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Purpose: 

Both players learn to read the other’s moves and make adjustments as necessary to out-smart their opponent. 

Setup: 

Attacker with a puck sets up in the center circle. A defender stands at the blue line. 

How It Works:

  • The Attacker skates toward the Defender. The Defender skates backwards, attempting to block the Attacker from passing or shooting.
  • The Attacker handles the puck until almost reaching the Defender. When close to the Defender, the Attacker pushes the puck to the left, pushing the stick as far to the left as possible and holding it only in the left hand.
  • The Defender should naturally move to his right in order to defend against the Attacker moving to his left. The Attacker then quickly pushes the puck laterally to the right. The Attacker should lift his stick slightly in the air and pass it over the Defender’s stick, which will be on the ice in order to stop the puck.
  • When the Attacker brings his stick back to the ground, he should connect with the puck and cut quickly to his right, passing the Defender.
  • The Defender should attempt to recover quickly and come back to block a shot or pass, while the Attacker should attempt to get as far away from the Defender as possible and get a shot or pass off quickly.

Coaching Tips: 

  • This drill is easily modified with different hand positions and movements across the body, so coaches can customize the drill to their team’s needs.
  • This drill can be modified by reversing the direction of the fake. Instead of faking to the left, players can fake to the right and cut to the left. They can also keep the stick in both hands, which limits the range of motion but provides more control. This is a good option for less advanced teams who need work on fundamental faking skills. 
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