I, undoubtedly, get asked about breakouts and powerplay more than anything else when speaking with coaches. To be honest, my replies vary depending on who and what they are coaching but the consistent thing I share is: Don't take the stick and puck out of the players hands, let them play.

 What some coaches hear there is "put the best players out there for 2 minutes and hope for the best". What I actually mean is we, as coaches, can try to draw up the perfect play when in reality, it hardly exists the way we want it to. In my opinion, the best thing we can do is give the powerplay options with set plays but also let them play within the system. Sure, we want our best players out there on the PP but we also need players who are relentless on loose pucks, players who hard to deal with net front as well.

 With the 1-3-1 I recommend the coaching staff evaluates not only the talent but the overall Hockey IQ because players need to understand their roles within the set up. For this reason only, I teach the players some set plays to ensure they know where they need to be and when. I also let them know that I trust them to make plays and see things that may open up and they have the freedom to execute on anything they see.

 Here are some set plays within the 1-3-1 you can share with your group:

 Low Release Play

 F1-Half Board player (quarterback) will always play off wing. Starts with puck and passes to D1 and cuts to net quietly as back door option.

 F2- Weakside half board (quarterback) will always play off wing. Gets pass and fakes shot and passes down low to F3.

 F3- Finds either D2 or F1 cutting to net. Make sure to attack net for rebound. 

Double Screen

Play starts up top, working puck around perimeter. Get Box pointed strong side.

Low guy works puck back up to half wall and then cuts behind net.

Pointman works puck to right side who walks down low, punch turns and gets puck back down ice to point.

Point walks the line and waits for both screens to get in position and lets puck go low. 

Strong Side QB/Back Door Option

Pointman walks the line to pull strong side PK up (if 3+1 might need to move puck a bit quicker) 

QB (RH Shot) will work the puck up the boards keeping feet to net (to be shot threat). As soon as top PK commits stick to lane, QB will walk down the wall to find the screenman down low. One touch back and forth should get PK toes on the weakside pointed towards strong side.  This will open back door option.

 Once the DL PK commits stick and body to corner, the screenman (or Low QB) will move behind net. QB from wall cuts to strong side post.

Option 1: Reverse pass behind the back to cutting QB for one time shot

Option 2: Keep moving to weakside and feed bumper in front for one touch

Option 3: Weakside QB has cut to slot (LH Shot in this set up) 

Option 4: Bail out option Up wall to Pointman to reset