How to Brake on Ice Hockey Skates
Professional hockey players make starting and stopping on skates look easy. Some high-level players stop very quickly, spraying the boards with snow. Stopping quickly and properly is a great asset in the sport, as it allows you to quickly change directions and maneuver around your opponent.
Braking while on hockey skates can be done a few different ways, the most common being the hockey stop. This requires a combination of the use of the inside edge of one skate blade in conjunction with the outside edge of the opposing skate blade.
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Instructions
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1
Make sure your skates are on properly and laced tightly. You should have room in the foot, especially around the toes, but the upper portion of the boot should be laced tightly to support your ankle. This will allow you the best mobility for stopping while providing your ankle a good deal of stability.
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2
Face the boards and hold on with both hands. Your feet should be about 8 to 12 inches away from the boards with your toes pointing toward the boards. Place the majority of your weight on the left leg, then press the right leg outward, scraping the top layer of the ice with the inside edge of the right skate blade. Repeat this maneuver until you accumulate a small pile of snow to the right of your right skate. If your blade is skipping across the ice, you are pressing too hard and should reduce the pressure through your right leg.
If you are on a pond, use a walker or the crossbar on a hockey net for support. You also may choose to learn how to stop with another person who is already familiar with the stopping process. That person can provide stability for you as you learn the steps. -
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3
Repeat Step 2, but put your weight on your right foot and slide your left foot outward to create a snow pile. Make sure you are using the inside edge of your left skate to scrape the ice outward to the left side.
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4
Turn so your left hand is still holding the boards but your feet are now parallel to the board. Push off with either foot, glide on both feet for a couple seconds, bend your knees and turn your hips to the left, slightly leaning on the left foot. This will cause you to stop abruptly. Make sure your weight is distributed between the outside edge of your left skate and the inside edge of your right skate with the majority of your weight on the left foot. Repeat this step until you are comfortable stopping and don't require the assistance of the wall.
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5
Skate a few feet out from the wall. Bend your knees and push off with one foot. Take two to three strides to build speed. Glide on both feet for a few seconds, then turn your hips quickly as in Step 4, stopping rapidly. Make sure you keep your knees bent throughout this maneuver; doing so will help you keep your balance throughout the stopping process.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice along the boards before trying to stop in the middle of the ice. This will allow you to have a support to grab onto in case you fall.
Don't try to skate as fast as you can and then try to stop. This can lead to injury if you are just learning to stop.
