How to Play Wing
Just because you are a forward does not mean that you can disregard playing defense.
Playing defense includes the backcheck, the breakout, and defending on a penalty kill.
When playing winger and you are in your own zone, you want to stay on the defenseman at the point.
If both wingers are on the defenders on the points, then your own defensemen and centerman can take care of their forwards down low, in the corners, and in front of the net.
You just want to keep the defenseman on the point within reach so that you can break up any pass that goes to him or block any shot he may take from the point.
When your team gains possession of the puck in your zone is when you want to skate to the boards to wait for a breakout pass.
Your defenders will usually ring the puck around the boards for you to settle the pass, and then you want to look up ice to hit your centerman with a pass who is breaking out up through your zone.
When you're defending on the penalty kill however, your defensive role changes.
When the team has the puck in your zone then the 2 forwards and 2 defensemen want to form a box in front of the net.
The team on the power play will likely be cycling the puck around the net and your "box" trying to get you to pinch, but don't pinch.
When you chase you leave an opening for them to make a pass to a player who can then skate to the prime shooting area in front of the net, and your goal is to keep them out of good scoring position by boxing them out, so don't pinch or chase.
When or if you do get ahold of the puck, you want to dump it all the way down to the other end because it kills time on the penalty and you won't be charged with icing since you are on the penalty kill.
The other defensive aspect is the backcheck.
Backcheck is when, let's say, your team has the puck in the other team's zone trying to score.
You may be down low trying to score or pickup a rebound but it is important to remember that turnovers happen quick and in a second play can be moving the other way.
When this happens you want to skate back into your zone as hard and fast as possible, either picking up one of their wingers entering your zone who is waiting for a pass or catch up to the guy breaking into your zone and give him a sticklift or a few jabs to make him cough it up.
If you can execute all of these things then you can make for a great winger who realizes both sides to the game and one who does not rely solely on the defensemen and goalie to do all the defensive work.
However, in order to be really good you of course must play and think offensively as well as be aggressive.
One of the offensive things you need to know is how to play the forecheck.
Often times coaches like to run a team to play dump and chase hockey.
Under this strategy, the forward with the puck wants to dump the puck into the other teams zone as soon as they cross the red line.
Then, if you are a winger and see that your teammate is going to dump it, you want to skate as hard as you can into the zone (not before the puck crosses the blue line however because then it would be offsides) and beat their defender who will be racing to the corner to collect the puck.
Your objective is to "forecheck" by pressuring him and scaring him by being aggressive in the corners to make him cough up the puck so you can start cycling the puck with your team to get some offense moving.
If the coach is not encouraging dump and chase hockey then he is probably focusing on the rush.
The rush can be a number of situations but the best are odd man rushes.
An odd man rush may be a 2 on 1 or a 3 on 2.
When you are a part of the rush you want to spread out, be open for a pass with your stick on the ice at all times, take a shot when you get a good look at the net, and crash the net when you notice your teammate is taking a shot to try and pick up a rebound.
The other key offensive aspect of the game is working the power play.
On the power play you want to stay down low near the corner of the boards as a right winger.
You want to cycle the puck with your teammates around the other team's imaginary box that they are defending.
You may sometimes tease the defender to chase you, and hopefully your teammate will see that and break to the opening where you can hit him with a pass and he can take a shot.
You can also use your body in front of the net and cause a screen in front of the goalie to blind him from seeing the shots, and also try to redirect the puck in.
All of these things are important to understand and be able to execute as a successful winger.
When you play a strong defensive and offensive style then you are surely to be rewarded whether it be many goals, assists, or extra ice time for all the hard effort.
Playing defense includes the backcheck, the breakout, and defending on a penalty kill.
When playing winger and you are in your own zone, you want to stay on the defenseman at the point.
If both wingers are on the defenders on the points, then your own defensemen and centerman can take care of their forwards down low, in the corners, and in front of the net.
You just want to keep the defenseman on the point within reach so that you can break up any pass that goes to him or block any shot he may take from the point.
When your team gains possession of the puck in your zone is when you want to skate to the boards to wait for a breakout pass.
Your defenders will usually ring the puck around the boards for you to settle the pass, and then you want to look up ice to hit your centerman with a pass who is breaking out up through your zone.
When you're defending on the penalty kill however, your defensive role changes.
When the team has the puck in your zone then the 2 forwards and 2 defensemen want to form a box in front of the net.
The team on the power play will likely be cycling the puck around the net and your "box" trying to get you to pinch, but don't pinch.
When you chase you leave an opening for them to make a pass to a player who can then skate to the prime shooting area in front of the net, and your goal is to keep them out of good scoring position by boxing them out, so don't pinch or chase.
When or if you do get ahold of the puck, you want to dump it all the way down to the other end because it kills time on the penalty and you won't be charged with icing since you are on the penalty kill.
The other defensive aspect is the backcheck.
Backcheck is when, let's say, your team has the puck in the other team's zone trying to score.
You may be down low trying to score or pickup a rebound but it is important to remember that turnovers happen quick and in a second play can be moving the other way.
When this happens you want to skate back into your zone as hard and fast as possible, either picking up one of their wingers entering your zone who is waiting for a pass or catch up to the guy breaking into your zone and give him a sticklift or a few jabs to make him cough it up.
If you can execute all of these things then you can make for a great winger who realizes both sides to the game and one who does not rely solely on the defensemen and goalie to do all the defensive work.
However, in order to be really good you of course must play and think offensively as well as be aggressive.
One of the offensive things you need to know is how to play the forecheck.
Often times coaches like to run a team to play dump and chase hockey.
Under this strategy, the forward with the puck wants to dump the puck into the other teams zone as soon as they cross the red line.
Then, if you are a winger and see that your teammate is going to dump it, you want to skate as hard as you can into the zone (not before the puck crosses the blue line however because then it would be offsides) and beat their defender who will be racing to the corner to collect the puck.
Your objective is to "forecheck" by pressuring him and scaring him by being aggressive in the corners to make him cough up the puck so you can start cycling the puck with your team to get some offense moving.
If the coach is not encouraging dump and chase hockey then he is probably focusing on the rush.
The rush can be a number of situations but the best are odd man rushes.
An odd man rush may be a 2 on 1 or a 3 on 2.
When you are a part of the rush you want to spread out, be open for a pass with your stick on the ice at all times, take a shot when you get a good look at the net, and crash the net when you notice your teammate is taking a shot to try and pick up a rebound.
The other key offensive aspect of the game is working the power play.
On the power play you want to stay down low near the corner of the boards as a right winger.
You want to cycle the puck with your teammates around the other team's imaginary box that they are defending.
You may sometimes tease the defender to chase you, and hopefully your teammate will see that and break to the opening where you can hit him with a pass and he can take a shot.
You can also use your body in front of the net and cause a screen in front of the goalie to blind him from seeing the shots, and also try to redirect the puck in.
All of these things are important to understand and be able to execute as a successful winger.
When you play a strong defensive and offensive style then you are surely to be rewarded whether it be many goals, assists, or extra ice time for all the hard effort.
