It is important for a player’s development to play tactics that support playing with speed and physicality in all three zones. For a player to improve offensive skills they must have the opportunity to play with the puck more than without the puck.

One of the best things we can do to support the development of a player’s offensive skills is to teach them how to pressure up and check properly in one on one situations and as a member of a group in puck battle situations and when forechecking. The start of a good offensive play is a good defensive play. The teams that play fast, support the puck in all three zones to win the puck possession and control game. Teams forecheck in the offensive zone with structure and tactical thought but there seems to be an absence of this tactical thought and structural play in the neutral zone.

Neutral zone play is often overlooked but one of the key areas of the ice surface to defend. Forced puck turnovers in the neutral zone help you to create offence on the counter attack. Many teams do not deploy a forechecking group tactic in the neutral zone to force puck turnovers. Denying the opponent the ability to enter the neutral zone and exit the neutral zone with speed and puck control is a strategic advantage for any team.

Neutral Zone Forecheck

I am not a fan of systems or set plays. I equate a five player unit supporting the puck defensively in the neutral zone as a group tactic that requires thoughtful design and execution.

A neutral zone forecheck to support the puck defensively as a group based on strategy and tactical play for me is part of hockey fundamentals. We’ve lost possession of the puck and we want to get it back by working as a group to regain possession and control.

Whatever tactical structure you deploy to forecheck in the neutral zone to corral the opponent into an area to create a puck turnover should be based on the situation. Whether as a group you play a one-two-two or a two-one-two, alternating or another structure it should be based on situational hockey. What matters is the players know they have to work together as a group to regain puck possession and control and create scoring opportunities off the counter attack game. The players should also know when to use the best structure for the situation which is a coach’s role.

A neutral zone forecheck should be run off every face-off loss situation and any loss of puck possession in the neutral zone. A basic structure to pressure the puck in the neutral zone has the following elements:

•  F-1 pursuit of the puck,
•  F-2 preventing a weak side exit option,
•  F-3 provides secondary support puck side or middle ice for F1,
•  D1, D2 GAP control to support the forechecking forwards.