Checking Clinic
Body checking is an instrumental skill that is critical for all first-year bantam players. Checking can be defined as a player that uses physical force to separate an opposing player from the puck. This physical contact must occur from the front, diagonally from the front or from the side of a player. Physical contact should never occur from the rear of a player! The transition from non-contact to contact play in the game can be very challenging for many players. It’s very important that players learn how to position themselves in a way so they can absorb contact from an opposing player to reduce the likelihood of an injury. It’s also very important that players learn how give a proper check so they do not hurt an opposing player or hurt themselves in the process!
This four-week checking clinic covers the four phases of checking (Angling, Stick Checks, Body Contact and Body Checking). A strong emphasis is placed on the basic checking skills, and the importance of having players develop confidence, respect and an awareness of the checking process.
Step 1 – Angling
Angling can be considered the first line of defense for a player. It’s the ability to force your opponent to go in the direction that you want. It also puts a player’s body in a safer position to accept an impact with the boards. This greatly reduces the risk of injury….
Step 2 – Stick Checks
Although body checks are more entertaining, stick checks are used more often throughout a game and are just as effective as a big impactful body check. The goal of a good stick check is for the defensive player to separate the puck from the offensive players stick. There are four main stick checks that are used in the game of hockey; poke check, sweep check, lift check and a press check.
Step 3 – Body Contact
The goal in the body contact stage is to work on a player’s ability to receive impact from another player in a safe way. Whenever you are in a body contact situation, you want to be in a healthy position. Players should be in a tripod stance, knee’s slightly bent, feet are slightly wider than their shoulders, and their stick should on the ice forming a triangle base. This position will allow players to withstand the impact of a collision and remain in good position to continue the play.
Step 4 – Body Checking
A body check can be defined as the physical force of a player separating another player from the puck through a body check. It is critical that the check is only delivered to the trunk (hips to shoulders) of the other player. Additionally, as a player follows through with contact, he must be attempting to play the opposing players stick. Once again, the intent must be to separate the player from the puck,
Mechanics of Body Contact
- Stay out of the danger zone! Players are more vulnerable to injury if they receive a body check within 2– 4 feet from the boards. Players that receive contact along the boards can absorb impact with their arms, legs, hips and shoulders! Thus, reducing the likelihood of injury.
- Instigate contact first! Skating for a loose puck and knowing where the opposition is and engaging in contact before you get to the puck will allow a player to put them in better positioning for contact. Know where the opposition is at all times!
- Cushion the blow! At impact, a player should use their arms, hands and shoulders to alleviate the amount of force entering into the boards.
- Keep your head up! Always have a low center of gravity and make sure your head is always up, do not duck, scrunch or look downward at the moment of contact.
Mechanics of Angling
- Players should go in at an angle, keeping a low center of gravity and stay between the puck carrier and the pass receiver.
- Players should skate in an arc to the opponent, keeping their feet parallel to the boards the entire time. Players should not skate directly at the skater…
- Players should skate slightly behind the opponent, keeping your inner shoulder just inside of their outer shoulder – not allowing the opponent to cut inside and turn up ice.
- Players need to continue their momentum through the check, keeping a low center of gravity and using their shoulders as an area of impact!
- Lastly a player’s stick should always be in position to cause disruption to a pass.
Mechanics of Stick Checking
- Poke Check – This type of stick check is used more often with defensemen. As the defenseman is skating backwards, his elbow is bent and his arm tucked in slightly, misleading the offensive player of his range of motion, and at the right moment he extends his reach and pokes the offensive players stick and separates the puck from his stick.
- Sweep Check – This type of check is often used by a defensive player while he is back checking another player or is attacking another player at an angle. The player sweeps the puck away from the offensive player with their stick flat on the ice, using a long and circular motion.
- Lift Check – This is one of the most common stick checks used in the game of hockey. It’s used usually when the defender lifts the stick of the offensive player in a quick upward motion and steals the puck. This type of check is used often along the boards when a player is angling the opposition to the boards.
- Press Check – This type of check is used often in the defensive zone by a defenseman, especially in front of their own net. As a pass is coming to an offensive player, the defender presses down on the offensive players stick and restricts their range of motion, thus resulting in a miss pass.
Mechanics of Body Checking
- The purpose of the body check is to separate the puck from the player. When following through with force, the checker must be attempting to separate the puck from the opposing players stick.
- The body check can only be made to the trunk of the opposing player (hips to shoulders).
- The player delivering the body check can only use their shoulders, and must be made in front or slightly to the side of the opposing player.
- To deliver a strong and impactful body check, a player must have a low center of gravity and use their legs to generate power as they follow through with their check.
2023 SCHEDULE
NEW dates times and location
Friday Session 1
Checking Clinic (Ages 12-14) -$235.00
July 14th, 2023 – 8:00pm
July 21st, 2023 – 8:00pm
July 28th, 2023 – 8:00pm
August 4th, 2023 – 8:00pm
LOCATION:
Buffone Arena
284 Lake Ave
Worcester, MA .01440
The instructors at Ice Works are extremely passionate, and dedicated to the development of every player. Individuals are challenged on every drill, maximizing their results. Their hockey schools and clinics are challenging, but rewarding! I couldn’t recommend another training program that provides results like Ice Works!
Attending the camp as a surprised guest for the players, I was blown away by Bobby and Brian’s attention to detail. Ice Works “Elite Hockey Training” is an exceptional program that really focuses on all of four aspects of the game. All of the directors and counselors made sure that each child was worked with individually and pushed outside of their comfort zones!
Being a New England native, I have attended many hockey camps and clinics in the area and if you’re serious about raising your game to the next level then Ice Works “Elite Hockey Training” is the camp for you. The attentiveness of their instructors, their knowledge of the game and their intense training curriculum, combined with their outstanding dryland training program is really what separates Ice Works from the competition.
"Brian and his coaching staff at Ice Works "Elite Hockey Training" have set the bar for all hockey schools. His on-ice curriculum is unlike any others, and there is no comparable dryland training program like Ice Works. His passion, enthusiasm and commitment to every player guarantees individual results.
“Having recruited and coached Bobby at UNH, I am not surprised at the success Bobby has had at the professional level. With Bobby’s passion for the game and his enthusiasm to teach younger players I am confident that he will be successful with his newest hockey venture, Ice Works and “Elite Hockey Training”. I am confident in recommending Bobby to the parents of young youth players with a desire to excel and improve their game.”
I have attended many camps and clinics as a child and I wished there was an Ice Works “Elite Hockey Training” program in Edmonton, Alberta! I had the ability to work with Bobby at one of his hockey schools recently and was just amazed at the training techniques and equipment that they are providing the kids. The Ice Works mobile training center is simply awesome, skating machines, sideboards, vertical leapers – I wish I had these training tools when I was a younger!
"As a former NHL player, I strongly endorse Ice Works 'Elite Hockey Training' for the player who wants to evaluate their game and make the improvements to succeed at the next level. Coach Payne's enthusiasm, knowledge and unique coaching approach makes Ice Works an 'Elite' camp!
Ice Works “Elite Hockey Training” school is clearly the camp for the player that wants to elevate their game to the next level! Their specialized (4S) curriculum assures that every player is developing in all areas of their game. Bobby and Brian’s enthusiastic but demanding training approach guarantee’s the players reach their maximum potential while training at Ice Works. I highly recommend Ice Works “Elite Hockey Training”
Having played with Bobby Butler for the Ottawa Senators, I know what a deadly shot he has personally! If your child wants to learn how to score, then I would highly recommend attending one of Ice Works “Elite” hockey schools or shooting clinics. I have no doubt that this current Pro & former US Olympian will make a huge difference in your child’s shot!
Having coached Bobby for four years at UNH, I know his natural ability to put the puck in the net! If your child wants to learn to score, then there’s no other camp than Ice Works. Bobby’s ability to analyze a player shooting flaws, correct the players shooting mechanics, is an exceptional talent of Bobby’s – I would highly recommend Bobby Butler and the Ice Works “Elite Hockey Training” program!
Ice Works “Elite Hockey Training” is an exceptional camp for the player that really wants to excel to the next level. Bobby and Brian’s knowledge of the game, passion and desire to improve each player is evident in their positive approach. Bobby and Brian are motivating but demanding of their players – I would strongly recommend Ice Works!
My boys participated in several Ice Works clinics last summer. I can say without a doubt that their skill levels improved tremendously. They were by far readier at the start of their season than most of their teammates, many of whom went to different summer hockey camps and clinics. The combination of high quality off-ice and on-ice training by highly experienced instructors, each one bringing a different skill set and approach that builds upon an aligned overall training strategy sets Ice Works apart from the rest!
As a former professional hockey player and proud parent of three young boys, I had the opportunity to send my oldest son to the Ice Works “Full Throttle” hockey program last year. I was simply blown away! The four-week program was exceptional, I was impressed by the extremely low student to teacher ratio (4:1) and all of the instructor’s attention to details. Brian and Bobby were present all the time and made the camp extremely challenging but fun at the same time. My son is flourishing this year, and I contribute it to the time he spent at Ice Works this past summer…