Check out this collection of drills submitted by attendees at the 2023 edition of TCS Live.
CROSS ICE BREAK AWAY RACE
Jayson Kennedy, Kamloops Blazers.
DESCRIPTION
- 1st player of the each team starts with a puck on the whistle.
- Each player goes around the net and shoots on the opposite net.
- Goalies can play it down the ice if they trap the puck.
- Must retrieve the same puck if they score or miss the net.
- After scoring or missing the scoring chance, pass the puck back to the next in line.
KEY POINTS
- Start with a set number of pucks that must go into the net or set a time limit where the team with the most goals wins after time expires.
7 PASS 2V1
Annette Jensen, Edge School.
DESCRIPTION
- D1 steps off wall makes pass to F2, F2 drops to F1.
- D pivots backwards, takes pass from next D in line, shoots, then steps up to take 2v1.
- F1 and F2 exchange passes with D and counter attack back 2v1.
KEY POINTS
- Tape to tape passing.
- Call for each pass.
- Progression: D1 passes to F2, players then choose their own routes and pass as they please for 2v1.
QUICK COUNTER 2V1
Chris Flaugher, Affton Americans.
DESCRIPTION
- D1 skates to Center dot. F1 pass to D at the dot.
- F1 skates long pattern and F2 swings through the middle and gets pass. • F2 then passes to F1 and they go 2v1 against D2.
- F1 gains the zone and shoots. F2 drives to the net.
KEY POINTS
- Tape to tape passing.
- Drive to the net for rebounds on 2v1.
FRASER D TO D TRANSITION
Glenn Fraser, Brantford Minor Hockey Association.
DESCRIPTION
- Start with two D between blue line and center ice. D1 and D2 step, pivot backwards, receive puck from F1 and pass D to D.
- F2 steps towards mid ice to reclaim some ice, pivots to the wall, receives pass from D2 and breaks in 2v0 with F1.
- D1 and D2 now transition to opposite blue line, pivot around to take next pass from F3 to start the next 2v0 the other way.
- D1 and D2 start reps from passes from all four lines then switch out.
- Variation: Have a D jump in off the wall to create 2v1.
KEY POINTS
- Smooth feet and hands for both D and Fs pivoting.
- Always keep eyes on the pucks while pivoting.
- D cycle through passes from each line of forwards before pivoting. • Forwards one pass maximum after the crossing offensive blue line.
KING OF THE CHAOS
Kathryn Griswold, Town of Oyster Bay/East Woods School.
DESCRIPTION
- There are more pucks than players to start this drill.
- Pucks that end up in the net or over the blue line are out of play.
- As drill progresses, Coaches remove pucks one by one.
- Players can grab a new puck once they have lost a puck.
- Players can steal pucks from each other.
- Last player with a puck is the winner.
KEY POINTS
- Great for conditioning.
- Good compete level.
- Heads up stick handling/vision
- All levels.
TURN AND BURN
Kohl Schultz, Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association.
DESCRIPTION
- On whistle, F1, F2 and F3 come off of the wall, fill all three lanes and receive a pass from the Coach to start 3v2.
- Play out 3v2 to whistle then jump back hard back through middle ice.
- Coach carries 2nd puck up to the offensive blue then turns back up ice.
- Forwards come up behind the Coach, strip the puck and quick counter back for 2nd 3v2. Play out to the whistle.
KEY POINTS
- D gap up on both 3v2 rushes.
- Forwards, jump back hard on back check then counter quickly.
- Put pucks on net and drive for rebounds.
HENRY’S PIVOT TRANSITION WARM UP
Henry Acres, Acres Hockey.
DESCRIPTION
- P1 backs out of mid ice, receives pass from P2, continues backwards a few strides then pivots, steps up and passes to P2 who has curled out to the wall.
- After receiving pass, P2 takes three or four quick steps off of the wall and pivots backwards before passing back to P1 who is skating towards P2.
- P2 pivots backwards, gets pass, pivots to forwards then backwards before passing to P2 who is curling out and up the wall.
- P2 goes in for shot and P1 takes a new puck to start next rep with P3.
KEY POINTS
- Smooth feet and hands during pivots.
- Step up to make each pass.
- After each shot, stop at the second post before lining up again.
- Drill can be run both ways at the same time.
CONTINUOUS 3V3 PLUS BACKCHECK
Roger Holeczy, Chicago Stallions Hockey.
DESCRIPTION
- Drill can be run as a 3v0 rush with 3 player back pressure or as a 3v1 with two back checkers (as shown) that finish with low 3v3 play.
- P1, P2 and P3 move around in end zone exchanging passes with one checker in the middle zone and two back checkers ready to go from the blue line.
- On whistle, attackers move up ice 3v1. When puck passes the first blue line, the two back checkers jump in to create a 3v3.
- Play out 3v3 until defenders recover the puck, a goal is scored or the coach whistles to swap in new defenders for counter attack back the other way.
- Once defenders recover the puck, they counter back 3v1 against a new defender and two new backcheckers.
KEY POINTS
- Good communication on backcheck to sort out at the defensive blue line.
- Attack off of the rush to take advantage of 3v1 then work to recover the loose puck.
LEWIS 1V2 QUICK TOUCH
Barry Lewis, Morris Varsity Mavericks.
DESCRIPTION
- Coach fires a puck to one blue line or the other.
- One player starts on the puck side and two checkers start on the other.
- All players must tag up over their blue lines before jumping into the play.
- P3 tries to beat the two checkers up the wall.
- First checker angles puck carrier to the wall, through P3’s hands and forces turnover as second checker picks up puck and counters back the other way 2v1.
KEY POINTS
- Start with puck carrier having to go up the wall then as players get better at angling, allow them to try to cut back inside.
- Work on good angling technique with an active stick checking through the puck carrier’s hands.
- After turnover, counter quickly back the other way.
LOIS LANES
Cody Machney, Bonnyville Minor Hockey
DESCRIPTION
- On whistle, D step up, pivot backwards to start break out as coach chips a puck deep and forechecks the D.
- F1, F2 and F3 fill the 3 breakout lanes quickly and read the flow of the play.
- Coach tries to force breakout to one side or the other.
- Variation: forecheck with two coaches or two forwards to increase the pressure. Defend with one or two D.
- After breakout, one or two D hold middle ice to defend next breakout from the other side.
KEY POINTS
- Vary the forecheck pressure to force D to make quick reads.
- Forwards fill lanes and get into breakout position quickly.
- Centre low and slow to support D. Stay underneath the wingers in outside lanes.
- Can play it out 3v0, 3v1 or 3v2.
PITTSBURGH HORNET HIGH/LOW
Chris Stern, Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.
DESCRIPTION
- F1 and F2 take two quick shots, get a pass from the Coach then head up ice.
- D1 and D2 each take passes from the coach, take two quick shots, turn and skate towards F1 and F2.
- D1 and D2 pivot backwards, take a pass from the forward, pass D to D then give it back to the forwards who counter back 2v1 against a new D that comes in off of the wall.
KEY POINTS
- D gap up quickly after shots, then back off to take the pass from the forwards.
- Can be played 2v2, 3v1 or 3v2.
JAILBREAK 3V3 SAG
David Hennessey, St. John’s Prep Varsity Hockey.
DESCRIPTION
Part 1:
- Split group into 2 teams by color.
- 3 players from each team go on the whistle (1 D and 2 Fs).
- On the coach whistle both coaches dump pucks (D for puck) and breakout.
- All 3 players must touch the puck and then pass to the coach on their side. Players then sprint up ice.
Part 2:
- Coach 3 watches to see which team completet their breakout to their coach the fastest and rewards them with a puck on their side of the neutral zone.
- Take the puck deep around the net before attacking up ice.
- Teams then play 3v3 in far end for 20 sec. or a goal.
- Coach 3 whistles for end of play, which also begins next rep at the other end.
KEY POINTS
- Clean breakouts with tape to tape passing.
- Make and take passes in movement.
- Good timing and positioning.
