Advanced Escape Wheel

PURPOSE

Extend principles of the escape wheel and build on escape skating and stick handling skills. This is a great drill for building power play wall technique and low zone cycling.

SKILLS

• Power skating
• Cycling
• Board work to create space
• Quick shooting

HOW TO

• Three players start in the neutral zone.

• Coach throws puck into corner.

• Player 1 retrieves the puck. Player 2 reads, delays, and supports in the corner, player 3 becomes defender in the circle.

• Player 1 runs normal pattern as Escape Wheel – skates to top of circle, hits breaks, goes back down wall, power turns towards boards shielding puck and then goes back around circle. Player 1 has option to bump off boards to player in the corner or carry around the top of the circle for a high give ‘n’ go.

• Even though player 2 is not an engaged player initially, they need to keep themselves an option, supporting the puck carrier and calling for the bump if the defender is pushing high, or shifting passing angle to be a better option if they carry.

• Player 2 passes back to player 1 for the shot.

FOCUS

• Quick passes and movement
• Reading and timing plays
• Defensively, it works on deciding when then attack and when to gap and contain.