Learn puck protection: body in between, puck far from the opponent, head up. With milestones, common mistakes and pressure drills based on Hockey Canada.
Puck protection means putting body and stick between the opponent and the puck so he cannot reach it, while keeping the puck as far from him as possible. Hockey Canada describes it as a strategy to keep the puck away from the opponent so that it is not exposed [4].
The honest answer to "Isn't that just keeping the ball?": almost. In ice hockey you also stand on skates and the opponent brings a stick. But the principle stays: whoever keeps the puck has scoring chances. Hockey Canada puts it this way: puck control means keeping the puck once you have it, and that is the key to possession and chances [1].
Why it counts in everyday play: most players spend the largest part of a game without the puck on their stick. When it is with you, you have to make the most of it [1]. In addition, most of the game happens in the offensive and defensive zones, that is, in tight space [1].
How long does it take? You learn the basic posture in one or two sessions. Becoming secure under pressure takes many repetitions. There is no fixed promise.
Prerequisites you can check yourself (practical standard, not a study):
Stand sideways to the opponent and carry the puck on the side away from him, far from his stick [4]. In Hockey Canada drills that means: body between puck and checker, body as a shield [2]. Milestone: you keep the puck for 10 seconds against a partner who only uses his stick.
Hip and shoulder stay between puck and opponent, the stick is the extension. When the opponent changes sides, you change with him. The basic posture stays: knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet, head up. Milestone: you keep your body between puck and opponent for 15 seconds, even when he changes route.
Hockey Canada trains protection with one hand and with two hands, with the top or the bottom hand [1]. One-handed you gain reach away from the opponent, two-handed you gain control. Milestone: you protect the puck one-handed for 5 seconds and two-handed for 10 seconds.
Look up in between so you see escape routes and teammates. Among pros, scanning before reception raised the chance of a successful next action [3]. Milestone: in a drill you name the color of a cone your coach shows behind your back without losing the puck.
Hockey Canada builds drills like this: technique first, then game-like pressure [1]. Start with passive pressure (the partner only holds his stick up), then increase to active pressure. Finally small-area games are added [1]. Milestone: you keep the puck 5 seconds in 8 of 10 tries against an active opponent.
Body contact is close when you shield. Stay with legal play: hip and shoulder as a shield, no shove and no check, above all never from behind. Hockey Canada warns that in the danger zone of 3 to 4 meters in front of the boards players must never be checked, bumped or shoved from behind and should always keep moving there [4]. Wear a helmet with cage or visor. This guide explains and motivates; it does not replace supervised training.
Make yourself "invisible" to the opponent. The puck lies where the opponent has to look last: behind your body. Skate turns where the outside of the circle is always your back. A phone video from above shows you at once whether you really slide between puck and opponent or just skate next to him.
Puck protection means putting body and stick between the opponent and the puck, carrying the puck away from the opponent and not offering it openly [4].
Because most players spend the game mostly without the puck. When they have it, they must keep it, because possession creates the scoring chances [1].
Carry the puck in a circle, your body staying between puck and an imaginary opponent. Switch between forehand and backhand and between one and two hands [1]. With a partner you progress to passive, then active pressure.
Not constantly. Look up in between to see routes and teammates: among pros, scanning before reception raised the chance of a successful next action [3]. The opponent stays in the corner of your eye.
The Shot Fake in Ice Hockey: Beat a Defender with a Fake Shot