICE !

Coaches can set-up a regular, friendly competition, at the end of every practice. Talk about a game situation and put pressure on each man to win the draw. The loser skates a lap ...... the winner gets to watch! Incentives are a wonderful motivator.

Your win/ loss column will improve greatly, the more time you spend on face-offs as a team.

Special thanks to Brian Engblom