Check out these drills from Justin Selman's 2023 TCS Live presentation on The Next Generation of Offense from the Blueline.
Following a four year collegiate career at the University of Michigan, Justin Selman spent time with the St. Louis Blues organization playing for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. After retiring, Selman founded Topline Hockey, a hockey development company working with players ranging from ages six through current NHL players.
Selman’s TCS Live presentation on The Next Generation of Offense from the Blueline provided a guide on creating time and space as a defensemen in all three zones. Starting with retrievals to escape pressure in the defensive zone and working towards deception/blue line footwork and cutbacks, these drills will help all aspects of the modern defender.
TOUCH AND GO REACTION
DESCRIPTION
- Coach will lead with initial pass to D1. D1 touches back to coach and drill is now live.
- Coach passes back to D1 and forces immediately. Coach forces D1 to make a quick decision under pressure while the second F1 reacts and forces D1 to make a second decision under pressure.
KEY POINTS
- Make D move in different directions each time.
- Vary the pressure.
NEUTRAL ZONE TRANSITIONS X2 + JOIN
DESCRIPTION
- Both Coach and players start with a puck. The rep starts with an exchange of pucks between coach and D.
- D mans intention is to retreat with his new puck and work on his deceptive head fake, top hand pump and weight shift to escape or transition followed by a pass to coach.
- Repeat on the other side (second cone).
- After the player hits both cones he’s going to pass to coach and explode up ice to join the attack on the strong side, however we are adding another small skill by forcing a late awkward catch of the pass forcing a hip open weight shift before escaping to the wall and finally attacking for a shot.
KEY POINTS
- D work on deceptive fakes to both left and right.
- Quick crossover turns when coming around cones and pass with feet moving.
EASY EXITS
DESCRIPTION
- D starts with puck, pivots, passes to Coach then retrieves the puck that was chipped behind him by F from wall.
- 1st puck take half net jab step and cut back for a quick up to the Coach or F on the wall.
- 2nd puck attempt to collect and get toes up ice ASAP by weight shifting to fake and strong side quick up or center outlet, hold the puck and take the net exit by skating or quick up to coach.
- 3rd puck coach applies pressure, forward stretches through middle, one move to beat coach and find ice to skate or outlet to the stretch player.
KEY POINTS
- Work on deceptive moves involving jab turns, weight shifts, head/shoulder fakes and tight turns to escape fore checker.
3 PUCKS 3 TUCKS
DESCRIPTION
- Focus here is on 3 distinct attacks off of retreating with the puck and re-attacking as D man.
- D1 starts with a puck as well as the Coach.
- As D comes towards coach they will exchange pucks on the first rep. Retrieval, weight shift, single leg stop, to front foot sliding fake shot- shot.
- On the second puck, Coach will flip or give the D a bad pass along the wall. D collects it then has his feet outside the blue line and stick inside to create more space while sprinting across the blue line. Cross middle ice, jab step and cut back for a second shot.
- Collect 3rd puck, weight shift fake to the wall, cut back and do a fake shot before taking final shot.
KEY POINTS
- Work on smooth pivots and weight transfers to deceive checkers to create time and space.
