Time and space. You want it when you’re carrying the puck and you want to eliminate it when your opponent has the puck.
Matthew Larke, former Player Development Coach with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (U17 and U18 teams) and newly named Skills Development Consultant with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, used his Global Skills Showcase presentation to address a basic skill, a move critical for one-on-one situations.
During his 35-minute talk, Larke explains how to blend the one foot cut into crossovers to manipulate a defender’s feet and stick, to maximize time and space on the attack.
First things first: what is a 1-foot-cut?
“It’s an inside edge skating technique that starts with one foot on the ice, holding the inside edge, with your body weight loaded on that leg,” explains Larke. “The objective is to turn and also be ready to crossover or go right into your stride. This is one of the most basic skills, you learn it as a little one, or whenever you learn to start skating; for some this is going to feel like a basic skill, but the way and I teach it and presented it and the way I go into it, it’s going to be a little bit different.”
Larke, a Detroit product who played eight years of pro hockey in the CHL, ECHL and EIHL, began teaching skill development after an injury forced his retirement from hockey. The 35-year-old worked for Total Package Hockey, Naurato Hockey, Flint Firebirds (OHL), the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) and most recently for the USA NTDP’s U17 and U18 teams.
Now with the Kraken, Larke’s trusted blend of explaining basics concepts, but customizing them for different situations is helping educate some of the best up and coming players in the NHL.
Larke understands the importance of strong development, especially when it comes to skating, and his presentation was a fantastic finish to the Global Skills Showcase.
This video is available exclusively to members of The Coaches Site.
- See also:
Matthew Larke
Matt Larke played eight years of pro hockey in the CHL, ECHL and the EIHL. After retiring, he began his coaching career working for skill development organizations, Total Package Hockey, Naurato Hockey, Flint Firebirds (OHL), the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) the USA NTDP's U17 and U18 teams. Matt recently began working as a Skills Development Consultant with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.
View all posts
Add comment