Last Minute Puck Races

Drill:

1. Lineup pucks down the middle of the rink between the blue lines
2. Make 2 lines of players in each corner
3. On whistle, players race for the puck
4. First player tries to score on a breakaway
5. Second player backchecks

Focus:

1. Speed to a loose puck
2. Speed carrying the puck on a breakaway
3. Speed on the back-check to breakup the play

Notes:

Remind your players that this drills is designed to make them think about chasing a puck in the last minute of play and they have the chance to end the game, stop a goal, etc. 

I always run this the last 5 minutes of practice when they are tired.  I remind them there is no time to be tired and out of breath at the end of the game.

Related Drills:

The Admiral II (Russian Suicides)

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Goalie: Side to Side

Drill:

1. Setup players and pucks in two lines in the circles left and right of the goalie
2. Have one player shot and goalie make the save
3. Goalie then slides into position on the opposite side and gets position
4. Player 2 shoots, goalie makes play and slides
5. Repeat

 

Focus:

1. Goalie movement left to right
2. Sliding and getting back into position quickly
   
   

Notes:

This is harder on inline than ice so the Goalie will learn how hard they have to move.

Make sure your shooters give the goalie time to recover, but this is a speed drill.

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IHD Newsletter - June 2013

This month's newsletter has been sent.  You can read the June 2013 Newsletter here.

Related articles:
Newsletter sign-up
Past Newsletters

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Bad Puck Support Leads to Opening Goal

Once again, I watched an NHL game and found 2 common mistakes that I constantly remind my players of during practice and games.

Watch the video below and then I'll dissect it further. Make sure you watch at :03-:05 seconds and see if you find the 2 mistakes (make it 3 if you count the Goalie, watch at :43 seconds on to see it):



In this play, I see 2 glaring mistakes that result in a bad goal.

1. Poor Puck Support by the Defenseman
2. Poor Decision by Crosby on when and more importantly, HOW to move the puck. 

How I'm teaching this play to my players, I strongly feel the Defenseman (#2) can't jump this play and call for the puck. 

1. Letang is already at the middle of the circles
2. 2 Boston players are coming up the ice 

The second issue I have is Crosby's play on this puck.

1. He also has to know those 2 Boston players are coming at him
2. He rushes to try to slap it out of the air.  He has to stop that puck and control it first. Once he does that, he has two options:

• Throw it back down the wall
• Push it back to the Supporting D (if he was in position)

The Penguins played rushed all game.  Trying to get rid of pucks as fast as they got a hold of them. Sloppy passes, sloppy turnovers resulted in a lot of bad goals.

The last mistake I see on this play is the Goalie.  If you watch the angle from behind the net (~:43 seconds) Vokoun starts cheating back to the middle and leaves the glove side exposed.  I'm not a goalie and maybe this is the correct play but I have to think he needs to protect that side.

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Soft Defense + Soft Backcheck = GWG

I constantly work with my players on two key areas of their game.  They are so critical and can truly be the difference between winning and losing.  Last night, we saw it in Gm7 of the Hawks-Wings series.  Earlier in the game, I made the comment that when you watch the Red Wings play, it always seems like there are 6 skaters on the rink.  They are fast, they are aggressive and they are on loose pucks ALL the time.

One little breakdown in that mentality and it can send you packing.  Watch the first 15 seconds of this video and then I'll explain.




There are two glaring failures on this play (forget about the fact if you think the hit was a penalty or not).

• Soft Defense
• Soft Backcheck

The defenseman gives way too much room here. Both are looking at the puck carrier but there is no pressure. You need to get a stick out in front and close that gap.  If you do, there is no shot on net.  The inside defenseman has to be aware his partner is right there and he should step up.  Even if he gets beat, he's got help.

Secondly and worst of all in my opinion (especially for OT during game 7) is the lackluster backcheck.  You can't skate and watch a player carrier the puck into your zone.  #11 almost catches him and even 'taps' him with a stick.   An extra push or two with the skates and he catches him and pops his stick.  I don't care what level you are playing at, lazy backchecking should get you a 'talking' to from your coach.

As a coach, these are two areas that we work on constantly.  Closing the gap and backchecking. They are huge factors in the outcome of the game.

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Video: Quick Shot

I often run this 'Shoot and Break' drill in my practice.  I like it because it does 2 things:

1. Focuses on the drive toward the net and a quick shot
2. Breaking out with speed

In Game 1 of the Blues/Kings game, I saw a great example of how the first half of this drill works and how it can be effective.  While it didn't result in a goal this time, most times it would.

Watch the video as the play develops from about 6 second in to 10 seconds. Not a lot of time but you see how quickly Scwartz comes down the circle and to the net.  Keys to the play:

1. Schwartz is skating hard
2. Schwartz has his stick down and in front of him ready for the quick shot
3. Notice there is no catching the pass, stick-handling the puck
4. Steen has his head up and make the perfect pass so Schwartz can shoot quickly

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What evaluators look for during try-outs

I've been asked a lot over the years what I look for in a player during evaluations.  As I've been sitting watching my son during various AA & AAA Ice try-outs, I've been thinking more about this topic and wanted to share a bit of what I look for and some other information that I've found or has been shared with me.

I also stumbled across this article not long ago and I think it gives a nice look into what Scouts look for.  My friend Graham Acres (gacres99) also shared his thoughts with me.

1. Whatever it is you believe you do best, do that every shift.
2. Listen to what the coaches ask you to do and do that
3. Bring energy and never stop working every shift. Regardless of talent, coaches are attracted to kids who consistently work hard. 

All good advice and greatly appreciated.  So what is it that I look for when I run my evaluations?  I can teach you to shoot, pass and skate.  It's those intangibles that will earn you a spot on my team.

1. Aggressive play - Be willing to battle for pucks. If you are on the forecheck, get on the puck.  Don't sit back and wait for them to come to you.
2. Backchecking -  If you won't backcheck, it's the fastest way to get off my list.  I need you to skate harder than you've ever skated when you are backchecking.  It makes a HUGE difference.
3. Don't give up - I don't care if you just messed up, mistakes happen.  It's what you do after that mistake that I look at. Did you slam your stick? Throw you head back?  Yell?  Get back in the play and make up for the mistake you made.  No one will remember the mistake if you make a hustle back and make a difference in the play.
4. Come out to Earn your spot - Don't think because you've been playing for xx number of years, you deserve a spot on the team.  No on deserves a spot, you earn it. Everyone there is fighting for your spot, go out and get it. 
5. Communicate - Talk to the coaches. Talk to the other players.  Talk when you are on the rink and involved in the play.  Call for pucks, direct the play.  Be vocal.
6. Don't be selfish - Yes it's a tryout to earn a spot on a team, but that doesn't mean showing off your ability to skate through every player every time with your head down.  Be a play maker.   Make passes. Make good decisions.

A few tips for trying out:

1.  Relax and have fun.  I know it's easier said than done but remember, you can play the game so just go out and do your thing.  
2. If a coach gives you some advice, make sure you go out and do that.  They are hinting to you of what they want to see you do.  At least go out and try.
3. If a coach asks you to play a position like Defense, please, under no circumstances respond 'I'm a forward' or 'My Dad says I'm a forward'.  Just go out and do it.  Coaches want a team player.

Try to remember these tips as you go through your try-outs.  Good luck.

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