Top five best drag-flickers in world hockey right now

These players are a serious threat to the opposition from penalty-corners.

The game of hockey would be incomplete without drag flicks. It adds a certain amount of thrill and excitement whenever players swoop down to take penalty-corners. To make it more clear, it involves a player crouching down low next to the ball. It is then picked up by the shaft of the hockey stick and pushed along the ground, while the stick acts like a sling. This helps in accelerating the ball. These penalty-corners are always taken by a specialist player, known as the drag-flicker. Most importantly, it always falls upon the shoulders of someone who is proficient in that department.

Today, we take a look at some of the best drag-flickers currently active in world hockey at the moment. These players are still keeping the tradition alive even though scoring from drag flicks has become much more of a dying art these days.

5. Gonzalo Peillat (Argentina)

Gonzalo Peillat is the only player on the list who is inactive at the international level. This is because he had a falling out with Argentina's head coach German Orozco in 2019. But, he is still pretty much active in club competitions. He is one of the key players for Mannheimer HC, one of the top clubs in the Men's Feldhockey Bundesliga, Germany's top tier hockey league.

Peillet has a staggering 176 goals for his country in just 153 appearances. Playing as a defender, almost all his goals have come from drag flicks from penalty-corners. The drag-flicker scored the crucial goals that won them the bronze medal at the 2014 World Cup and a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. Infact, his most important goal came at the 2016 Rio Olympics final when his strike won gold for his country.

Peillet became the top scorer the 2016 Olympics with 11 goals, all of them coming through his signature drag flick.

4. Lukas Windfeder (Germany)

German defender Lukas Windfeder is not only an able defender but also an efficient drag-flicker. The 26-year-old has already made 122 appearances for his national side and amassed 40 goals in the process.

The Junior World Cup winner in 2013 has been impressing with his skills for a while now. His recent performances at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were also praiseworthy. He was the tied in second spot as the top scorer in the tournament with seven goals, all coming from drag flicks. His performances at the 2021 EuroHockey Championship were also of relevance. He scored two goals in the tournament, helping his side win a silver medal at the tournament.

3. Blake Govers (Australia)

Australian Blake Govers was the other man who was tied with Lukas Windfeder as the second joint scorer in Tokyo Olympics. The New South Wales resident scored goals against Japan, India, Argentina, New Zealand and Germany, all from drag flicks. His goal against Germany in the 27th minute was crucial as it helped them establish a 2-1 lead.

A two-time Champions Trophy gold medalist and a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, Govers is one of the efficient drag-flickers in the world. Nominated for the "Rising Star of the Year" award in 2019, Blake has come a long way since then, proving himself as an invaluable asset for the Australian national hockey team.

2. Harmanpreet Singh (India)

Harmanpreet Singh scored one of the goals at the tournament from a drag flick in India's loss against Belgium at the Tokyo Olympics semi-final. The team were trailing 1-0 as he stepped up to take the penalty-corner. As the ball was setup, he struck it with such power that it steamrolled past the goalkeeper's left side. Even the defender standing on the left side couldn't do anything but watch on as a mere spectator.

Not only did that shot balance the scorecard but also showed the calm head this man possesses. Even though India lost the match, it clearly showed Harmanpreet's ability as a drag-flicker. Fast forward to December at the Asian Champions Trophy and Harmanpreet is doing it yet again. He is the current top scorer for India at the tournament, with seven goals. Infact, all of those goals have come from his signature drag flick.

So, it is no surprise that he was named the FIH Player of the Year in the 2020-2021 season. At just 25 years of age, he is deemed as one of the greatest drag-flickers ever to play the game. His 80 goals, all of them coming from drag flicks, in 122 appearances, certainly attests to that fact.

1.Alexander Hendrickx (Belgium)

Alexander Hendrickx was one of the most instrumental figures behind Belgium's success at the Tokyo Olympics. In addition to providing solidity to the backline as a defender, he notched up 14 goals, all of them coming from penalty-corner drag flicks.

Hendrickx beat the opposition keepers with ease and looked dangerous every time he stepped up to take the penalty-corners. One of the prime examples was one of the shots he took against Germany. Smashing the ball into the right side corner, he left the goalkeeper with absolutely no chance, as he took the drag flick. Moreover, he has the ability to mix power and precision, making it even more difficult for the opposition defence to read his shots.

The specialist drag-flicker has already racked up 50 goals for his nation and at this rate, a triple digit goal tally doesn't look too far away.

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