Turcotte Stickhandling Methods

Real Turcotte moved from Montreal to Lansing, Michigan, in 1959 to play for the Michigan State University hockey team on a scholarship and was subsequently invited to attend the Detroit Red Wings training camp. He chose the path of teaching instead and became renowned for his stickhandling instruction and coaching. He launched the Turcotte Stickhandling Hockey School in the 1970s.

  1. The Basics

    • In Turcotte Method clinics and classes, instructors emphasize a firm foundation in skating as a gateway to effective stickhandling. After that, the method centers on the basics of the discipline: approach, stance, dribble, fake, move and getaway. In Turcotte training, 24 moves and counter-moves emanate from these basics, and each is designed to impart a specific tactic of offense or defense.

    Educated Hands

    • Turcotte coined the phrase "educated hands" to describe the ability to feel the position of the puck on the stick without looking down. This skill aids the player in allowing him to see more of the field and better line up his shot. The Turcotte Method for achieving educated hands involves drills like tapping the puck alternately on the forehand and backhand sides of the blade, a style of dribbling that eventually conditions the player to feel the slight vibrations from the blade to the shaft.

    Widening the Zone

    • The "security zone," as Turcotte calls it, is a 4-foot space around the puck carrier and between his legs. The carrier typically holds the puck close into his security zone, but the Turcotte Method emphasizes stickhandling that allows for more latitude, causing difficulty for opponents to steal the puck. One drill to train players involves moving the puck as far to the right as possible while bending the right knee, then repeating the exercise on the left side. A trained stickhandler may widen his zone to 12 feet.

    Teaching

    • Turcotte Stickhandling Hockey School conducts classes across the U.S. and Canada. Along with the basics, the classes cover power skating, puck protection and other game-related tactics. A staff of head instructors includes members of the Turcotte family and several others who conduct training for children, college-age players and others interested in refining their stick abilities. The school claims numerous NHL players as graduates of the Turcotte school, including Eric Lindros, Daniel Briere and Kip Miller.