How to Win a Faceoff in Ice Hockey

You must think about several things at once when trying to win a faceoff.

Winning a faceoff in hockey is mainly about guessing what the opposing center will do before he does it. If you guess correctly, you can win the puck back to your team. Sometimes it just takes faster reflexes, but other times, winning the faceoff requires a center to resort to more creative means.

Instructions

1. Watch the opposing centers in other games. Learn what moves they use to win the puck, where they generally draw the puck, and what type of body movement they use when winning the puck. This will help you to know what their usual moves are, and could help you to win a faceoff against them in future games.

2. Keep your eye on the puck. Make sure you are the first one to pull the puck back as soon as it hits the ice. The quicker your reflexes, the better your chance of winning faceoffs.

3. Pull the puck back to one of your defensemen straight off the draw if the faceoff is in your defensive zone. This will buy you some time and allow the defensemen to have control of the puck. It will also help save your goalie from unnecessary direct shots right off the faceoff by the opposing team.

4. Neutralize the opposing center. This is especially important in faceoffs in your defensive zone. As a center, you need to stay on the opposing center to ensure he never gain control of the puck. If he wins the faceoff, don't chase the puck, but rather mark the man, so he can't get an easy rebound if his winger is able to get a shot off.

5. Decide who to pull the draw to if the faceoff is in the offensive end. Some centers can take a shot directly off the faceoff, but you do risk shooting the puck right to one of the opposing defensemen. Therefore, it's better to pull the puck back to either a winger or a defenseman who can then take a more unrestricted shot on goal.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to set up one of your wingers or defensemen to take a shot straight off the draw if the faceoff is in the offensive zone.

• Anticipate where your teammates will be heading as soon as the puck is dropped. This will help you make a more accurate pass to one of them when you win the faceoff.

• Don't hit the puck forward to the opposing team if you're taking the faceoff in your defensive zone.