Lifting an opponent's stick

**rho** · 03-22-2001, 06:57 PM

Hi guys,

There's one person who playing pickup hockey with us who likes to lift his opponents stick with his own when trying to steal the puck. Normally I'm okay with this (I've used a well-timed lift now and then), but he will lift his opponent's stick for so long that it's almost as if he's more intent on keeping your stick off the ground rather than going for the puck. It's like he's holding your stick with his, and IMHO borders on bad sportsmanship.

Is this legal? What is the best way to counter it (besides a good body check

?

Thanks in advance,

-Rho.

**Hockey_nut97** · 03-22-2001, 07:44 PM

When people do stuff like that to me it irratates me too, but there's nothing u can do. Many times i just kick the puck with my feat until i can get my stick free, and then i angle my body to shield away the player. That's the best advice i can give, if anyone knows anything else im up for a suggestoin. Also, the best thing to do with people like that is to jsut pass the puck to another player, and then that guy won't have to deal with him.

**calihockey** · 03-22-2001, 08:54 PM

best thing to do is keep your feet moving. if he hinders your ability to skate then its interference or holding, which ever you want to call. playing pick up though not many people really follow every rule. if it is in a game though, take my advice. it is a good way to counter it i know because i am just like the guy you are describing. my thought behind it is how can they score if their stick isnt on the ground. very unlikely.

**macmill1** · 03-22-2001, 10:54 PM

A swift kick to the crotch works everytime.

Alan MacMillan

**RichardGraham** · 03-22-2001, 11:32 PM

C'Mon Al,

He's talking about LEGAL maneuvers, not the Al MacMillan School of Hockey Revenge. LOL.

I like the two previous answers.

One thing I can add is that there's not a much more satisfying play in hockey than lifting an opponent's stick blade from behind JUST as he's winding up for a huge slapshot. He ends up slapping air, and you steal the puck and head the other way while the spectators laugh at the stunned look on your opponent's mug.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

http://www.inlinehockeycentral.com/image/mbphoto.jpg

**Danny_boy** · 03-23-2001, 07:58 AM

suggestions regarding kicking the puck are all well and good but when on slot with the puck coming in, you realy need to get a stick on it, kicking the puck is just going to give the net minder time to line up for the save!! Try using your skates to tie the guy's stick up!! if your stood on his blade, he can't tie yours up!! This could also lead to a tripping call on him, or if he gets frustrated he could pull all sorts of tricks! From experience with morons like this they then resort to holding your stick properly, which will usualy get them pulled(if there is a ref!!) Good luck, and if all els fails, check the fool!!

**Dave44** · 03-23-2001, 08:31 AM

Players that only know how to skate north-south with the puck are the ones that this happens to. If another player is smart enough defensively to lift your stick and take the puck, then practice your puck handling/skating.

**newtron** · 03-23-2001, 02:49 PM

There are alot of ways to defend this and every coach will give you a different reply. My two cents is a little different. If the player that is lifting my stick is trying to defend against me getting the puck I would first face him for a milla-second and hold my stick straight up and down close to my body, he will have to foul me to get to my stick. If he stays on me than the person with the puck can skate right in if I stay between him and the puck like I'm supposed to. Second, I would put my stick butt end in my dominant hand and hold out my arm slightly bent. I would have to be in a low stance and I would allow the other player to go for my stick then I would use my other arm to go underneath the idiots stick. Make sure you do not hold the stick and you know how different refs will call the way they see it. It is like skating forward with the puck slightly scouped in the craddle of the stick with your hand slightly forward protecting the stick and puck. This is most effective when you are slightly crouched low to the rink giving you strength. There was a guy at AHC that lifted his forward leg, slightly bent and shielded the puck with that, it worked the first few times and made me adjust. Anyway, I usually play center or defense so I'm used to the close play and normaly get body contact before they go after my stick, I hate more when I see a younger player holding his oponents stick down and sometimes holding the player's body in place. This is a clear penalty but not too many refs see it that way. "Impead the progress of" is the rule book words and should be enforced. You must "play the puck not the man" is also in there but is allowed more and more at the worst rinks. Its how the game is allowed to get violent.

**eulogy01** · 03-24-2001, 11:34 PM

Can you give a more detailed example, (inlcuding position on the rink, facing each other?, both chasing puck?,)? The scenario you describe sounds odd, unless you both were battling along the boards, in which case you need to keep your legs moving and get anything you can on the puck.
Lifting an opponents stick is not sneaky, underhanded, or unsportsmanlike, so long as it is swift. If you are racing to the puck, you should try to out-wait him as far as commiting your stick to the puck. The first one who puts his stick down will usually have the puck stolen if the opponent is neck-and-neck with him.

**calihockey** · 03-26-2001, 02:29 AM

I would have to strongly agree with calihockey's comments. his words just flow.

I totally forgot about one thing though(its all rich's fault, just like the jfk scandal, watergate,the plague and N'Sync), put you body between the defender and the puck. this is called puck protection. Watch some of the top players. They have very few give-aways because they stick their bodies between the defenser and the puck. this doesnt work as well if your a skinny lil white guy like me though.

**RichardGraham** · 03-26-2001, 04:24 AM

Hi Cali,

I protest. I had NOTHING to do with N'SYNC.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

http://www.inlinehockeycentral.com/image/mbphoto.jpg

**chandler27** · 03-26-2001, 01:57 PM

Stick lifting is a great defensive play as long as the lifter's stick doesn't slide up and wack you in the hand or in the face. I'm not proud to say that I"ve sliced 2 people open when I missed their sticks. Now I only use the stick lift if I'm close in or on the boards. If you don't like getting lifted, do what the others have suggested by sheilding with your body. Or let the opponent lift your stick to the sky and chance a high sticking call going your way.

**rho** · 03-27-2001, 02:33 AM

Hi Guys (Eulogy01 in particular),

The situation: (from my perspective):
(I was hoping to do a crude ascii diagram, but it didn't quite turn out ...)

Ok picture this: The puck was loose, and heading towards the wall. Both me and the other guy were skating towards it, with me to the right of G and slightly in front (I'm a left-hander, G is a right-hander). Before either of us reach the puck, G slips his stick under mine and lifts it up, keeping the upward pressure as we both skated past the puck. We tussled for a bit (maybe 3 secs), all the while with his stick under mine. I remember trying to get my stick off his, but unable to because of the upward pressure.

As you said, I'm okay with a quick flick, but if it's more than a second I don't think it's very sportsmanlike (the 'play the puck not the stick' argument).

Thanks for the great feedback BTW!

-rho.