Reply To: 2010-2020 Coach Discussion Forum

[Tom Molloy]

Tim, it is a problem I am dealing with as well. The players tend to 'stare' at the puck when it is below the goal line and they lose track of the attackers in the slot.

The practice that I had Wally Kozak come to focused on DZC https://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forums/topic/diary-of-a-season-2014-15/page/2/#post-7306 and a few key points are worth passing on to your players.
1. Closest player get on the puck carrier right away leading with the stick on the puck and always maintain defensive side.
2. The second closest player cover their closest supporting player at a stick lengths away.
3. Third man be half way to their thrid man so he can get there the same time as the puck.
4. Other players have toe caps up ice and maintain a 'Man – You – Puck Triangle' with their head on a swivel and sticks in the passing lanes.

If their D are up at the top of the circles these points should help.

Before our last game we did the Murdoch game where the players are all in the low slot in a tight 2-1-2 and they can only take one stride. The offense can do everything to try and score in 45". There were zero goals against when we did this. It shows that if you have the sticks in the lane, block shots, box our, control sticks in the slot, then it is very difficult to score. We progressed to 'man on and box behind.' and got a shut out our next game.

Jay Bouwmeester was the only NHL player I saw do the following. He world skate back and see that his partner had the puck carrier and then he would turn and skate backwards and look up ice for the next offensive player. This way he could see everything coming toward him. Of course he would keep his head on a swivel to check what was happening with the puck carrier. I am going to teach my players to do this so the identify their man early. We will try some walk through s.

I will attack links to the two practices I am referring to.

If any other coaches have ideas to help out here you are more than welcome to comment.

Attachments

• Blue Practice 26-09-14.pdf (894 KB)
• Blue Practice 18-09-14.pdf (772 KB)

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