In order for players to win races for loose pucks, they need to understand how to win the lane to the puck. This often requires them to engage physically with their opponent, which is something that needs to be taught properly in order for them to win lanes safely and effectively.
Here’s a clip of two of the world’s best female hockey players, Brianne Jenner and Marie-Philip Poulin, executing this skill. Notice how they use their speed and body positioning to cut through their opponent’s hands to win the lane and create a scoring chance.
Below are 3 simple drills you can do at your next practice to help players learn how to win the lane and then apply it in a competitive situation.
PDF OF FULL PRACTICE PLAN - 3 Drills For Winning The Lane
DRILL #1 - CUT THROUGH HANDS ACROSS ICE
Players work on winning the lane and cutting the hands of their opponent both without and with the puck.
Stride Through Stick: the players acting as human pylons are facing away from the skater. The skater must cut in front and get their shin pad through their opponent's stick and then repeat on the next "pylon." Teach without the puck and progress to doing it with the puck. Drill can always finish with a shot on net or just be run as a skill drill across ice.
Heel to Heel Through Stick: the players acting as human pylons are facing towards the skater. The skater must cut in front using a heel to heel move to get their shin pad through their opponent's stick and then repeat on the next "pylon." Teach without the puck and progress to doing it with the puck. Drill can always finish with a shot on net or just be run as a skill drill across ice.
Key Points
- Cut The Hands - Shinpad to Stick or Pants to Hands
- Variations: players can start drill by working on their "push off" moves off a pin
DRILL #2 - 1v1 RACE RETRIEVAL
Two players line up on either side of coach. Coach dumps puck into zone and players race to retrieve puck. Player who gains possession first becomes attacker and other becomes defender.
Attack version: attacker tries to score and defender tries to skate it out above the tops of the circles.
Breakout version: attacker tries to breakout and defender tries to contain-pressure-obtain the puck.
Scripted version: choose who will win the race before starting the rep. It is simpler to do this by starting one player ahead of the other but can also be done with the players starting side by side so that the player "winning" the race still must win the lane & cut the defender's hands first.
Key Points
- Win lane - initiate contact, body into space, cut the hands
- Full compete level - game speed whenever possible
- Drill can be done in any part of the ice - puck on wall or puck into space, net on wall, net turned to face wall
- Drill can be done with scripted defender having no stick, hitting pad, flipped stick or full stick
DRILL #3 - POSSESSION 2v2
Game starts with a loose puck placed out for a foot race/battle between X1 & O1.
Whichever player gains possession first immediately activates their 2nd player (don't have to make a pass back to line).
If defending player gains possession, their 2nd player activates turning it into 2v2.
If no goalies, must score off a wrap-around or double up the nets.
Variation: can run it where it is automatically 2v2 off the dump in (simpler)
Key Points
- Win race, initiate contact, build wall - puck/you/bad guy
- Possession under pressure
- In tight support, passing and communication
Try these 3 drills out at your next practice to win more lanes and races in your next game.
