Red Wing 2 V 1 With Backchecker from TJ Manastersky, the Head Coach of Brock University, is a drill that practices 2 v 1 rushes with pressure from a backchecker.

Setup

• 2 offensive players line up on the hashmarks. The defender is at the top of the circle, and the backchecker is at the bottom of the circle.
• On the whistle, both sides start a 2 v 1 with a backchecker.
• Stay on your side of the ice until center ice red line.
• Drill is continuous. 

Coaching Points

• Defense: D and backchecking forward need to communicate.
• Forwards: Get up ice quickly and look at opportunity to shoot quick after a pass.

The Davos Game shared by Wes Wolfe is a fresh take on small area games. Instead of playing cross ice, the playing area is set up to be full length, 1/3 ice. There are no rules other than each team is trying to score. The setup and game allows players to think creatively and also use the full length of the ice to skate and pass.

Setup

• Divide the rink up into 1/3 and have players separate and line up at center ice along the boundary (to help keep pucks in).
• On the whistle, a coach chips a puck into the playing area and 2 players from each team race to get the puck, this starts a 2 on 2 game.
• There are NO RULES and no offsides. Players need to work together and think creatively on how they can defend and score.
• If the puck goes out of play, the coach chips in a new puck.
• On the whistle, 2 new players from each team jump in.

Coaching Points

• Plan ahead - coaches should encourage teams to come up with a game plan while they are waiting in line.
• Communicate! With no rules and the ability to go anywhere on the ice, teams need to work together to communicate when they are on the ice.
• Offensive team - try using passes off other boards and area passes to spring a fast break.
• Defensive team - keep sticks on the ice to angle and block passing lanes.
• Goalies - play the puck and look to make passes to your teammates. 

Variations

• Can play 2v2, or 3v3.
• Can play with or without offsides.

The 3 vs. 3 Corner Drill is a fun game from Topher Scott that helps players develop a scoring mentality. This 3 vs. 3 game has one major constraint: each team is allowed one player that can play inside of the circle. The other teammates must play on the outside of the circle. Communication, quick passing and quick shots will help teams be successful in this game.

Setup:

• It is a 3 vs. 3 game that is played around a circle. 
• Two nets are set up on opposite ends of the circle.
• Each team is allowed 1 player inside the circle and their other 2 teammates stay on the outside of the circle. 
• The game starts when a coach chips the puck in the circle for a 1v1 battle or the coach can pass to one of the players to start the game.
• The game can be stopped or a new puck can be added when a goal is scored, the puck goes out of play, or the coach blows the whistle.
• Keep score!

Coaching Points:

• Quick shots and quick passes!
• Players without the puck should work to be an outlet for their teammates (get open, call for the puck and present your stick as a target).
• Defensive players should keep their sticks on the ice to block passing lanes.

The Angling Through The Circles Progression starts as a 1 v 1, and can progress to a 2 v 2, and 3 v 3. Both teams are trying to score, and work on angling. 

Setup

• Place 2 nets in a cross-ice setup.
• Coach puts a puck on a goalie and a player picks it up and wheels around the net and drives toward the opposing net.
• The defending player much go through both circles and angle the other player out of the play.
• The game continues as a 1 v 1 battle.
• The progression starts out as 1 v 1, but can progress to 2 v 2 and 3 v 3.

Coaching Points

• Players that are angling the puck carrier should work to match the puck carriers speed, keep their stick on the ice to go stick on puck, and then eliminate their hands with body contact. 
• Supporting players on defense should be ready to jump in for loose pucks to support their teammate, and transition quickly to offense.

This is a great shooting half ice drill with a lot of good skill elements for defense, forwards, and goalies.  It is also a useful drill for half ice situations / pratices. To set up place a line of defense in the middle of the ice at the blue line and a line of forwards at  each face off dot as shown in the diagram.

The drill starts with D1 taking a shot from the point and following it to the net for a rebound.  After they stop at the net they continue to the corner to get a puck and carry the puck back around the net.  While they are picking up the puck F1 curls towards the boards and gets in position to receive a breakout pass from D1.  Once they receive the pass they curl into the slot behind the line of fowards and take a shot on net.  F1 follows their shot for a rebound and then returns to the end of the line.  D1 continues the drill by picking up another puck from the other corner and carrying it around the net to make another outlet pass to F2.  F2 does the same thing as F1 on the other side.  After D1 makes the second pass they continue to the corner one more time to retrieve a third puck.  This time they make a pass out to the blue line to the next defense who starts the drill over again.