Shoot Like Matthews & Bedard: Stride-Formation Shooting Mechanics
Fix your puck placement. Unlock real power.
From: Maxim Noreau of Noreau Hockey (Instagram)
This simple setup teaches players the true mechanics behind the Matthews/Bedard stride-formation shot.
Most players pull the puck diagonally forward, lose leverage, and end up “flicking” instead of shooting. This pad setup forces correct puck placement and lets players actually lean into their stick for real power.
🎯 Skills Targeted
Proper puck placement for stride-formation shooting
Top-hand pull + bottom-hand push mechanics
Stick loading and weight transfer
Shooting from the hip lane
📘 What You’ll Learn
How to keep the puck in your hip lane instead of drifting forward
How to create real stick flex with body positioning, not just arm movement
How to build the foundation for the Matthews/Bedard release
Why standing “two blade-lanes back” cleans up nearly every bad habit
🧠 Why Work On This
The biggest flaw in most shooters: the puck drifts too far forward.
When that happens, they lose:
Leverage
Stick load
Balance
Power
This setup forces the puck to stay aligned with the player’s hips and feet — the position elite shooters load from. It creates instant improvements in release power, accuracy, and consistency.
This is the cleanest way to rebuild a player’s mechanics before adding speed, deception, or movement.
🛠️ Equipment Needed
Small pad or even a stick on the ice
5–10 pucks
One net
Full drill description, cues, and optional progressions below the video.
🎥 VIDEO: Stride-Formation Shooting Mechanics
Watch Maxim Noreau’s full demo + step-by-step cues
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Stride-Formation Shooting Mechanics
✏️ Drill Description
Place a pad or stick across the player’s body on the ice.
Player stands two blade-lanes back and slightly behind the line.
On each rep, the player:
a. Pulls the puck along the line — not ahead of their body.
b. Uses a top-hand pull + bottom-hand push to load the stick.
c. Leans into the stick with the shooting-side inside edge.
d. Releases from a stride-formation position with the puck under the body.Reset and repeat, focusing on smooth mechanics and correct puck placement.
💡 Tips for Success
“Keep the puck in your hip lane — not out in front”
Pull first with the top hand
Stay behind the line — don’t cheat forward
Lean into the stick with your body, not your arms
Slow and clean > fast and sloppy
🔄 Optional Changes or Add-Ons
Add a shuffle step before release
Add a lateral move into load
Catch a pass first
Add a head-up requirement after mechanics are clean
Progress to shooting in stride
🧩 Final Thoughts
This setup is one of the simplest and most effective ways to teach real shooting mechanics. It forces proper puck placement, eliminates the forward-drift habit, and teaches players how to truly load their stick — just like today’s elite shooters.
Master the static version first. Then build speed, deception, and movement.