Dan Ceman, Head Coach of HC Košice (a professional hockey club based in Košice that competes in the Slovak Extraliga, the top tier of Slovak ice hockey), opened his on-ice presentation at TCS Live 2025 with a simple but powerful truth: championships are won in the defensive zone. His team’s recent titles, he explained, came down to one thing: their ability to break the puck out with structure, confidence, and support.

Running his session on the ice at the University of Michigan’s historic Yost Arena, Ceman delivered a visual clinic for the coaches in attendance. His breakout principles were clear and repeatable:

• F1 is the driver. The centreman has to be the loudest player on the ice.

• Support the puck. Numbers around the puck are non-negotiable. If the opponent has two players, your team should have three.

• First on the puck initiates. The second player must be quick and ready to retrieve.

• Stop in your spots. Be predictable for teammates.

• Forwards stay disciplined. No leaving the zone early.

• Net-front presence. The strong-side post is home base until a decision is made.

Players without the puck were reminded to scan, shoulder check, have a plan, and keep their feet moving. For those with the puck, the message was equally sharp: keep your hands free, trust your ears, and avoid blind rims.

After showing game clips from HC Košice to underline these habits, Ceman rolled into a series of progressive on-ice drills designed to train them into muscle memory.

1. 3 vs 5 Breakout Drill
   Three defenders held possession against five forecheckers in the offensive zone. After 20 seconds of puck movement, a whistle triggered a breakout and rush the other way. The focus was on short passes, composure under pressure, and trusting structure.

2. 4-on-1 Full-Ice Exit
   Starting with a net-front defenceman, this drill tested quick decisions and partner support. On the first touch, the weak-side D activated for an outlet pass from the strong-side winger. The setup forced defenders to connect and read plays quickly, simulating game situations.

3. Corner Battle to Breakout Drill
   Five defenders started in the middle of the zone while two offensive players were stationed in the corner. A puck from Ceman activated d-zone coverage. Once defenders recovered it, they passed up to the coach at the blue line. A second rep mirrored the drill on the other side, followed by a third whistle bringing in fresh players for another breakout scenario.

Each drill built on the same theme: bring championship-level urgency to the breakout. Ceman emphasized that offensive-zone play only happens if teams can first exit their own zone with control. His message carried energy, clarity, and conviction, the same habits his team used to capture titles in Slovakia.

Coaches’ Challenge
At your next practice, put your players through a breakout scenario where they must hold possession under pressure for 15–20 seconds before being allowed to exit the zone. This will force communication, discipline, and support habits to develop naturally, and it will make your team more confident breaking pucks out when the real game is on the line.

Noteworthy timestamps:

• 0:00 Returning to the DZ under pressure
• 2:50 After the puck
• 4:14 Game clip examples
• 6:40 3 vs 5 Breakout Drill
• 12:10 4-on-1 Full-Ice Exit
• 16:15 Corner Battle to Breakout Drill