Key Points:-Players can only shoot when the goalie is ready.-No empty net goals.

Description:1. Players line up outside the blue lines.2. Coach shoots in 3 pucks.3. Players race for pucks and battle to score and defend.4. Hustle out of the zone on the whistle and play 20-30 seconds only.5. Leave the puck in the net after a goal is scored.6. Coach shoots in another puck when a goal is scored. 7. Count the pucks in the net after to determine the winning team.

Key Points:Good players can move in all directions efficiently because they and use all edges and have great balance on the ice. Routines for skating, puck handling, shooting and passing are efficient ways for a coach to quickly review the foundation skills and allow the players to get a lot of reps and improve at their own rate. Do these skating exercises with a puck.

Description:A200 Formation in Four Groups- Players start at one end in 4 lines and skate to the other endwith a puck and shoot from their lane.- inside edges - out and in using a snowplow.- inside edges - sculling one leg at a time on the inside edges.- outside and inside edges - slalom with the skates together and a good knee bend.- balance and edges - one length of the ice on each leg.

Key Points:Players on the court must get open or cover and opponent; don't check the Jokers. Jokers can check Jokers. Jokers can move on the edges, shoot and pass but only have the puck 2". Switch every 45-60".

Description:A. 3 on 3 in the court or ice.B. 3 Jokers on each team.C. 1 Joker on each team behind each goal line and 1 Joker in the middle. D. Exchange positions on the whistle.E. Defending team needs to pass to a Joker on transition to offense before they can score.F. If there are extra players rotate jokers play, players rest, extra players become jokers.

I am reposting this because now there is a video to go with it.---------------------------------------------------------------

D200 Straight on Angling Game 1-1 to 3-3

Key Points:Both teams go behind their net on the whistle.Defenders close the gap and maintain the defensive side.

Description:

1. Teams are lined up behind blue line.2. On the whistle each team skates behind their net.3. Attackers try to score and defenders gain a tight gap and D side.4. Play a cross ice game for 20-30"5. On whistle pass to coach and the other team is on offense first.6. Play from 1-1 to 3-3 also using odd man situations.http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/video.php?n=20140607111112834

This redo is to carry on with the theme of angling and has a video and pdf.-----------------------------------------D200 Angling Game 1-1 to 3-3

Key Points:Checkers create an angle on puck carrier and take away their time and space with body on body and stick on the puck.

Description:1. D200 lineup outside blue line.2. On whistle carry the puck behind the net and checkers leave and create good angles. 3. Play 20-30 seconds.4. Puck carrier can try to come out short side. 5. Keep score. Play to a certain score and losing team do something like push ups. Play a short series.

This is the lead up drill to the two angling games. I posted it before with a video from a pro team in Europe and now I have included a U18 Girl's team doing the same thing. It is a very important defensive skill to force the attackers to the outside.-------------------------------------B5-500 Forecheck Skills Deflect-Steer-Angle-Finish

Key Points: Gene Reilly shows the approach to European second league pro’s and then U18 AAA girl’s do the same drill. Cut the ice in half with the stick in the passing lane and steer the player outside the dots. Angle toward the back of the inside shoulder so they can't turn back, then finish shoulder to shoulder and stick on the puck.

Description: 1. Offense group behind the net with pucks. 2. Defenders behind blue line in the middle. 3. Both start on the whistle. 4. Defender force the attacker wide angle and finish. 5. Alternate sides. 6. Players switch lines so they all angle. 7. Move the defenders back to the far blue line as the second step in the skill.

Key Points:This game causes a few things to happen. Transition from puck carrier to pass support, checking the puck carrier to covering away from the puck happen very quickly. The puck carrier must use pivoting, escape moves and puck protection skills to pass on the forehand and everyone must face the puck and give a target.

Description:1. Players must stay inside the blueline and if they puck goes out the other team gets it.2. Before scoring the offensive team must make at least two passes.3. When the defenders regain the puck they must make at least two passes before a shot.4. Make rules with skills for skating, shooting, passing or good habits.

In this game the rule is that you can only pass on the forehand. If a player does a back hand pass the other team gets the puck.

Key Points:-Players can only shoot when the goalie is ready.-No empty net goals. Players have to see that is the goalie is ready before they can shoot.

Description:1. Players line up outside the blue lines.2. Coach shoots in 3 pucks, when a goal is scored leave it in the net and play with 2 pucks and then 1 puck if two goals are scored.3. Players race for pucks and battle to score and defend.4. Hustle out of the zone on the whistle and play 20-30 seconds only.5. On the change leave the puck in the zone and the coach will shoot in enough pucks to make it 3 pucks.6. Count the pucks in the net after to determine the winning team.

This video is from my hockey skills class of 12-14 year olds. There are 3 ability groups and one goalie. I keep the groups together for games. D5 Formation uses each end for one goal games and the neutral zone for cross ice games. Since I have only one goalie I bring two small nets. The games combine a skill, escape moves, with the two pass rule before scoring and jokers are added and must be passed to before you can score. The jokers can be below the goal line, at the point, in the middle, two of these or all of these. Jokers must pass or shoot but can't skate in and shoot. In this game the jokers check jokers who must make an escape move as well. This adds the habit of skating to open ice with the puck to gain time and space. --------------------------------------------------------------------

DT5 Two Pass Regroup with Jokers and Escape Moves

Key Points:This transition game requires on ice awareness and constant switching between game playing roles as well as loose puck situations. Escape moves create time and space for the player. The puck carrier must slide backward, sideways, tight turn etc.

Description:Rules: You must regroup with a Joker to go on offense. Before passing or shooting you must make an escape move. Jokers battle jokers but must stay behind the line. Two passes must be made before scoring. Rotate jokers after every goal or every minute if there are no goals. Play games to three and change where the jokers are after each game. Play a two of three series.

Game One:Transition to offense requires the player must regroup with the player below the goal line.

Game Two:To transition to offense the player must regroup with the point.

Game Three:Joker at the point and below the goal line must get a pass before you can score.

Key Points:Call for a pass. D should always move before passing. On the 2-0 make a max of only one pass inside the blue line.

Description:1. F1 pass to D1.2. D1 pivot and F1 face the puck.3.D1 pass to F1.4. F1 skate and pass to D2 on the other side.5. D2 pivot and pass to F1 who faces the puck.6. F1 attack at full speed.7. F1 shoot and rebound.

Alternate sides by making the first pass to D2* Add F2 when there are 2 forwards.* Create 1-1 and 2-1's if you have 8 D by having F1 attack D1 after the second pass and a new D replace D1.

Jim Playfair is a great coach for the details that defensemen need to be successful at the pro level. In this video there are many offensive skills such as drag and shoot, shot pass, taking the rim off the boards and shooting, hinging with a partner etc. 42 is a young Dion Phaneuf.

I sent this video to Sean who coaches my defense and they did many of these drills at our last few practices. Very worthwhile.

This is a skills class with one goalie and 3 definite ability groups. We use one regulation and 3 small nets and in each game there are jokers either behind the goal line, at the point or both. There is a one goal game at each end and a cross ice game in the neutral zone. There are even and odd numbered teams as well. All games require two passes before you can score as well as passes to jokers. This causes the player with the puck and the other players to get open. I give a verbal description of the games.

D5 - Games of Two Pass with Jokers

Key Points:Keep score in all of the games. Change where the jokers are and allow jokers to check jokers. Rotate on goals against. Rotate areas each game.

Description:1. Play two one goal games and one cross ice game.2. Require that 2 passes are needed before shooting and the jokers must be passed to.3. Players don't check jokers but cover a man.4. Jokers can pass or shoot but can't skate past the line.5. Use passing rules like only forehand, skating rules as only backward or on one foot, quickness rules like only one second with the puck or good habit rules such as goals must be on one-timers

This is a terrific transition game to get everyone playing all of the offensive and defensive roles. If you have 2 goalies they can rotate in.----------------------------------------------DT400 Back Pressure Game of 2-2

Key Points:Allow the attackers to cross the blue line before leaving to back pressure.Sequence is: Back pressure-breakout-turn back at blue line and attack-defend-rest.

Description:1. Players line up behind the blue lines on each side.2. Offensive 1 and 2 attack vs defenders 1 and 2.3. Defenders 3 and 4 leave and the puck side player back pressure the puck carrier.4. Offensive 1 and 2 must attack quickly to get a scoring chance before they are outnumbered.5. After a goal, frozen puck or breakout pass 3 and 4 skate to the far blue line and turn to attack the original offensive 1 and 2.6. Two players leave to support the defending team.7. Continue this flow.

* The coach can create different situations by sending from 1 to 3 new players to follow the play into the zone and back pressure. You can also add dump ins and regroups.

This is another great game for a practice with one goalie or to just have everyone practice the hinge and regroup and then compete in all four game playing situations. The players give passive support from the top of the circles as if they were covering the points and like in a real game can take the puck if the attackers go too high.------------------------------------DT400 Support-Regroup-Hinge-Attack-Defend 2-2 to 3-3

Key Points:New players give defenders support from the top of the circles as if they were wingers. If the puck is carried above there they can check them and break out of the zone.

1. Blue F1 attack vs Red D1.2. Red F1 and Blue D1 give passive support above circles. (as in a Erkka)3. On transition, after a goal or frozen puck red D1 pass up to red F1.4. Red F1 attack vs Blue D1.5. Original attackers blue F1 backcheck and original defeder red D1 join the attack.6. Play 2-2 in the zone7. Blue F3 and red D2 wait above circles to transition the other way and blue D1 join the attack while red F1 backcheck.8. Red D2 and blue F3 support from above the circles ready to go the other way. Continue this rotation.------------------------------------------------This is a video I took of my girl's U18 team doing the game for the first time. It is a good idea to introduce all of these games starting with 1 ib 1 situations and after they learn the flow add players. In this transition game you can designate how many D join the attack and how many F backcheck. A 1-1 of course has both joining.

The 2-2 option is a good way to practice 5-5 when you have 16 to 19 skaters.

Key PointsSkate to the big ice between the dots with the puck and pass to the outside. Pass and follow the pass taking the ice behind.

Description:

1. Line up in the C1 formation at the bluelines.2. Two players leave from the front of each line and get a puck from the corner.3. The first player skate inside the dot with the puck and pass to the second player on the outside. 4. First player follow the pass and cross &#65533;taking the ice behind.&#65533;5. The second player receive the pass and skate between the dots.6. The second player now passes wide to the first player and follows the pass.7. Shoot and rebound after one pass in the offensive zone.http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/mediagallery/media.php?f=0&sort=0&s=20111103221221695

Key Points:Face the puck and pass on the forehand. Stay in each zone until all players have made a pass.

Description:1. One then two then three then four then five players leave, one touch in the ozone, shoot, rebound.2. Next sequence is 5-4-3-2-1 leave the other way.3. All players make one pass in each zone.4. In neutral zone skate figure 8's while facing the puck and making forehand passes.

Key Points:Start with the coach giving passive pressure and progress to partner with passive pressure, then try to score on the whistle and then full battle. The player should shoulder check and go into the corner on an angle. Get the hands up on the glass and protect the puck with the skates to prepare for getting hit. Otherwise make a hard fake and get in and out with the puck quickly.

Description:1. Shoot the puck into the corner and practice protecting the puck doing cutbacks along the boards and go to the net on the whistle. Alternate sides.2. Shoot the puck in while a coach gives passive resistance and poke the puck if it is exposed.3. Partner now gives passive resistance with the stick on the puck from the Defensive Side and on the whistle battle to score.4. Closest player dump the puck in the corner and do cutbacks to protect the puck on the boards; on the whistle battle to score. Alternate corners.5. Have a contest to see which teams scores the most.

It is always a problem to practice team play with only three lines. Most minor hockey is in this situation. This is an option the coach can use as a Transition Game or as a Controlled Scrimmage situation. With less than 3 sets of D there would have to be a pause to wait for the D to get to the other end.------------------------------------------TD1 Specialty Practice with Three Units

Key Points:Create team play situations where the offense moves through all 3 zones vs passive or active defensive pressure.

Description:1. Group one attack vs Group two.2. Group three wait at the other end.3. Shoot the puck down on a clear - goal - frozen puck.4. Group three now attack vs Group one while Group two goes to the far end.5. Decide which zones to defend actively.*The coach may want to use this as a controlled scrimmage situation and stop the play etc.*Rotate the players not killing the penalties.-----------------I had only one goalie last night and this attack-defend-rest rotation worked very well. We had three sets of 5 in different colours (the green and white reversibles and I had 5 red pinnies) After the puck was cleared down the ice the attacking team skated into the neutral zone ready to defend and the defending team who just cleared the puck went to the far end to rest. If the puck was just dumped out the new attacking team regrouped. They only rotated when the puck was shot to the far end. The team defending rotated LW-RW-C sitting out to create a 4-5 situation. Any numerical situation can be created.

Our focus was on the power play but it is easy to emphasize the pk instead. We spent 10 minutes using the George Kingston rotation where there is a 5-0 pp going though options at each end and one groups passing in the middle. I blow the whiste one end dumps the puck down to the other end and then does a pp breakout and makes a rush to the original end, then works 5-0 again. The group in the middle goes to the far end and the far end group to the middle. (I had the middle group use the red line on the boards as the goal and do pp options as well.

The key points I gave for the pplay were; 'either you or the puck moves and I want a pass or shot every 2". We start our pp by attacking the seam at the hash marks between the F and D. they have three options.1. Skate between them and shoot or pass to the F on that side or the D coming back door.2. If the D pressures pass low and head to the net. the low player can score or pass to any of the other 4 players or if those options aren't there then cycle through the seam again.3. If the F pressures then pass to the point and the D can shoot, go to the middle and set up a high triangle, or pass right back if the pk f denises these options.

I have never done this as a full ice game before and it was very effective for getting everyone to practice the team play situation - especially with only one goalie.