Deke (ice hockey)
A feint technique to deceive and bypass an opponent.
In ice hockey, a deke is a feint or fake move used to pull a defender out of position or skate past them while keeping the puck. The word comes from Canadian English, shortened from "decoy." How a deke works depends on where the puck carrier and defender are positioned, which affects where the puck goes and how fast it moves. The move can slide the puck out of a defender's reach, slip it past them, or quickly change its direction to catch the defender off guard. Dekes are often paired with a shift in direction or speed—or both—and the term can describe the whole sequence of actions or just the stick maneuvers. Sometimes a simple change in direction or speed is enough to get by an opponent, but dekes are added to better shield the puck and beat the defender.
One common type is the head fake, where a player moves their head to mislead the opponent about their intentions. A more complex example is the toe drag: the puck carrier brings the puck forward on their forehand, then twists the stick and pulls the puck back with the blade's toe while moving past the defender, who likely tried to poke-check the puck where it was.
Lore & Background
The deke is a type of feint or fake technique used to draw an opposing player out of position or skate past them while keeping control of the puck. The position of the player performing the deke and the defender determines where the puck will be moved and the speed. The deke can be used to move the puck out of reach of an opposing player, move the puck past the opposing player, or quickly change direction of the puck so the opposing player is caught out of position. Dekes are usually used in combination with either a change of direction or speed, or both; the deke may refer to the entire sequence of actions as well as the maneuver(s) made with the stick. Often a change in direction or a change in speed is enough to get past an opposing player, but dekes are used in combination with these to better protect the puck and get by a defender. One type is the head fake, using a movement of the head to fool an opposing player over the player's movements or intention. A more complex deke is the toe drag, in which the puck carrier brings the puck forward on their forehand, subsequently turns their stick and pulls the puck towards themselves with the toe of the blade, while moving past the defender, who has presumably attempted to poke check the puck in its previous position.
Reader's Guide
The deke is a foundational skill in ice hockey, allowing a player to maintain possession and control of the puck while bypassing a defender. Its significance lies in its versatility: it can be used to move the puck out of reach, change direction quickly, or draw an opponent out of position. The technique is often combined with changes in speed or direction to enhance its effectiveness. The term itself, a Canadianism derived from 'decoy,' reflects the tactic's essence of deception. The head fake and toe drag are specific variations, with the toe drag requiring precise stickhandling to pull the puck back with the blade's toe after a forehand advance. The deke's legacy is as a core offensive maneuver, enabling players to create scoring opportunities by outmaneuvering defenders through feints and fakes.
Did You Know?
- The term 'deke' is a Canadianism formed by abbreviating the word 'decoy'.
- The toe drag involves pulling the puck towards the player with the toe of the blade while moving past a defender.
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