Shadow

The broad definition of “shadowing” in hockey speaks of a specific player being assigned to pay special attention to an opposing team’s high scorer — to defend against his ability to put the puck in the net.

When the player you’re shadowing doesn’t have the puck, your main job is to stay close to him. You’ll try to prevent him from acquiring the puck, if possible, or will try to limit his maneuvering room if he does get the puck. Your stick should be on or near the ice and in front of you so you can deflect a pass that comes his way. You’ll typically remain between the scorer you’re shadowing and your net, even when your team has the puck in the offensive zone.

You may get involved in the offense if the situation permits, but your primary task is to stick tight to your man. Basically, the team is sacrificing your offensive contribution to try to stop the opposing scorer from doing any damage.

There are a variety of tactics to employ in man-to-man hockey defense. If you’ve remained close to the offensive star you can legally body check him when he has the puck, to force him to give up possession. Indeed, the hockey axiom states that defenders should “play the man, not the puck”, because if you swat at the puck with your stick, a gifted puckhandler can make you miss.

Alternatively, if you’re in position to do so, place your stick under the offensive player’s stick and lift it off the ice, preventing him from handling the puck. If your man is skating into your defensive zone, try to position yourself so the player must skate toward the boards, rather than into the center of the ice. By forcing him wide he’ll be at a more difficult scoring angle.

Shadowing typically occurs when both teams are at even strength. But it’s not unheard of for a team to employ a shadow while killing a penalty, using hockey’s version of a basketball “box-and-one” defense. For example, if your team is playing one man short, the opponents have five skaters on the ice to your team’s four. If you’re assigned to shadow an opposing forward, your three remaining teammates will play a triangular zone defense while you skate across the ice, following your assigned man wherever he goes.

When shadowing a particularly talented scorer, some defensive players resort to physical tactics, bumping or slashing the offensive star even when he doesn’t have the puck. If this occurs within a referee’s sight the defender will likely draw a penalty because it’s illegal to hit a man who’s not in possession of the puck. Sometimes, however, the extra physical attention may throw the scorer off his game. Alternatively, the scorer may retaliate and be called for a penalty himself.