Puck Retrieval - Breakout setup

Drill:1. X1 picks up puck behind net and decides which way to go with the puck2. X3 (a defenseman) must get to the front of the net3. X2 & X4 must read X1 and adjust their location accordingly4. X1 moves the puck up and all players breakout of the zoneFocus:1. Players keeping in their lanes and maintaining position2. Head up skating to know where the puck and/or open player is3. Moving the puck out of the zoneNotes:You can add in a forechecker...

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1-1 Sprints (Half Rink)

Drill:1. On whistle, Defense starts skating backward and Offense carries the puck in the zone2. Offense tries to beat the D down the wall3. Defense tries to cut off O and steal the puckFocus:1. Defense needs to realize when to make move and push player outside2. Offense needs to read defense and make play accordingly. - If D goes toward the wall, cut it inside. - If D leaves outside open, use speed to get around.Notes:This is a good drill to help...

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2 on 1 Corner Dump

Drill:1. Line up 2 player against a Coach2. Player dumps puck to corner and chases3. Player 1 chases puck and Player 2 follows4. Player 1 picks up puck and skate up the wall5. As player 1 comes up the boards, they drop the pass back to Player 26. Player 1 continues around the circle and cuts to the net and gets a return pass and shoots on goal7. Coach should simply help drive the player outside to help them understand how to get position8. Run from...

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1 on 1 Corner Dump

Drill:1. Line up 1 player against a Coach2. Player dumps puck to corner and chases3. Pick up puck and skate around the cone and drive the net4. Coach should simply help drive the player outside to help them understand how to get position5. Run from each sideFocus:1. Players work on skating to win a corner battle2. Picking up a loose puck and then driving the netNotes:Related Drills:2 on 1 Corner Dump...

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1 on 1 Sprints

Drill:1. Line up 1 D at the blue line2. Line up 1 F at the top of the circle3. On the whistle, D breaks backwards, F skates forward with the puck trying to beat the DFocus:1. Forwards concentrate on beating the D2. Defense works on quick backward starts and then transitioning when the time is right so they don’t get beatNotes:Good full length drill to get the kids skating.Related Drills:Windmills Russian Suicides II (The Admiral ...

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4 on 2 Forecheck

Drill:1. Line up 4 players at the blue line2. Line up 2 coaches near the goal line3. Have one of the Forwards dump the puck into the corner and each forward covers a Coach4. Coaches work to get the puck out of the zone5. Forecheckers work to get the puck and then set up a play in the Offensive zone.Focus:1. Forwards concentrate on getting to the pucks and working along the boards to gain position2. Defense works on holding the point and keeping the...

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Windmills

Drill:1. Line players up in opposite corners2. Place a coach at each wall on the blue lines (4 coaches)3. Players start by making a pass to the opposite side of the blue and the skate the middle4. Player receives return pass and passes to the next blue line (again opposite side from where they started)5. Player receives pass and then skates in on netFocus:1. Hard passes2. Head up play as there is another player coming the other way3. Receiving and...

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Goalie – 3 Shot Drill

Drill:1. Player skates down from wing and shoots2. Player on opposite side gives the goalie a chance to recover then skates in and shoots3. Coach lets the goalie recover then tries to stuff a puck in the netFocus:1. Players should focus on skating hard to the net and shooting. Shots should wrist or slapshots2. Focus on Goalie movement from side to side, playing angles and recovering3. Players should not try to make dekes or trick shotsNotes:You can...

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Russian Suicides II (The Admiral II)

Drill:1. Player 1 skates to the other end around the cone2. Player 2 in other corner passes to Player 1 and then backchecks3. After Player 1 shoots, Player 2 skates around the other cone and drill continuesFocus:1. Hard skating 2. Stickhandling and shooting3. Quick transition from Offense to Defense4. Chasing down a player from behindNotes:This is a great drill to get the kids going on a slow night. It really focuses on skating, stickhandling and...

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2 on 1 - Pass to D (Half rink)

Drill:1. On the whistle D1 at the Blue line skates backward toward mid rink and looks for a pass from Forward 12. Forward 1 skates with a puck above the circle and passes out to D1 and then continues outside the blue line looking for a return pass3. D2 skates toward the blue line and will transition and play D when F1 gets the return pass4. F1 gets the puck and tries to beat D2 one on one5. F1 has the option to drop the pass to D1 (who should be...

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5 Lessons Every Hockey Parent Should Follow

Thanks to Rich Taylor over at Youth Hockey Review for letting me repost this great article.As another youth hockey season begins I’d like to provide parents with a brief guide to help make this a great year.These suggestions are intended to help us keep one key point in mind – youth hockey should be fun.In our love for our kids, and desire to see them develop, many of us (myself included at times) forget that there are more important lessons at stake here than simply learning how to skate, pass and shoot.Hockey is a fun game for many reasons....

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