Best 1DX2 Settings for Hockey

I have a tough ask when it comes to shooting hockey. I'm above the plexi, about 10 feet above ice level and shooting through a relatively fine white safety netting about 20 feet away from me.

The netting is close enough with my 70-200mm f2.8 IS to have very limited impact but what I'm interested in is using the best AF settings for maximum keepers. At the moment, I'm down to using single centre-spot AF which works but is not easy when it comes to keeping it on the target player. I'm pretty certain there is a better set up but I'm relatively new to my 1DX2 and it seems to have a huge range of options.

So ..... my question is, what would be my best set up on the 1DX2 for nailing AF where I want to nail it .... but without grabbing the netting in front of the play ?

Any help appreciated.

PS: I usually shoot F3.2, 1/500, Auto AF ..... lighting is not great in the rink !

That question is a hard ask. At first I would say that single point AF would be best to not have the net but it's going to get picked up at times. I would try it and the next smallest to it, the cross and see if it will help you hold tracking. Good luck.

I'd say what you are doing is a very typical setup for most any sports shooter.

Shooting through a distant net makes it more difficult to achieve focus. If you could be closer to it it would be further out of focus and easier for the camera to ignore. When I shoot baseball through a net I have my lens almost on the net.

I have not found anything other than single point to work well for sports. More automated modes will often pick the wrong player.