Does it make a difference if a player is left or right handed?
The difference is most pronounced with respect to wing players, as the handedness reflects directly on the angle to goal: A left handed player playing right wing can swing his arm outward for a better angle shot, whereas a right handed player must take an awkward shot across his body. This is why a left handed player almost always plays right wing. Being left handed is also preferable for a right back, but as the position is closer to the center of the goal, the off-hand handicap is less pronounced. Defensively, left handed attackers must be treated differently than right handed ones. As left handed players are rare on positions other than right wing, defensive players can be suprised by left handed backs and pivots during the first few drives (with respect to the Olympics, this is not a real factor due to scouting etc). Some pivots are able to shoot with either hand. This makes it harder to defend against, as the defense never knows in which direction the pivot will turn.
