Defensive drills

10 min.- Coach passes to F1.- D1 closes gap quickly, contains F1 in quiet zone angling up boards using stick checks and pressure.- No physical contact.

Key Teaching Points
- D1 to maintain position between F1 and net- Use stick to deflect puck

Key Execution Points
- Players switch to play both F and D- On turnover, D1 protects puck in corner

Drill Overview
- Start from opposite corners at the same time- D start with puck and pass to forward and pivot around dot to skate backwards until whistle- On whistle D turn back up ice and re-establish gap with forward coming from opposite end

Key Teaching Points
Defenseman: - Good first pass- Strong pivots- maintain gapForwards: - Good outside speed- Drive net

Drill Overview
- F1 passes to the D then proceeds to the front of the net for a tip/screen/rebound from D shot- After shot the forward skates to opposite corner and receives a pass from the first forward in line and plays 1 on 1 against D- Drill runs out of both ends at the same time, alternating sides on whistle

Key Teaching Points
- Accurate passes- D quick feet- D gap control

10 min.- D1 Drags puck to center, shoots on goal- O1 Skates to the corner and retrieves a loose puck- O1 Plays 1 on 1 against D1- If O1 cannot penetrate to net, O1 returns puck to corner and calls for "help"- O2 joins for 2 on 1 play

Key Teaching Points
- Puck protection- Penetrate to the net- Defenders read pressure or stall & contain

Key Execution Points
- O1 to keep feet moving- Communication- O1 Aggressive at attempting to penetrate

1 on 1 Gap Control

Drill Overview
10 min.- D1 skates forward around pylon, pivots backward to face O1- O1 attacks with puck when D1pivots around pylon Progression:- D2 starts with puck, passes to O2 when at pylon- O2 attacks 1 on 1

Key Teaching Points
O's -- Attack, change of speed- be creativeD's -- Good gap and stick position

Key Execution Points
- Pylon position can dictate gap, accommodate for skill level of D

centre line
Drill Overview
8 min.- On coach's whistle, O initiates the direction of the drill. - Contact with the blue line indicates commitment in that direction.- D must defend (react).- Coach passes to O driving in on goal.

Key Execution Points
- Readiness- Determined- Agility- Head on a swivelne D drill

Drill Overview
10 min.Backcheck - Efficient Drill #2“2 on 1 with backchecker”• on whistle, D1 passes to either side thenbackchecks the opposite forward• D2 defends and plays puck carrier• F1 headmans to F2 if open

Key Execution Points
-D player: quick feet -Body positioning -Communicate-Tight gap -Head on a swivel -Players rotate lines


Drill Overview
10 minBackcheck - Tactical Drill #1- on whistle from ©, F skates hard down the wing- © attempts pass to F in neutral zone- D backchecks F to attacking net- Switch sides

Key Execution Points
Player: - Head on a swivel - Keep O on the outside- Control skate - Body positioning - Speed

Drill Overview
8 min- Both ends go on whistle.- F1 on the hash marks, D1 has one skate on the goal line.- On the whistle, D1 pursues F1.- At the completion of a repetition, switch lines.

Key Execution Points
- Hard pursuit- Continue working hard the length of the ice- All checking must be legal

F1 starts with puck in corner and passes up boards to D- D races to keep puck onside at blueline, stops puck, and drags into shooting lane for a shot on net- F1 skates in front and positions for tip/screen/rebound- F2 passes to F1- F1 attacks D1 full ice for shot

Key Teaching Points
- Gap on transition- Force F outside on 1 vs 1 rush

BACKCHECK DRILL

- Players start from hash marks on both sides on the whistle- Players go around 2 pylons- Man with puck takes low road, drops puck in the middle and then proceeds to race the other player who is now carrying the puck to the goal- 1 on 1 battle

Key Teaching Points
- Angling