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On-Ice

USAH/HPEL Angling Drill

PURPOSE

Work on angling, body contact, and keeping players to the front and/or outside in a tight area, controlled manner.

SKILLS

  • Transitional skating
  • Mirroring
  • Angling

HOW TO – 1v1

  • One player at blue line and one player at top of the circle.
  • At the same time, player 1 will skate forward with a puck toward the top of the circle and player 2 will skate backward without a puck.
  • About halfway, player 1 will pass to player 2 (if necessary you can ad cones as markers for where to pass).
  • Player 2 will receive pass and transition back to forwards at the bottom of the circle. Player 1 will transition to backwards to the top of the circle. Player 2 will pass back to player 1, about half way again.
  • Player 1 will continue to skate backwards to the blue while player 2 will continue to skate forwards to the top of the circle. Player 1 will transition to forwards and drive down the boards, player 2 will step out and play D for the 1v1 trying to tie up the player on the boards and get possession. Player 1 will try to drive wide and then go to the net.
  • Player 1 then goes to player #2 spot. Player 2 gets in line at #1 spot.

HOW TO – 2v1

  • This is essentially the same as the 1v1 version except player 2 starts with the puck and passes to the D (3). Player 1 will receive the puck back from the D.
  • Player 1 will drive board side on the top transition while player 2 will curl inside. The D should still force the contact at the boards while player 2 should put themselves in a position to be an option.
  • Play 2v2 to either a shot or clear.

FOCUS

  • Keeping players wide and making contact as soon as possible. Players, especially those with body contact hesitance, will allow the puck carrier to continue to the corner or net.
  • This is a defensive drill, not a scoring drill. The whole point here is actually to NOT let shots and opportunities happen. The more bored a goalie is, the better, so to speak.

Agility Relay

PURPOSE

Technical skating, balance, and competition.

HOW TO

  • Place 4 cones on each side of the ice in a zig-zag pattern. Place one Border Patrol bumper at the blue line. Coach will be outside the blue line with pucks.
  • Divide team in half in each corner.
  • First players in each line skate weave around the cones, hop the Border Patrol, then race for a puck the coach puts into the zone for a 1v1 and shot on net.

FOCUS

  • Tight, technical turns around the cones, shielding with the body and in a low, stable position.
  • Competition! If you fall, get back up. If you’re behind, finish strong – DON’T GIVE UP!

VARIATIONS

  • Always forwards
  • Skate backwards, transition to forwards for the jump
  • Transitions, stops/starts, or escape turns at each cone
  • Change alignment of cones or placement of bumpers
  • Have players carry a puck and have to pass back to original line before hop

Escape to Decision

PURPOSE

Working on puck control and escape maneuvers in a tight area while also incorporating hockey sense and decision making.

SKILLS

  • Puck control
  • Technical skating (forward, backward, transitions, stops & starts)
  • Hockey sense

HOW TO

  • Using two cones as markers, the first player in line with a puck skates forwards around far cone and back to first cone.
  • The stop facing toward the cones then transition to backwards.
  • The skate backwards to top cone, transition back to forwards and proceed to first cone.
  • The stop facing toward the cones, then open up and skate between the cones.
  • Just past the cones, they will have to make a decision which way to go around the coach (coach should use stick/body to angle the player to the inside or outside).
  • Once around the coach, the player takes a shot on net.

FOCUS

  • Good close and controlled puck handling. This is to mimic moves that may be made in a tight area to retain and create space.
  • Skating edge control. Players should make tight turns and stay as close to the cones as possible and resist the urge for big loops or not stopping in the direction instructed.
  • Smart decision making. By the coach directing one way or the other, players need to start to see where there is more open ice. Some players will always go one way or another despite the coach putting out a stick and reducing the lane. Work with them to identify the gap and take advantage.

VARIATIONS

  • Add a pass at the bottom and return pass as the player cuts through the cones (shown)
  • Change the location of the drill from going across the zone to north-south
  • Have a more active defender or use a static obstacle instead of a coach
  • Swap out the coach with a passer and the player has to play the puck off the passer and react to that

Roadrunner Skating & Passing

PURPOSE

This a quick skating and passing in motion drill designed mimic transitional passing plays in games. Using them in progression helps to build the hockey sense related to these skills.

SKILLS

  • Passing
  • Skating
  • Hockey sense

HOW TO

VERSION A:

  • Two lines with two cones used a visual reference markers (advanced players may not need the cones), and one puck (have a few nearby for the errant pass situation to keep things moving).
  • First player starts forward with the puck and at the first cone, passes to the line across from them, then finishes skating to the other line.
  • The player receiving the pass then takes a few strides to their near cone and passes to the opposite line.
  • Drill is a continuous flow.

VERSION B:

  • Two pass version of A.
  • Players make first pass to opposite line at near cone, receive puck back, then make a second pass near second cone.

VERSION C:

  • Players from each side go at the SAME time
  • Players carry puck toward their far cone.
  • At the cone they will pass to the line nearest them (opposite from where they started), transition open and receive puck back.
  • Player will then skate forward toward their original line and at the next cone, pass to the next person in line to start over.

VERSION D:

  • This one is closer to A & B, but involves a quick transition, making it more technical than C, so here we are.
  • First player in a line skates backward with a puck and makes 2 passes to their original line (one at first cone, one near center of the drill).
  • Transitions to forwards and makes one pass to the other line, who starts the drill from the other side.

FOCUS

  • Skating in a game-like speed and with heads up hockey intent. If players are only going half speed just to do it right, they need to work to build to push the boundaries.
  • Passing on-target with pop and receiving with forward thinking. This means they pass with pace – no soft, limp noodle, passes (game-like passes) and they are thinking about where they need to go next on both sides of the puck

VARIATIONS

  • For these drills you can always add in more steps/passes or even more cones.
  • This can be hybrid with the 3 Cone Passing drill, where instead of shooting, they release to pass to the other line creating a continuous passing drill with two open transitions.

3 Cone Passing

PURPOSE

Short quick passing in motion and technical skating – 2 birds, one hockey drill. This drill can be anywhere on the ice or zone, but works easiest from a face off circle as it gives the kids a reference. This can also be helpful for teaching cycling and wall side drive concepts from a technical aspect.

HOW TO

  • Set up three cones in a triangle with players below the goal line in line with the center of the drill.
  • First player in line starts toward high cone with a puck. The power turn with the puck and pass back to the next player in line.
  • The skate toward low inside cone, open up (transition to open) and receive the puck back.
  • Transition back to forward and skate back around high cone then pass back low.
  • Skate to bottom outside cone, open up, receive puck back.
  • After receiving the puck back, the transition to forward, skate around the outside of the circle and go to the net for a shot.

FOCUS

  • Tight, quick turns. Skaters who do not get good knee bend or have less edge control will tend to take a wide turn which changes the passing angle and will make accurate passing more difficult.
  • Opening up for passes – make sure players are getting themselves into an open position, giving a target, and that the passing player is seeing and delivering to that target. Players who are less skilled at transitions will either come to a stop or take extra steps to transition in the direction that is more comfortable. This should be one fluid motion.
  • PASSING, PASSING, PASSING! This is a no pressure passing drill. There should be very few, if any at all, passes that are not tape to tape or missed completely. Give a target, find the target, deliver to the target.

VARIATIONS

  • After the last pass, the low person becomes a defender for a 1v1. At the completion of the 1v1, they go back to the start of the line and start the next drill.
  • Separate D from Forwards and only the D is the low passer.
  • Change the position/location of the triangle or the distance between the cones.
  • Add obstacles in the shooter has to navigate (also good for screens for the goalie)
  • Add a passer so they have to adjust their shooting angle on the shot

Big M

PURPOSE

Skating and conditioning while also learning to generate and maintain speed

HOW TO

  • Starting in one corner, players skate down the boards to the far face off dot and turn back up ice. To work tight and wide turns, this can be a power turn.
  • Heading toward center ice, they will go around the center face off circle (not dot) and head toward the other far face off dot for another short turn.
  • Turning up ice they will go down the boards opposite of where they started to other zone face off dot for another short turn.
  • Players then head back to center ice for another wide turn around the center face off circle.
  • Back to nearest face off dot by where they started, then finish in the far corner.

FOCUS

  • Bending knees in turns to generate and maintain speed
  • Skating in a game-like manner, meaning players aren’t coming up out of their hockey stance on the straight aways
  • cross overs on short and long turns
  • Puck control if pucks are involved

VARIATIONS

  • Backwards
  • In transition (half the drill will be forwards to backwards, half will be backwards to forwards)
  • All big turns or all power turns
  • Add in extra cones for weaving on the long straight aways

Tight Figure 8s Skating

PURPOSE

Technical skating skill to work on puck and edge control while maintaining or gaining speed into and out of turns or transition.

HOW TO

  • Drill in runs north south in lines
  • Place 8 cones per line – each face off dot, tops of circles, and all three center lines.
  • Player skates forwards on one side of the cone then cuts inside of first set of cones, power turns and does a figure 8 around the set of cones. Pattern repeats at each double set of cone.
  • For the single cone at the red line, player will do a tight power turn around the single cone.
  • Once all players get to the other end, repeat back to the original side. If players started on the right side of the cone, they will return on the left

FOCUS

  • Edges, edges, edges. Player may have the tendency to either not get into their edges enough, making wider turns or digging to much to the point of almost stopping.

VARIATIONS

  • Backwards
  • Transition
  • Escape turns

4 Dot Skating Drills

PURPOSE

Technical skating working on balance, edge control, controlling/gaining speed, and transitions.

HOW TO

  • Use 4 dots to work on skating. Can also use 4 cones to adjust spacing of drill.

VARIATIONS

  1. Always forward and working around the dots. Skate to the first dot and power turn from the inside out focusing on edge drive of the inside skate, leading with the head and hands. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
  2. Always backwards working around the dots. Skate backwards to the first dot and power turn from the inside out, focusing on edge drive, crossing out to gain/maintain speed, leading with the hip and head. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
  3. Forward to backward transition working around the dots. Skate forward to first dot and transition from the inside of the dot to backwards and then quick stepping out (opening up, mini-mohawk) to lead to next dot. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
  4. Backward to forward transition working around the dots. Skate forward to the first dot, quick transition to forward with mini-mowhak, the transition back to backwards with a cross over – essentially always facing the dot your are transitioning around. Proceed to next dot in same manner. After a few, switch to go the other direction.
  5. Forward starts and stops in a ray pattern. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start.
  6. Backwards starts and stops in a ray pattern. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start. Players will want to transition and take a few steps forward before transition back to backwards. This drill is to help build muscle memory and quick cross-unders to make the 180 turn. This is an advanced variation for many skaters.
  7. Forwards to backwards starts and stops. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start. Focus on the cross under to get from F to B and good T-stop position to drive out of the backwards stop.
  8. Backwards to forwards starts and stops. Skate out to first dot, stop, come back. Repeat to far corner dot, then dot at 90 degrees from start. Focus on the cross under to get from F to B and good T-stop position to drive out of the backwards stop. This may look/feel the same as the above, but you’d be surprised how many players struggle with this once they start backwards.

FOCUS

  • Balance
  • Edge control
  • Proper body position to set themselves up for the next move
  • Crossing over vs crossing under.

Gretzky Curl

PURPOSE

This technical skill is great for building hockey sense around finding and creating space and using your options.

HOW TO

  • Player 1 at half board and player 2 at center ice. Player 1 starts with puck, loops out of zone. At the same time, 2 retreats a little, and receives pass from 1.
  • 1 continues through neutral zone while 2 makes a short step out to the opposite direction creating a better passing lane.
  • 1 carries puck low and wheels around face off circle while 2 drive to the high slot. 1 passes to 2 for the shot.
  • 1 skates around the bottom of the other circle, opens up and gets a breakout pass from the coach, while 2 loops through the high part of the circle, transitions to backwards.
  • 1 and 2 pass back and forth till the blue line.
  • 1 curls inside and heads to the net, 2 transitions board side and passes to 1 for the shot in the slot.

FOCUS

  • Getting open and being a good passing option
  • Clean, crisp passing since there is no pressure

Half Ice Mirror 1v1

PURPOSE

This drill works on technical skating while also reinforcing concepts of stick mirroring and defensive containment.

SKILLS

  • Skating – edges, crossovers, transitions
  • Puck handling
  • 1v1 and body containment

HOW TO

  • Players start in corner. First corner skates with puck forward around the outside of the first circle and inside the second circle.
  • Second player will mirror them with keeping their chest facing forward/toward player 1. So, they will skate forward on the inside of the first circle, transition to backwards to the second and transition back to forward outside the second circle.
  • Player 1 transitions to backwards at the hash mark to face player 2. Two players pass back and forth to the blue line.
  • Player 1 transitions back to forwards, Player to to backwards and two players go 1v1 to the net.

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