Welcome back to another edition of our shorthanded series. This week, we share a quick essay to help on the ice, court or field. Here we go.
Knowing when you have advantage on the ice is important.
There are 3 types to become aware of:
Numerical Advantage
Numerical advantage is having more players than them in an area. A 2v1 out of the corner. A 3v2 up high in the OZ. This is the most known advantage.
Let's talk about 2 more that will give you an edge.
Positional Advantage
Maximizing time and space upon receiving the puck. If you are in space and have room to move in all directions upon getting the puck, you are dangerous. If you're aware of where your opponent are in every direction, you can skate yourself into a numbers advantage as well. You'll have the most time to make your next move. It's a compounding advantage.
Quality Advantage
Most coaches don't think 1 on 1 is an advantage. But there is a time and place to exploit a 1v1. When?
When you're hands down better than the opponent. To give you a crazy examples so this sticks... Image Sidney Crosby in the corner against a 15u player. Crosby has a clear skill, speed, strength, leverage and a host of other advantages on the 15u player. If you know #6 is the worst skater on the team and you're 1v1 against him, take your 1v1. When you beat him, you create a 5v4 to the net. Beat that player 1v1, then play the resulting advantage to the net.