Full Ice Special Teams Practice

The 4 vs. 2 No Stickhandle Game from Topher Scott is a great game to reinforce quick puck movement by the offense and good stick position by the defense. As the name states, the offensive team can not stickhandle the puck while they move the puck and try to score. The defense can practice disrupting plays by having their sticks on the ice and getting into passing lanes. If the defense gets the puck they must pass to their forwards on the other side of the ice.

Setup:

• This is a half ice game. Split up the zone as shown in the video and diagram.
• One side will have 4 dark players vs. 2 light players and the other side will be the opposite, 4 light players and 2 dark players.
• Offensive players can not stickhandle the puck. They are trying to score in their end.
• If the defensive players get the puck, they pass to their teammates on the other side of the ice.

Coaching Points:

• Offense
  • No stickhandling and move puck quickly! 
  • Have head up so you know your options before you get the puck.
  • Jump to open space without the puck.
• Defense
  • Stick on the ice at all times.
  • Be aggressive & take away passing lanes.

Game Variations:

• Can be 4v2 on each side or 3v2, or 2v1.

Power Play Reps with Mad Attackers is a great way to get your power play practice with position, and moving the puck around before they work on 5 v 4, or 5 v 3 situations.

Setup

1. Get your power play setup in their offensive zone positions.
2. Dump puck in zone, or give to one of the offensive players.
3. Blow the whistle, and allow the Mad Attacker to chase.
4. Start with 1 Mad Attacker, then progress to 2 Mad Attackers.
5. The Mad Attacker should chase the puck like a "Mad Attacker" and not worry about normal penalty kill positional play. The goal of the Mad Attacker is to apply strong pressure to force the power play team to practice quick decisions.

Coaching Points

• Mad Attacker(s): keep stick on the ice and attack like mad! 
• Power Play Unit: keep head up to be aware of the attacker(s). There will only be 1 or 2 attackers out there, so being aware of where they are, and where your teammates are, creates a big advantage for the power play. Move the puck quickly before they can attack you! 

The Redwing 2 V 3 or 2 V 4 from Coach TJ Manastersky is a special teams game that can work on the penalty kill forecheck and power play breakout concepts. 

TJ Manastersky shared this game with the IHS Community while he was an Assistant Coach at Union College. TJ is the Current Head Coach at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Setup

• Place one net on the far blue line.
• Have 3 or 4 Power Play Players in the neutral zone.
• Have 2 Penalty Kill forecheckers behind the net on the far blue line.
• The drill is started with the coach dumping the puck down to the other end of the ice.
• The all Power Play Players must enter their defensive zone and they attempt to break the puck out and score a goal.
• The Penalty Kill players practice an aggressive Penalty Kill forecheck. 
• On the whistle, a new group of players jumps on the ice.

Coaching Points

• Penalty Kill Forecheck should keep speed, attack the puck early.
• The second Penalty Kill forward should try to take away passing lanes in the middle of the ice.

The Special Teams Entry Game from Coach TJ Manastersky is designed to increase the repetitions of the entry situation in special teams, both for the power play, and penalty kill teams. 

TJ Manastersky shared this game with the IHS Community while he was an Assistant Coach at Union College. TJ is the Current Head Coach at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Setup

• A coach has pucks in the defensive zone.
• 4 Penalty Killers are in the neutral zone.
• 5 players are on the Power Play are spread out and stationary on the top of their defensive zone circles. 
• Coach starts the drill by giving the puck to one of the players on the Power Play. This begins the 5 on 4.
• The Penalty Kill works to ice the puck while the Power Play works to gain possession and score a goal.
• After the the rep plays out for a little while, the coach blows the whistle for a second time, and the Power Play returns to their own end to get a second puck from the coach and attempt to score another goal. 
• Keep Score! Coaches can make the game more engaging for players by keeping score. You can give the defensive team a point for clearing the puck or forcing a chip / dump. The Power Play can gain a point by gaining possession of the line and/ or scoring a goal.

Coaching Points

• Penalty Kill should always keep their sticks on the ice and work to force chips and dumps.
• The Power Play is at a disadvantage because they do not have a lot of speed, so they must work to be creative to generate space and gain the offensive blue line.

Full ice special teams scrimmage allows teams to practice real special teams situations. Teams can work on both 5 on 4, and 5 on 3 situations.

Setup

• Divide teams up and place everyone in the benches.
• 1 minute shifts. Coach can let it play out longer if they would like.
• Keep score and have the Power Play Units and Penalty Kill units alternate. 
• Each Power Play goal is worth 1 Point - Each Penalty Kill is worth 3 points.

Coaching Points

Power Play:

• Keep head up: it is important to keep your head up and scan the ice to identify where open ice is, where the defenders are, and where your teammates are.
• Use deception: create time & space by using your head, eyes, body or fakes to make the defenders think you are going one way with the puck, while you go the other way.
• Move & get open: when you do not have the puck, jump to open ice with your stick on the ice so you are an outlet for your teammates.
• Shoot quickly after a pass: increase scoring chances by shooting quickly after a pass, since the goalie and defenders will be out of position.

Penalty Kill:

• Keep head up: scan the ice to know where your teammates are, and where the opposing team is.
• Keep sticks on the ice: keep your sticks on the ice to block passing & shooting lanes.
• Be smart when chasing: work to protect the high percentage scoring areas inside the dots. Only chase when there is a good chance you can win the puck.