Playing the centre-ice position in the NHL isn’t easy. In fact, it isn’t easy at any level. The middle of the ice is sacred ground whether you’re in the offensive zone or the defensive zone. It takes a crucial set of skills.
While those skills are a challenge to learn, acquire, and master, Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Todd Woodcroft explained at this past summer’s TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Toronto that they aren’t difficult to recognize and teach.
“Great centres, they don’t get great overnight,” said Woodcroft. “If you want to encourage your centres, they have to embrace that responsibility.”
Woodcroft comes back to our conference every summer, and his presentations are about as jam-packed with helpful knowledge as it gets. You don’t want to miss this one.
SEE ALSO:
- Winnipeg Jets Assistant Coach Todd Woodcroft on how to develop elite centres
- Todd Woodcroft: Creating Offense From Zone Entries
- Todd Woodcroft – Teaching Faceoffs
2 comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Todd Woodcroft
Currently, Todd is the Head Coach for the University of Vermont Men's Hockey team. A frequent guest of The Coaches Site, Todd has over 20+ years experience in the NHL and internationally. Todd began his career with the Minnesota Wild in 2000 and has worked for the Washington Capitals, the LA Kings, the Calgary Flames and the Winnipeg Jets. He also spent a year in the KHL as the Assistant General Manager/Director of Player Personnel for Dynamo Minsk.
Todd began his coaching journey as a Video Coach for the Wild and branched off into scouting, ending up as the Scouting Director for the Flames before coming back to his true passion for coaching with the Jets in 2016. He has coached in 7 World Championships and one World Cup representing Canada,Belarus, Switzerland and Sweden. He won a Stanley Cup in 2012 with the Kings and two Gold Medals (Canada, 2004 & Sweden, 2017).
I’m logged in, but the site still won’t let me access the full video
Pat, just reload a page.