https://vimeo.com/1067370579

Michael Peca, two time Selke Trophy winner, Olympic gold medalist, and Assistant Coach of the New York Rangers, discusses the importance of instilling strong defensive habits in young hockey players. Key defensive skills such as gap control, angling, stick positioning, and stripping pucks are crucial for effective play. The conversation also explores how coaches can make defensive play fun and rewarding in practice, using competitive drills and incentives. Lastly, Michael reinforces the importance of being a well-rounded, 200-foot player, showing how defensive skills can determine a player’s long-term success at higher levels of hockey.

Key Takeaways & Coaching Points

1. Defensive Play is a Mindset

  • Willingness Over Skill: Every player can be a strong defender if they commit to it.
  • Defense Leads to More Offense: The better a player defends, the more time they will spend with the puck.
  • Teaching Proper Defensive Habits:
    • Gap control and angling.
    • Stick positioning—keeping sticks on the ice.
    • Stripping pucks and transitioning quickly.

2. Making Defensive Play Fun & Rewarding

  • Encouragement in Games & Practices: Coaches should emphasize defensive success as much as scoring.
  • Competitive Drills: Use small area games and scrimmages where players earn points or rewards for defensive plays like puck strips.
  • Long-Term Impact: Developing defensive skills early increases a player’s versatility and longevity in the game.

3. The Importance of Being a 200-Foot Player

  • Balancing Offense & Defense: Many great offensive players fail to reach the highest level due to weak defensive habits.
  • Role Models in the NHL: Players like Aleksander Barkov, Patrice Bergeron, and Pavel Datsyuk are elite two-way players who win games with both offense and defense.
  • Creating a Willingness to Defend: Coaches must make defense a rewarding aspect of the game, not just focus on offensive achievements.

The clip was from our interview with Michael: Forward Defensive Habits, Faceoffs, and Penalty Kill Strategies. Visit his contributor page to view more videos and content from Michael.