Ice Hockey Blocking Tips for Hong Kong Players Posted By : Gregory Smyth
Ice hockey in Hong Kong has swelled immensely in popularity in the last three years, with Hong Kong's first international size rink being built, a larger base of young people discovering the thrill of the sport, and therefore a larger talent base to build from. Ice hockey is a rough and tough sport, but is just as much about good defense as it is good offense. We look at how important blocking is to the outcome of an ice hockey game, and how Hong Kong players can improve their blocking skills.
Blocking the puck in an ice hockey game sometimes looks painful - and can certainly be painful, if not executed properly! Knowing when to use your stick, and when to use your body, has made the difference to countless Hong Kong ice hockey games. The best way to block effectively is to 'practice' blocking effectively, of course. This is easiest with the help of a teammate, and a tennis ball rather than a full on hockey puck. While you are learning, pad up - see if you can beg, borrow or rent a pair of ankle guards, and make sure you wear a few layers of clothing around your groin and abdomen. While practising this ice hockey technique, you will miss.
Try to make sure you are squarely in front of the shot when it hits you. If you can have the shot hit your shin pads directly, rather than at an angle, it has more of a chance of landing close to you, in a spot where it's easy for you to pick up. If you turn to the side to protect yourself, you will ironically do more damage, as the puck will hit an unpadded area. For this Hong Kong ice hockey technique, it's a case of go hard or go home. If you hesitate, just as with skateboarding, inline skating, or even figure skating, you will definitely fail.
You should also remember that the puck will gather speed and change course as it moves along the ice rink - so you also need to be gutsy enough to get as close to the shooter as you possibly can. The closer you are, the more likely it is that you will take the block on your shin pads. If you are further away, the puck may move upwards, hitting you in a very sensitive area, or downwards. While your skates will protect you somewhat, getting hit on the ankles is not a good way to help win a Hong Kong ice hockey game.
Remember also that the goalie is there for a reason. If you are near your own net and the shot comes towards you, the goalie will be right behind - no need to take yourself out with an injury, when a player who is equipped for that could take care of it. Then, once you have mastered standing blocks, you can try sliding to the front of the shooter to block a shot. This is obviously trickier, since you have to gauge your own speed in conjunction with the shooter's action - but much more impressive, and thrilling for Hong Kong ice hockey fans.
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