Crookston 10,000 Shot Club Summer Challenge
This summer, we’re inviting all skaters and goalies to step up their game with a fun challenge to stay sharp and build skills.
Your goal is to take 10,000 shots between July 1st and October 31st.
Break it down and track the following types of shots:
Your challenge is to complete 1,000 minutes of focused practice, such as:
✅ Log your shots or minutes throughout July, August, September and October and return your sheet to the Blue Line Club office at:
Physical Address - 801 Fisher Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716
Mailing Address - PO Box 286, Crookston, MN 56716
***Tracking sheets must be submitted to the Blue Line Club by November 14th, 2025, to ensure enough time to finalize T-shirt orders.
Players who reach the goal will:
Set your sights high and stay consistent this summer — we can’t wait to see who makes the club!
A regulation size net (street hockey, or ice hockey, even drawn on a concrete wall)
Shooter tutor or targets (can be made out of plywood or purchased)
Shooting surface (concrete floor, driveway, 3'x3' heavy plastic sheet)
10-100 pucks
Hockey gloves
Stick
Players must follow the “weekly shot instructions” and meet the minimum number of shots required for that week.
If player cannot hit the upper corner of the net, they can shoot to the lower corner or the middle level of the net until they can hit the upper corner. Form and mechanics are more important than accuracy at the top of the net.
Get into a routine. Choose a time when you can practice at the same time every day. Plan for days that you can’t practice. Have a dedicated place to shoot.
Be accountable – Do what you can without technique breaking down or losing your focus – don’t just go through the motions. Break your workout into smaller chunks - for example, do half the workout early in the day and finish the rest later on that day.
Get 20 pucks and shoot 6 sets of 20 for 120 pucks in a day. This should take about 20 minutes given no distractions.
Players must track your shots on the 10,000 Puck Challenge Tracking Sheet.
The challenge begins July 1st and ends October 31st, 2025.
You are on the honor system. Please be truthful with yourself and the program.
You must have been a participant in the CBLC 2024-25 youth program to take the challenge.
Get your hockey friends involved, it will make it more fun if you do it together. Mix up the kinds of shots you take. Scoring goals is a combination of strength, quickness, and accuracy. Here’s some possible ways to vary your shots.
50 foot distance shooting to increase strength and accuracy.
Mites should shoot from 15-20 feet out from net.
25 close-in shots to increase quickness and accuracy. Practice both high and low shots.
25 one-time shots, again to increase quickness and accuracy. Have partner pass the puck to you from the side or from behind the net and shoot off pass.
Line up 10 or more pucks and shoot them as quickly as possible. Make sure to aim for corners.
Combine wrist, snap, and backhand shots. Slapshots are also okay from farther away.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Get in the habit of shooting on regular schedule, and mark your calendar ahead of time to stay on track.
Plan your schedule ahead, vacations, rainy days, or other unplanned interruptions can put you way behind. Build some make-up time in your schedule.
120 shots a day is a good number, but if you are feeling good, keep shooting and get ahead of schedule.
Wear roller blades to make the shots more realistic. Take some shots standing still and take other shots skating in, and practicing moves.
Aim for corners or smaller targets.
The greatest improvement will come from working on your weaknesses. If your wrist shot or backhand is not as strong as you would like, spend extra time on those areas.
The hand grip is similar to that used for stickhandling. When possible, the lower hand moves slightly down the shaft for greater power.
Puck starts at the heel of the blade and moves toward the toe as you sweep. Spin the puck heel to toe.
The weight of the player is transferred to the stick and the skate nearest the puck by flexing the trunk laterally.
The grip tightens and the puck is propelled with a snap of the wrists. In one motion, the top hand snaps forward then back towards the body while the wrist is extended. The bottom wrist flexes and whips the stick through towards the target.
Front foot points towards target and the follow-through will dictate the height and accuracy of the shot.
Eyes should always be on the target, not on the puck.
video example - https://youtu.be/BnTnmgUxoWs
Back foot should be elevated on a bench or bucket equal to knee height
All weight should be on front foot and extra snap of the wrists will help generate more power to the net.
Eyes should always be on the target, not on the puck.
video example - https://youtu.be/B06NnIq1s2g
The backhand shot is maybe the most difficult for a goalie to save, and probably the most difficult to master.
The hand grip is similar to that used for stickhandling. When possible, the lower hand moves slightly down the shaft for greater power.
Puck starts at the heel of the blade and moves toward the toe as you sweep. Spin the puck heel to toe.
Transfer body weight from back foot to front foot and the puck is released with a quick snap of the wrists while turning the blade upward. The longer the follow through, the higher the shot.
video example - https://youtu.be/vhbKPLGcMjo
The hands are usually held slightly wider than in the stickhandling position.
The stick blade is drawn behind the puck at a distance and height dictated by the time available and the distance of the target. The blade should never go higher than the hip.
The stick should meet the ice approx. 1 inch behind the puck.
The grip tightens and the wrists are usually locked at the moment of impact.
Front foot points towards target and the follow-through will dictate the height and accuracy of the shot.
Eyes should always be on the target, not on the puck.
video example - https://youtu.be/MDapNzhdQzM
This drill includes a set-up move prior to the shot changing the angle of the shot and creating more speed on the shot
Hands are extended away from the body with hands close together
Pull the puck towards the body and slide bottom hand down stick slightly wider than in the stickhandling position.
In one motion, the top hand snaps forward then back towards the body while the wrist is extended. The bottom wrist flexes and whips the stick through towards the target.
Front foot points towards target and the follow-through will dictate the height and accuracy of the shot.
Eyes should always be on the target, not on the puck.
video example - https://youtu.be/u7z-kiJBU5Y
This drill includes a set-up move prior to the shot reinforcing quick hands and quick release.
Player executes one quick stickhandle and quickly snaps pucks on goal.
The grip tightens and the puck is propelled with a snap of the wrists. In one motion, the top hand snaps forward then back towards the body while the wrist is extended. The bottom wrist flexes and whips the stick through towards the target.
Puck is shot from in front of the players body meaning this shot will not have as much power but if executed properly will not allow goalie time to set-up for shot.
video example - https://youtu.be/2PFGrcqqaLA
The hands are spaced wider on the shaft of the stick than during normal stick handling grip.
The puck is close to the body, centered between the legs.
After a quick look at the target, the eyes remain fixed on the puck.
The player is sideways to the target, bending over the puck and transferring one’s weight from the back leg, to the stick, to the front leg.
Wrists are locked and held firmly as the stick comes into contact with the ice, slightly behind the puck (½” to 1”).
As you hit through the puck, snap your wrists. Bottom thumb down and top palm up to ceiling. The harder the snap of the wrist the hard the shot will be.
Follow-through will dictate the height and accuracy of the shot.
video example - https://youtu.be/uxJCk36EslU
Goalies need to complete 1,000 minutes of training.
CATCHING - ideas:
Bounce a ball off the wall in any way and catching it off the wall.
Work with a partner and have them bounce a ball to either side and you catch.
Have a partner throw a ball from behind you and catch it off the wall.
Face partner and toss tennis balls back and forth to each other. Use the catching hand. Add balls to increase difficulty.
From a crouch position throw one leg to the side, then the other while a partner, standing in front, throws a tennis ball. Try to catch each thrown ball.
Goalkeeper without stick but with goalie gloves. The partner standing behind the goalkeeper, both facing the same way, drops the ball over the goalie’s shoulder or head. Goalie has to react to the bounce, grab the ball and clear to the side. (Goalie’s eyes should remain forward).
Partner moves about 15 feet from the goaltender and hits tennis balls at the goalie. Start out at medium speed, trying to get the ball up around the hands so the goalkeeper can react to both sides with his hands. You can hit them straight at the goalkeeper or with a bounce in front.
Using a mat or soft turf, one partner throws a volleyball or team handball to either side of the goalie and has him/her leave his/her feet to catch the ball.
Goalie turns on partner’s command catches tennis ball (wearing mask).
graphical examples - http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0008/2547/Dryland_for_Goaltenders.pdf
BLOCKER/STICK DEFLECTIONS - ideas:
Bounce the ball off the wall and deflect it will the blocker. Push yourself. Stand close to the wall then move away from the wall. This will change the angles and speed of the ball returning to you.
Using the back of your blocker glove, keep the tennis ball in play against a wall.
Work with a partner and have them bounce a ball to either side and you deflect.
Goalie faces wall from 10 feet out with back to partner. Partner throws tennis ball off the wall, goalie reacts.
From the basic stance using the blocking glove and catching glove, jog forward and roll over (somersault), come up in butterfly position and partner should rapidly hit tennis balls at goalkeeper. Use tennis racquet.
Using a soccer or volleyball, the partner rolls the ball at the goalkeeper who has to stop the ball with the stick and then clear it to the side. You can increase the speed of the rolls as goalie becomes more proficient.
Goalie turns on partner’s command and deflects, catches or blocks tennis ball (wearing mask, gloves and stick)
Angle shots - goalie is in goal. Partner fires tennis balls from various angles. Goalie moves and adjusts to angle. (wearing mask, gloves and stick)
Have an object/person screen the goalie and hit shots with tennis ball or racquetball to work on deflections. (wearing mask, gloves and stick)
graphical examples - http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0008/2547/Dryland_for_Goaltenders.pdf
SHOOTING - FOREHAND:
The wrist shot or a good, accurate pass up the ice is essential for a goalie. Those that can move the puck to their defenseman or around the boards can greatly help a team. Use your goalie sticks and gloves.
video example - https://youtu.be/EXtPXRTc5DU
SHOOTING - BACKHAND
Similar to the forehand, being able to move the puck around the boards or to a teammate is essential for a goalie. Take your time and practice correct form, accuracy is more important and speed will come. Use your goalie sticks and gloves.
video example - https://youtu.be/EXtPXRTc5DU