Small deception can have big results.

What comes to mind when you think of deception? If it’s Jason Bourne and not NHL players, you are forgiven.

During a unique Virtual Hockey Summit presentation, Jaroslav “Yogi” Svejkovský and Kris Beech discussed how to train offensive deception to create stealthier players – mini Bournes, if you will.

Svejkovský, who has gone by “Yogi” since his days in junior hockey, was drafted in the 1st round, 17th overall, by the Washington Capitals in 1996. The now 45-year-old from Czech Republic played 113 NHL games before he was forced to retire because of concussions.

Beech, now 40, was also drafted in the 1st round, 7th overall, by the Washington Capitals, in 1999. He enjoyed a 15-year professional hockey career, featuring 198 NHL games, before retiring.

Svejkovský and Beech met at a Capitals training camp and were reunited years after they retired due to their love of coaching and development. Svejkovský was formerly the skills coach for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, a position Beech currently holds, while Yogi became the skills coach for the Vancouver Canucks this season.

Both are believers in the art of deception on the ice and in their 46-minute presentation, they articulate how they teach it and what the advantages are. They divide deception into four main categories: body, stick, speed change and combo, discuss the importance of technical skills in motor skill acquisition, and will leave you understanding how small deceptions can have big results.