Reply To: Forechecking system

[TomM]

In our zone I play with a man on and a box behind. The torpedo's have to give an oulet pass if the D is under pressure. In youth hockey the forechecking is usually hard and controlled breakouts are not common. Go to the files section here and look at the breakout practice drills by Bob Murdoch. I use them all of the time.

That being said the most important thing in a breakout is that the defender who regains the puck must skate hard to open ice. If he just stands there then the forechecking team knows his only option is to pass and holds the line. If the D gets the puck and skates up ice then the other D must back up. If he skates hard to the back of the net it sets up the wheel, reverse or counter.

The game is played with the feet moving.

A rule Jursinov uses is for his D to try to beat the first forechecker. This causes him to skate hard with the puck instead of stand still.