Skill versus aggression?

Question

So last night after my game we're all out at the bar, and a couple of the better players were bar-coaching one of our less-great players. His skating's still iffy, he's slow, has difficulty with turns and transitions and stopping, and if he does get the puck can't do much with it. He does try, though, and he does understand the basics of the game. But for C coed, he needs to be way better.

So here's the question. The guys were saying he needs to get more penalties, to play rougher.

I was going to argue, but then I remembered that a lot of the time when I turn the aggression up a notch, I play exponentially better. I fight harder, I take those two extra steps to pass a guy and get to the puck. I give less ground.

In pro games, I watch a lackluster game get far better when one of the teams gets more aggressive.

You players... coaches... what do you think? How much is skill, how much is aggression? How much can you make up for lack of skill with sheer fight?

Answer 1

That is a really good question. First off though you have to have some skill in order to play the game correctly. You can't just go out there with little to no skill are attack people when they skate by you. I do think that a little toughness can compliment your strong skills whatever they may be.

For example say one of your skills is that you are really fast, you can use that quickness to get in deep on dump-ins. Then get down and dirty in the trenches fighting for the loose pucks.

So basically I'm saying that having both toughness and skill would be a great combo. I just dont think that just being a tough guy that takes penalties is really going to help him get any better. He needs to just keep practicing the basics.

Answer 2

You have asked a good question. I have coached for 7 years and I'm a level 4 USA hockey certified coach. As any one will tell you. 95% of playing hockey is skating. If you can't skate very well, you can't play the game very well. If your rink has a learn to play hockey class for adults, I would advise your friend to take that class. If the class is run correctly, they work on skating skills first and for most. Then they work on the hockey skills. Where to be when you DON'T have the puck. Other things they work on are break-outs, and corner work, how to pinch in the corners. They also will show you about body contact that is allowed in a non checking game. This makes it a lot more fun to play when you learn this part of the game. I teach a learn to play hockey for adults at my rink and it doesn't take long for these players to pick up the skating skills. Once they learn to skate well, that makes the rest of the class more fun, because now we can work on different aspects of the game. If you can't skate very well, it's hard to be aggressive. Plus you met get hurt.

Answer 3

You mention that he has trouble skating. I understand your thoughts on how you are a bit more aggressive but i am guessing that skating isnt an issue with you. If he is unsteady on his skates then I cant see how he will pick up the intensity. He needs to work at the skating and forget for now the skills part of hockey, tell him to forget the stick part of the game and focus on using his ice time to improve skating. Allow him to "cherry pick" and stay close to center ice on defense so he can feel like he is somehow keeping up with the game. Confidence is important, if he is never near the play he wont ever work harder at skating, if he can get a taste of being in or near the action it should motivate him. And give him 1 or 2 things to do and stress to him to ONLY do those things, like set up in front of the net. Watch how quickly he learns better balance and to stay strong on his skates after he has been knocked on his can a few times (then it wouldnt hurt to tell him it is okay, it happened to all of you before you got better). When he isnt in front of the net send him into the scrums behind the net, getting knocked around a bit on the boards will help his confidence also, eventually he will win a scrum and that will help him. These tips will make him be forced to get more aggressive (in tighter areas that will at least give him a fighting chance) and eventually he will grow tired of losing battles and will assert himself more (or quit). And tell him to get on the roller blades in his spare time, if he masters that a bit his ice skating will be way better.

Answer 4

There's no reason why he can't play more aggressively without getting penalties. I've played hockey for 10 years and I've never had more than 4 penalty minutes in a season but I know that I'm aggressive. All he needs to do is play physically in front of both nets, chip in in the corners and develop a strong one-on-one coverage. Tell him to not worry about offense yet and to try to develop a strong defense first.

Answer 5

Agreed it's all skating. He's gonna get knocked on his a$$ playing aggressivly and not having his feet under him.

Hockey is exponentially better when everyone is going full tilt boogie. That's what makes the difference between an NHL game in November vs. one in May.