Skating

M2 Regroup 1v1

SKILLS

HOCKEY SENSE

PASSING

SKATING

SHOOTING

PURPOSE

Generating and managing gap on regroups and regrouping with motion and speed.

HOW TO

Drill can be run simultaneously, one side, or alternating sides
Start with a D on one side of the center circle with puck, forward between the red & blue on the same vertical side of the D but opposite lateral side.
D uses C-cuts and backward crossovers to pull puck backwards around the circle and toward the blue.
Once toward the far edge of the circle, the pass to the forward in a post-up ready position (forward: BE READY to move!).
Forward gets takes a few strides as they release a quick pass back to the D.
D reads the forwards path, makes the regroup outlet
Forward heads up ice, while D now retreats and plays opposite forward back into the zone 1v1.

FOCUS

Skating – driving hard off the toes to get around the circle quickly and efficiently
Gap management – retreating with control and intent
Passing – tape to tape, giving and locating a target

VARIATIONS

Add another pass from the corner to the D as a trailer creating a point shot instead of a true 2v0
Add another forward and D
See also M2 Regroup 2v0, Andover 1v1, and Andover 2v1

M2 Regroup 2v0

SKILLS

HOCKEY SENSE

PASSING

SKATING

SHOOTING

PURPOSE

Generating and managing gap on regroups and regrouping with motion and speed.

HOW TO

Drill can be run simultaneously, one side, or alternating sides
Start with a D on one side of the center circle with puck, forward between the red & blue on the same vertical side of the D but opposite lateral side.
D uses C-cuts and backward crossovers to pull puck backwards around the circle and toward the blue.
Once toward the far edge of the circle, the pass to the forward in a post-up ready position (forward: BE READY to move!).
Forward gets takes a few strides as they release a quick pass back to the D.
D reads the forwards path, makes the regroup outlet
Both head up ice in a 2v0

FOCUS

Skating – driving hard off the toes to get around the circle quickly and efficiently
Gap management – retreating with control and intent
Passing – tape to tape, giving and locating a target

VARIATIONS

Add another pass from the corner to the D as a trailer creating a point shot instead of a true 2v0
Add another forward and D
See also M2 Regroup 1v1, Andover 1v1, and Andover 2v1

Dartmouth D Breakout Drill

SKILLS

HOCKEY SENSE

PASSING

SKATING

PURPOSE

Retrieving pucks and moving quickly and efficiently into breakouts while using the net as protection.

HOW TO

One D1 starts at bottom of circle, D2 on hash marks (as winger), coach at top of circle with pucks
D1 attacks to face off dot, as they transition, coach puts puck in corner (not rimmed)
D transitions, checking shoulders, and gathers puck
D1 moves quickly behind the net and at far post, looks to make the breakout pass to D2
D1 and D2 move out of the zone

FOCUS

Passing tape to tape
Checking for pressure

VARIATIONS

Utilize different breakout techniques – near board, far board, stop-go reverse, etc.
Add a forechecker
Hybrid this with 2 cone 1v1 breakout drill

Boston Defense Gap Up

SKILLS

D GAP

HOCKEY SENSE

SKATING

PURPOSE

Controlling defensive gaps through neutral zone and using your D partner as an outlet option.

HOW TO

Two D start at blue line and attack to center red
On transition, coach puts puck into mid-defensive zone, one side or the other
Strongside D retreats and collects the puck while the other D also retreats backwards, open, and ready for swing pass
D head up ice 2v0 with speed and possession

FOCUS

Forechecking with purpose
Hockey sense to know when to attack and when to utilize their options
Passing and shooting with pressure

VARIATIONS

Activate second forward: Once 1 passes back to the next player in their line, that activates them into a 2v1. So the play is either 1v1 or 2v1.
Instead of starting in a corner, start in “close combat” behind the net

Circle Puck Protection

SKILLS

SKATING

BODY CONTACT

STICK HANDLING

PURPOSE

This small area drill requires players to work on skating and defensive concepts while either protecting the puck or trying to beat a defender to gain possession.

HOW TO

Inside a circle (or other designated area) place one puck and two players.
One player is designated as a defender and the other is offense.
The defensive player must shield and protect the puck by using their body, stick, and skate positioning.
The offensive player is trying to beat the defender and gain possession of the puck.
Rotate players after a short interval, or if split off into pairs, the pair flips offense and defense at possession change.

FOCUS

Body position! Players must attack the puck at an appropriate opening with appropriate body contact and positioning.
Compete. Players must WANT to succeed and gain possession or keep possession.

VARIATIONS

Add extra players
Change it from the player in the middle defending a stationary puck to them having to gain possession, more like traditional keep away.

Power Transitions

SKILLS

SKATING

SHOOTING

PURPOSE

Technical skating working on getting deep into edges to generate and/or maintain speed through transition.

HOW TO

Need 12 cones, one rebounder, and one line of players
Player skates through cones in either a vertical (north-south) figure 8 or horizonal (east-west) figure 8, transitioning as necessary to stay facing in the direction as requested by the coach.
Then they skate through the standard weave cones.
At the top of the standard weave, the player will receive a pass from a coach, drive into the lane and pass off the rebounder.
they will gather the puck off the rebounder, drag and shoot.

FOCUS

This is highly technical skating and the focus should be getting low and driving through their edges to generate power.
- “listen for the crunch”
- transitions or turns should be as tight to the cone as possible. Players not getting low enough or into their edges enough will take wider turns.
On the shooting side, getting the players to drag and shoot instead of turning and shooting is key. In this we are working on adjusting the shooting angle enough to pull the goalie over.

VARIATIONS

Change the direction of skating – start forwards, start backwards, always forwards, always backwards.
Have players carry a puck through the skating and making the pass to and receiving back at the top before the rebounder.
Change the position/location of the rebounder.
Add a defender.

Mirror 2 cone 1v1

SKILLS

SKATING

BREAKOUTS

HOCKEY SENSE

PURPOSE

This hybrid drill works on the concept of mirroring and containing a player, moves to a simple board breakout, and finishes with a 1v1.

HOW TO

2 lines at the blue with 6 cones – 4 close together sort of staggered inside the zone and 2 at the opposite blue line.
Player 1 functions like a D and player 2 is the forward – it is important to have players work from both lines.
Both players go at the same time WITHOUT a puck. Player 1 skates backwards to the low cone while player 2 skates forwards to the high cone. Players transition and go to the second set of cones – player 1 now forwards and player 2 now backwards.
Players transition around the second set of cones.
Player 1 will then transition to forwards (release) around the bottom of the circle, go behind the net and pick up a puck.
Player 2 will transition to forwards and loop low and get to the hash marks.
Player 1 makes a break out pass to player 2.
Players 2 and 2 skate up ice – 1 transitioning around the bottom cone and 2 power turning around the top cone – and turn the drill into a 1v1.

FOCUS

Skating transitions with speed and power – get into their edges on entrance and exit of all transitions
Timing and mirroring – making sure they are keeping up with the player opposite of them.
Good breakout passes! It’s one simple, straightforward, no pressure pass. This should not be missed!

VARIATIONS

Adjust the cone spacing or location so that the transition space is tighter or looser depending on the skill level of players or the concepts you’re trying to build.
Make players carry a puck or pass a puck on each transition
Turn the drill into full ice by having 2 go the length of the ice and play 1v1 against the opposite D.

4 Spot Passing

SKILLS

PASSING

SKATING

PURPOSE

This drill works on quick, accurate passing in a tight space and escapability with puck possession.

HOW TO – NO SHOT

2 lines of players and 4 cones, 1 puck
Player 1 starts to skate forward and passes through the box to player 2
Player 1 transitions around one cone (left, for demonstration purposes) and receives the puck back.
The transition back to the inside and pass to 2 again then repeat the transition to the right.
After the second cone they will pivot to face the line they came from and pass to the next player in line 1.
They will skate through the cones and transition around the now right cone and receive a pass back.
Then transition around the left cone, pivot and turn to face line 2.
They will pass to line 2 who starts the drill from their side.
Once a player completes their 9 pass sequence, the get to the back of the line opposite of where they started.

HOW TO – WITH SHOT

2 lines of players and 4 cones, pucks with line 1
Player 1 starts to skate forward and passes through the box to player 2
Player 1 transitions around one cone (right, for demonstration purposes) and receives the puck back.
The transition back to the inside and pass to 2 again then repeat the transition to the left.
After the second cone they will pivot to face the line they came from and pass to the next player in line 1.
They will skate through the cones and transition around the now left cone and receive a pass back.
Then transition around the right cone, pivot and turn to face line 2.
Player 1 will pass to player 2 one more time, skate through the box toward the net and receive a pass back from player 2 for a quick shot.
Once player 1 finishes the 10 pass sequence and shot, they get to the back of line 2.

FOCUS

Passing – giving and receiving to a good target with good technique
Technical skating to put yourself in a position to possess the puck

VARIATIONS

Add a light defense pressure at the middle of the box to force quicker transitions and puck protection
Add a second set of lines going the opposite direction on the box then the last pass goes to the line to the right (or left) of the line you started from instead of across.
On shooting version, turn it into a 2v0.

Shot Block Gauntlet

SKILLS

SKATING

STICK HANDLING

SHOT BLOCKING

PUCK PROTECTION

PURPOSE

This is a technical, multi-disciplinary drill working on blocking shots, skating, puck control, puck protection and shooting.

HOW TO

Set up a border patrol low in each half of the zone, a series of cones in the neutral zone for a weave, two cones as a “box” or “gate” (could use border patrols if that’s what you have), and a passer between weave and gate (could be a person, too).
Players line up in the corner, one coach at the point as the shooter and one in the gates as a gauntlet gate keeper.
Player 1 passes to coach at the point then rushes the shot – taking an inside lane while the coach drags to shoot. They MUST block the shot. If they do not block the shot, they get back in line and try again.
Once they block the shot, they must gather the puck and stick handle through the weave.
Just past the weave they must pass off the passer and re-gather their puck.
From here, they will proceed into the puck protection gauntlet where a coach will provide light to medium pressure/defense/body contact as the player must make a move to try to get through with possession.
After this, player drives to the net, taking a mid range shot over the border patrol, then avoiding it to get to a loose rebound. (This border patrol is optional, but helpful for accentuating lifting shots and driving to the net through traffic.)

FOCUS

On the front end, it is getting rid of fear of blocking shots and figuring out how to control a puck after
The rest of the drill is all technical puck protection concepts – players must use their bodies and skates to control and protect the puck

VARIATIONS

Alter the position of the cones and/or border patrols
Split so that the drill is run on both halves (cut down cones or change alignment)

This skating and conditioning progression works on generating speed, controlled stops/starts, and a variety of applied transitions and escapes. While shown in 4 variations, there are multiple ways this drill can be modified for the age, skill, or desired outcome.

HOW TO

V1 – Always Forwards:

Players start to one side of the goal and skate forwards to the blue line and hard stop.
Player then skates across the zone to the cone and hard stops.
They then step out and arch around the high cone (if necessary, add more cones so they aren’t making a beeline for the cone) and then down the wall into the zone.

V2 – Forwards to Backwards:

Players start to one side of the goal like V1 and skate forwards to the blue line.
They will transition to backwards and skate across to the center cone.
Then transition to forwards skating around the high cone. At the cone they will transition back to backwards and skate backwards to the blue line.
At the blue line they will transition to forwards and skate in.

V3 – Backwards to Forwards with Escape:

A before, players start next to the goal. Player skates backwards up to the blue, hard stops, and transitions forwards.
They skate forwards to the top side of the cone and stop facing away from the cone.
The escape all the way around the cone and continue in an arch around the high cone to the blue line.
Then, transition backwards and skate to the corner to finish.

V4 – Forwards to Backwards with Escape:

Players start next to the goal and skate forwards to the blue.
They transition backwards and skate across to the top side of the cone and stop facing away from the cone.
They will escape forwards all the way around the cone and just around the cone they will transition back to backwards.
They will skate backwards in an arch around the high cone.
At the blue they transition back to forwards and finish in the corner.

FOCUS

Technical skating and executing with proper form and technique and building on confidence.
Generating, maintaining, and controlling speed. Players will want to skate slow to feel comfortable, but need to actually push themselves a bit to build on where they are at. It can be a fine line between doing it right and pushing, so be cautious.
Finishing strong. As player proceeds down the boards, the lazy players will tend to coast in. Encourage players to take advantage of the opportunity and skate ALL THE WAY to the goal line.

VARIATIONS

While there are plenty of opportunities for variations as any coach needs the most notable is to add pucks.