Toe drags: the move behind every deke

A toe drag pulls the puck back across your body with the toe of the blade. It changes the angle of the puck in a fraction of a second, which is why it sits behind so many dekes and shots.

How to do it

1. Put a marker on the floor in front of you, a stick-length away.
2. Push the puck forward toward the marker on your forehand.
3. Just before the marker, roll your top wrist so the blade turns over, and pull the puck back and across toward your feet with the toe of the blade.
4. Bring it back to the middle with a quick forehand touch and repeat. Do ten on each side, then rest.

Coaching points

• The pull comes from the top-hand wrist roll, not from your arms.
• Keep the toe of the blade on top of the puck so it doesn’t slip out.
• Start slowly. The move only works if the puck stays on the blade the whole time.

Common mistakes

• Pulling with a flat blade. The puck slides off; turn the blade over.
• Looking at the marker, not the play. Once it’s reliable, do it with your eyes up.

Make it harder

Chain toe drags with figure-eights, or do one on each side without stopping. In Sudden Shift, a toe drag pulls your puck away from a sweeping beam or the snowman defender while you reach for the next target.