Deke (hockey)

Deke, also know as a dangle, refers to deceiving an opponent in ice hockey by a fake. The deke is a tool a player uses to get past an obstacle, usually another player. The basic deke is performed by pushing the puck forward or laterally with the forehand and catching it on the backhand. The position of the player performing the deke and the opponent determines where the puck will be moved and the speed. This basic deke can be used to move the puck out of reach of an opposing player, move the puck past the opposing player, quickly change direction of the puck so the opposing player is caught out of position. Dekes are always used in combination with either a change of direction or speed, or both. Often a change in direction or a change in speed is enough to get past an opposing player, but dekes are in combination with these to better protect the puck and get by a defender.

There are many advanced dekes that players use, and all are customized by the player to suit the situation and his playing style. One such deke is the toe drag. The toe drag is performed by pusing the puck forward with the forehand and then quickly pulling it back with the toe of the blade. Dany Heatley toe dragged past Rob Blake in the first period of the 2003 NHL All-Star Game and once the puck was back on his blade he quickly shot, putting the puck past Patrick Roy.