Rico Blasi is the Head Coach of the University of St. Thomas men's hockey team and a former National Coach of the Year at Miami (Ohio). His transition drill works both sides of the puck, focusing on attacking the net and gap control.

Description

• Forwards start at the blue line and two D start in the neutral zone.
• On the whistle, the forwards attack 2-on-2 against the two D gapping up.
• After the initial play is made, the coach blows the whistle and the D re-gap to play 2-on-2 against new forwards at the far blue line.
• On the third whistle, the coach steps out with a puck and shoots on net to start a 2-on-2 battle in front of the net.

Teaching Points

• D need their feet and ankles warm before this drill starts.
• Forwards: be creative and make the D earn the ice behind them.
• D: re-gap quickly after each whistle and match the speed of the attack.
• In the final 2-on-2, both pairs need to win body position in front of the net.