Saucer pass

Lore & Background

The saucer pass requires a high degree of skill to perform effectively, sending the puck to a teammate while making it difficult for an opposing player to intercept. The typical height of the pass varies depending on the situation: when executed in front of the goal within a few meters, it usually rises a maximum of 30 centimeters above the ice level. In a 'torpedo attack'—a saucer pass covering tens of meters, often starting from the passer's defensive zone—the puck can easily rise over 3 meters from the ice to avoid being captured by an opposing player's glove. Capturing a pass with a stick above one's own shoulder level or above goal height is prohibited close to a goal.

The inventor of the saucer pass is commonly credited as the Finnish ice hockey legend Raimo Helminen. According to the book *Raipe - vaatimattomuuden lyhyt oppimäärä*, he invented the pass when he was playing against grown-up men from his neighborhood as a young child in Koivistonkylä, Tampere, Finland.

Reader's Guide

The saucer pass has become a staple technique in ice hockey due to its effectiveness in evading interception. Its ability to travel through the air while landing flat gives the receiving player a clean, controllable puck, which is especially valuable in high-pressure situations near the goal or during long breakout passes. The technique's difficulty means it is typically employed by skilled players who can judge the required height and spin to avoid opposing sticks and gloves. The invention of the saucer pass is commonly attributed to Raimo Helminen, a Finnish player who reportedly developed the technique as a child playing against older, larger opponents. This origin story underscores the pass's practical roots: a creative solution to overcome taller defenders. Today, the saucer pass is widely used at all levels of the sport, valued for its ability to bypass defenders and maintain offensive flow. Its legacy is tied to Helminen's innovation, which changed how teams approach passing in both defensive and offensive zones.

Did You Know?

• The saucer pass is named because the puck flies through the air like a flying saucer.
• The typical height of a saucer pass near the goal is a maximum of 30 centimeters above the ice.
• In a torpedo attack, a saucer pass can rise over 3 meters from the ice.
• The saucer pass was invented by Finnish ice hockey legend Raimo Helminen.