This is definitely one of those subjective topics, and after you separate all
the wheat from the chaff, boils down to *what feels right*.  I don't think
you can even generalize on the subject, because there are probably as many
RHers shooting left as there are LHers shooting right, and vice versa.  Being
RHed myself, I swing a golf club and a baseball bat on my right side (left
hand at top of club/bat) but shoot left with a hockey stick (control/right
hand at top).  Anybody on first picking up a stick/club/bat will
automatically choose a *hand* without regard for his/her natural handedness
(as in writing) if left to their own devices, making the choice on *feel*.
 No answer is correct, nor none wrong.  As long as the player is comfortable,
he'll do just fine either way.
 
Rick Feldhoff asked about the advantage of being on the *off* wing, which is
pretty easily explained.  With the stick to the inside of the rink, away from
the boards, it improves the shooter's angle by a few degrees.  What is gained
thereby is often lost on the player's (in)ability to control the puck along
the boards with his backhand or, harder yet, with his skates.  In addition,
passes towards the center of the ice must then (usually) be made off the
backhand, which for most players is, if not downright awkward, not generally
as accurate as passes made off the forehand.  Likewise on the receiving end,
the pass comes to the player's backhand, not often his best side. It is an
offensive strategy not too widely used except in special situations, in my
experience.  When it IS used, you see a lot of body-bending as players twist
around to favor their forehand, further reducing its effectiveness.  And you
might note that the prevalence of curved sticks does nothing to enhance the
strategy!
 
Lastly, in re: Rick McAdoo's comment about a goalie *wandering all the way
into the corner and using his relative immunity to prevent opposing players
from checking him to get the puck*:  a goalie IN THE CORNER is fair game --
he's outside the *privileged area* and is treated like any other player.
 
Hope that helps, or at least adds to the discussion.
 
Dave Erickson
The Intercollegiate Hockey Newsletter
*It's cooler in the mountains than in the summer*
*We have met the enemy, and he is us* -- Pogo
 
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