| Let us consider going after goals in ice hockey. That | | | | hook in the blade. A right-handed shot places his right |
| means assists, too. So let us take a look first at the | | | | hand lower than his left on his stick, shoots forehand |
| various ways of shooting and of beating the | | | | from his right side, and usually uses a right-handed |
| goalkeeper. | | | | stick. |
| Before we do this, you should know a very important | | | | A left-handed shot places his left hand lower than his |
| fact about shooting. Your team will do well to average | | | | right on his stick, shoots forehand from his left side, and |
| 30 to 40 shots on goal per game. If you are a forward, | | | | usually uses a left-handed stick. Go to a neutral stick |
| you may have only six to eight shots in a game. In an | | | | when you want to correct a fault of consistently |
| hour of scrimmage practice, this average may be only | | | | shooting too high. Sometimes the bend or hook in a |
| slightly higher. | | | | blade causes the aerial attack you always seem to |
| Then, too, there is the battle of wits that goes on | | | | launch. |
| between you and the opposing goalie. You can hope | | | | THE PROPER STICK LENGTH for any player is |
| to win this duel only if you have a thorough knowledge | | | | determined by holding the stick up against his body |
| of the target areas he has trouble covering, which | | | | while he is wearing ordinary shoes. The stick end |
| means you will have to put in long, hard practice | | | | should come just below his nose. |
| sessions with him in the net. | | | | The weight of stick you use should be the lightest you |
| During these long, hard practice sessions, your | | | | can get without it being too brittle or too "whippy." The |
| constant companion will be your stick, which plays a | | | | less weight in the blade, the easier you can handle the |
| very important part in good shooting. Your stick will be | | | | whole stick. Some players go to considerable trouble |
| your best friend if you show as good a judgment in | | | | to plane wood from the thick part of the heel, or they |
| selecting it as you show in selecting your skates. | | | | even cut an inch or two from the toe, to get a lighter |
| So you will not score many goals unless you put in a | | | | stick. |
| good amount of shooting practice to get the speed, | | | | You should wrap the blade with electrical tape to keep |
| power, and accuracy which will make your few | | | | it from breaking. This also serves the purpose of |
| chances count. And you will not be able to shoot your | | | | "cushioning" the puck in pass receiving and in |
| way out of a paper bag unless your technique for | | | | stickhandling. |
| getting the puck away is sound. | | | | Your necessary equipment for hockey is complete |
| Your Stick and Other Hockey Needs | | | | when you have gloves, shin pads, pants, stockings, |
| Your choice of stick should be made with care so that, | | | | elbow pads, athletic support, shoulder pads, and a |
| after you have used a few, you know what hand, lie, | | | | helmet. You are very wise to wear a helmet, whether |
| length, and weight suits you best. | | | | required or not. Not only will it protect you, but it also will |
| You can buy a left, right, or neutral stick at a sporting | | | | give you confidence in your early years of developing |
| goods store. Pick one for the hand with which you | | | | skating skills. Now you should be able to score goals, |
| shoot, provided it does not have too pronounced a | | | | pleasing yourself and your team! |