Canucks forward Sherwood explains his ambidextrous faceoff skills

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The Vancouver Canucks have not one, but two ambidextrous faceoff takers on their team this season.

Kiefer Sherwood was the latest player to show off this rare skill. The right-shot winger stepped in to take a draw in the second period of Tuesday night’s game after the centre, Teddy Blueger, was kicked out. The puck was being dropped on the left side of the ice, which is the weak side for a righty. That’s why Sherwood swapped his hands to become a lefty, making it his strong side.

It’s like a switch hitter in baseball changing which side of the plate they hit depending on if the pitcher throws with their left or right hand.

It didn’t work, as Sherwood lost the draw to St. Louis Blues centre Brayden Schenn, but that’s not really the point. While the NHL doesn’t track strong side and weak side faceoff wins, it is easier for a lefty to win a faceoff on the left side of the ice and a righty to win on the right.

Sherwood joins teammate Aatu Räty, who has shown he can win faceoffs as a lefty or a righty this season. But after practice on Wednesday, Sherwood indicated that he didn’t get the idea from the 22-year-old rookie.

Sherwood’s been doing it since college.

“I did it a lot when I was in college, when I played centre, but I don’t take as many draws now,” Sherwood said. “I’m more comfortable on my backhand, so when I’m going in on the left side, if I can scoop it with a curve, I think it gives me a better chance. But it didn’t work last night, so I got to work on it more, I guess.”

raty canucks faceoffs

Aatu Räty, a lefty, taking a faceoff right-handed. (Sportsnet)

The strategy seems to be working for Räty, who has an impressive 56.3 winning percentage on draws this season. That’s second only to J.T. Miller (59.1%) among Canucks centres with at least 10 faceoffs taken this season.

All five of Vancouver’s centres are left-handed, which makes Räty’s ability to become a righty on draws extra valuable.

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