1 on 1 Retrievals

By: Phillip Barski

The 1 on 1 Retrievals Drill from Phillip Barski focuses on puck retrievals under pressure, using deception, and transitioning into offensive plays from different breakout routes.

Setup

• Ideal for split ice situations with defensemen working separately from forwards.
• One puck-retrieving defenseman is positioned on one side of a faceoff circle, facing an oncoming forechecker.
• The forechecker begins with a puck and dumps it into the corner.

Execution

• The retrieving D takes a few backward strides, pivots at the dot, and heads toward the puck.
• The forechecker pressures the defenseman, simulating a real-game retrieval situation.
• The defenseman works on deception—using head, feet, or stick fakes—to evade the forechecker.
• If exiting on the strong side, the D climbs the wall, reaches the blue line, and takes a shot.
• If hooking the net, the D exits the opposite way, pivots, and shoots on goal from the other side.

Coaching Points

• This drill helps defensemen improve their puck retrieval skills under pressure.
• Puck retrieving D should practicing deception.
• Forcheckers should work on angling with stick on the ice.

Variations

• Can start the forechecker with light pressure and progress to have full pressure where the forechecker is awarded a point for a takeaway and the D is awared a point for a successful escape.

Supplemental Materials

• The second video shown is from Phillip's presentation on A Defenceman's Blueprint To Breaking Pucks Out at the Brock University High Performance Hockey Seminar.