Hockey Stick-Blade Angles – 2

There’s actually a lot more to this story than I could fit in the above video.  So, here we go…

These video clips came about after I watched a Junior hockey tournament in Orlando, Florida, along with several other scouts.  One young scout was particularly vocal about the way players were carrying their sticks, and I knew why.  You see, he was a former pro who didn’t like wearing a facemask, which means he also disliked players who didn’t control their sticks, or skated while hold the stick up high.

Of course, we both were bothered by the fact that a lot of the players were just penalties waiting to happen.  Most likely they didn’t know any better, but…  

Maybe just as bad, I think their sticks caused many of them to skate in a rather unattractive posture.  Ya, I mean that.  So, in effect, those kids just didn’t look like hockey players.  I didn’t want most of them for the reasons stated here, and neither did my former pro friend.

Above you’ll see one of my former HS Prep goalers and a defenseman, and in both cases, they look like they’re serious and ready to play.

Then, one other thing…  I noticed that many of the kids who didn’t have their sticks under control were always a half-second late in reacting for the puck.  Does that make sense to you?  It surely should.

Lastly, did I blame the coaches who developed the kids we were watching?  You bet.  Most likely they didn’t have the experiences the other scouts and I had.  Nor, however, did they have access to the kind of information I’m sharing here and elsewhere.