Passing

Quick Pass 1v1

PURPOSE

Passing with pressure and finding time & space.

SKILLS

1v1 battles
Containing and creating space
Quick passing and moving to be an option
Tape to tape passes

HOW TO

Players around circle with 2 players inside.
Players on the inside must battle for the puck. Once someone has possession, they must make 3 clean passes (or designated number) with players on the outside of the circle. They cannot pass to the same person twice (or twice in a row depending on numbers).
Other player is trying to intercept and then make their passes.
Once the 3rd pass is successfully made, the inside and receiving outside player immediately switch spots and that new player starts with possession.
Players on the outside can move, within reason, around the perimeter, but they cannot step inside or cut through the circle unless they are part of the completion of passing requirement.

FOCUS

Quick passes and moving feet to create space in a small area.
Puck protection to retain possession.
Heads up play to see your options.

VARIATIONS

Add players
Add/change passing requirements – quantity, type (forehand, backhand, saucer), pattern (every other person, opposite sides)

For skaters, this is a quick shooting, rebounding and skating drill with ample opportunities for variations. For goalies, this is a great drill for tracking movement coming from the corners, working on post lock-ups (and recovering to/from posts), and controlling/tracking rebounds.

SKILLS

Passing in transition mimicking board play in OZC and PP/PK situations
Working on net-front presence for a quick scoring opportunity
For goalies, working on post lock and drive situations

HOW TO

Player 1 starts backwards and passes to next player in line (2) and gets puck back. They transition to forwards around cone between blue and top of circle, drives to high slot for shot.
Then player 1 gets in position to rebound for player 2’s shot.
Immediately after player 1 shoots, player 2 starts backwards passing to next person in line (3), receives puck back, transitions to forwards around middle cone, then drives net to shoot.
Player 2 then goes to the front to rebound for 3.
Immediately after the shot, player 3 drives around low cone and either shoots or passes to one of the players in front.
Goalie should focus on tracking puck through shot and quick game-like recovery back to their post to track the next shot.

FOCUS

Player 1 should look to take a mid-range shot, not drive too low or look to deke the goalie out of their pads. This is a shooting drill not a stick handling/deke drill!
Player 2 needs to focus on the shot, not look for the backside read. They are looking to either score on their SHOT (again, not a deke drill) or create a juicy rebound.
Player 3 is looking for options. If the goalie gives short side by cheating to the slot, then take that shot, otherwise look for the options out front. Emphasize with players to not be selfish, even though that short side, top shelf goal may look pretty.
For goalies, post lock ups and recovery is the focus. Be sure to pace the drill correctly so that goalies can get back to their post between reps. This is as much a player shooting drill as it is a goalie drill.

VARIATIONS

Add a rebounder for player 1 to work on adjusting the shooting angle in the slot.
Add a defender
For goalies, have them only use certain save selections or movements like butterfly slides, lateral adjusts, or stay on feet 100%.

Zones 1v1

PURPOSE

**This is a variation of the Zone Defense Passing Game**

The main purpose of this is creating and containing space and self-less play to create a scoring chance. Players will need to figure out how to move and get open in their zone to become an option for their teammate.

SKILLS

Passing and using space to create opportunities
Defending net front presence
Transitioning from offense to defense and back

HOW TO

Set up the nets like a normal cross ice game. Divide the zone into 3 smaller zones – between the circles and each end – then divide the team in half. This mimics the 3 zones of play on ice.
Each team will put 3 players in the zone with one in each of the smaller zones – they must stay in their zone. Designate which way each team shoots.
Coach will shoot a puck into one of the zones. The players must play a 1v1 in their zone to gain possession and try to score by working it to the player in the offensive zone.
Players in any zone can shoot on their designated net – yes, even from the D zone – but they cannot move into another zone to shoot and they cannot carry or stick handle the puck into that other zone. Players can also pass the puck back into a different zone to create time and space as long as they do not skate into, carry or stick handle the puck into that other zone.

FOCUS

Creative play! Players need to work on getting open and moving the puck quickly to gain possession within the given time and space.
Passing and quick shots. Players who take their time and want to do too much on their own to be the hero will not succeed.

VARIATIONS

Change the position of the nets – back to back, in each corner or on goal lines, or even change the distance.
Add extra players in end zones so it becomes a 2v1 or 2v2 in the ends and 1v1 in the middle.
Add passing requirements.

Red Wings Cycle

PURPOSE

Work on moving the puck down low, finding a shooting gap and getting quick shots from a net-front presence.

SKILLS

Reverse cycling down low using the boards
Quick tape to tape passing
Recognizing time, space, gaps and shooting angles
If D is added, recognizing the play and when to pressure vs when to release to the dangerous man in the slot

HOW TO

Two player set up in the high slot area. Player one drives into corner area, pick up puck.
As player 1 turns up ice, they play the puck back off the boards and into the corner.
Player 2 needs to read the play – delay if necessary – to pick up the cycled puck and go behind the net.
At the same time, player 1 drives to the front. Player 2 breaks goal line and hits 1 for the quick shot.
Then, players immediately release, with player 1 picking up a puck and starting the cycle from the other side.

FOCUS

Moving the puck efficiently and reading the play. If you can’t do either of these, the play will stall and/or breakdown. This needs to be a fluid, synchronous movement.
Both players need to be cognizant of optimal shooting angle relative to the pass and the goal. For example, too far toward the puck and there’s less to shoot at, too far back and you give the goalie too much time to adjust and reset. Optimal is around the low hash mark, 45 degrees to the strong side post.

VARIATIONS

Add defenders into either circle or in front of the net to play both the shot and challenge the puck carrier behind the net
change who cycles/passes on the second cycle, meaning 1 releases and goes low while 2 releases and picks up a puck to start the cycle
Change the location of the cycle from board/corner to lower in the zone or even behind the net.

Double Regroup

PURPOSE

Work on regrouping patterns with D, creating and managing space through movement, and entering the zone with speed.

SKILLS

Passing in motion and opening up to receive a pass in motion
Regrouping with defense
Being creative but controlled in the neutral zone
2v2 play

HOW TO

Players split into 4 groups – one at each blue line. Two D set up just inside each zone. Pucks at 1 & 3 (or where coaches designate).
On whistle 1& 2 skate towards opposite D, 1 makes the pass to the near D who swings to the other D. 1 & 2 “loop” to re-group and head to the other end.
Second D makes a decision on who is best option to receive puck on the re-group. Once forward (1 or 2) receives puck they head toward the other set of D and repeat.
After the second re-group, they go in 2v2 to the other end.

FOCUS

Creating good passes and good passing lanes.

Encourage the D to pass to the player with the best speed, passing angle and stick target. If they need to swing a second time, they can.

VARIATIONS

Have both sides go at the same time to create confusion and have to pick heads up to read their play.
Have D change gaps by moving forward or backward in the zone, switching sides, or not swinging the puck.
Have forwards post up instead of crossing loops

3 Zone Timing

PURPOSE

Motion through zone, timing passes, quick ups and zone entry with speed.

SKILLS

Passing in motion
Single swing low breakout, typical on PP/PK situations
Neutral zone post up to zone rush

HOW TO

Line of players in opposite corners and coach in same side face off circle with pucks.
1 skates down wing and loops low in the opposite zone. 2 swings wide and heads to post up at red line. 3 drives near side wing, wheels towards the board then cuts across the blue line.
When 2 is approaching the red line, they will receive a pass from the coach opposite them.
2 will pass or chip into 2, who passes or chips to 3. Three becomes F1 and F2 and F3 complete triangle.
Once pass is made to player 1 from player 2, the opposite side starts.

FOCUS

Quick passes, preferably one touch

Filling lanes and gaining the zone with speed and movement

VARIATIONS

Add a defenseman
Start out of 4 corners, 1 skates up to blue, passes to corner, who swings and that player goes up to 2 for the strongside stretch or in to 1, who does a quick give & go then chip to 3.

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.

Predators NZ Post Up – Easy

PURPOSE

Quick post up to zone entry or breakout.

SKILLS

Regrouping
Post-up to zone entry which can translate to any area of the ice but is especially useful in the neutral zone
Reading and applying defensive pressure

HOW TO

4 lines of forwards at neutral zone, 4 D – 2 in each zone, coach at opposite blue lines. Pucks in the middle.
F2 passes out to D1. At the time of the pass, F2 wide curls while F1 drives hard toward the coach and posts up.
D1 passes to D2 who passes to F1 posted up.
F1 chips around the coach to F2.
F2 drives to net while F1 releases and also goes to net for 2v0

FOCUS

Quick passes

Evading an attacker with a post and chip

Supporting the post

VARIATIONS

Move back into each zone to more clearly/specifically use the post-up as a breakout

D from other side play 2v2 after they finish the swing

AROUND THE WORLD/ALL-IN

PURPOSE

Game to work on controlling time and space in chaos

HOW TO

Split team up into 3+ groups, usually teams of 2-3 players (by lines, colors, age, height, let them pick…)

Set the parameters – where they have to shoot, how many passes, what happens on a turnover

For example, first round they have to re-set to coach on turn-over. Second round they have to make 3 consecutive passes.

Put everyone in one zone or small area, coach dumps puck in and we go!

FOCUS

Controlling time and space – players will tend to beehive at first, but as they figure it out, it will get better

Good, clean passing through traffic

VARIATIONS

Set time limit
Give some sort of reward/penalty for winning (set number of goals to win)
Can also do a progressive version of this

3v1 High Drive

PURPOSE

For offensive players, this works on zone entry with speed and creating the shooting triangle down low with a high net drive.

HOW TO

Drill is shown to one side. Can be run from both side simultaneously. This is also a variation on Andover 2v1.

D lines up in center ice, 3 lines of players to board side of circle.
All three lines go at the same time.
1 passes to D and proceeds up ice receiving puck back. 2 goes around the center circle and drive high. 3 Cuts through the circle and drive far post.
D, after passing, retreats and plays 3v1 having to force play wide while still identifying the dangerous man.

FOCUS

Tape to tape passes

Quick hard shots

Recognizing if you should shoot, pass, and what the best passing option is – too often 1 will be SELFISH and keep the puck giving up a great backside read opportunity.

VARIATIONS

This can be run similar to Andover 2v1 but with a 3rd person. D would make the pass out instead of coming from the forward and D would go around the circle to defend opposite side.