Storm transition series 2: Transition rock n’ roll

Building on my thoughts on transition practice, discussed and exemplified in previous post “The Storm transition game”, this game aims to practice key transition habits on a full ice surface. The main idea is to practice the transition as a series of both offensive and defensive actions. This will include defending a rush, wining the puck, breaking out, entering the offensive zone and a forecheck. The game is designed from a full ice 5v5 perspective but includes constraints that creates numerical advantages on the break out and zone entry. This enables the team to practice both individual habits but also team structure.

The game explained

To start the game, let one team break out 5v0 and face two defenders on the other side of the red line. Once the third player crosses the red line, send in a backchecking forward line for the defending team – This should create a 3v2 entry with backchecking players chasing. 

After zone entry, play 5v5 for as long as the attacking team has the puck. When they loose it, the two attacking defensemen exits the game and the three forwards stay on forecheck. If they win the puck back, they continue to attack 3v5 until the other team successfully breaks out of their defensive zone.

Once the defending team has successfully exited their zon they attack the other way against to new defender, a new backchecking line enter when the third player crosses the red line and the game keeps flowing back and forth the same way. 

Rule suggestion: If one of the two defenders kills the 3v2 entry, dump a new puck into the zone and let the defending team break out 5v3.