Ice Hockey Coaching Blog

In the video above, Coach Alyssa Gagliardi discusses the benefits of getting creative and looking at other sports for inspiration. One activity that is beneficial for hockey players is soccer rondos. What is a rondo? Rondos are essentially a game of keep-away or monkey in the middle and can be set up in a variety of ways to practice different situations. In the article below, we...

In the video below, Topher Scott from The Hockey Think Tank dives deep into 8 Important Hockey Habits That Every Player Should Know. Habits are critical when it comes to individual and team development. Coaches at all levels should familiarize their players with these habits and reinforce them at every. single. practice.  WHAT IS A HABIT? Habits are rituals, behaviors...

HEAD UP, HEAD UP, HEAD UP! We hear it all of the time at the arena. We hear it at practices, we hear it at games. But how often do coaches ACTUALLY make players practice this hockey skill so it can become a habit? WHAT IS A HABIT? Habits are rituals, behaviors or skills that we perform automatically without thinking about them. The goal of this article is to help coaches learn how to...

Ice Hockey Systems has acquired 300+ videos from The Hockey Think Tank in a deal that will bring new forms of content and broaden the range of topics for IHS members. This comes in an effort to help improve resources for youth hockey coaches, youth hockey players, and youth hockey parents. The deal includes over 300 pieces of content developed by The Hockey Think Tank including: 20+...

IHS Members: Add Your Own Logo to Your Hockey Drawings! Once you create a drawing, you can save it, add a video example, add it to a practice plan, and share it. Learn how to add your logo in 3 steps by watching the video above or by following the steps below: Click "My Account" on the top right of your account and click "My Profile." Upload your teams logo and click "Save." Start...

The team at IHS would like to thank all of our members and hockey coaches around the world for your support in 2020. Let's be honest, 2020 was tough for everyone, even the world of hockey. Rinks and leagues across the world were shut down overnight. Seasons canceled or cut short. Parents and fans unable to watch in person. The uncertainty, unexpected challenges, and adversity impacted...

One of the toughest plays in hockey is for a winger to break out a rimming puck with defensive pressure. In this video, Topher Scott from The Hockey Think Tank gives us pointers on how to approach this tough play with a comprehensive breakdown of Pat Maroon’s breakout play in game 5 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals. Key Points: Shoulder check before you get the puck to see where the pressure is...

Description In the video above, Topher Scott from the Hockey Think Tank gives us a comprehensive breakdown of a goal that was generated by Ryan O’Reilly’s puck protection skills. Puck protection is often an undervalued skill, but is so important to maintain possession and create scoring opportunities for your team. Key Points Beat the defender to the puck with good body position. Stay low...

Backhand-Forehand Earlier we looked at Two-Touch forehand shots from the weakside and strongside (view the previous Two Touch Shot breakdown to learn more). This breakdown, will take a look at a third type of Two-Touch shot -- shooting on the forehand -- after receiving a pass on the backhand. Specifically, we will take a look at this type of shot on Zone Entry. While the logistics of...