Last offseason, my goal was to be able to communicate how to efficiently execute a 1-3-1 powerplay with minimal confusion. Initially, the kids seemed to think I was talking about football during our first special team video session. It wasn't my intention to walk away from the year with a 30% PP unit. I wanted the girls to learn the names and understand the roles of each position so that when they advance to U15 the following year, their development can be streamlined, making the transition from AA to AAA smoother.

If you're a coach who has never introduced the 1-3-1 powerplay and you're unsure how to move past the intro stage, here's a five-step process to get your powerplay started. These drills can be run at both ends of the rink to increase repetitions. With pucks positioned on the half wall, each line gets three rounds on each side of the goalie before progressing to the next step. Without any pressure, focus on the finer details of each position. I was lucky enough to have four coaches, including myself, scrutinizing each detail and working with individuals to help them grasp the concepts.

To begin, using Hudl Instat, I created three clips from the NHL and PWHL, each illustrating each position in the 1-3-1 powerplay, such as Bumper, Flanker, Quarterback, and Goal Line to give the players a visional of what we are trying to achieve. We reviewed these clips in the dressing room before our on-ice practice.

Start the drills simply with quick one-touch passes. The flanker passes to the bumper, who returns it to the flanker, and then up to the QB, who quickly moves the puck to the center of the ice for a shot. While this movement is happening, watch the goal-line player as they should move just off the strong side post while the flanker has the puck, ready to receive a pass. As the QB moves toward the center of the ice, the goal-line player transitions into a screen in front of the net, and the bumper becomes an option for a high screen or tip option. Once the QB moves to the center of the ice with the puck, the flanker makes a fish hook movement, nearly touching up at the blue line while gaining momentum toward the face-off dot. The weak side defenseman will read off the QB, sliding down the far dot lane to become available for a shot near the opposite faceoff dot.

I hope by following this approach and having enough help on the ice to watch for the small aspects of each position, you can successfully introduce and develop your teams 1-3-1 powerplay, setting a solid foundation for your young athletes as they advance in their hockey journeys.

Step 1: Flank to QB and Shot

Step 2: Flank to QB back to Flank & Shot

Step 3: Flank To QB Back To Flank To Net Front

Step 4: Thru The Bumper

Step 5: Flank to Net Front To Flank