Page:Hockey, Canada's Royal Winter Game.djvu/64

 and play in the centre of the ice or on the side to which he does not belong, or for a centre player or rover to wander to the wings, because as each man has a cover, a check, on whom, in turn he should bestow his attention, he gives his opponent, when he leaves his place, an opening that the latter should not, and would not have if he were properly watched, besides, the forwards and the defence men of an experienced team ought to be able to know where their assistants are or, rather, should he by judging from their own positions. When a man strays from his own territory, a brilliant combination play may easily be lost through his absence from his proper place.

Each player of a team should occupy his position so unfailingly in practice, and the team should indulge in combination work to such an extent, that, in a match, a forward ought, at times, to be able to slide the puck to an assistant without even having to look to know where the latter is. If perfection be aimed at, and it should, the point of following up should be so regular, so systematic that this play may be successfully indulged in, because, with every man working in his position, like so many movements in a clock, a forward with the puck, in advance, should know without looking, where each of his partners follows.