Puckhandling Lessons from Mike Smith – Part 4
- Mike Smith emphasizes consistent daily practice as the foundation for developing elite puck-handling ability.
- AHL All-Star Zane McIntyre joined Smith's closing talk, highlighting the respect Smith commands even among professional peers.
- Smith's four-part clinic covered purposeful practice, stick grip, forecheck reads, communication with defensemen, footwork drills, and long-term development habits.
- Young goalies were coached on skating beyond traditional crease patterns and coordinating puck-play decisions with their defensemen and coaches.
- Elite puck-handling requires integrating footwork, communication, and deliberate practice — not just stick skills in isolation.
Mike Smith graciously spent 30 minutes on ice at the NET360 camp with the two youngest goalies on the ice going over some of his keys to being a world-class puck handler.
We’ve broken it up into a series of four shorter videos to share with our InGoal Premium Members.
Part one of the series included a look at purposeful practice, accepting mistakes, the importance of skating beyond traditional crease movement patterns, and getting your defensemen and coaches on the same page about where to go on the ice.
In part two Smith answered a few questions, talking about how he holds the stick, reading the forecheck and the vital role that communication plays.
In part three the goalies work through a few skating drills emphasizing the footwork skills that help set him apart from his peers.
Today we conclude with part four as the Oilers veteran has a few closing thoughts for the goaltenders about daily practice and working towards becoming a great puckhandler. You’ll note near the end that 2020-21 AHL All-Star Zane McIntyre, who had been watching the session attentively, joins in on the talk. Smith’s elite skill is highly respected not just by young up and coming goaltenders – he has earned the respect of his professional peers as one of the very best.
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