Equipment Needed
- Pucks
- Sticks
- Open ice
A comfortable stick helps early reps
A properly sized practice stick makes early puck-pushing reps far more comfortable for first-year skaters.
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- Players line up with a puck and stick each, facing open ice.
- Leave enough space for players to skate forward safely.
Instructions
- Push the puck forward gently with the stick, skating to keep up with it.
- Keep the puck close to the stick blade rather than pushing it far ahead.
- Skate the length of the practice area, stopping the puck under control at the end.
- Turn around and repeat back to the starting point.
Coaching Points
- Keep both hands on the stick throughout, even at this early stage.
- Small, controlled pushes keep the puck close and manageable; big slaps send it out of reach.
- It's fine to look down at the puck often at this age — that will change with more experience.
- Celebrate control over speed; a slow, controlled push beats a fast, uncontrolled one.
Variation
Add gentle cone weaving once straight-line pushing is comfortable, or introduce a simple stop-and-go pattern.