Triangle Drill

Purpose

Defensemen practice skating forward and backward and transitioning between the two.

Setup

• Place three pucks around the faceoff circle.
• Players start at a puck on the side of the circle.

How it Works

1. Coach blows his whistle or says “Go.”
2. Player skates forward to the top puck and executes a Defense Turn.
3. Player skates backward to the side puck. There he opens up and escapes out going around the puck and skating forward back to the top puck.
4. There he does a Defense Turn back the other way and skates backward to that side puck where he opens up and escapes out around the puck.
5. Then he skates forward back to the top puck.
6. Player continues this pattern until coach blows the whistle.
7. Run the drill for one minute. Have each player complete 3-5 reps.

Coaching Tips

• On the escapes players should not be crossing over. Instead they should open their body and their hips and keep their head up.
• As players get more familiar with this drill they should try to go faster and faster.