Hockey

I shoot hockey with a D300 and my 70-200 2.8. My main settings and approach are:

Turn off VR (takes too long and eats batteries)
Set white balance for each rink manually via PRE
Manual exposure
f/2.8 (wide open baby!)
Continuous focus
- Single Point AF with focus point above center (trying to focus on the helmets)
- Focus Tracking on "normal" (Custom Setting a4)
Grid lines on (to help with alignment)
ISO 1000-1250 or 1600 max (depending on lighting - I trade off higher ISO to get the shutter speed below)
Shutter speed about 1/250-1/320+ (depending on lighting)
I shoot in Ch (high speed at 8 fps) with the grip
I zoom typically anywhere from 105-200mm mostly above 135 range and closer to 200mm (fill the frame)
Anticipate the play
Lock focus on the goalie for a shot from the point/blueline with the lens focus lock button
- Fire the shutter when you hear the shot coming in a burst
I shoot above the glass from the stands or from the penalty box in our home rink
- I classify rinks as 1/2 or 2/3's meaning I can shoot above the glass 1/2 or 2/3 of the ice horizontally
During a breakaway zoom out to capture the entire sequence and squeeze the trigger panning with the play.
- Crop in post for closeup
I've tried a monopod but I feel it gets in my way and my technique needs to improve