Four Things that Will Make You a Better Ice Hockey Center

If you are already familiar with hockey centers, you know that they tend to be the star of the show, the big time player and primary goal scorer. Ideally the hockey center is a jack of all trades. They can score, pass, defend effectively, and win face offs. But before you become a star at every phase of the game, it's important to know the fundamentals of what make a hockey center effective as his position. Here are some tips you might want to consider when playing center.

Hockey centers must learn positioning and placement. It's their job to be in the center of, and direct, all offensive action when they can. So learn to watch the flow of play around you. You must be ready to accept passes from your defense, and thread the puck up ice to your forwards. Always put yourself at angles the defense will have trouble closing to.

Hockey centers must win face offs. An often underestimated portion of hockey, winning face offs consistently will help your team dominate play, and press the issue. Learn how to hold the stick properly for leverage pre-face off. Get that puck at all costs. Practice makes perfect, so practice!

Hockey centers must have excellent stick handling skills. This is your bread and butter. You're the conduit through which many, many plays will pass, so you must be able to play that role effectively. Practice simply moving with the puck and navigating around stick checking. Practice angling your body to get defenders your flanks that don't have the puck. Passing drills are also immensely important. Practice making quick flicks while moving with the puck, hitting very tight stretches. Defenders will often get the puck to you as you're in stride, so you need to be fully capable of pushing the play along.

Centers need to constantly improve their shot so that they will be effective during games. Specifically shooting while moving, because a center should always be moving, as well as receiving one timers next to the goal. Not to mention breakaway practice, which is a must. All hockey centers see their fair share of breakaways, and we all want to be that star making a move on the goalie in the open ice, so practice it, and you'll be that star. Yzerman, Sundin, the great Gretzky? All hockey centers, and all well versed at all the facets of hockey listed above. Playing center isn't just scoring, it's being the conduit for your team's entire offensive scheme. It's your job to push play, and yes, to dominate play and possession. You're the center of play, fittingly enough, so make sure you're on proper target.

Sources:

USA Hockey
Ice Hockey Helmet