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Winger (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Winger, in the game of hockey
, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flank
ing the centre
forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink. Nowadays, there are different types of wingers in the game — out-and-out goal scorers, checkers who disrupt the opponents, and forwards who work along the boards and in the corners. They tend to be bigger than centerman and smaller than defenceman.
This position is commonly referred to by the side of the rink that the winger normally takes, i.e. "left wing" or "right wing."
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A winger's responsibilities in the offensive zone include:
Wingers should typically not:
Aggression is key to being a winger; games often hinge on the grit and determination behind players who relentlessly fight for the puck and harass opponents. This is not always how a winger plays. A winger might only play for assists and goals. This sort of play holds the immediate goal of keeping the puck deep in the offensive zone, and the longer term goal of exhausting
the defense and scoring a goal
. This is usually referred to as hemming the opposition, as in "the opposition is hemmed in their own end". Wingers who play very physically are known as grinders for their ability to literally grind opposition against the boards until the puck squeezes out.
Wingers tend to "plant" themselves in front of the net, usually to distract or screen a goaltender
, attempt a deflection, throw the defense into disarray, or draw a penalty
. It is a common tactic for teams on the power play
to plant a winger in front of the net and attempt to deflect a slapshot
past the goalie.
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The wingers' responsibilities in the defensive zone include the following:
Wingers should typically not:
Wingers should be playing high in the zone, and always be vigilant for a breakout pass or a chance to chip the puck offside
. When wingers receive a pass along the boards, they can exercise a number of options:
out of the offensive zone. On the backcheck, it is essential that they cover the last free opposing player rushing in. Once the puck is controlled by the opposing team in the defensive zone, however, wingers are responsible for covering the defenceman on their side of the ice.
s, it is essential for the wingers to occupy the opponent they have been assigned. Although the centres are the only official participants in the faceoff, anyone can charge in for possession of the puck once it hits the ice, thus making it essential that every opponent is too tied up to fight for possession.
Once the faceoff is clearly won, wingers can set themselves up into appropriate position..
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flank
Flank
Flank may refer to:* Flank, the side of either a horse or a military unit*Flanking maneuver in military tactics* Flank , the waveform edge formed when a signal goes high or low...
ing the centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink. Nowadays, there are different types of wingers in the game — out-and-out goal scorers, checkers who disrupt the opponents, and forwards who work along the boards and in the corners. They tend to be bigger than centerman and smaller than defenceman.
This position is commonly referred to by the side of the rink that the winger normally takes, i.e. "left wing" or "right wing."
Offensive zone play
- fighting for the puck in their zone
- positioning themselves in front of the net
- making plays to open teammates
Wingers should typically not:
- fight for the puck in the same corner as their fellow winger
- chase the puck down low in their own zone
Aggression is key to being a winger; games often hinge on the grit and determination behind players who relentlessly fight for the puck and harass opponents. This is not always how a winger plays. A winger might only play for assists and goals. This sort of play holds the immediate goal of keeping the puck deep in the offensive zone, and the longer term goal of exhausting
Fatigue (physical)
Fatigue is a state of awareness describing a range of afflictions, usually associated with physical and/or mental weakness, though varying from a general state of lethargy to a specific work-induced burning sensation within one's muscles...
the defense and scoring a goal
Goal (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
. This is usually referred to as hemming the opposition, as in "the opposition is hemmed in their own end". Wingers who play very physically are known as grinders for their ability to literally grind opposition against the boards until the puck squeezes out.
Wingers tend to "plant" themselves in front of the net, usually to distract or screen a goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
, attempt a deflection, throw the defense into disarray, or draw a penalty
Penalty (ice hockey)
A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
. It is a common tactic for teams on the power play
Power play (sport)
"Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice...
to plant a winger in front of the net and attempt to deflect a slapshot
Slapshot
A slapshot in ice hockey is the hardest shot. It has four stages which are executed in one fluid motion:# The player winds up his hockey stick by raising it behind his body, sometimes raising the blade to shoulder height or higher.# Next the player violently "slaps" the ice slightly behind the...
past the goalie.
Defensive zone play
- wait for a pass from their teammates
- intercept a pass to the opposing defencemanDefenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
- attack the opposing defencemen when they have the puck
Wingers should typically not:
- play deep in their zone
- help out their teammates along the boards
Wingers should be playing high in the zone, and always be vigilant for a breakout pass or a chance to chip the puck offside
Offside (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, the current play is offside if a player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck itself enters the zone, either carried by a teammate or sent into the attacking zone by an attacking player. If a defending player carries, passes, or otherwise intentionally sends...
. When wingers receive a pass along the boards, they can exercise a number of options:
- Bank the puck off the boards or glass to get it out of the zone
- Redirect or softly pass the puck to a rushing forward
- Shoot the puck out to the center line to another forward who can either set up an attack, or dump the puck into the offensive zone to summon a line change
- Carry the puck themselves to attempt a breakawayBreakaway (ice hockey)A breakaway is a situation in ice hockey in which a player with the puck has no defending players, except for the goaltender, between himself and the opposing goal, leaving him free to skate in and shoot at will . A breakaway is considered a lapse on the part of the defending team...
or an odd man rush
Backchecking
Wingers are usually the last players to backcheckChecking (ice hockey)
Checking in ice hockey is any one of a number of defensive techniques. It is usually not a penalty.- Types :There are various types of checking:...
out of the offensive zone. On the backcheck, it is essential that they cover the last free opposing player rushing in. Once the puck is controlled by the opposing team in the defensive zone, however, wingers are responsible for covering the defenceman on their side of the ice.
Faceoffs
During faceoffFaceoff
A face-off is the method used to begin play in ice hockey and some other sports. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official. One of the referees drops the puck at centre ice...
s, it is essential for the wingers to occupy the opponent they have been assigned. Although the centres are the only official participants in the faceoff, anyone can charge in for possession of the puck once it hits the ice, thus making it essential that every opponent is too tied up to fight for possession.
Once the faceoff is clearly won, wingers can set themselves up into appropriate position..
See also
- Rover (ice hockey)Rover (ice hockey)In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ice hockey consisted of seven positions. Along with the goaltender, two defencemen, and three forwards who remain today, a Rover was also part of the team. Unlike all the others, the rover did not have a set position, and roamed the ice at will, going...
- CentreCentre (ice hockey)The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
- DefencemanDefenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
- ForwardForward (ice hockey)In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
- GoaltenderGoaltenderIn ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
- Power forwardPower forward (ice hockey)In ice hockey, power forward is a loosely applied characterization of a forward who is big and strong, equally capable of playing physically or scoring goals and would most likely have high totals in both points and penalties...
- List of NHL players