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