Ultimately we can then transfer these strategies from the classroom, to practice, and into your games.

Defensive zone face-off

It starts with face-off fundamentals:

• #17 blue gets inside body position and bumps #85 white to allow his D retrieving the puck time to make a play
• #17 has now shoulder checked to scan possession of his defenceman
• #17 blue can push the pace into the neutral zone and retrieve the area pass by #90
• #90 blue shows tape and faces the puck for his defenceman
• Staying off the boards allows #90 to protect the puck from the pinching defenceman and chip the puck to an area for his winger (#17)

The centreman (#10) makes a read: all three Jets forwards forecheck below the hashmarks leaving no F3 to cover for a pinching D. This results in the C supporting the wide ice for #17 blue.

The pace established by #17 and #10 blue combined with the wall play of #90 blue creates the space to attack #33 white. #17 identifies the space and attacks it by cutting to the middle during #33’s slide.

• #44 white wins stick battle with #74 black and bumps the puck to his D partner
• #19 and #17 white read possession had been established and push the pace through the neutral zone which pushes the defenders back into the neutral zone. #58 white to attack with possession into the neutral zone.

As a result, Boston is forced to play on their heels and accept speed. This situation creates time and space on the attack allowing:

• #95 to adjust his speed upon receiving the puck and turn #33’s feet, threaten the middle and attract defenders
• #58 to penetrate the middle of the rink with speed to the net and attract defenders
• time and space for #19 white (who has adjusted his route to the wide ice) to stay loose off the back door, present a target and shoot the puck in the net

Breakouts

The above clip starts with solid breakout fundamentals:

• #19 red shielding F1 on the forecheck just long enough to provide #2 red with time and space for a puck retrieval and exit
• Shoulder checking by #2 red to scan the ice and execute a quick exit pass
• #8 red showing tape, shoulder checking and passing the puck to the open ice for the weak side defenceman.

The open ice created is a result of #20 pushing the pace through the middle of the rink which attracts three defending players to protect the good ice inside dot width. The weak side defenceman now has time and space to make decisions and advance the puck with either his feet or a pass.

#20 adjusts his route and attacks the space created outside dot width which results in an opportunity for offensive zone possession time for the red team.

This clip goes against the grain as normally you want to advance the puck north with your speed, but at times this can work.

#89 dark does a great job on the wall in this clip:

• Shoulder checks to scan pressure
• Sprints to loose puck coming up the boards
• Counters the oncoming pressure by gathering the puck and skating away from the pressure
• Plays fast by getting off the wall quickly with a pass to the weak side defenceman

#20 and #21 dark recognize possession has been established and begin to push the pace into the neutral zone. In addition, the combination of #24 white pinching for a pinching D and the miscommunication on the forecheck between #10 white and #2 white creates time and space for the weak side defenceman #27 dark to advance the puck. #20 dark doesn’t break stride as he pushes the pace through the neutral zone and becomes a threat to score, while #4 white isn’t able to recover for his pinching defenceman and forward (#2/#24 white) in time to defend the pass.

Prior to the puck being bumped, #24 and #53 white provide tight puck support as second and third man closer for #3 white. #24, #17, and #15 white all shoulder check to scan the ice for pressure; #53 white provides low and slow puck support for #24 white.

• #17 and #15 white recognize full possession has been established and begin to push the pace (sprint) into the neutral zone
• #17 finds the defenceman, turns and faces the puck, and shows tape for #24 white (notice his positioning is off the boards)
• With this positioning, #17 can now receive the pass, protect it, and make his next puck decision

Notice the space this creates in the middle fo the rink for #53 as he skates into the bump back to the middle; #18 orange does a great job tracking and keeping his stick on the ice to force a turnover in the neutral zone.

Breakout and breakout neutral zone

This clip starts with a won puck battle and a pop pass to the net-front defenceman from #93 orange to #9 orange. As #9 orange receives the pass, he turns his head to initiate his turn up the ice and pass the puck. #14 and #93 orange recognize full possession and begin to push the pace through the neutral zone into the defenders.

#28 orange positions himself off the boards and counters the opposition by receiving the pass and skating away from the pressure. #14 and #93 orange have created the space inside dot width in the neutral zone by pushing the defenders back and creating the space underneath allowing #28 orange to attack.

Defensively, #29 white has started his back-checking route inside dot width. His relentless puck pursuit combined with white establishing numbers on the line rush against, forces a turnover creating a transition to offence.

#12 and #29 white have recognized full possession established by their defenceman who loads the puck in his hip pocket and makes a hard pass up the ice. #12 white has now turned, faced the puck, shown tape, and received the puck on his forehand. He shoulder checks at least twice to scan the ice and pressure. Due to the lack of pressure, #12 gathers the puck and attacks with #29 white. #29 white has not broken stride since the beginning of the transition and has finished his route to the back post with his stick on the ice. #29 white provides every player a great example of competing for his offence.

#49 white settles the puck keeping his feet and eyes up the ice. While settling the puck he recognizes the line change by the blue team and has enough poise to wait for #9 white to curl outside dot width and build speed.

Once the transition is organized, #49 white loads the puck and passes into the neutral zone to #41 white. #41 white is facing the puck and showing tape presenting a target. His presence in the middle of the rink keeps the defending team honest as they must respect his positioning. The defending team must respect his positioning which creates space outside dot width for #9 to attack and gain entry into the zone.

What happens in the offensive zone is fun to watch.

Breakout control

Upon hooking the net, #9 orange recognizes the positioning of F1’s toes (#7 white) turned and is able to easily advance to the middle of the rink. #49 orange has recognized full possession and pushed the pace through the middle of the rink. He has turned and faced the puck showing tape, presenting a target for #9. The defender’s positioning has pushed back and forced them to protect inside dot width. This creates time and space outside dot width. #13 LW and #11 RW have built speed through the neutral zone and can attack the defending team with time and space. #49 bumps the puck to #11 with outside speed and #13 creates a foot ice to the net resulting in a great scoring chance.

Drill package