(Transcribed from How to Play Hockey: Our Minor Hockey Coaching Course.)
A couple of simple things to remember here that will help create soft hands and set the stage for more advanced moves:
- The top hand is the brains of the operation.
- The bottom hand is the helper.
- The bottom hand must be able to slide down the stick for pucks in close, and slide up the stick to increase ‘reach’ when the puck moves further away.
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Stick Handling:
Remember the top hand on the end of your stick is the brains of the operation, rolling back and forth building a roof over top of the puck with the blade. The bottom hand is there for support and to help. The further the puck is away from you, you need to come together. As the puck is closer to you, your hands need to separate. The quicker you can be the better. We also can handle the puck wide and as we come through the middle wide, the hands separate and return together.
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