tall/short defensemen

[westsidebeefer]

how much would u guys say height helps a d-man?

[mattlax743]

id say it helps because height ads to overall size and reach, so you can get farther out on checks, do over the head checks more if your taller, and use your size to over power attackmen

[HRLAXER]

hey just becuase your tall doesnt mean your "big" im pretty stocky and i can push around attackmen just as well as the taller guys. (im 5'8" btw)

[m2daRizzle]

i would say overall size matters more than height but being tall definetly helps. im 6'3" and about 220 so i get the best of both worlds. but height doesnt matter as much as size, but a quick stick and solid checking skills could make a great defender out of even the smallest kid on the field.

[BwineLAX42]

Size helps just by the fact that a coach is more likely to pick a big guy than a small kid. Two years ago I was trying out for the 8th grade A-team for the Wilmington Wings. I didn't get picked and they picked a guy that was stockier than me and a couple inches taller. I was probably faster than him (even though im not fast at all), had better stick skills, more knowledge of the game, and a bigger comitment to the sport. I was pissed 'cause i had been playin forever and this guy started like 3 years ago. Then I got stuck with a bunch of 7th graders and if you've ever had to play a grade down when you know you can play up it is not a good experience.

[Bobsch]

Height gives you better reach, strength gives you the ability to match up against big offensive players, and quickness helps, too. All are good, but skills can help to make up for being a bit short or skinny, or slow. Personally, I like a defenseman with skills and quickness more than, say, a tall, fat defenseman.

[b-waterlax]

Height is an advantage, but I was told at a camp that it can be a disadvantage when going against a smaller attackman. But like they said, skills are most important and can make up for shortcomings in physical appearreance(sp?).

[kmanlax4]

height helps but if u have good foot work and a good stick thats a huge factor