TWO TO ONE HAND STRIDE

Of the 3 main techniques used by high level players to carry the puck in full stride (straight line stride), the "Two to One Hands" technique gives you the best of both worlds. It is not generally the fastest ("One Hand Stride" is), or the one with the most control ("Two Hands Stride" is), but it does give you a nice intermediate step that is kind of the "Best of both worlds". It is generally faster than "Two Hands Stride," and more control then "One Hand Stride." Another reason this technique is so useful, is because you can switch to either "Two Hands Stride" (if you approach traffic), or "One Hand Stride" (if you get some open ice), quite easily because you are alternating touching the puck with one hand, and two hands. When practicing this technique, be sure to keep your blade completely closed on the backhand side. This allows you to pull the puck quickly and with some power, without the fear of losing it off the open blade. It is also important to try and extend the top elbow as you pull it wide to 1 hand, allowing the puck to go out as wide as possible. This allows you to maintain as long of a stride as possible, and also puts the puck into the prime location for both switching to the "One Hand Stride," or cutting in to protect the puck to go around someone.