CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL 

Here is the third 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 third 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. 

Also if you post a video of yourself doing the drill and post it on Instagram, tagging @KBDangles and @MYHockeyRanking, you will be eligible to win a free membership to www.SkilledAdvantageHockey.com. 

This edition of Drill of the Week is the third 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.

As always, 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 puck or 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 #3: 1-2-3 Toe Drag (Small Circle)

Category: Off-Ice Stickhandling Progression

Levels:

Rookie (middle sequence)

Pro (forehand sequence)

All-Star (backhand sequence)

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 to react to however a defender plays you. This also helps you improve your handling of the puck in open areas while skating and to use the movements you are practicing to improve your ability to protect the puck in tight spaces.

Perform 5 to 8 repetitions of one variation then move on to the next. Start slowly and be sure to execute the movements properly. Imitate exactly what you see on the video. You can speed up a little and try to perform the drill while looking up as you get comfortable. Try to master the mechanics of this drill before going more quickly and eventually looking up as you execute it.

Drill Breakdown:

Middle:

• Line up with the puck you will be handling slightly in front of you and aligned with the center of your body.
• Place 3 more pucks directly in front of you, aligned with the center of your body and each spaced about 10 to 12 inches apart. The first puck should be at a distance where you can comfortably stickhandle without reaching.
• Perform the backhand circle on puck 1.
• Tap the puck using your backhand with the heel of your stick between pucks 1 and 2.
• Tap the puck using your forehand with the heel of your stick between pucks 2 and 3.
• Tap the puck using your backhand with the heel of your stick above puck three to the toe of your stick on the forehand.
• Pull the puck with your forehand using the toe of your stick back to the starting point.
• Repeat above steps.
• Perform 5-8 reps then move the backhand side of your body.

Forehand:

• Place 3 pucks on your forehand side, aligned with your feet and each spaced about 10 to 12 inches apart. The first puck should be at a distance where you can comfortably stickhandle without reaching.
• Start with the puck you are handling on the backhand side of your stick.
• Perform the backhand circle on puck 1.
• Tap the puck using your backhand with the heel of your stick between pucks 1 and 2.
• Tap the puck using your forehand with the heel of your stick between pucks 2 and 3.
• Tap the puck using your backhand with the heel of your stick above puck 3 to the toe of your stick on the forehand.
• Pull the puck with your forehand using the toe of your stick back to the starting point.
• Repeat above steps.
• Perform 5-8 reps then move the backhand side of your body.

Backhand:

• Place 3 pucks on your backhand side, aligned with your feet and each spaced about 10 to 12 inches apart. The first puck should be at a distance where you can comfortably stickhandle without reaching.
• Start with the puck you are handling on the backhand side of your stick.
• Perform the backhand circle on puck 1.
• Tap the puck using your backhand with the heel of your stick between pucks 1 and 2.
• Tap the puck using your forehand with the heel of your stick between pucks 2 and 3.
• Tap the puck using your backhand with the heel of your stick above puck 3 to the toe of your stick on the forehand.
• Pull the puck with your forehand using the toe of your stick back to the starting point.
• Repeat above steps.
• Perform 5-8 reps then start the progression again.

Good luck and have fun!