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Purpose: 

Defenders work on skating, puck handling, passing and shooting. 

Setup: 

Defenders line up in the corner. 

How It Works: 

  • First player in line skates backward to blue line. As he is skating backward he one-touch passes with the next player in line. 
  • First player then skates laterally across the blue line to the boards. 
  • There he skates forward around a cone, skates to the middle of the ice and shoots. 
  • Run the drill for 5-10 minutes.

Coaching Tips:

  • Skaters should have their heads and chests up at all times when skating. 
  • Emphasize maintaining puck control throughout the drill, focusing on keeping the puck close to the stick during backward skating and lateral movements.
  • Instruct players on the importance of smooth transitions between skating directions, including efficient pivots and tight turns around the cone.
  • Encourage accurate, crisp one-touch passes, as the quality of the pass can significantly impact the flow of the drill.

For Younger Athletes:

  • Focus on reinforcing basic skating skills such as balance, stride, and stopping, which are essential before adding the complexity of puck handling.
  • Break the drill into smaller, more manageable steps to help young players understand and execute each part of the drill effectively.
  • Use positive reinforcement to encourage efforts and improvements in skating, passing, and shooting, providing praise and constructive feedback.

For Older Athletes:

  • Challenge older, more experienced players with advanced puck handling techniques, like quick directional changes and maintaining control at higher speeds.
  • Encourage focus on the power and accuracy of shots, aiming to make every shot count and improve scoring efficiency.
  • Introduce elements that mimic real game situations, such as defensive pressure or quick decision-making on shot selection, to prepare players for actual game conditions.
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