Breakout

For nearly every breakout, any person possessing the puck should have at least 3 options, with most having 4 options.

DEFENSE

When a D is possessing the puck in the corner, they should have the option to:

1. reverse the puck around the net either to the other D or rimmed to the far winger
2. hit the strong side winger
3. hit the center breaking
4. carry the puck to pressure

CENTER

The center’s role is usually as the middle man in most breakouts. Typically they will receive a pass either from the strong side winger or the D directly. Once they have possession they have the option to:

1. pass to the far side winger cutting across the blue line and move the puck out of the zone
2. pass back to the strong side winger for a short give & go for a strong side breakout
3. escape and move the puck back to the strong side D
4. carry the puck out of the zone, using the boards to chip out if necessary

STRONG SIDE WINGER

This is the winger that is currently possessing the puck. For this purpose, the winger will be positioned on the half board. Once the winger has possession, they have the option to:

1. move the puck to the curling center and then fill an inside or far lane
2. move the puck back to the d
3. rim the puck around to the weak side
4. go for the stretch pass to the weak side breaking wing, although this is often a dangerous play if not timed properly
5. carry the puck out of the zone, using the boards to chip out if necessary

The strong side D breakout is a more advanced breakout and is most effective in power play or low pressure situations. It begins much like the D to D breakout, but instead of the weak D starting in front of the net and reading the play to step out, the D automatically drops to the corner area near the goal line. The puck is moved from D to D behind the net. The now strong side wing will push up ice and begin to angle toward the far lane. The center will swing low and curl up ice to receive the pass from the corner D. The far side wing will angle up ice to the center lane.

The intention is for the center to hit what was the weak side wing and then move it up to the breaking winger that was the strong side wing. The center can also lane drive if they have the option.

Why this breakout works is because it moves the puck up ice quickly and allows for less players in the zone. Problems occur if there is too much pressure and not enough players in the zone, so communication and timing are critical so that not everyone is vacating too soon resulting in no passing options and greater chance of turnover.

The reverse breakout begins with the D carrying the puck behind the net. Due to pressure, usually from the back side (the direction they are heading), the D will hit the breaks or escape back to where they came from and begin the break out that way.

From here, it is a common 1-2-3 or center swing.

It is important to consider your direction of pressure and to communicate with your teammates what your intentions are so that you are all on the same page. As a winger, it is important to not “run away” from the play too soon. Stops & starts are your friend!

The wheel or swing breakout is another quick up breakout method. The puck begins low and is moved quickly around the boards behind the net.

The hope is that the wing, who is becoming the strong side, will recognize the play and move lower in the zone to pick the puck off the boards. Center and now weak side wing, curl up ice, while maintaining good passing angles, to get the puck out of the zone quickly.

Often, the best play after the wing intercepts the wheeled puck is to chip it off the boards around a defender to the breaking center.

For this breakout it is important to communicate that you are firing the puck around to reduce chances of interception. Also, the receiving player needs to put themselves in a positive body position to coral the puck and be able to move it efficiently. If you try to corral it facing towards the boards you may have more difficult moving the puck up ice quickly thus requiring the breakout to fail and the team to start over. If you try to corral it facing up ice, you are in a dangerous position for a hit as well as a low percentage passing angle. Similarly, if you try to face too far down ice, you will have to turn 180 degrees to move the puck up ice efficiently and you can’t see what is coming behind you.

D to D breakout is relatively simple, and similar in concept to the 1-2-3. On the back end of the breakout, the strong side D will call for the reverse and move the puck behind the net. The D in front of the net will release and get the puck. 1-2-3 breakout begins from this point with what was the weak side now becoming the strong side.

This breakout works well against a medium to light zone pressure, particularly against a team that likes to clog up the wall or overload one side. Moving the puck the other way allows us to create time and space.

Caveats with this breakout are the players not communicating, resulting in a turnover, and blind passes not recognizing a forechecker behind the net. If you can’t make a play, EAT IT and call for help!

The 1-2-3 break out is the most basic of breakout concepts in hockey. The puck begins low in the zone, typically with a D, but can be in possession of a wing or center. For purposes of concept, we’ll assume a D.

The strong side wing (side with the puck or side that the puck is moving to) needs to get low in the zone near the hash marks with their butt to the boards. Butt to the boards allows the wing flexibility to play and safe positioning.

The center will swing low – sometimes called a wheel or curl – to become an option. The D will pass to the wing (1) who passes to the curling center (2). Pass should be short, crisp, and tape to tape with a 35-55 degree passing angle.

The weak side wing will swing mid zone and head up ice aiming for an area between the two face off dots. The center will hit this wing with the pass (3).

Through the neutral zone, players have options for which lanes to fill. Traditionally, the player 3 will fill what was the strong side lane, center (2) fills center or far lane, and wing (1) fills whatever lane is left over.

The purpose of this break out is quick ups that split the D then drive either center or wide into the zone while maintaining good lane positioning. If you can master this basic breakout concept, you can master others.