Ice Hockey Coaching Blog

Looking ahead to the 2020 - 2021 youth hockey season there is a good chance that many youth hockey associations will not be playing league games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chances are each State and Province will handle it a little differently. Associations within each district may even handle it in various ways.  If there is a possibility that your association may be restricted to in-...

Watch the video above to learn how to easily share your IHS Practice Plans with your team! To share your practice plans via the new "Copy & Share URL" feature, just do the following: Create a practice plan Click on the "Organize" subheader, then "My Practices" Find the practice you want to share, then click "Copy & Share URL"  Paste the URL into an email, text, social...

In this skill breakdown below, we review 4 examples where goals were generated by the players who DID NOT originally have the puck. We show that if you are able to get open away from the puck, it can create offensive opportunities. Key Points: Head-Up: keep your head up! Be aware of where the puck is and what your surroundings are. Scan Ice: don't just stare at the puck....

In this skill breakdown, we dive into concepts that players should keep in mind when they are 1 v 1 and going for a 50/50 puck along the boards. 50/50 simply means that it is an even race to get to the puck. This skill is becoming more and more important as teams are utilizing "soft dumps" in the offensive zone to keep possession of the puck. Key Points: Leverage - take time to stabilize your...

This is a breakdown about passing and moving to open space, which is commonly known as the Give and Go or Pass and Drive. Key Points: Head Up: Keep your head up so you know where your teammates are and where the open space is. Explode to Space: As soon as you pass the puck to your teammate, explode to open space. You can also add in deception to make the other team think you...

The OPEN HIP, or OPEN FEET commonly known as 10 & 2, and the CLOSED HIP maneuvers are essentially the same technique that are applied in different situations. In this Breakdown we discuss the Open Hip technique. It is a terrific skill which uses deception which affords elusiveness, escape-ability and puck protection which ultimately, makes players more...

The world has A LOT of great hockey content. Dozens of websites, hundreds of books, thousands of images, and a daily flood of new content on YouTube, Instagram and other social media channels. Plus, you have your own ideas, saved drills, PDFs and recommendations from your organization. What do you do with all of it? This content overload makes it hard to drown out the noise so you can...

POP QUIZ: Think about the current state of your team. If you blew the whistle during any game would your players be able to answer these questions: Where is the puck? Where are your teammates? Where is the other team? Where is there open ice? Chances are, the players have limited awareness. Most players will able to answer question # 1. Some will be able to...

Watch the full story of Kendall Coyne Schofield, an Olympic gold medalist and a role model for the next generation of hockey players in “As Fast as Her,” a Blackhawks Originals feature. Kendall is the current captain of USA Women’s National Team, and a Player Development Coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. Outside of hockey, she created the Schofield Family Foundation, which is dedicated to...