Skating has always been an important component of hockey, but perhaps never more than it is today.

It's a huge part of defending, as John Kennedy Jr, the co-founder of national sport academy hockey in Australia, explains.

The Michigan-born skills coach spoke at our Global Skills Showcase about the importance of defending with your feet, in regards to generating backwards speed, with "stability and efficiency."

When should you use backwards crossovers? When should you opt for open pivots? Kennedy explains with the help of video examples.