CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL 

Here is the second of our MYHockey Rankings Drill of the Week features powered by Skilled Advantage Hockey. We are thrilled to have partnered with Kenny Brandt and Skilled Advantage Hockey to bring you weekly drills that we hope can be utilized by players of all ages and levels. 

The second drill in our weekly series can be found below, and the accompanying video of the drill being performed will be posted each week on YouTube, Facebook Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to follow Kenny’s Instagram account and to check out his Skilled Advantage Hockey website for more great video content and lessons.

This edition of Drill of the Week is the second in a progression of off-ice stickhandling drills that we will be posting. Each week we will build on the previous drill, and the great thing is that these drills can be done literally anytime, anywhere with minimal equipment or space needed. If you’re watching a game or movie on TV, get your stickhandling board or stickhandling ball and practice the drill while trying to watch. You also can do it while you’re waiting for your turn to play a video game. In fact, doing the drill while watching TV will help you learn to play with your head up when you stickhandle on the ice.

A word of warning, though.

You must practice the right way to see positive results. You shouldn’t be able to look up while performing the drill right away. Don’t rush the drill the first few times you try it. It’s not a race. Practicing the drill properly is the only way to improve. If you take shortcuts and don’t follow the pattern as you see it in the video or if you don’t try all three variations, you’re not going to see positive results. You can practice all you want, but if you practice the wrong way or don’t put the proper effort into what you are doing, you’ll never see the results.  

Take your time. Read the drill description. Watch the video. Imitate the movements and try to perform the drill exactly as you see it. Go slow so you can do it properly. It’s good if you mess up, because that means it’s a skill you haven’t mastered and that you are learning something new.

You only get better by doing things that are outside your comfort zone. As you get better at the drill and get the feel of the movements, yes you can speed up a little bit, but even more important you can start to look at the wall or the TV instead of the ball as you do the drill. This will help you keep your head up when you get on the ice and try to carry the puck or stickhandle in game situations.

Don’t Forget to Join Our Contest!

As an added bonus, if you record yourself doing this drill on video and post it on Instagram and tag both @KBDangles and @MYHockeyRanking, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free month’s membership to the Skilled Advantage Hockey Website!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL

Drill of the Week #2: Backhand 3-Puck

Category: Off-Ice Stickhandling Progression

Level: Rookie

Variations: 3

Materials Needed: Stick, 4 pucks, stickhandling board or smooth surface (if no smooth surface is available a stickhandling ball can work.

Drill Mechanics:

There are three variations of this drill – one in front of your body, one off to the forehand side and another off to the backhand side. This allows you to get your hands out away from your body and get the feel for handling the puck in any location. Being comfortable handling the puck in front of your body and on both sides will allow you to attack the defense from any angle and also to react to how a defender plays you.

Perform 10 to 15 repetitions of one variation then move onto the next. Start slow and be sure to execute the movements properly. You can speed up a little and try to perform the drill while looking up as you get comfortable. Try to master this drill in time for the next drill in the progression, which we will post next week.

Breakdown:

• Line up with the puck you will be handling slightly in front of you and aligned with the center of your body.
• Place three more pucks directly in front of you, aligned with the center of your body and each spaced about a foot apart. The first puck should be at a distance where you can comfortably stickhandle without reaching.
• Start with the puck on the backhand side of your stick.
• Tap the puck with the heel of your stick using your backhand in between pucks 1 and 2.
• Tap the puck back with the heel of the stick using your forehand in between pucks 2 and 3.
• Tap/pull the puck using your backhand above puck 3.
• Tap/pull the puck back between pucks 2 and 3 using your forehand.
• Tap the puck back in between pucks 1 and 2 using your backhand.
• Tap the puck back below puck 1 using your forehand.
• Repeat above steps.
• Perform 10-15 reps then move the forehand side of your body.
• Execute the drill on the forehand side for 10-15 reps then move to the backhand side.
• Do 10-15 reps on the backhand side of your body.

Good luck and have fun!