Thatcher Demko ProRead 11
With Thatcher Demko
'Depth Control' Key to Breaking Down Breakaways
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Thatcher Demko remains a Vezina Trophy favourite through the first half of this season, which matches his excellence through 10 Pro Reads video sessions, explaining how he sees the game and chooses depth, save selections and post integrations based on a variety of factors.
The Vancouver Canucks No. 1 has also done a great job explaining his technical foundations within these breakdowns, and that continues with this look into managing breakaways.
THE SAVE
Since we’ve already identified this will be a breakaway, and since speed is such a crucial part of any one-on-one chance, we’ll skip the freeze frames and go right to the replay:
Watching that breakaway, what do you make of Demko’s depth and speed decisions?
Watching the replays, what stands out for you in terms of the shooter and what information you would be looking for in terms of whether he’s shooting or deking?
How early can you tell? What factors play a role in that?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear how Demko saw this breakaway and get a glimpse into his overall philosophy:
Watch Thatcher Demko break down the full video for you
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- Demko breaks down his save on a breakaway, walking through how he manages depth and timing against a one-on-one chance.
- Demko's primary focus on breakaways is reaching 'the destination' — the top of the crease — at the exact moment the shooter decides to shoot or deke, not simply matching the attacker's speed.
- Demko reads shooter intent using multiple cues simultaneously, including the attacker's head position, leg kick, and the proximity of his own defenseman, which he says develops through game reps over time.
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