Angling in Hockey to Dictate Play, How to Go From Reactive to Proactive

Angling is the most underrated skill in hockey. Why? It controls how the game is played and on what terms, like a General commanding a battlefield.

Players that take great angles control the entire game by dictating the terms of play. This shapes the game in which all players must play. Being able to consistently angle effectively is a massive advantage.

The classic angling example is where the first player in on the forecheck (F1) angles the puck carrier to one side of the ice, where the rest of the team can then steal the puck away. But we submit that angling goes well beyond that.

Not only is the F1 important, the other players are even more important. They are responsible for leading the opposition into bad spots. If their assignment gets the puck, they should have their opponent in a compromising position.

By dictating and controlling the available space, players are much more difficult to play against.

Defending skating forwards

Another great example of dictating play via angling is when defenders play defense by skating forward, not backward, effectively cutting off the offense before it gets going.

Clip of the day - Aggressive D @ the O-blueline

Defense is able to shut down opponent’s offense before it gets going

Watch the D skate forward, use their angling skill, & going in stick on puck to break up plays

There are reads to make sure this aggressive D is a smart choice pic.twitter.com/AjhdkjlMe1

— Greg Revak, CFP® (@CoachRevak) November 12, 2019

Code here 

If a player is tightly checking an opposition’s potential passing target, the puck is likely heading somewhere else. But if a defending player wants a certain player (in a compromised position) to get the puck, they can play a looser gap. In these instances, defenders dictate, not the offense.

Dictating the terms

Controlling the game without the puck starts by dictating the spaces and options available to the opponents.

The key shift here is in the mindset of players. Players are empowered to take a proactive approach to the game. No more read and react. Rather, it’s read and dictate.

This is empowering to individual players and as a team. As players get better and better at angling, the group starts to hunt the puck and suffocates all the passing options and lanes. Players become active in forcing the opposition to ‘bad ice’ on and away from the puck.

Here is a great example of Team North America proactively hunting at the World Cup in 2016:

Greg Revak, CFP® @CoachRevak

Details of the game - Team North America Keys 🔑 - Trocheck w/ fantastic stick positioning into passing lane + angling into D - Eichel playing simple pass to player who can see more playmaking options - Gostisbehere with head up does a great fake shot, pass to Trocheck

May 1st 2020

This proactive mentality allows players to dictate the offense without even having to touch the puck.

Practical Advantages

Great defense has two principles:

1. Force the opposition away from the valuable ice and into bad spots where dangerous options are limited (i.e., the perimeter).

2. Staying between your goalie and the opposition. (i.e., “defensive side” or “above the puck”)

Angling helps with both by forcing the opposition where you want them to go. As an added benefit, the angling player’s forward momentum is naturally returning to their defensive zone and into the defensive side of the play. Even if a player gets beat they are already skating forward with the play.

Great graphic by Mitch Brown

Necessary Angling Skills

There are a few keys elements to note when teaching angling:

• Skating on arcs - Players that skate in straight lines are easy to get around. Those that arc their routes are highly effective. When done properly, players will pick up speed into the opponent. Players who have weak outside edges tend to struggle taking quality angles.

• Stick awareness - Angling players should be using their stick to influence play. First, players will take away passing lanes and influence puck carriers to take the ice where they want them to go. Second, when going for contact or stripping puck carriers of possession, they should lead with stick-on-puck. Players are giving up 4-6 feet of space to the opposition if they don't lead stick-on-puck.