Madison Thunder Women's Ice Hockey, Wisconsin
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Coaches' Corner

Ask "Pat Landers"

Need advice about shooting? Want to know how to become a stronger skater? Wondering about defense zone face-offs? Pat knows! Submit your questions to her by e-mail and see your answer posted below.

Breaking Down Over the Breakout

Dear Pat,
What is the secret to getting a pass up the boards as a wing?

Sincerely,
Breaking Down Over the Breakout

Dear Breaking Down,
Catching a pass of the boards is really hard! It is the responsibility of the passer to put it on your stick, not just wing it around the boards. Of coarse that seldom happens.

I am not good with having my butt on the boards and deflecting the pass from my skate to my stick, so I do turn my back to the ice and catch it with my stick -- go to the pass! Don't wait for it.

Then I either:
  1. follow my momentum and keep skating behind the net and start the breakout again (you can often carry the puck all the way out of the zone if you get speed);
  2. pass it back to the defense and start the breakout again;
  3. turn toward the blueline and skate with it; or
  4. pass to the open center.
It all depends on whether someone is guarding you and how closely.

Watch Beth. I have noticed that she has really improved this year: she catches the puck, turns her back to protect the puck from the aggressive forechecker, let's them fly past, then skates right out of the zone.

Keep your head up,
Pat Landers

Calling of Penalties

Yogi's quote: "90% of the game is half mental."
OK, there is a delayed penalty on the other team and we have possession of the puck, the ref should not stop play until the other team has possession and control of the puck -- meaning: they have to be purposefully directing the actual direction of the puck.

So keep playing until the whistle blows. A rebound off of the goalie or off another player should NOT stop play. During this time we should pull the goalie for an extra attacker.

We can be very aggressive because the opposing team cannot score (of course, I did see an NHL game in which the team pulled their goalie on a delayed penalty and then made a really bad pass and put it into their own goal — and it does count!).

I have noticed that if/when we realize there is a penalty, we tend to slow down and wait for the whistle. Keep playing hard 'til you hear that whistle and we can get some extra time with an extra attacker!!!

Now, if the penalty is on us: keep playing hard until the whistle when WE gain possession AND control of the puck.
— Pat Ladwig
Calling of Penalties RULE 409 (from USA Hockey 2007-2009 Official Rules and Casebook)

(a) Should an infraction of the rules be committed by a player of the team in possession and control of the puck, the Referee shall immediately stop play and assess the penalty(s) to the offending player(s). The resulting face-off shall be made at the place where the play was stopped unless the stoppage occurs in the Attacking Zone of the player penalized in which case the face-off shall be made at the nearest face-off spot in the Neutral Zone.

(b) Should an infraction of the rules be committed by a player of a team NOT in possession and control of the puck the Referee shall signify the calling of a penalty by raising his arm and upon completion of the play by the team in possession will immediately stop play and assess the penalty to the offending player.

(Note 1) There shall be no signal given by the Referee for a misconduct or game misconduct penalty under this section.

(Note 2) "Completion of the play by the team in possession" in this rule means that the puck must have come into the possession and control of an opposing player or goalkeeper, or has been "frozen." This does not mean a rebound off the goalkeeper, the goal or the boards or any accidental contact with the body or equipment of an opposing player.

Possession of the Puck
The last player or goalkeeper to make contact with the puck. This includes a puck that is deflected off a player or any part of his equipment.

Possession and Control of the Puck
The last player or goalkeeper to make contact with the puck and who is also propelling the puck in a desired direction.

Change of Players

Throughout the great and glorious history of Thunder we have had numerous (and I mean numerous) problems with this rule. Most of the time it happens because we are not paying attention to whom we substitute for and we see people coming for a change and assume our person is at the bench. D'oh! — Pat Ladwig

For complete rule and Pat's summary, download the PDF.

Defensive Zone Face-Offs
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