A good pass in ice hockey is flat, firm and aimed at your teammate’s stick blade, or just ahead of it if they are skating. To make a forehand pass, start with the puck near the heel of your blade, cup the blade slightly over the puck, sweep it forward from heel to toe while shifting your weight toward your target, and follow through low with the blade pointing where you want the puck to go. Keep your eyes up to find your teammate before and during the pass. Receiving matters just as much: give a target with your stick on the ice, and cushion the puck by giving slightly with your hands when it arrives. Passing is the fastest way to move the puck, which makes it one of the most important skills in hockey.
Why passing matters
The puck moves much faster than any skater. A team that passes well can move from defense to offense quickly, pull defenders out of position and create open shots. Good passing also reduces turnovers, since a crisp pass is harder to intercept than a slow, wobbly one. Coaches often say the best players make their teammates better, and passing is the main way they do it. Whether you play forward or defense, strong passing will increase your value to any team.
Types of passes
| Pass | Key point |
|---|---|
| Forehand | Cup the puck, sweep heel to toe, follow through low at the target |
| Backhand | Puck on the back of the blade, sweep and push with the bottom hand |
| Saucer | Flip the puck so it flies flat over sticks and lands smoothly |
| Bank pass | Use the boards to get the puck around a defender |
| Drop pass | Leave the puck behind for a trailing teammate |
| Stretch pass | A long pass up the ice to a teammate breaking out |
| Area pass | A pass into open space for a teammate to skate onto |
How to make a forehand pass step by step
- Look up. Find your target before you pass.
- Position the puck. Place it near the heel of your blade, slightly behind your body.
- Cup the blade. Tilt the blade slightly over the puck for control.
- Sweep forward. Move the puck from heel to toe across your body.
- Transfer weight. Shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot.
- Release from the toe area. Let the puck roll off the middle to toe of the blade.
- Follow through low. Point the blade at your target and keep it low to keep the pass flat.
The backhand pass
The backhand pass is harder for most players but essential. Place the puck on the back of the blade near the heel, keep your top hand firm, and sweep the puck forward, pushing with your bottom hand. Follow through toward your target. Because the backhand is less natural, players often practice it far less, which makes it a weakness. Working on backhand passes in practice makes you much harder to defend, since you can pass in either direction without turning your body.
The saucer pass
A saucer pass lifts the puck slightly off the ice so it can travel over sticks or bodies and land flat on a teammate’s blade. To make one, start with the puck near the heel, roll your wrists as you sweep so the puck spins off the toe, and follow through slightly upward. The spin keeps the puck flat in the air, like a flying saucer, which helps it land smoothly. Saucer passes are useful for passing through traffic and across the ice when a defender’s stick is in the lane.
Receiving a pass
A pass is only successful if it is received cleanly. Give your teammate a target by holding your stick blade on the ice where you want the puck. As the puck arrives, cushion it by letting your hands give slightly backward, which absorbs its speed. Angle the blade slightly over the puck so it does not bounce off. Receiving on your backhand and in your skates are also important skills, since passes will not always be perfect. Many players practice kicking the puck from skate to stick to handle passes that come in low.
Passing to a moving teammate
When your teammate is skating, aim ahead of them, not at where they are now. This is called leading the pass. The faster your teammate is moving, the farther ahead you should aim. Passing behind a moving teammate forces them to slow down or reach back, which kills momentum. Timing and communication help, so call for the puck and make eye contact when possible.
Reading the ice before you pass
The best passers make their decision before the puck arrives. Scanning the ice, often called shoulder checking or keeping your head on a swivel, lets you know where teammates and defenders are. When you receive the puck already knowing your next play, you can pass quickly before defenders close in. Look for teammates in open ice, watch the position of defenders’ sticks, and avoid passes through the middle of your own zone, where interceptions are dangerous. In the offensive zone, passes across the slot and to players cutting to the net can create high-quality chances, but they also carry more risk. Learning when to make the safe play and when to try the difficult one is a big part of developing hockey sense.
Using the boards and space
Not every pass needs to go directly to a teammate’s stick. Bank passes off the boards can get the puck around a defender, especially on breakouts and in the neutral zone. Area passes into open ice let a speeding teammate skate onto the puck without breaking stride. Drop passes leave the puck for a trailing teammate and are common on zone entries and power plays. These options give passers more ways to move the puck when direct lanes are closed, and they are worth practicing alongside standard passes.
Passing drills
- Stationary partner passing: Pass back and forth with a partner on the forehand and backhand.
- Passing in motion: Skate down the ice with a partner, passing back and forth.
- Saucer passing: Place a stick on the ice between partners and pass over it.
- Give-and-go: Pass to a teammate and skate into space for a return pass.
- Off-ice passing: Use a passing aid or rebounder and a shooting pad to build repetitions at home.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Looking down instead of finding the target.
- Slapping the puck instead of sweeping it, creating bouncing passes.
- Passing behind moving teammates.
- Passes that are too soft and easy to intercept.
- Passes that are too hard for the distance and situation.
- Not following through, leading to inaccurate passes.
- Ignoring the backhand in practice.
- Stiff hands when receiving, letting the puck bounce away.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I aim a hockey pass?
At your teammate’s stick blade, or just ahead of it if they are moving so they can receive the puck in stride.
How do I make my passes flat and not bouncy?
Sweep the puck from heel to toe rather than slapping it, cup the blade slightly, and follow through low toward your target.
What is a saucer pass?
A pass that lifts the puck slightly off the ice with spin so it flies flat over sticks and lands smoothly on a teammate’s blade.
