What is Cross-Ice Hockey?
Cross-Ice Hockey is a model of practicing and playing hockey across the width of the ice surface rather than playing lengthwise. Typically, dividers are placed on the ice at either the red line, or the blue lines to divide the playing surface, and help contain pucks. This allows 2-3 games to be played simultaneously.
Why Cross-Ice hockey?
This cross-ice practicing and playing model has been used in many of the leading hockey nations in the world for a number of years and has stood the test of time. It has been adopted by USA Hockey in the American Development Model (ADM). Cross-Ice hockey is a staple of NHL Development camps (including the Carolina Hurricanes), as teams look to maximize player development in the era of homegrown talent trumping free-agent frenzies.
“Cross-ice play puts players in situations where they’re in a confined area and have to make quick decisions and skilled plays under pressure. We do it to evaluate our players under those circumstances, where they have to read and react in game situations. We’ll use it as a regular part of our practice, where players can compete, and there’s a lot of individual development that comes out of it.” - New Jersey Devils head coach John Hynes
According to a study by USA Hockey, cross-ice hockey provides
2x more puck touches
2x more pass attempts
6x more shot attempts
5x more passes received
2x more puck battles
2x more changes of direction
4x more goalie shots/minute
It's fun!
