Our Kids Play Hockey: Hockey Iq With Andrew Albe Alberts: Shoulder Checking

Summary

What does your player know before they ever touch the puck?That question is at the heart of hockey IQ and in this special edition of Our Kids Play Hockey, Lee Elias and Mike Bonelli are joined by former NHL defenseman Andrew Albe Alberts, who played more than 450 NHL games and now works with the NHL Sense Arena team, to break down one of the simplest and most important habits in the game: shoulder checking.It may sound basic, but knowing whats behind you before you get to the puck can completely change what happens next. A good shoulder check helps players recognize pressure, identify open ice, protect themselves, create more time and space, and make a better first play.And as Albe explains, this isnt just a skill for defensemen or even just for older players. Its a fundamental habit that can help players at every position and every age become faster thinkers and more confident decision-makers. In this episode, youll learn: Why shoulder checking is one of the foundations of hockey IQ How scanning the ice helps players create more time and space The three key steps young players can use when retrieving a puck Why knowing your next option before touching the puck speeds up your game How shoulder checks can help players protect themselves from pressure Why repeatedly throwing the puck away often starts with a lack of information How coaches can progressively teach puck retrieval and awareness Why repetition is essential for building good habits and breaking bad ones How NHL Sense Arena creates game-like reps for scanning, reading pressure, and making decisionsOne of Albes biggest messages for young players is also one of the easiest to remember:Shoulder check more than you think you need to.The habit of looking before you arrive at the puck gives you information and information gives you options.This episode launches a monthly hockey IQ series powered by NHL Sense Arena, designed to give hockey families one practical concept at a time that players can understand, practice, and take directly into their game. Listen together with your player, talk about what they see on the ice, and challenge them to start building the habit of looking before the puck arrives.Learn more about NHL Sense Arena at hockey.sensearena.com/OKPH. Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: The Hockey IQ Habit Every Young Player Should Learn: Why Shoulder Checking Changes the GameIf this episode helped your hockey family, make sure to like, subscribe, and share Our Kids Play Hockey with another parent, player, or coach.#YouthHockey #HockeyIQ #HockeyDevelopment #HockeyParents #HockeyTraining #ShoulderCheck #HockeySkills #SenseArena #NHLSenseArena #HockeyCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #OurKidsPlayHockeyClick To Text The Our Kids Play Hockey Team!Hockey IQ: Scanning the ice, recognizing pressure, anticipating what happens next, making the right decision faster. Research shows these perceptual and decision-making skills can actually be trained. With NHL Sense Arena, kids can get extra game-like reps at home, working on hockey IQ, reactions, real stick-handling for skaters, while goalies can train reads and tracking. Save $25 on an annual plan with code OKPH at http://hockey.sensearena.com/okphHave A Topic You Want Us To Cover? Let us know!Please Be Sure To Subscribe & Leave A Review For Us On Apple Podcasts, doing so helps our show grow!Follow Us On Social Media:Facebook GroupXInstagramLinkedInYouTube