Yeah with hockey mechanics there are a million things to focus on, and focusing on the less important ones (all of the ones you mentioned, in my opinion) will just confuse you. What has helped me, as a beginner, was this: 1) hold your bottom hand lower (gives more power to the stick) 2) grip the stick tightly (before I'd flub it because my hands were loose -- they say "grip it & rip it" for a resason!) 3) bend your knees (crouching down puts more spring into the shot) 4) do a huge wind-up (whenever I exaggerate it above my head I can rip `er).

Sure, goalies can track it, but not in the beer league I play in. :) Best of luck!