Shield Drill

PURPOSE

Stick handling drill to work on shielding the puck from an opponent and adjusting shooting angle of a deflection or quick pass

HOW TO

• Players start in corner with puck.
• Skate up and around each of the cones, shielding away from the cone with their body as if it were a defender
• After the third cone, player makes pass off rebounder, adjusts shooting angle, and takes quick shot
• Adjusting shooting angle: opening up to shot, quickly moving from backhand to forehand or vice versa, etc.
• Repeat on other side

FOCUS

• Puck protection! The players may have an innate want to just skate around the cones like a normal weave. Really try to get them to draw the puck wide, lean in and shield with the body
• Off rebounder, try to make sure it is a quick corral of the puck and shot. The rebounder should function like a tip off skates or even rebound in the slot. They should not corral the puck then skate way around – corral, pull, shoot.

VARIATIONS

• Add in players instead of cones so there is a more realistic “defender” to shield
• Add in a player or coach to pass with
• Change depth of cones or angle of rebounder