Check out these drills from the pair's 2023 TCS Live presentation on Situational Passing and Receiving Progressions.
Yogi Svejkovsky is the Director of Coach Development & U17 Prep Assistant Coach with Delta Hockey Academy, as well as Skills Coach with the Vancouver Canucks & AHL affiliate Abbotsford Canucks. Previously a first round pick of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, Yogi worked as the Skills Coach for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL from 2006 to 2018. Kris Beech is the Development Coach for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League. He is the Founder of AIM Mindfulness and is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor (McLean Meditation Institute 2015). He earned a Masters of Science in Sports Management from Ulster University in 2016. He was selected 7th overall pick in the 1999 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals. He played seven seasons in the NHL and eight seasons in Europe.
The two combined for a look at Situational Passing and Receiving Progressions. The presentation focused on the qualities of a good passer and receiver, and how to improve playmaking ability under pressure. Often one of hockey’s forgotten skills, build up a player’s vision with these effective drills.
SITUATIONAL PASS/RECEIVE A
DESCRIPTION
- One player and one coach. Player starts up ice stick handling with two pucks. Player passes one puck to coach when his stick is on the ice. Coach passes it back.
- Player and Coach continue passing until far blue line. Player shoots 1st puck and executes pre touch route for 2nd shot.
KEY POINTS
- Vision. Heads up stick handling.
- Pretouch route skating.
SITUATIONAL PASS/RECEIVE B
DESCRIPTION
- One player and one coach. Player starts up ice stick handling with two pucks. Player passes one puck to coach when his stick is on the ice. Coach passes it back.
- Player and Coach continue passing until far blue line. Player shoots 1st puck and executes pre touch route for 2nd shot or pass to player on the dot based on stick placement of P2.
- Stick up=Shoot. Stick down=Pass.
KEY POINTS
- Vision. Heads up stick handling.
- Pretouch route skating.
TRACK AND STRIP OZP A
DESCRIPTION
- P1 passes to P2, circles the net and strips puck.
- P1 uses evasive escape along the wall and passes to P2 for a shot. P1 now replaces P2 for next rep.
KEY POINTS
- Vision. Heads up stickhandling.
- Pass selection and good technique.
- Recognition of pass receiver details: position, speed, left/right shot, D coverage.
- Variation: progress to Coach making first pass to next player in line to start next rep.
TRACK AND STRIP OZP B1
DESCRIPTION
- P1 passes to P2, circles the net and strips puck.
- P1 uses evasive escape along the wall and passes to P2 for a shot. P1 now replaces P2 for next rep.
- Add coach pressure to increase level of difficulty then progress to full player 1v1 pressure on the passer.
KEY POINTS
- Vision. Heads up stickhandling.
- Pass selection and good technique.
- Recognition of pass receiver details: position, speed, left/right shot, D coverage.
- Variation: progress to Coach making first pass to next player.
TRACK AND STRIP OZP B2
DESCRIPTION
- P1 passes to P2, circles the net and strips puck.
- P1 uses evasive escape along the wall and passes to P2 for a shot. P1 now replaces P2 for next rep.
- Add full 1v1 player pressure.
KEY POINTS
- Vision. Heads up stickhandling.
- Pass selection and good technique.
- Recognition of pass receiver details: position, speed, left/right shot, D coverage.
- Variation: progress to Coach making first pass to next player.
