The Point to Half Wall is an excellent small area game that helps players practice a 2 vs 1 in a small space along the boards. The game also reinforces important skills like keeping your head up, moving to open spaces, protecting the puck and communication. 

The goal of the game is for the offense is to connect on 4 consecutive passes in a row. If they do so, they win and are allowed to shoot on net. If the defense takes the puck away, or the puck goes out of bounds 2 times during the game the defense wins and is awarded a shot on net.

Setup

• Playing Area: Use 4 cones or tires that create a triangle from the half wall to the middle of the blue line.
• Goalie Setup: This can be set up as a station with a goalie, or without. If you use a goalie it can be placed in the crease or the net can be moved so the drill is a station. 
• Players: Alternate players. It is beneficial for players to get reps on both offense and defense sides. 
• Passes: You can require 4 (or a different amount) of consecutive passes to win.
• Defense: If the defense is taking the puck away too much, you can tell the defense to flip their stick over.
• Winner: The winning side gets a shot on net. Other winning options are: 
  • If the offense wins:
    • The last person with the puck gets a shot on net.
    • Both players are given a puck and can shoot on different goalies.
    • The game moves to a 2 vs 1 in front of the net and offense is allowed one shot if they can get it off.
  • If the defense wins:
    • They get a shot on net.
    • The game moves to a 1 on 1 in front of the net and the defense is allowed one shot if they can get it off. The losing offense team needs to communicate with each other as to who is going to go after the defense.

Coaching Points

• Use the boards! They are your friend!
  • If used properly, the boards can be used as an extra player out there and are helpful for bank passes and puck protection.
• Offensive players need to protect the puck until they can make a play and then expose the puck to make a pass.
• Offensive players have to move without the puck. Think "Give & Go!"
• Defensive players are most successful with active sticks and stop and starts. There are no short cuts!

Progressions

• Have one of the offensive players be a "Point Player" who has to stay up around the blueline.
  • This progression can be great for defenceman working on their puckhandling at the point & forwards becoming outlet passes.
• Create a smaller "playing area" to make it tougher on the offense.
• Play the Corner to Half Wall 2 vs 1. 

 This is a great way to work on special teams.  The nice thing about this drill is that it requires a lot of players.  Many times when practicing special teams, there are lots of players watching from the bench. Split up your team into two teams.  Each team has a power play unit and penalty kill unit on the ice at the same time.  In this diagram the green power play unit is in one end going against the blue penalty kill unit.  In the other end you have the blue power play unti against the green penalty kill unit.  One puck is in play at a time and it can start with the power play unit on either side.  So lets say the green team starts with the puck.  The green power play goes against the blue penaly kill until the blue penalty killers get the puck and send it the length of the ice to the blue power play unit.  The blue power play unit then plays against the green penalty kill unit until the green penalty killers can ice it back down to their power play.

This drill can also be a great way to scrimmage another team in special teams or if you have to share the ice with another team.

This is a 3 on 3 cross ice game where players can take advantage of a "Gretzky" behind the opponents net. The "Gretzky" has to stay behind the goal line and makes passes to players on their team from behind the net.

• On a change of possession players have to make 1 pass to their "Gretzky" before attempting to score.
• Player can go below the goal line to challenge the other team's "Gretzky" and attempt to steal the puck.
• Players can go below the goal line to support their own "Gretzky".
• There is no limit to how many times players can use their "Gretzky".
• On the whistle players leave the puck and skate hard out of the zone and new players enter the game.
• Let each shift run about 30 - 40 seconds to keep the game fast paced and high intensity.