How to Win More Faceoffs in Hockey
To win a faceoff, get low with a wide stance, load your weight over your stick, and beat your opponent to the puck the instant it drops by pulling it back with a quick, hard hand snap while boxing out with your body. The best centers do not muscle every draw. They win with anticipation, hand speed, and a plan they set before they ever step into the circle.
Faceoffs are the most repeatable skill in hockey, and they decide who starts every shift with the puck. This guide breaks down the stance, the four core techniques, and simple set plays your team can run from each zone.
Why do faceoffs decide close games?
A team takes 55 to 70 faceoffs in a typical game. Every one is a free 50/50 puck battle that hands possession to the winner. A center who wins 55 percent of draws instead of 45 percent gives his team roughly a dozen extra possessions a night, and many of those come in high leverage spots like defensive zone draws after an icing or offensive zone draws on the power play.
Possession is only half the value. A clean defensive zone win lets your team break out without pressure, while a lost draw can pin you in your own end for 30 seconds. That is why coaches treat faceoffs as a coachable system, not a coin flip.
What is the correct faceoff stance and grip?
Winning the draw starts before the puck drops. A strong base and the right grip let you generate speed and hold your ground when an opponent pushes back. Teach these four setup keys to every center and wing who takes draws.
Which faceoff techniques actually win the draw?
There is no single move that wins every draw. Skilled centers carry three or four techniques and pick one based on the zone, the situation, and what the opponent showed on the last draw. Here are the four that matter most.
Practice faceoffs the way you play them
Faceoff sets only work if every player knows the plan before the puck drops. Sketch each zone draw on a two sided board so centers and wingers see their routes, then wipe it clean and run the next look.
Custom Pro Hockey Whiteboard -w Handle | 2 Sided
A full rink on one side and a zoomed zone on the other, so you can diagram breakouts on the bench and draw up faceoff sets in the circle. Add your team name and logo for a board that looks as sharp as your system.
How should you set faceoff plays by zone?
The same draw does not fit every spot on the ice. Match your technique and your set play to the zone so a win turns into a scoring chance or a clean exit, not just a loose puck.
Pull it back to the point for a quick shot with a winger screening the goalie, or win it forward to a one timer. Prioritize speed over safety here.
Win it forward or off the boards to keep your team moving north with speed. Avoid a slow backhand pull that lets the other team regroup.
Safety first. Tie up the opponent's stick or pull the puck to the corner away from the slot so your defense can break out clean.
Hockey faceoff questions coaches ask
At most levels, 50 percent is average and anything above 55 percent is strong. Elite NHL centers live in the high 50s. Track by zone to find where a player needs work.
The backhand pull is faster and more reliable for most players, so it is the best default. Add the forehand win once a center is comfortable, since it sets up quick shots and board plays.
Play it safe. Tie up the opponent's stick and pull or steer the puck to the corner and away from the slot so your defense can retrieve it and break out.
Watching the opponent instead of the linesman's hand. Reacting to the drop a split second late loses the draw before the sticks even move.
Yes. Many teams cross train a wing to take draws so they have a backup if the center is tossed from the circle. It also gives you a fresh look against a strong opposing center.
Run live, competitive reps from all three zones with a set play attached to each win. Chart the results so players compete for the highest win rate in practice.
Turn faceoff wins into goals
Faceoffs are won with preparation, and preparation starts with a clear picture your players can see. Draw up every zone draw, assign each route, and get your whole line on the same page before the puck drops.
