If you’ve ever played hockey, you’ve probably heard the expression ‘trying to score a goal’ or ‘taking a shot at the net.’ But what does it mean? Let’s explore the various situations that can arise in a game of hockey and what counts as a shot in each case.
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A Scoring Shot
When you hear the term ‘shot,’ you probably think of a player taking a slap shot at a puck or ball. Some hockey coaches even teach their players to take a ‘punching shot’ at the puck – not the opponent.’ But while those are all valid techniques to score a goal, there is more than one way to put the puck in the net. Let’s examine the types of shots that can count as goals.
The Puck In The Net
First, there’s the classic ‘icing’ or ‘clincher’ goal. This is what you usually see in children’s or women’s hockey. Typically, the player shoots the puck at the opposing netminder and it somehow ends up in the net. It could be a lucky shot, a blocked shot, or even an assist. These are some of the most exciting goals to see and they usually happen when multiple players are involved in the play. It’s usually a combination of a feed from the point and a quick release by the skater.
The Quick-Release Shot
Sometimes a player shoots the puck and it just happens to go in. That’s all there is to it – no fancy moves or luck involved. This is the type of shot that you might see from Mark Scheuerle, an engineer at Nike who plays for the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL. He’s been credited with popularizing the one-click reverse deke – a move he picked up while playing in the World Championships. When you see a player pull off this move it usually means they’ve scored a goal and it usually happens when they use their offhand for the snap shot. There is also the reverse ‘bucket handle’ move, where the player brings their stick over their head before shooting. It’s an unconventional way to shoot a puck, but it allows for more speed and spin. All of these techniques are popularized by the video game, ‘Hockey Showdown.’ We often call these types of shots ‘precision shots’ since they can be extremely accurate.
The Slap Shot
If you play in a league where the puck is bigger than the nets, you’ll most likely see and even play with a ‘slap shot.’ A slap shot is when a player takes a shot by simply throwing the puck at the net with no precision involved. Usually a slap shot is used to clear the crease or to put the puck in the net for an ‘icing’ or ‘clincher’ goal. It’s one of the more popular and effective shots in hockey since it’s easy to master and easy to score with.
The Smash Shot
Another popular type of shot is the ‘smash shot.’ The player takes a hard slap shot at the net and hopefully, the puck will go in. Sometimes a player will even deliberately ‘smash’ the puck into the net in an attempt to get the goaltender to save it and earn a point for their team. A smash shot is not only fast and accurate, but it also forces the goalie to react quickly and make the save. Because it’s such a hard shot to pull off, it’s usually reserved for the most dangerous situations. If a player is in front of the net and has a clear shot, it’s usually a smash shot.
The Body Check
Somebody once said that ‘checking’ is more important in hockey than ‘scoring,’ and it’s true. If a player checks their opponent hard and knocks them down, it usually means they’ve scored a goal. The check need not hurt the player to be effective though. Sometimes an unsuspecting opponents’ pass will be intercepted by a waiting player, who will crash the net and score a goal without applying any contact. The body check is a classic example of a goal that did not involve skating or puck handling skills. It’s a great way to put the puck in the net and make your team proud.
The Back Check
The back check is a combination of the body check and the slap shot. A back check is used to drive the opposing players back and regain possession of the puck. Sometimes a player will even spin around while blocking a shot and then skate away with the puck. The back check is a great way to put the puck in the net from out of nowhere.
The Diving Check
Just when you think nothing could be more fun than a game of hockey, you find out that puck diving is a form of hockey. In puck diving, a player will dive headfirst towards the net holding the puck above their head. If they hit the ice hard, they’ll skate away with it. This is a form of hockey that requires a lot of skating, a lot of weight training, and a lot of fun.
Knowing what counts as a shot in hockey is essential for the uninitiated player. Since pucks can be thrown, passed, or shot at the goal, the scoring possibilities are endless. Just make sure that you know which shot will put the puck in the net and keep your opponents guessing!