Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/245140
TIPS WITH LEE STECKLEIN "I'VE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM. To have it all pay off and be given the opportunity to represent USA in the Olympics is something that I AM SO HONORED to do." —LEE STECKLEIN 2014 U.S. Women's Olympic Team , University of Minnesota, Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association Tape to Tape: Passing when you're a defenseman is the most important thing I can think of. They need to be quality passes. The sooner you can get the puck on a forward's stick, the sooner the puck is out of your zone. You want to make sure to hit their stick just right so they don't have to slow down and collect the puck. Hitting your forward on the go, and quickly, the better your chances of scoring. Defensemen with Olympian Lee Stecklein t 19, Lee Stecklein has already built an impressive hockey résumé. The defenseman posted 12 points as a freshman on last season's undefeated NCAA champion University of Minnesota team. She finished the year with a plus-35 rating. Honing her skills in the Roseville Area Youth Hockey Association, Stecklein will now showcase her talents on the 2014 U.S. Women's Olympic Team. While preparing for the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, she took a break from her busy schedule to share some tips with Minnesota Hockey. A 16 MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // FEBRUARY.2014 Communication: On defense it's you, your defensive partner and your goalie. All three of you need to work together in the defensive zone. Talk and let your teammates know if there's an odd-man rush coming down so they can get back in position. Over time, verbal communication might become less prevalent while you develop chemistry with your teammate, but it's always important to keep that communication line open. Stop the 2-on-1: The best thing you can do in this situation is don't allow the forwards a good, close shot. Stay inside the faceoff dots so you force the forwards coming down on you to the outside. Also be sure your stick is in the passing lane. That's important when you're even strength, too. Block the Shot: Be sure you're not blocking your own goalie. That's the toughest thing to judge when you're trying to block the shot. You don't want to screen your own goalie, but you want to be there to lie down and be sure the shot isn't getting through. The best spot is right in front of the net so that your goalie has complete view of the shot in case your block doesn't work. PHOTO: USA HOCKEY 5 Tips for It's All About Positioning: This year our coaches have really been teaching me how to position my body in the defensive zone. You need to remember D-side, goal-side, and always be positioned between your offensive player and your goalie. Position your body so they can't get around you.