How to ice skate hockey style? 13 important ice skate hockey techniques to know

Ice skating and hockey can be a lot of fun, but they can also be pretty challenging.

If you’ve never ice skated or played hockey before, it can be difficult to know where to start. You might not even know how to hold the hockey stick!

Our step-by-step guide by Todd Vogel will teach you how to ice skate and play hockey like a pro. We’ll show you the basics of stance, stride, turning, stopping, and shooting. Plus, we’ll give you some helpful tips on how to stay safe while skating and playing hockey.

14 important ice skate hockey techniques

Hockey Stance

Assuming a proper hockey stance is the first and most important step in becoming a good hockey player. For a right-handed shot, stand with your left foot pointing forward at a 45 degree angle, and your right foot back at a 90 degree angle. For a left-handed shot, do the opposite. This will give you good balance and mobility from side to side. You should be on the balls of your feet, not your heels, with your knees bent slightly. Your head should be up, and your shoulders square to the puck. This stance may feel awkward at first if you’re used to skating in a more upright position, but it will pay off in the long run.

Now, we will walk through the second basic technique – gravity.

Gravity

The secret to speed, power and balance on the ice is a low center of gravity. That’s why hockey players always seem to be stooped over. By getting your body lower to the ice, you’ll be able to move quickly from side to side and generate more power when shooting or checking.

Pushing Off

To get moving, use your dominant foot to push off from the back of the blade, propelling yourself forward. As you push off, extend your leg fully and point your toe so that your skate forms a straight line with your shin. This will help you generate more power and speed. Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders square as you skate.

Power Skating

One of the most important aspects of skating in hockey is being able to do it quickly. That’s why power skating is such an important skill to learn. When power skating, always keep your head up and your shoulders square. Bend your knees and keep your weight on the balls of your feet so you can push off easily. Remember to extend your leg fully when pushing off, and point your toe so that your skate forms a straight line with your shin.

Stopping

Stopping is one of the most important skills you’ll need to master as a hockey player. There are two main ways to stop on the ice: the T-stop and the hockey stop.

To do a T-stop, use your back foot to stop yourself by digging the blade of your skate into the ice at a 45 degree angle. You’ll need to practice this move a few times to get the hang of it.

To do a hockey stop, dig your blades into the ice and lean your bodyweight to one side. This will cause you to spin around quickly and come to a stop. Again, practice this move a few times before using it in a game situation.

Balance

Maintaining your balance on the ice is key to being a good hockey player. Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders square at all times. Bend your knees and keep your weight on the balls of your feet so you can move quickly from side to side. If you feel yourself losing balance, try to skate in a figure eight pattern until you regain your footing.

Agility

Being agile on the ice is important for hockey players of all levels. To improve your agility, try skating in figure eights or zigzag patterns. You can also set up cones or other obstacles and weave in and out of them as you skate. As you get better, you can increase the number of cones or make the space between them smaller.

Shooting

One of the most important skills in hockey is shooting the puck. To shoot the puck, start by assuming a proper hockey stance. For a right-handed shot, stand with your left foot pointing forward at a 45 degree angle, and your right foot back at a 90 degree angle. For a left-handed shot, do the opposite. This will give you good balance and mobility from side to side.

Next, grip the puck with your dominant hand and hold it against the back of your blade. Take a few practice swings to get a feel for how much power you need to generate. When you’re ready to shoot, snap your wrists and follow through with your shot. Remember to keep your head up and your eyes on the puck as you shoot.

Checking

Checking is an important part of hockey that can help you gain control of the puck or knock an opponent off balance. To check someone, skate up behind them and use your shoulder or hip to make contact with their body. Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders square as you check, and try not to extend your arms too far away from your body.

Crossovers

Crossovers are a great way to change directions quickly on the ice. To do a crossover, push off with your outside foot and cross your legs in front of you. As you push off, extend your leg fully and point your toe so that your skate forms a straight line with your shin. This will help you generate more power and speed. Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders square as you skate.

The Figure Eight

The figure eight is a great way to improve your skating speed and agility. To do a figure eight, start by skating forward in a small circle. Once you’ve gain some momentum, cross your legs in front of you and continue skating in a larger circle in the opposite direction. Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders square as you skate. As you get better, you can increase the size of your circle or add more crossovers.

How to turn

To turn while skating, push off with your outside foot and glide on your inside edge. As you push off, extend your leg fully and point your toe so that your skate forms a straight line with your shin. This will help you generate more power and speed. Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders square as you skate. As you get better, you can increase the size of your circle or add more crossovers.

Transitions

Transitions are a great way to change directions quickly on the ice. To do a transition, push off with your outside foot and glide on your inside edge. As you push off, extend your leg fully and point your toe so that your skate forms a straight line with your shin. This will help you generate more power and speed. Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders square as you skate. As you get better, you can add more crossovers or make the space between them smaller.

Things to know about ice skate hockey gears

When playing hockey, it is important to wear the proper equipment. This includes a helmet, gloves, shin guards, and a hockey stick. It is also important to have sharpened skates that fit properly. Wearing the proper equipment will help you stay safe on the ice and improve your game.

Hockey Skates

Hockey skates are designed to provide good ankle support and stability while skating. They should be comfortable and fit snugly without being too tight. Hockey skates should also be sharpened regularly to maintain good edge control.

Shin Guards

Shin guards are worn to protect the shins from sticks and pucks. They should be made of durable material and fit snugly without being too tight. Shin guards should also be worn under the socks for maximum protection.

Gloves

Gloves are worn to protect the hands from sticks and pucks. They should be made of durable material and fit snugly without being too tight. Gloves should also have good grip to help with stick handling.

Hockey Stick

A hockey stick is used to hit the puck. It should be made of durable material and be the proper size for the player. The blade of the stick should also be properly sharpened for best results.

Helmet

A helmet is worn to protect the head from sticks and pucks. It should be made of durable material and fit snugly without being too tight. The helmet should also have a face mask to protect the face.

Mouthguard

A mouthguard is worn to protect the teeth and mouth from injury. It should fit snugly and be made of durable material. Mouthguards should also be replaced regularly to maintain proper fit and protection.

Skate Sharpening

Skate sharpening is a process that should be done regularly to maintain good edge control. Skates should be sharpened after every few uses or as needed. Skate sharpening can be done at home with a skate sharpener or at a skate shop.

When to replace your ice hockey skate gears?

It is important to replace your ice hockey gear when it starts to wear out. This includes replacing worn out skates, gloves, sticks, and helmets. It is also important to get your gear professionally sharpened and fitted on a regular basis. Replacing your gear will help you stay safe on the ice and improve your game.

Most common hockey skating mistakes

One of the most common mistakes made while skating is not keeping your head up. When you skate, it is important to keep your head up and look ahead. This will help you stay balanced and avoid obstacles. Another common mistake is not pushing off with your outside foot when turning. To turn properly, you must push off with your outside foot and glide on your inside edge. Finally, a common mistake made while skating is wearing ill-fitting or poorly maintained equipment. It is important to make sure your skates fit properly and are sharpened regularly. Wearing gloves that do not fit well can also impede your grip on the stick and cause turnovers.

F.A.Q How to ice skate hockey style

How do you ice skate like a hockey player?

To skate like a hockey player, you need to keep your knees bent, and point your toes outwards. You also need to keep your weight on your heels, and push off with your toes. Finally, you need to keep your head up, and look forward at where you’re going. Hockey players also use a technique called crossovers, where they cross one foot over the other to change directions quickly. For more information on how to skate like a hockey player, check out this video.

Is it easier to ice skate with hockey skates?

Hockey skates are designed to provide more support and stability than figure skates, so they can be easier to skate in. However, hockey skates are also heavier and less maneuverable than figure skates, so it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want more stability, go with hockey skates. If you want to be able to move more quickly and easily, go with figure skates.

How do you skate better on hockey skates?

To skate better on hockey skates, you need to keep your knees bent and your weight on your heels. You also need to make sure you’re pushing off with your toes, and not your whole foot. Hockey skates are also less maneuverable than figure skates, so it’s important to be aware of that when you’re skating.

Is it harder to skate in hockey skates?

Hockey skates are designed to provide more support and stability than figure skates, so they can be harder to skate in. However, hockey skates are also heavier and less maneuverable than figure skates, so it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want more stability, go with hockey skates. If you want to be able to move more quickly and easily, go with figure skates.

Conclusion

Ice skating is a great way to have fun and get some exercise, but it can also be a challenging sport. If you’re interested in learning how to ice skate hockey style, we can help. Our expert has put together a guide that will teach you the basics of this popular skating technique. So what are you waiting for? Get started today and see how much fun you can have on the ice!