P-A Parenteau

KIDS: Every level you go up, the less likely you are to see a player try to beat a defender 1v1. Why? The higher the level you play, the less likely you are to beat a defender 1v1. Defensemen are too good. They are faster, smarter, close quicker, and there’s less time and space to even try to attempt it. If you want to play at higher levels of hockey, beating defenders down the ice 1v1 is not what is going to get you there. Developing your hockey sense by using your teammates and understanding how plays develop…that’s what translates to the next level. Check out Matt Barzal on this play. It’s 3v3 overtime so he has plenty of time and space to beat the defender up the ice 1v1, especially with his elite skillset. But no. He brings the puck to the middle, uses his situational skating to protect it, and bides time for his teammates to get open. And once Horvat does get open – he hits him for the overtime winner. 1v1 hockey does not translate to the next level. Hockey sense and awareness does. I’ve seen so many kids that were bigger and faster than everyone at young ages be rewarded for taking the puck end to end and scoring. That gets you wins at young ages, but it does not make smart hockey players. Because when everyone else catches up physically, if that player wasn’t taught the right way to play…they will get passed by. Smart hockey players make it to higher levels. Fast players who do not know how to use their teammates do not. Coaches, please coach accordingly.