The Science of Scoring


Everybody wants to know where to shoot to score more goals in hockey. The good news is that someone has provided the answer to that question, as well as many more to help you score goals!

The Ontario Minor Hockey Association put together a fantastic visual chart, showing where every goal was scored in the NHL in a particular season. The chart not only tracks the distance from the net the shot was taken, but also the most effective shot from a given area: wrist shot, snap shot, slap shot, backhand and also tip in’s.

The highest number of goals (55%) were scored from 20 feet or less. The wrist shot was by far the most effective from those distances, followed by backhand shots and tip-in goals. 

So what does this mean for youth hockey players and aspiring goal scorers? It means that you can create an off-ice stickhandling and shooting area at your house, in your garage or basement. Even if it’s a smaller space, you can get somewhere between 10-20 feet away from the net, which accounts for 55% of all goals scored in games. 

You can then start working on perfecting your shot from different distances, honing your skills for game opportunities. Make sure you’re practicing the wrist shot, snap shot and backhand from not only different distances, but different angles as well. 

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that only on ice practices and games will provide you enough repetitions to acquire top end stick skills. That’s the mindset of an average hockey player. To give yourself the best chance to play on the top team, you need to add some off-ice stick handling and shooting training to your weekly hockey training.

If you can’t consistently score goals off-ice, don’t expect for it to magically happen in games. Goal scoring is not a switch that is easily turned on at game time! Players that consistently light the lamp are players that have prepared for that scoring moment for years. Countless hours, taking shot after shot, dreaming of scoring the big goal in the biggest game. 

Start building your hockey memories today by creating your own, at-home training center.

Thanks for reading and remember to work hard and dream bigger than everyone else!!

Coach Pitlick

 

February 06, 2019 — Justin Tolle

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