The Wing Man

Is your child playing “the wing” in youth hockey? If so, you should understand that this position actually comes with a lot of responsibility.   

So many people think that the only responsibility involved is guarding the other team’s defensemen, and, while that’s certainly a part of it, there is a lot more involved.

It is important, then that you make your child understand all that is involved in this position. Fortunately, you can do so by following a few simple tips.

Watch Defensemen Carefully

First things first, wingers should always keep their eyes fully open when the other team has the puck.

What those open eyes should be focused on is the defensemen because they can be very tricky.

These players will often try to sneak in front of the winger or move to the center, and it’s the winger’s job to make sure that they do not.

Teach the young winger in your life the importance of an “open eye” approach if you want to guarantee success.

Accept Passes

Another important job of the winger is to remember to accept passes whenever possible when his or her own team has the puck.

Wingers often forget this important task, but it really matters, so be sure to instill its importance in your own player.

Also, remind your winger to stay mostly between the hash marks and the top of the circle for best results.

As you can see, there is a whole lot more to playing winger than most people realize. So, if the young person in your life has been tasked with this all-important role, be sure to pass on this all-important advice to help foster success.