In an average NHL game, there are 60 faceoffs. That equates to one every minute. There have been several studies done in the past 10 years about faceoffs at the NHL level, and there is some conflicting information about the importance of winning faceoffs. One study showed that the team who wins the faceoff gains 5 seconds of puck possession time. Another study (http://www.behindthenet.ca/faceoff.html) shows that winning faceoffs in your own zone is critical. Another analysis (http://puckstopshere.blogspot.com/2005/12/faceoffs_08.html) shows that there is little to no correlation between faceoff winning percentage and winning hockey games. So what does all of this information mean? In my experiences both playing and coaching in the past 35 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that not all faceoffs are created equal. The score, the time of the game, the location of the faceoff, and numerous other factors can dictate the importance of each draw. As a coach or player, I don’t need to win every faceoff, but I better win that faceoff in my own end with 30 seconds left and a 1 goal lead. The following paragraphs illustrate some tips for both players and coaches to become better at faceoffs, so that you can win that draw when needed. Practice Good centers practice taking faceoffs. It is something that can be done before and after practice while on the ice, or even as part of off-ice training (I recommend players wear their gloves and helmets at a minimum while doing this). Each center should start out with one “go to” move that he feels most comfortable with, and practice it continually. He should then start adding different techniques and practice those, so eventually he will have 3-5 faceoff moves in his arsenal that he can call on depending on the situation. Players can watch centers in the NHL and other higher levels of hockey to learn new techniques. I would also recommend that all forwards practice taking faceoffs. You never know when you may be called upon to step in and take a draw. Plan Before stepping into the faceoff circle, a center should communicate his plan to his teammates. That plan is determined by the situation. He then must make certain that all of his teammates are in position and prepared for the faceoff. While the center is the focal point of the faceoff, his teammates are equally as important. The other players must be on their toes and ready to react when the puck is dropped. They must know what they are doing if the center executes his plan, as well as if their team loses the faceoff. Anticipation is very important, and the team who anticipates best usually comes up with the puck. There are several things a center can do to better execute his plan, or possibly even help determine the plan. The first is to watch the opposing centers throughout the game when on the bench. A player can learn just by watching. There may be certain tendencies that are shown, and a player can get an idea of what his opponent likes to do before the puck is dropped. Smart players will file away this information, and may even use it in future games. Another tip is to watch the referee as he drops the puck. You may be able to pick up something which will help you anticipate when the puck is going to be dropped. Being a split second quicker than your opponent could mean the difference between winning and losing a faceoff. Understand The Situation It is important to know the situation when taking a faceoff. You must obviously know the score, the game time, and the location of the faceoff. You should also know which way your opponent shoots, the way the opposing team has lined up, as well as the personnel on the ice for both teams. Once that is understood, you can then determine your plan and communicate it to your teammates. As stated previously, not all faceoffs are equal. Once a player has developed some different techniques for taking faceoffs, when and where to use those techniques becomes important. There is no point in using your A1 move for a neutral zone faceoff in a 5 goal game. By doing so you are giving away information which can be used against by a smart opponent sometime in the future. That A1 move should be used at a time when winning the faceoff is critical to the outcome of the game. Instead, try to use a more vanilla move to win the faceoff, or better yet practice a move or technique that you have been working on in practice. In critical situations, coaches should be very aware of who their personnel is on the ice. Many coaches will have two experienced centers on the ice late in the game in case one gets kicked out of the faceoff. This is especially important for defensive zone faceoffs. To take it even further, some coaches will set their lines up late in games to make sure there is a right handed and a left handed center on the ice at all times, so that there is always a center on the ice who can pull the puck to the boards on their backhand. Speaking of pulling the puck on the backhand, many centers will turn their bottom hand over on the stick when taking a draw. The advantage of doing this is that the player increases his leverage and is in a position of strength. The disadvantages are that the player has pretty much told the opponent what he is going to do, and once the faceoff is taken the center has to get his hand turned back over before he can play the puck effectively. Youth hockey and the NHL are worlds apart. At the NHL, almost every team is within 50% +/- 3 % on faceoff percentage (Boston is best at 55.4%, Calgary the worst at 46.1%). There is not much of a statistical advantage because the players are so close relatively speaking in talent level. However, in amateur hockey, a wider disparity exists, and a team who becomes adept at winning faceoffs can see significant improvements in their ability to possess the puck, which should theoretically increase goals scored and games won. Thus, players and teams should recognize the importance of faceoffs, and put in the time and effort to become better at them. It may be the difference between a terrific win or a crushing defeat. Best of luck!
Seeing The Ice 