How Do I Stop With Hockey Skates?

The ability to stop on the ice is crucial during the game of hockey. A turnover can start the play going the other way in an instant, so you need to be able to react quickly. Stopping is a technique that many beginning hockey players have trouble performing. A properly executed stop requires solid body positioning, quick reflexes and the ability to maintain your balance. Stopping on hockey skates is difficult, but can be mastered by putting hours into effective on-ice practice.

  1. Rink Practice

    • Provide yourself with ample ice time to practice stopping on skates. Stopping while skating deals heavily with your footwork on the ice; it’s not a situation that you can easily replicate while at home. Practice as often as you wish, but make sure to spend at least two to three hours per week at the rink.

    Body Positioning

    • Maintain proper body positioning to execute a stop on hockey skates. Proper body positioning includes slightly bent knees, a straight back and level arms. When stopping, turn your head in the direction of your stop. Do not stare at the ice; keep your eyes forward and your chin level. Keep your legs slightly wider than shoulder-width during your stop, as this will give you enough balance to stay standing.

    Shave the Ice

    • Lean against the side boards so that your skates are running parallel to the boards. Practice the skate stopping motion by pushing outwards with the foot furthest from the side boards. You want your skate to slide easily outward while shaving the ice slightly to create some snow. This motion creates the friction while stopping that allows your body to come to a halt. Practice shaving the ice until you feel confident attempting more challenging maneuvers.

    Snowplow Stop

    • Learn how to perform a basic snowplow stop before attempting to stop at high speed. A snowplow stop is so called because both skates act like snowplows, pushing outward to shave the ice and stop. Skate forward at a slow speed, and allow your skates to push outward at the same time.

      You can practice precision stopping with a snowplow stop by setting up two hockey sticks in a cross. Skate towards the center between the two hockey sticks and stop as close to the sticks as possible without touching them.

    Full Speed Stopping

    • Skate to a speed that you’re confident you can properly stop from. Turn slightly with your non-dominant leg. Quickly shift your weight to your trailing dominant leg. As both skates turn, begin shaving the ice with your hockey skates. Your non-dominant, or outside, leg will shave the ice with the inside blade edge; your inside leg will slide on its outside edge. Your hips should make a 90-degree turn during your stop. It’s better to keep your legs staggered rather than parallel as you stop. Practice shaving the ice if you cannot perform this stop correctly.

      Begin practicing a normal stop at slower speeds. Gradually increase your speed as you improve.