USA Hockey Magazine

24 // AUGUST 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM M S A K D I L L Z O V E R T H E Y E A R S , U S A H o c k e y Magazine has been able to tap into the knowledge of some of the best and brightest hockey minds around, from American-born NHL players to high- level coaches across the country, to create a series of instructional pieces to help every player reach his or her full potential. From NHL superstars Bryan Trottier, Zach Parise, Shelley Looney and Bill Guerin, we have compiled tips to help you skate faster, shoot quicker, check harder and win more faceoffs. As the puck is set to drop on another season, we have taken some of the most popular tips and put them together to help you have your best season yet. P PHOTOS BY Getty Images ILLUSTRATIONS BY Mike Curti 3 GREAT GOAL SCORERS have a knack for putting the puck in the net. The rest of us have to work at it. Seriously, the great goal scorers work just as hard on their shots. They just make it look easy. You can't stand still and shoot a puck. You need to get your body moving forward to get momentum behind your shot. That means getting your legs into the act. It's kind of like throwing a ball. If you have no forward motion, you won't be able to throw a ball as fast and as far. You may not have time to tee up the puck the way you'd like. A lot of great goal scorers move the puck in toward their bodies as they get ready to shoot. This changes the release point and generates more power. It's important to be able to shoot off both feet, and practice a quick release. But before you start cranking shots that way, it's best to learn how to properly transfer your weight from your back foot to your front as you follow through on a shot. To practice your release and accuracy, line up 10 feet from the boards and aim at a spot. As you improve, pick a smaller spot. Soon you can progress to a net, picking a corner and trying to put the puck there. You shoot to score goals and to do that you have to get the puck on net. It doesn't matter how hard you shoot if you're off target. F Mike Mottau played at Boston College where he won the Hobey Baker Award in 2002. He went on to a 9-year NHL career. Pick Your Spot M S A K D I L L Z RELEASE & ACCURACY By Mi ke Mot tau Everything You Need To Be At Your Best This Season

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