A Deke is use for one purpose - to deceive the defender or goaltender!
A successful deke makes the defender or goaltender believe you or the puck are going in one direction when you will actually move in the opposite direction. Making the fake believable is referred to as "selling" the fake. There are three basic types of fakes. The puck fake; the head and shoulder fake; and the slow-down and burst fake.
The Puck Fake
When executing the puck fake, you are attempting to lure the defender into following the puck while retaining control. The success rate for a puck fake is relatively low because a good defender normally plays your body but against a defender who looks down at the puck, and if you can stickhandle, it works very well. Puck fakes include the fake pass, the fake shot/drag move, and the puck tease.
The fake pass will lead the defender to believe you are going to pass when you are actually going to shoot or make a move to get around them. This is accomplished by a tensing of the arms and shoulders toward the direction of the fake pass. You can also lift up your stick and look at the direction you are going to fake to, and come down with your stick but don't hit the puck and then make your move. Your next move, be it a shot or deke around your defender, must be quick or you fake won't work.
The fake shot/drag move makes the defender straighten up in anticipation of the shot, and you simply continue around him by dragging the puck slightly behind you. You can either bring the puck between the defenders leg, or between the leg and the stick.
Head & Shoulder Fakes
These fakes are generally the most effective against good defenders because they focus on your chest and these fakes have the greatest chance of fooling the defender into thinking the rest of your body will move in the same direction.
Try to keep the fake simple and you can use a few variations, including:
1. Head and shoulders move in same direction as the puck
2. Head and shoulders move in the opposite direction of the puck.
3. Head moves in opposite direction of the shoulders.
The lower half of the body move very little and subtle movements of the head and shoulders are more effective than large ones. You may also need to make several moves to sell the fake to the defender. Once you sold the fake, look for the defender to move his body or stick. If the body or stick moves in one direction, your next move should be your final move in the opposite direction.
The Slow-Down & Burst Fake
The fake is performed exactly as the name implies. If you slow down your speed, the defender will slow down enough for you to pass him by with a quick burst of speed. Remember that if your fakes don't work on the defender, you will need to either shoot or pass the puck. This is where a good wrist shot will come in handy.
Remember, to become proficient at Dekes and Fakes, it is very important that you become a better than average skater, handle the puck with your head and eyes up, and learn to read the eyes and body action of the defender.
Learn more about Dekes & Fakes with the Bobby Hull Offensive Strategies DVD.