When it comes to sports strategy is key. Obviously if you watch a game of Football you know this, seeing as that players do more standing around waiting for the play to begin then actually playing the game. The same can also be said about baseball. But this can not be said about hockey. Although there is a lot of strategy employed in hockey, like every other sport, it is not sown up so that every movement is planned by a vast coaching staff that seem to be more like Generals then coaches. In hockey every movement is not choreographed like a ballet although some players now a day make it seem like it is a ballet with their fancy stick handling and love for making another man look as if they were just a pylon. Still hockey is played in the minds and bodies of the men or women on the ice. Each player does have their set duty or maybe even a set play to run, well in this case skate. But no matter what that play involves there is always the variable that is almost incalculable, the other team. The change of possession in hockey is almost unlike any other sport, maybe that's why most people whine about it just being guys skating back and forth. This makes the sport incredibly hard to plan which causes the players to be the masters of their own destiny, although it is a somewhat strategic, semi-formulated destiny.

At the very basic level of hockey strategy there are really two types of offense. The first is called dump and chase, which basically involves sending the puck deep into the offensive zone from just after the red line and letting the forwards chase the puck and/or defensemen. This is actually a very popular technique and almost every team in the NHL uses it. The second offensive strategy is what they call puck possession. It's basically the opposite of dump and chase and involves a lot of passing amongst players so that the team can gain the offensive zone, set up low and work the puck around for an open shot. The Detroit Red Wings are the kings of puck possession they play this type of game as if it's just a natural instinct. But really the most important thing to do and this goes for all levels and ages is get the puck deep and keep it deep for as long as you can. This will open up the points (defense) for shots if the wingers who are covering them stray from their assigned duty which almost always involves covering them.

As for defense, the game is simple really keep the puck out of the net at all cost unless that involves any kind impeding of movement

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