Nothing can win a game like a big goal. Except, of course, a big hit. In fact, unlike a big goal, a big hit can win an entire playoff series. However, a big hit usually occurs in open-ice. The best part about an open-ice hit, besides of course the hit itself, is the fact that an open-ice hit has almost nothing to do with size or strength. It's all about technique, reading the play, and catching some unfortunate player by surprise. If open-ice hitting had anything to do with size, then explain how the 6'3, 215 pounds, Dion Phaneuf is a better open-ice hitter then the 6'9, 255 pounds Zdeno Chara, or how at 5'11, 200 pounds Mike Richards is a better open-ice hitter then the 6'8, 225 pounds Tyler Myers. Watch this Fight, then this Hit. Obviously, Eric Lindros at 6'4 245 pounds, is bigger and stronger then Scott Stevens at 6'2, 215 pounds. Despite this, Scott Stevens was able to throw a monster open-ice hit on Lindros, while Lindros couldn't do it to Stevens. It's because Stevens had decades of practice of perfecting the open-ice hit, even though he wasn't the biggest guy out there. Now watch this Hit. Darius Kasparaitis isn't even 6 feet tall, but he was able to hit the 6'4 Eric Lindros as well. Not because he overpowered Lindros; it's obviously he didn't because he fell as hard as Lindros did. It was because he saw that Lindros had his head down, read where Lindros was going, and hit Lindros properly instead of simply leaning into Lindros. If he just leaned into Lindros, Darius Kasparaitis would've probably been hospitalized, because Lindros is that much stronger than him. Just watch this Fight. Lindros kills Kasparaitis. But Kasparaitis knows how to hit.
Being able to throw an open-ice hit requires great skating ability, a fearless personality, a great mind for the game, good angles, and good technique. The Skating ability speaks for itself, so I'll start by explaining the fearlessness. I know by now, anybody who may be reading this is probably saying "I'm Fearless, I'll hit anyone, I'm going to skip this." That's not what I meant. I mean that to hit somebody in open-ice, you have to do it. A lot of times when I go for an open-ice hit, I think to myself "What if I miss? Is there anyone back? What if I miss and they get a breakaway because there's nobody back?" If I was playing against a good Junior, College, or Professional player, then in that second thinking about things unrelated to the hit, I'd lose my angle on the other player, or worse, the other player will blow past me. Right before you hit someone, clear your mind of every though. Get in position to hit and drive up without thinking about what you're doing. Don't worry about what you're doing when you go to hit someone. If you miss, well, you miss. That's all there is to it, and you shouldn't think about missing. Just like when you're on a breakaway, you don't think about not scoring, or screwing up. One tip from Rob Blake (THE Rob Blake) is to not back up too far when the other team is moving down the ice into your defensive zone. You can't throw a hit if you keep falling back. Stay up, don't back up. Next, you need to be able to read the hit. My favorite time to hit someone is when I see an opposing defenseman with the puck staring at a winger. That usually means the defenseman will pass to that winger, so I get closer to that winger so I can throw a body on him if he gets a pass before he can react. Usually, I get two strides away so I can take two hard strides so I get momentum behind the hit. There are many other ways to throw a hard body on someone though. If somebody pushes the puck ahead of them and puts their head down, they are probably going to rush the puck. If they are rushing the puck, step up on them as quickly as possible so they don't too much momentum, but don't skate straight at them, because then you may miss or unintentionally knee on knee hit them. Instead, angle them off (more on that later). Another scenario which may result in a game changing hit is when an opponent is cutting in to middle ice without paying attention. This is an art perfected by Scott Stevens, but unfortunately, this rarely happens. The easiest way to throw a hit in this situation is to get low, and not to go after them recklessly. It is also important to know you can't sink too deep into the zone. Watch this Hit. Some people consider this hit dirty, but that's not the point. Watch what Stevens does when he sees Kariya cut into center ice. He doesn't back up at all, he just skates into Kariya. He also doesn't skate recklessly into Kariya; he's low and able to react in case Kariya turns. A bonus tip for defensemen is if you are the weak side defenseman, you should be between the red line and faceoff dot while the opposing puck carrier has the puck near your blue line, but not actually in your zone. However, no forwards on the other team should be in center ice AND closer to the blue line then you are, whether they have the puck or not. You can't let people beat you before they get the puck. You may be considered an irresponsible defenseman for doing this, but if a forward cuts in with their head down, they don't know you're in a perfect position to lay them out. Angles, remember, are important, and simple, if you know what you're doing. Simply put, angling is getting you and the puck carrier in position to complete the check. When angling someone off, it is important that you take away center ice. That's it. That means, the puck carrier can go in three directions; to the boards, to you, or just skate straight. You want to limit the puck carrier's ice and options, because if he is in center ice, he can skate in either direction. To angle someone off, approach them from center ice. Don't be more than a sticklength away from the puck carrier. At any time during this hit, you should be able to pokecheck the puck away, or reach out and grab the other players jersey (Which is not advised.) Keep your stick on the ice as well. This takes away passing lanes and additional ice. Also, if the other player stops, the stick is there as a last resort to pokecheck the puck away. Don't skate faster than the person with the puck. Stay at fastest the same speed as the other player. As a defenseman, I like to skate slower than the other player on 1 on 1's so they come to me, not the other way around. Also, if you are on a 1 on 1 near the blue line, since you don't want to let the opposing forward blow past you, line them up so that your outside shoulder is right in front of their inside shoulder. That way, they are lined up for a hit if they cut in or get too close, but they are not given an easy 1 on 1 win, and possibly a breakaway. Also, if you try to hit the another player, step up as soon as possible. For Defensemen, the hit should be at the blue line, in the neutral zone, or top of the circle (Yes, that means you should start gap control near the offensive zone, or at least before the red line.) Lastly, watch the body, not the puck. I like to put my stick behind the other players legs before I hit , forcing me to play the body, not the puck. Remember to finish your check. If the other player loses the puck, that doesn't mean back off, it means hit them now. The last part of a good open-ice hit is the technique. Get low, and don't lean into a hit. That means you bend your knees, and you should have your chest facing the other player with your legs under your shoulders until the last second, which is when you explode up and turn your shoulder/arm into the other player. When you hit someone, you should be able to react if they turn away from the hit. Don't lean into a hit, just drive upward and let your momentum bring you to your target. Remember to have one hand off of your stick and one hand on your stick. When you hit, your free hand should be tucked in, like when you're skating backwards. This makes it so that you your elbow never makes contact with your target. Then, when your hand hits the other player, you drive up with your legs and first contact should be with your free hand, with your shoulder quickly following. Remember to keep your stick down if you need to. When you drive with your legs, the other player should be lifted off of his feet. If you don't get all of a hit, push out with your arm to knock down the other player. This was how Scott Stevens used to hit, and he only had four elbowing penalties in his life. Remember to keep your legs under your body, for balance, and so that your knee doesn't hit the other player. Also, if you ever feel like you're not getting the most out of your strength, make sure you're more on your heels when you make a hit, not your toes. Your weight when you're about to hit into someone should close to the back of your blade, not the front, but you also shouldn't be leaning back. Try experimenting with this to find out where you are most comfortable. Also, remember to have Respect for other players; a big hit is a big hit, but a dirty hit is not. Borderline is okay in a big game (Playoffs, rivals) but not in a pickup game or a meaningless game (Unless the game heats up). However, never hit to injure, never hit from behind, never elbow, and never KNEE-ON-KNEE intentionally. Also, if you are sizing someone up, don't go for the smaller or the worse players if you're a bigger or better guy. It's okay to be physical with that 5'1 kid when you're 6'1, but you shouldn't be blasting him open ice. As a general rule, unless that player is exceptionally dirty or good, don't try to deck a kid who is more than a head smaller than you.
Here's a little Treat. Phaneuf hit him so hard olsez swallowed his mouth guard. Watch how he drives with his legs and explodes up, not forward. *Note When I say lean into the hit, I mean really lean into the hit, like This. Look how far ovechkin leans into that hit, and he doesn't even explode up, he just leans.
Breakdown
- Be a good skater.
- Don't think about what might happen, just step up and make the hit.
- Don't fall back too far. Stay up and in the play.
- Read where the puck is going, then throw a hard check when it gets there.
- Angle off the other player; never ever go straight at them.
- Keep your stick on the ice.
- On a 1 on 1 near the blueline, line up your outside shoulder with the other player's inside shoulder, and let them come to you.
- Step up as soon as possible, and start gap control near the red line or in the offensive zone.
- Tuck your arm in when you go to hit someone, like you're skating backwards.
- Don't lean too far into a hit. Get low and explode up.
- Keep your legs under your body.
- Stay on the heels of your blade when you go to hit someone.
- Have respect for the other team.
