Playing the centre-ice position in the NHL isn’t easy. In fact, it isn’t easy at any level. The middle of the ice is sacred ground whether you’re in the offensive zone or the defensive zone. It takes a crucial set of skills.

While those skills are a challenge to learn, acquire, and master, Winnipeg Jets assistant coach Todd Woodcroft explained at the 2019 TeamSnap Hockey Coaches Conference in Toronto that they aren’t difficult to recognize and teach.

“Great centres, they don’t get great overnight,” said Woodcroft. “If you want to encourage your centres, they have to embrace that responsibility.”

Woodcroft comes back to our conference every summer, and his presentations are about as jam-packed with helpful knowledge as it gets. You don’t want to miss this one.