I love ending my practices with a game of some sort, and usually I try and find a game that aligns with the drills we've been running to sort of put it all together.

In the recent weeks, we've been working on breakouts and then transitioning through the neutral zone to an offensive zone entry.

While we're working on many of those aspects in small area games or stations, this is one full ice game that helps bridge those gaps.

We will start with Team X on offense, against Team O on defense. For now, Team Triangle will wait.

The coach will spot the puck into the zone and X till begin their attack. Team O's objective is to gain possession and run a controlled breakout to the neutral zone. Once the hit the blue line with puck control, team X stops and begins waiting just as Triangle has been.

Team Triangle cannot move from their positions until Team O enters the zone. Use this time to challenge Triangle (and now team X) to select the best place to defend from since they will be starting flat footed.

Now Team O is on the attack and Team Triangle is trying to get the puck, break it out, and attack Team X.

On a goal, or a time limit, give the puck to the defending team to ensure the game flows back and forth. 

I love the defending, breakout, transition, zone entry, and attacking nature of the drill. Another great hidden feature is that the drill really doesn't work without great passing.