Joe Garry
One skill a player must develop after the squirt level is a snapshot. My older son would come down the ice and just load up on the wrist shot, banging in goal after goal.
Once you get a little older, it’s all about the snapshot. At higher levels you really don’t have time to load up on your shot. Also, by age 11, the goalies are really getting good. They have all played for at least 5 years and have acquired a lot of skill by that age.
To fool these goalies, you have to shoot in stride now. You can’t load up because they can and will be ready for your shot, If they are any good they will just it. *What you need to do to stay ahead of the curve*
Stage 1: It is important to really work on your wrist shot as a very young mite. The advanced wrist shot will really keep you ahead of the curve. Developing this shot early and being able to execute it in stride will have you placed well ahead of your peers for the future.
Stage 2: As a squirt, you should really be working on your snapshot. Not many players at the squirt level have snapshots. If you have a finely developed on, you will be way ahead of the curve.
Stage 3: Once you have a powerful snapshot, it is important to work on a slapshot. Having a great slapshot is an advanced skill for many beginning peewees. It takes some time and dedication to get the technique and strength to execute this correctly, but once you do, it will be invaluable. If you have a great one, you are way ahead of the curve.
Stage 4: The final skill is shooting in motion off transitions, basically one time slappers. Slappers while skating backwards and shooting off the knee…having the ability to open up…if you can put all of these things together, you are totally ready to dominate!