Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/608763
I ALWAYS HEAR ANNOUNCERS TALK ABOUT STATS FOR FACEOFFS. WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT? ISN'T THE PURPOSE OF A FACEOFF TO RESTART THE GAME AFTER A WHISTLE? NICK CLINE SAN JOSE, CALIF. LIKE FOOTBALL, HOCKEY TEAMS HAVE SET PLAYS. THE DRAW IS LIKE THE SNAP FROM A FOOTBALL CENTER. WHEN A HOCKEY CENTER WINS A DRAW TO A PREDETERMINED AREA OR TEAMMATE, IT SETS THE OTHER PLAYERS IN MOTION TO GAIN POSSESSION OF THE PUCK. THE PROPER EXECUTION OF THESE PLAYS WILL FACTOR IN TO WHETHER A DEFENSIVE TEAM GETS A PUCK OUT OF THEIR ZONE OR AN OFFENSIVE TEAM GETS A SCORING CHANCE. WINNING FACEOFFS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT TEAM'S HAVE THEIR BEST "HANDS" PLAYERS TAKING THE DRAWS. IT TAKES QUICK HANDS AND GOOD HAND/ EYE COORDINATION TO WIN THE PUCK. CENTERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME TAKING FACE OFFS DURING PRACTICES TO GET BETTER OR TO STAY SHARP. COACHES REGULARLY RUN THE TEAM THROUGH FACEOFFS TO ENSURE EVERY PLAYER IS ON THE SAME PAGE. SET PLAYS HOCKEY IS A POSSESSION SPORT. THE TEAM THAT POSSESSES THE PUCK THE LONGEST TENDS TO CONTROL THE GAME. CONTROL OF THE GAME TENDS TO MEAN MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE PLAYS WITH THE PUCK. MAKING PLAYS MEANS SCORING OPPORTUNITIES. DURING A GAME, PUCK POSSESSION IS GAINED THROUGH WINNING RACES TO PUCKS, SKILL HANDLING AND THE ABILITY TO CREATE TURNOVERS. HOWEVER, FACEOFFS ARE A "NEUTRAL"START WHERE EITHER TEAM HAS THE SAME CHANCE TO POSSESS THE PUCK. THE ANNOUNCERS REFER TO FACEOFF STATS BECAUSE THEY ARE AN INDICATOR OF WHO'S WINNING THE POSSESSION GAME. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST FACEOFF WINS POSSESSES THE PUCK MORE, THUS CONTROL- LING MORE OF THE GAME. YES, FACEOFFS DO RESTART THE ACTION, BUT THEY FACTOR IN SO MUCH MORE OF HOW A GAME TURNS OUT. KISS CAM LONG AGO THERE WEREN'T FACEOFFS DURING HOCKEY GAMES. FACEOFFS ONLY BECAME A PART OF THE GAME WHEN BROADCASTERS NEEDED TO FIT IN TIME FOR TV AND RADIO COMMERCIALS AND ARENAS HAD TO FIND SPOTS TO FIT IN THE EVER POPULAR "KISS CAM." SKILLS BEST HANDS STRATEGY WHEN A CENTER STEPS INTO TAKE A FACEOFF HE HAVE A PLAN. THE CENTER COMMUNICATES THAT PLAN TO HIS TEAMMATES. WIN OR LOSE THE DRAW, PLAYERS SHOULD KNOW WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES THEY HAVE. WATCH A HIGH LEVEL GAME AND YOU WILL SEE A COACH SEND OUT A CENTER TO TAKE A DRAW, THEN HAVE HIM IMMEDIATELY HEAD TO THE BENCH FOR A QUICK CHANGE. ANOTHER TIME A COACH MAY SEND OUT TWO CENTERS IN CASE ONE GETS THROWN OUT OF THE FACEOFF CIRCLE. 48 ILLUSTRATIONS BY Mike Curti DECEMBER.2015 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM If You Have A Question For Stix Handle, Send It To: Ask Stix, USA Hockey Magazine, 1775 Bob Johnson Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80906