Hockey Skills: Stopping

A good hockey stop kills your momentum in under a stick length. It lets you change direction, protect the puck, and create space when a forechecker is closing in. Half the battles along the boards are won or lost by who stops better.

The Two-Foot Stop

Turn your hips perpendicular to your direction of travel. Both blades shave the ice at the same angle. Weight stays centred — lean too far back and your skates slide out. Lean too far forward and you topple over the toes.

Practice this at half speed first. Full speed stops are violent on your edges if the technique isn't clean. Build up gradually over two or three sessions.

The One-Foot Stop

Same hip rotation, but only your lead foot does the work. The back foot glides. This is faster to execute and lets you push off immediately in a new direction. Defencemen use this constantly when pivoting at the blueline.

Weak Side

Everyone has a strong side and a weak side. If you only stop comfortably turning left, you're telling every opposing forward exactly what you'll do. Spend twice as many reps on your weak side until it catches up. It'll feel awkward for weeks. That's normal. Keep going.