D Skating: Sam Girard Turn

Am I the only one who is impressed by Sam Girard every time he is on the ice? I have had the pleasure of watching him since 2012-2013 because I was coaching against him, and even back then he was using the “Girard turn” from a young age. “Hybrid turn,” “Escape,” “Girard turn” or what I like to call it, the “Ankle Breaker turn” because so many times we have seen the opponent falling to the ice or turning the wrong way and getting beat easily.

For this blog, I will show you how COL49 has mastered the turn and how he catches the opponent flat footed so easily. With his agility, Girard is one of the quickest defencemen in the league. He can turn on a dime and has an explosive first couple steps to leave the opponent in the dust.

We can get lost with all the terminology that all the coaches are using. Let’s keep the Girard turn for this one. You use this technique when you try to beat the forecheck or on the transition when under pressure. If you practice your agility, you will get better. Better edges, better control. Eyes up and good balance are some of the keys.

When teaching the technique, make sure to emphasize not exposing the puck, underhandling, and the first couple strides after the turn.

Five key points when teaching this technique are:

1. Quick feet, blade engagement on inside edge.
2. Deception before turning, shifting weight, shoulder checking.
3. No stickhandling and keeping the puck away from the opponent.
4. Good balance in an athletic stance.
5. Explosiveness in the first couple steps after the turn.

Below, I’ve outlined a five-drill progression that you can use to help your players work on the “Girard Turn.” All drills can be found in the CoachThem Marketplace so you can easily add them to your personal playbook.

NEW: Click on video icon in rink for the Drill video!

Below Practice Plan can be found in our Marketplace.

1. Sam Girard Turn - Activation 1

Players are set up in 3 lines on the goal line and work up ice, with partners. The player in front should have a stick in each hand, and the partner behind being pulled should be set up at the other end of those sticks.

Players move with their partner pulling them, and then work one foot, inside edge and outside edge, scraping the blade along the ice.

The idea of this drill is to understand where the edges are on the blade and how they feel.

2. Sam Girard Turn - Activation 2

Get players comfortable with the steps to perform a hybrid tight turn, while also including pucks.

1. Players move at 50%, transfer weight to one foot, and perform an outside edge push on the other foot. Switch feet on the way back based on the group.
2. Upper/lower dissociation puck spot - Players spot a puck from side to side around their body and back towards their feet while their feet move in the opposite direction. On the FH side, players will work to not cross the hands, but pull the top hand in beside the body.
3. Players now work up to the red line at 75-100%, perform a hybrid turn back to the blue line where they perform a tight turn, up to the far blue line where they perform a hybrid again, and back to the red line performing a regular tight turn.

3. Sam Girard Turn - Escape

By working with the circle, you can add more players into the drills with more reps and with a guideline (circle line).

The player starts on the hashmark and skates 1/4 of the circle. He engages his edge and turns. Importance of the weight transfer.

4. Sam Girard Turn - Adding a Shot

• Coach can make the pass or the player.
• D1 starts backwards. He receives the pass from D2 or the coach on his forehand. From here, you can ask your D to use deception (higher level).
• After, D engages his edge to turn back and escape (Sam Girard turn).
• Part B (with a shot)
• Same as Part A but, after escaping, pass back to the line and open up for a one-timer.

5. Sam Girard Turn - SAQ

• 2v2 small area game.
• Goal = 1 point.
• Sam Girard Turn (within 1 stick length) = 3 points.
• It's a great way to challenge your players in practice to execute something you have worked on. Make sure, as the coach, you are aware. We do not want to see our players doing the Sam Girard turn with no pressure. The rule: the opponent has to be within 1 stick length maximum from the puck carrier to receive the 3 points.

Blog by CoachThem Contributor, Mitch Giguere

Mitch Giguere, ChPC, an assistant coach with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Mitch has his High Performance 2 from Hockey Canada, Advanced Coaching Diploma from the Canadian Sport Institute and is finishing his Learning Accelerator at the Canadian Sport Institute. You can follow his popular video breakdown on Social Media for more excellent hockey content.

Written by the CoachThem Team

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