HockeyStars are fluent in the four basic types of shots: the shovel shot, slapshot, the wrist shot and the backhand shot. A fifth vital shot, the snap shot, is a combination of the wrist shot and the slapshot. Players who master these shots are prepared to meet the challenges of the game and increase opportunities for scoring. All of these shots can be practiced off ice. Try using a sheet of hard plastic (like a plastic toboggan) on a flat surface at least 4 feet by 1 foot wide and shoot against a cement wall for a target. Here are a few video samples to demonstrate the techniques of each shot.

The shovel shot is the simplest most basic shot in a shooter's arsenal. Its execution is simply a shoveling motion to push the puck in the desired direction (be it on the forehand, backhand, or in a spearing motion). Players typically resort to shovelling the puck to push loose pucks past a sprawling, or out-of-position goaltender.

The slapshot The slapshot is the hardest yet most telegraphed shot. The player draws their stick back away from the puck, then forcefully brings it forward to strike the puck. The height and positioning of the follow-through determines the trajectory of the puck. NHL players most known for their slap-shot include: Ilya Kovalchuk, Sami Salo, Brett Hull, Sheldon Souray, Al MacInnis, and Mike Modano.

The wrist shot is executed by positioning the puck toward the middle of the blade. From that position the shooter rolls their back wrist quickly, while thrusting the puck forward with the bottom hand. As the blade propels the puck forward the movement of the wrist rolls the puck toward the end of the blade, causing the puck to spin. The tightness of the spin of the puck has an effect much like the spin a quarterback puts on their football pass, resulting in more accuracy. The puck is aimed with the follow-through of the shot, and will typically fly perfectly in the direction of the extension of the stick, resulting in an extremely accurate shot. NHL players most known for their wrist-shot include Petr Nedved, Luc Robitaille, Teemu Selanne, Joe Sakic, and Pavel Datsyuk.

The backhand shot is a wrist shot released from the back of the blade, and on the player's backhand. This shot is not as powerful or accurate as any of the other shots, but often comes unexpectedly. Backhand shots are primarily taken close to the goal. NHL players known for their backhand-shot include: Pavel Bure, Luc Robitaille, Mark Messier, Marian Hossa, and Phil Esposito.

The snap shot is a harder shot to master. It's a combination of both the slap-shot and the wrist shot - like a quick wrist shot. It has a surprising effect which hopefully will give the shooter a better chance to score. The shooter begins by cocking the stick back like a slap-shot (however with not such an exaggerated motion), and finishes with a flicking of the wrist like a wrist shot. NHL players noted for their snap-shot include Wayne Gretzky, Pavel Bure, Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, Patrik Elias, and Alexei Kovalev. Click here to see a snap shot demo.