To do a hockey stop, glide forward at a comfortable speed, bend your knees, then quickly turn your hips and shoulders about 90 degrees so both skates face sideways to your direction of travel. Push the skates slightly ahead of your body so the blades scrape across the ice, with the front skate on its inside edge and the back skate on its outside edge. Keep your weight centered and low, your chest up and your eyes forward. The friction of the edges shaving the ice brings you to a stop, and because you finish balanced, you are ready to push off in the other direction. Most skaters learn it through progressions, starting with the snowplow stop and working up to fast two-foot stops on both sides.
Why the hockey stop matters
The hockey stop is one of the most important skating skills in the game. Hockey is full of quick changes of direction, and players who can stop hard and start again quickly win races to loose pucks, stay with the players they are covering and recover defensively. Coaches often encourage players to stop and start rather than skate in wide loops, because it keeps them close to the play. Beyond hockey, a reliable stop is also a key safety skill for any skater, since it lets you control speed and avoid collisions.
Hockey stop technique at a glance
| Step | Key point |
|---|---|
| Glide | Skate forward at a moderate speed with skates about shoulder-width apart |
| Bend | Knees bent, chest up, weight centered over the middle of the blades |
| Turn | Rotate hips and shoulders sideways quickly, about 90 degrees |
| Edges | Front skate on its inside edge, back skate on its outside edge |
| Shave | Push skates slightly forward so the blades scrape the ice |
| Pressure | Press down through the legs; more pressure means a faster stop |
| Finish | Stay low and balanced, ready to push off |
How to do a hockey stop step by step
- Build some speed. Start with a slow, controlled glide. Too little speed makes it hard to turn the skates, while too much speed makes it harder to control at first.
- Get low. Bend your knees deeply, keep your back fairly straight and your chest up.
- Turn your body. Rotate your hips and shoulders together quickly so your skates turn sideways. Your upper body can stay facing mostly forward while your lower body turns.
- Set your edges. Angle the blades so the front skate uses its inside edge and the back skate uses its outside edge.
- Push the skates out. Extend your legs slightly in the direction you were traveling so the blades shave the ice rather than dig in.
- Apply pressure. Press down through your legs to control how quickly you stop.
- Finish balanced. Come to a stop with knees bent and weight centered, ready to move again.
Learning progressions
Most skaters do not learn the full hockey stop on day one. Working through a series of progressions builds the edge control and balance needed.
- Snowplow stop: Push both heels out and toes in, scraping the ice with the inside edges. It teaches you to feel the edges and control speed.
- One-foot snowplow: Glide on one foot and push the other skate out to scrape the ice. Practice on both sides.
- Standing edge work: Hold the boards and practice sliding your skates sideways to feel the blades scrape.
- Slow two-foot stops: Turn both skates sideways at low speed, focusing on balance.
- Faster stops: Increase speed gradually as confidence builds.
- Stop-and-go drills: Stop and immediately push off in the opposite direction.
Weight distribution and edges
Balance is the biggest challenge for new skaters learning to stop. Keep your weight centered over the middle of your blades rather than on the heels or toes. Leaning back is a common reason for falls, since it causes the skates to slide out from under you. Many coaches suggest putting slightly more weight on the front skate, which does much of the braking work, while the back skate adds stability and extra stopping power. The deeper you bend your knees, the more stable you will be and the more pressure you can apply to the ice.
Stopping on your weak side
Nearly every skater has a stronger side, and many can stop comfortably facing only one direction. In a game, though, you need to stop both ways, because plays can go either direction. Spend extra practice time on your weaker side, starting slowly and repeating the same progressions. Some players find it helps to mentally break the movement down into the same steps they use on their strong side. Over time, practicing both sides equally makes you a more complete and less predictable skater.
Equipment and ice factors
Your skates play a role in how well you stop. Sharp blades with well-defined edges grip and shave the ice more predictably, while dull edges tend to slip. The radius of hollow, which is the depth of the groove ground into the blade, also affects how much the edges bite; a deeper hollow bites more and a shallower hollow glides more. Properly fitted skates that support your ankles make it easier to control your edges. Ice conditions matter too. Fresh, hard ice behaves differently from soft or chewed-up ice late in a session.
Practice drills
- Blue line stops: Skate from the goal line to the blue line, stop, and return, alternating sides.
- Suicides with stops: Skate to each line and stop facing the same direction, then the other direction on the next rep.
- Whistle stops: Skate freely and stop immediately on a coach’s whistle.
- Stop-and-start: Stop and explode back the way you came as quickly as possible.
- Figure-eight with stops: Combine turns and stops to build edge control.
Safety and health note
Learning to stop involves falls, so wear a helmet and appropriate protective gear, especially when you are new to skating. Practice in a less crowded area of the rink when possible, and be aware of other skaters. Warm up before practicing to prepare your legs and hips. Health note: this article is general information, not medical advice. If you have knee, hip or ankle problems, speak with a medical professional before starting intense skating training.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaning back, which causes the skates to slide out and leads to falls.
- Not bending the knees enough, leaving you stiff and unstable.
- Turning only the shoulders instead of the hips and lower body.
- Digging the edges in too sharply, which can cause you to catch an edge and trip.
- Too much speed too soon before mastering control.
- Practicing only the strong side.
- Skating on dull blades.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I fall when trying to hockey stop?
Usually from leaning back, not bending the knees enough or digging the edges in too sharply. Stay low and keep your weight centered.
Why can I only stop on one side?
Most skaters have a dominant side. Practice your weak side with the same progressions until it feels natural.
Do sharp skates help with stopping?
Yes. Sharp, well-defined edges grip and shave the ice more predictably, while dull edges make stopping harder.
