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THE ART OF THE BODY CHECK

By Enio Sacilotto

New York Rangers forward Will Cuylle is known as a prolific hitter in the NHL, having recorded at least 200 hits per season for three seasons. He ranks among the league leaders in this category.

Recently, on the ABC Hockey Saturday pre-game show, Blake Bolden featured Will Cuylle in her segment “Breaking the Ice,” where they discussed the fundamentals of body checking.

Blake highlighted four key steps that are essential before delivering a check: 1) the checker must first scan the ice, 2) read the opportunity to deliver the check, 3) find a good angle of pursuit, and 4) close the gap and execute the check.

I firmly believe in coaching our teams to be puck possession-oriented. You can’t be a puck possession team without the puck! Our primary goal is to regain possession of the puck when we don’t have it. We emphasize stripping the puck from the puck carrier first, using the stick to cut off passing lanes, then getting the stick on the puck. If stick-on-puck checking isn’t possible, we want our players to follow through with body contact to create separation between the puck carrier and the puck.  Watch the stick on puck from Jake Sanderson in the following clip:

Here are the key points to execute an effective body check:

Always maintain a strong athletic stance: feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and chest up for stability. Stay low and centred so you can absorb and deliver force without losing balance. Keep your eyes on the opponent’s chest rather than the puck; use your peripheral vision to see the puck while focusing on the opponent’s body.

Cuylle typically makes contact with his shoulder or hip, depending on the situation. Avoid using your arms, elbows, or hands; keep your elbows tucked in and your stick on the ice, ready to make stick-on-puck contact to create separation between the opponent and the puck. Cuylle extends his arms on contact and follows through, which is evident in the accompanying video. He mentions that if “your elbows are up, your core is not really engaged. So if you’re tight, you’re more like a ball.” One example in the video shows him making contact by going through his hip while keeping his core engaged.

Take a proper angle first, with your stick on the ice, to set up a stick-on-the-puck check. Force the puck carrier into an area you want them to go. In the video, Blake asks, “As you’re approaching me on the boards, are you thinking hands, the puck, body?” Will responds, “Usually, the body; there’s nowhere for you to go.” This response indicates good angling. Always aim to force the opponent away from the net. Proper angling ensures that the check becomes a finished check rather than a hunt for the puck.

Timing the check is crucial: arrive at the moment the opponent receives or controls the puck—neither too early nor too late. If your timing is off, you may miss the check or incur a penalty.  Here is an example of an open ice hit:

Maintain control of your speed. Going through with your check is acceptable, but avoid charging penalties. You want to play hard with second and third efforts, but everyone needs to play within the rules, effectively and safely.

Drive through your opponent. Upon contact, push through your opponent’s core with your legs and include your core in the motion. Avoid lunging or reaching forward; keep your hips under your shoulders. Make sure to control your opponent’s hands, as described by Cuylle: “I’m just going through your hands like that. They always teach you to cut off the hands. You cannot squeeze through. I go in front and lift your stick, cutting off your hands; there’s nowhere for you to go.” This technique also creates separation between the puck and the opponent. Remember: “Hit through the hands, finish through the hips.”

Always keep your head up to protect yourself. When you receive a check, absorb it with your legs and an engaged core. Hockey is a collision sport, so if you body-check, expect to receive body checks in return.

Finally, never target your opponent’s head or knees. Compete hard, but always prioritize safety for everyone involved.

Common Errors to Correct

Mistake Why It Fails Fix
Reaching with arms Off‑balance, penalties Close space, shoulder contact only
Targeting too high/low Dangerous, illegal Aim for chest/hips
Over-speeding Charging, missed checks Controlled approach, angle first
Watching the puck Opponent easily avades the check Watch the body–peripheral vision on the puck

Simple Teaching Progression for Your Players

  1. Stance + balance drills (knees bent, shoulder width).
  2. Angling routes (steer into boards).
  3. Controlled contact at slow speed — shoulder on chest/shoulder.
  4. Timing drills — hit as puck arrives.
  5. Full-speed situational checks with safe zones emphasized.

Enio Sacilotto is the President of International Hockey Camps and runs the Mental Edge High-Performance Training. Enio has 44 years of coaching experience (professional hockey in Europe and the Victoria Royals (WHL)). Currently, he coaches at the Burnaby Winter Club Hockey Academy, is the coach of the Serbian U18 men’s National hockey team, and is the Head Coach with the Burnaby Steelers. If you have questions or are interested in his services, contact Enio at enio@coachenio.com or call 604-255-4747. Website: www.coachenio.com.