CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE DRILL

Welcome to the fourth 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 fourth 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 shoot 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 fourth in a progression of stickhandling drills, which can be done on or off the ice, 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.

Our first drill four weeks ago was considered a “rookie” level or basic drill. You’ll see that a few weeks later we have built up to the “all-star” level. If you missed the previous lessons and want to catch up – or if you find yourself struggling with this drill – you can simply go back to Drill of the Week 1, master that and then move on to the second and third drills. By mastering the previous drills, the next exercises in the progression should become easier to perfect.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 1.

Click Here for Drill of the Week 2. 

Click Here for Drill of the Week 3.

The great thing about each of these drills is that if you’re watching a game or movie on TV, you can 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 the 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 #4: Pull Drill - Middle

Category: Stickhandling Progression

Level: 3

All-Star 

Variations: 1

Forehand only

Materials Needed: Stick, 5 pucks, stickhandling board or smooth surface (if no smooth surface is available a stickhandling ball can work. As shown in the video this drill and the others can be done on the ice as well.

Drill Mechanics:

The video shows the left-handed and right-handed versions of this drill. We are only working on the forehand side here. Perform 8 repetitions, take s short break and do it again. Do this as often as you like until your hands feel fatigued or you feel comfortable with it. You can speed up a little and try to perform the drill while looking up as you get more comfortable. Try to master the proper mechanics of this drill before going more quickly and eventually looking up as you execute it.

Drill Breakdown:

• 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. A fourth puck should be placed about 18 directly to your forehand side of the first puck.
• Pull the puck with your forehand in between pucks 1 and 2.
• Perform the backhand circle on puck 1.
• Alternate backhand to forehand to move the pucks between pucks 1 and 2, then 2 and 3, before pulling it back to your starting point with a toe drag.
• Pull the puck with your backhand through pucks 1 and 2 then around the outside puck before pulling it back to the starting point with your backhand.
• Use your backhand to slide the puck between pucks 1 and 2 then walk forward and pull it with the forehand back between pucks 2 and 3.
• Repeat above steps.
• Perform 8 reps then take a short break before repeating.

Good luck and have fun!