Whether you're in zone coverage, man-on-man, or some kind of hybrid, you need a plan to defend the defensive zone.

The problem is that everyone has a plan until they're punched in the mouth.

At TCS Live 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dan Ceman successfully taught a brand-new group of players how to defend in the defensive zone with no mention of systems. He taught through basic concepts: killing plays fast and overwhelming offensive players.

Of course, it helps the drill when there are five defenders and one offensive player, but that's how we teach concepts. Add pressure, remove it, add more, and so on.

Watch Ceman's entire presentation here.

Description

• 5 players start milling about inside the defensive blue line

• 1 player posts up inside the zone

• Coach spots a puck to the stationary player, who activates

• 5 players track into the zone to retrieve the puck and break out (pass to coach)

• Repeat on the other side, 1-on-5

• On the whistle, a new player dumps the puck into the zone and forechecks; the same 5 players retrieve again and break out

Key Points

• Progress to adding players on offense inside the zone

• Close fast and kill plays fast