Power Play Faceoff Loss Retrieval Drill from Wes Wolfe simulates a common game scenario: your power play unit loses a faceoff, and they must quickly retrieve the puck before the penalty killers clear it. It emphasizes puck retrieval, inside body positioning, and efficient puck movement to maintain offensive pressure.
Setup:
- Power Play Alignment: Position your power play unit as they would be for a typical faceoff (e.g., traditional set or four up).
- Penalty Killers: Place three opposing players to simulate a penalty kill. Their objective is to slow down the power play but not actively clear or play the puck.
- Coach: Position the coach with pucks near the blue line.
Execution:
- Start the Drill: The coach spots a puck into the corner as if the penalty kill has won the faceoff. Penalty killers focus on slowing the power play players as they attempt to retrieve the puck.
- Puck Retrieval: Power play players work to bump and jump into inside body position to win back the puck. Encourage quick puck retrieval and immediate release to teammates to set up a play.
- Shot Creation: Once possession is regained, the power play unit is encouraged to take no more than three passes before generating their first shot.
- Follow-Up: After the initial shot, the coach spots a second puck (e.g., on a rim) to work on rim retrievals. Play continues live, allowing the power play unit to transition quickly into a scoring opportunity.
Progressions:
- Transition from a 5-on-0 setup to live scenarios:
- 5-on-3: Introduce full-pressure penalty killing to simulate game intensity.
- 5-on-4: Add defenders and play live.
- 5-on-0: Focus solely on puck movement and structure without defensive pressure.
- Adjust pressure from the penalty killers to focus on specific skills like puck retrieval or quick puck movement.
Key Teaching Points:
- Emphasize winning inside body position to regain control of the puck.
- Teach players to react quickly to lost faceoffs and prevent the penalty kill from clearing the puck.
- Focus on efficiency: retrieve, pass, and generate a shot within three passes.
- Reinforce habits that prevent wasted time or lost opportunities after a faceoff loss.
Variation:
- Adjust the alignment or defensive pressure based on your team’s level. Incorporate different puck spotting techniques (e.g., rimmed, bouncing) to simulate game-like retrieval challenges.
View more content from Wes on his contributor page along with his presentation on Special Teams Practice at the Brock University High Performance Hockey Conference.
