Hockey, the NHL Way: The Basics

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

The Basics provides an overview of the fundamental skills needed by 8-
to 12-year-olds as they begin to play hockey. There is advice on
skating, offence (puck control, passing, shooting, faceoffs), defence,
and goaltending, as well as tips on fitness and choosing equipment. Goal
Scoring emphasizes stick skills, passing, shooting, and scoring, while
Goaltending considers such topics as pre-game mental and physical
preparation, stand-up and butterfly styles, footwork, movement, and
choosing equipment. Some sections in these books have been reproduced
from The Basics.

All these titles include color photographs of youngsters (some female)
modeling the desired learning behaviors, as well as “drill” sections
that provide advice on practising the various skills. Though the writing
is generally clear, Rossiter occasionally assumes too much knowledge on
the part of hockey novices. For example, in discussing the wrist shot,
he instructs players to “turn both wrists open, and snap both closed
at the moment of release”; however, the concepts of “open” and
“closed” wrists are neither textually nor photographically
explained.

Glossy action photographs of NHL stars occupy nearly half the pages of
these three NHL-sanctioned titles, which suggests that their purpose is
as much motivational as instructional. Whether or not dynamic skills
like those required in the game of hockey can be taught by a static
medium is debatable. Nonetheless, these books can serve to raise the
awareness of would-be NHLers. Recommended.