Defenceman (ice hockey)
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Defense in hockey is a player position with a primary responsibility to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. Defense players are often referred to as defensemen, D, or "Blueliners".
In regular play there are two defense players and three forwards on the ice along with the goaltender.
Bobby Orr, the first defenseman to win the NHL's scoring title, is generally regarded as one of the top defenseman in league history. Each year the NHL presents the James Norris Memorial Trophy to the best defenseman in the league.
Nicklas Lidstrom, the first European-born Captain to win the Stanley Cup, is now generally regarded as one of the best NHL defenseman if not the best in the league with five James Norris Memorial Trophy wins and many nominations.
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[edit] 'Stay-at-home' and 'Offensive defense'
Defense players are often described by the amount they participate in the offense. The extreme of non-participation in offence is a Stay-at-home defender, who takes few risks and does not score much, instead focusing on defending against the opposing team. The extreme of participation is an offensive defensemen, who gets aggressively involved in the team's offense. To accomplish this, the offensive defense player often goes deep into the opposing team's zone to get closer to its net. This makes it difficult for the defender to protect his or her own net from being scored on if the other team gains control of the puck. This can lead to more odd man rushes and breakaway opportunities for the opposing team.
[edit] Defensive zone play
When in the defensive zone, the defense player is responsible for keeping the opposing forwards' opportunities to a minimum when they are on a rush, forcing them to the corners and blocking both passing and shooting lanes. When the opposing offense is putting pressure on the defense's team, the defense skater usually plays closer to the goal, attempting again to block shooting lanes but also ensure that the goalie is not screened (prevented from being able to see the puck at all times).
[edit] Neutral zone play
In the neutral zone, the defense hangs back towards his or her own blue line, usually playing the puck up to other teammates. According to Jay Leach, who writes for NHL.com's "learn to play hockey" section, the defense must "Move the puck hard and quick to the open man. Join the rush, [but] do not lead it."
[edit] Offensive zone play
In the offensive zone, the defense skaters "play the blue line." It is their duty to keep the puck in the offensive zone by stopping it from crossing the blue line that demarcates where the offensive zone begins. Defense players must be quick to pass the puck around, helping their forwards to open up shooting lanes, or taking open shots themselves when they become available. The defense must also be able to skate quickly to cut off any breakaways, moving themselves back into the defensive zone ahead of the onrushing opponent. Occasionally, a defenceman will skate away from the blue line and deeper into the offensive zone, either to put more pressure on the opposing team's defence or create a scoring chance. This is called "pinching" or "pinching in." This is usually done only when a team is trailing and in desperate need of a goal; pinching increases the likelihood that if the defending team breaks out, it will create a breakaway or an odd-man rush.
Essentially in all three zones of the rink, the defense is the backstop for the puck. It should never go behind the defense, unless the player lets it. The defense keeps the momentum of play squarely directed towards the opposing goal
[edit] Backchecking
The backcheck is a play in hockey where a non-defense skater moves back to play defense by keeping an opposing player out of a play through means of checking, stick control, and/or body positioning.
[edit] Faceoffs
During faceoffs in the defensive zone, most teams have their defense players pair up with opposing forwards to tie them up while leaving the team's forwards open to move the puck, though this is at the discretion of the individual coach. In the offensive zone, the defense player acts in his or her usual role, keeping control of the puck as the forwards fight for position.
In the first organized hockey, (see Amateur Hockey Association of Canada), defensemen used to line up in an "I" formation behind the rover(defunct) as point and coverpoint. Defense is still referred to as "playing the point".
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Positions on the Hockey Rink | ||||
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| Forwards: |  |
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| Defencemen: |
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| Goaltender: |
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| Power forward | Enforcer | Captain | Head coach | Referee & linesman | ||||
