How to Perform the Mohawk Turn
The inside mohawk has been around for a while, but it hasn’t been that popular until recently, thanks to players like Sidney Crosby, and others.
I was taught this move about 22 years ago, as a youngster in Toronto, by a coach named Dan Cameron, who was a skills instructor for my team. At the time, no coaches knew this move, and very few players used it. It’s amazing to see how far ahead of the curve Coach Cameron was back then!
The mohawk is a VERY versatile skating maneuver that can be used in many situations. Here are a few ways I use it during games:
- One-time shots on off wing (instead of trying a backhand one-timer)
- Slipping checks
- Deking
- Opening goalies for 5-hole shots
- Pivots
- Attacking wide and maintaining a visual on your passing options
- And much, much, more!
Usually, when introducing a new skill, I like to break the skill down into 3 key points to start, then fine tune the details as the players improve. Here are the key points for the mohawk:
- Knees bent
- Heels together (not actually "touching" each other, but toes out, heels in)
- Weight transfer
Get good at this one, and you'll find yourself using it all the time in games!
