Power Play Scoring Competition

Get Full Access

The Power Play Scoring Competition Game from Wes Wolfe is a half-ice drill allows your players to practice live power play scenarios while progressively building intensity and complexity by adding 1 penalty killer at a time every 15 seconds Power Play units compete to try and score as many goals as possible in 60 seconds. The game focuses on habits, execution, and game-like decision-making under pressure.

Setup:

  • Set up your power play unit (5 players) in the offensive zone.
  • Position a coach at the blue line with pucks.
  • Penalty killers wait in line to be initiated into the drill.
  • A goalie is positioned in the net.

Execution:

The drill runs for 60 seconds and progresses in 15-second increments:

  1. First 15 seconds: The power play unit works 5-on-0, focusing on zone entry and setting up their power play structure.
  2. Next 15 seconds: The coach whistles, and one penalty killer enters the zone, creating a 5-on-1 scenario.
  3. Subsequent 15-second increments: An additional penalty killer joins at each whistle until the drill concludes with a live 5-on-4.

Zone Entry: 

  • Encourage players to enter the zone as they would in a game, executing planned routes (e.g., double-drop passes, kick-outs). Outside players finish their routes to the boards while supporting the puck carrier.

Puck Management:

  • If the power play scores or the goalie freezes the puck, the coach initiates a new puck immediately.
  • Use a variety of puck types (rimmed, bouncing) to simulate realistic retrieval situations.

Scoring Competition:

  • Track goals scored by each power play unit.
  • Each unit completes three 60-second rounds.
  • The unit with the most goals wins, and a reward can be given for added motivation.

Key Teaching Points:

  • Emphasize quick decision-making and efficient puck movement.
  • Focus on puck retrieval skills, especially with imperfect puck scenarios.
  • Teach players to adjust to increasing defensive pressure as more penalty killers are added.
  • Reinforce habits for successful zone entry and sustained puck control.

Variation:

  • Increase or decrease the time for each progression (e.g., 10 or 20-second increments) based on skill level or focus areas.

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.

Membership gives you access to: