Rico Blasi is the Head Coach of the University of St. Thomas men's hockey team. Over two decades at Miami (Ohio), he became one of the winningest coaches in college hockey, with 10 NCAA tournament appearances and the 2006 National Coach of the Year award. His transition drill works both sides of the puck, with a focus on attacking the net on offence and gap control on defence.

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.