A saucer pass is a flat-arc pass that flies over a defender’s stick and lands flat for the receiver. It’s one of the trickier passes to learn but worth it. This is what beats stick-checking defenders in tight spaces.
What you need: Sticks, puck, two players, optional defender’s stick on the ice as a “blocker.”
Setup: Two players 20 feet apart. A third stick laid flat on the ice between them.
How to run it:
- Player A puts the puck on the forehand side.
- Push down on the puck with the heel of the blade and roll the wrist forward as the blade scoops the puck.
- Puck rises off the ice in a low arc, flies over the stick on the ice, and lands flat for Player B.
- Player B receives with a soft stick. Reset.
- Do 10 passes. Switch sides.
What to watch: Does the puck land flat or on edge? An edge landing means the wrist roll wasn’t complete. Flat landing means the saucer was clean.
If they’re struggling: Drop the stick blocker. Just practice the lift.
If they’ve got it: Add a real defender between the two passers. The saucer has to fly over a moving stick.