Defensemen is a term used predominantly in ice hockey and lacrosse to refer to players who are primarily responsible for defending their team's goal against opposing attacks. Specifically, defensemen are members of a team's defensive unit, which typically consists of two or three players per ice hockey team or typically four players per lacrosse team.
Defensemen play a crucial role in maintaining their team's defensive structure, preventing the opposing team from scoring goals. They form a barrier between the opposition's forwards and their own goaltender. Defensemen must possess exceptional defensive skills, including strong physicality, positioning, anticipation, and stick-handling abilities.
In ice hockey, defensemen are found primarily in their team's defensive zone and are responsible for marking opposing forwards, blocking shots, clearing rebounds, and initiating breakouts. They also participate in offensive plays by passing the puck to forwards, joining attacks, and taking shots from the point.
Similarly, in lacrosse, defensemen play a pivotal role in guarding their team's goal. They apply intense stick checks, body checks, and positioning techniques to disrupt the opposition's offensive plays, while also being responsible for coordinating defensive efforts. Lacrosse defensemen also assist in transition plays and may initiate offensive movements in certain situations.
Overall, defensemen are essential players in ice hockey and lacrosse, protecting their team's goal while contributing to both the defense and offense of the game.
