Dallas Ice Jets

Using technical and tactical skill
to protect the puck

January 20, 2011

Puck protection is an important skill to be used by all players at all positions over the course of a game. In many playing situations, it is necessary for the puck carrier to focus on protecting the puck in order to maintain puck control. Puck protection allows a player to “buy time” until a teammate arrives to provide support or until they can escape pressure with a skating or stickhandling move. What is puck protection? Puck protection is technical and tactical skill in which the puck carrier keeps his body between the checker and the puck. Some coaches use the term 'setting a wall' as a teaching concept to give players a clear picture of what they are trying to accomplish. Puck protection is most commonly used in tight checking situations such as in the corners or along the boards, but it is also deployed in open-ice situations, such as when a defenseman executes an escape move by turning his back to the checker during a regroup situation at the defensive blue line.

In certain situations, where you do not now have the puck but will soon gain possession, the idea of puck protection should start before you actually get the puck. Again, this is accomplished by placing your body in between the puck and the eventual checker. At times as you get closer to the puck, you may elect to lift the opponents stick and use your feet to control the puck. This is all part of puck protection.
 
Players driving to the net should also shield the puck using puck protection skills. Here the technique is slightly different. While skating hard for the goal the puck carrier works to keep his body between the checker and the puck, the carrier will often control the puck with one hand on the stick and push off the checker and protect himself with the other hand.
 
The main technical elements involved in puck protection are:

1. Constantly reading your opponent's position and adjusting your body positioning accordingly
2. Assuming a flexed body position with legs spread apart for additional strength
3. Making the best possible use of your arms and legs to fend off the checker.