U14 to U16 Zone Entry Practice

A warm-up drill that can be performed in any zone with the entire team. Coaches can customize this warm-up activity with different skills based on the age and ability level of the team.

Setup

• Each player has a puck. 
• Whistle # 1 - players skate at 50% speed and their feet do not leave the ice.
  • Skates are in the ice at all times and players move by driving their weight off of their inside edges. Players stickhandle the puck side to side with wide lateral movements as they shift their weight looking for open ice.
• Whistle # 2 - players skate at 75% speed and their feet can leave the ice.
  • Be creative! Players can pick their feet up from the ice and they are moving at about 75% while being creative with tight control turns, sharp lateral movements, and still looking for open ice.
• Whistle # 3 - players skate at 100% speed.
  • Be explosive and move their feet outside of your comfort zone. Jump to open areas of ice. Goalies skate backwards.

Coaching Points

• Players must keep head up and look for open ice during all 3 speeds.

Pass to line on far blue, momentum post, receive pass and attack coach. Various entry skills:

1. Mohawk, cut hands. Shoot, change angle, stop at net.

2. Mohawk delay, cut hands. Shoot, change angle, stop at net.

Alternate lines that go each rep.

• Players in all 4 corners at the hash marks with pucks
• On first whistle, players out of opposite corners skate across the zone with puck and pass to teammate along the hash
• Players attack through the neutral zone and complete a zone entry
• Coach applies a little pressure upon entry to force a decision
• Players attempt to score on the rush
• After the play they get to the front of the net for a shot from the point (can come from player or coach)
• On next whistle, drill restarts from the opposite side

The Jets 2 V 2 Drill from TJ Manastersky was shared 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.

The Jets 2 V 2 is a rush drill that puts a lot of pressure on the defenseman because they will be trying to gap up properly as they try to handle a lot of speed from the forwards.

Setup

• Start with 2 defenseman at the top of the circles. The rest of the defenseman are along the boards at center ice.
• Forwards are on all 4 blue lines with pucks.
• On the first whistle, the far forwards exchange lanes (and can exchange a puck) before they attack. They must attack from outside of the neutral zone face off dots.
• The defenders jump up the to neutral zone and attempt to gap up properly and handle the excess speed.
• The 2 v 2 plays out until the coach blows a second whistle. 
• On the second whistle, the first set of forwards is done, the second set of forwards on the near blue line start and race around the far face-off dots before they begin their attack on the defenders.
• The defenders that just finished the original 2 v 2 race to gap up against the second set of forwards.

Coaching Points

• Defenders need to be aware of the speed from the forwards and need to work to create a proper gap while matching their speed.
• Coaches can have defenders work on their angling skills on the second 2 v 2 rep.
• Forwards should practice fundaments that they would use on a 2 on 2 rush. They might consider driving the net, utilizing cut backs or change of speed to create additional space on the rush.

Connect with TJ by visiting his IHS Contributor Page, where you can subscribe to his newsletter, podcast, and see other drills he has shared.

The Neutral Zone Angle 2 V 2 to 3 V 2 forces players to step up and make a play in the neutral zone! The drill is a valuable exercise to help defenders practice angling techniques in the neutral zone while offensive players can practice making plays instead of dumping the puck.

Setup

• Goal: Forwards can not dump the puck and are trying to score. Defenders are trying to angle, make a play and stop the forwards before the blue line. 
• Split up the team and at each blue line there will be a line of forwards and a line of defensemen.
• On the whistle, 2 forwards and 2 defensemen skate out into the neutral zone. 
• The forwards receive a pass from a coach and begin the 2 on 2.
• Forwards try to score while the defense tries to create a turnover at the blueline.
• Coaches should give players reps at both sides of the ice.
• This drill is continuous and can progress to a 3 V 2.
• Coaches can keep score by giving the defense a point if they take the puck away before the blue line and forwards get a point if they score a goal.

Coaching Points

• Defense: 
  • Always keep the stick on the ice.
  • Try to match the speed of the players you are defending against.
  • Do not let them cut back in the middle of the ice.
  • Try to angle the players into the boards & go stick on stick to take the puck away.
• Offense:
  • Try to create space between you and the defenders.
  • Cut back into center ice if they commit too far.
  • Communicate and use your partner as an outlet.
  • Create give & go situations!

Variations

• Can make this drill 1 v 1, 2 v 2, or 3 v 3.
• Coaches can change up where they are passing from.
• Can make this a half ice drill if you do not have access to full ice (see half-ice setup below).

Zone Entry Tips

1. If possibe get to the middle of the ice which opens up more options.
2. Suck the defense to the middle and then distribute puck to the outside.
3. Create a 2 on 1 with one of the defenders.

Zone Entry Options

1. Pass puck to the outside and drive hard to the net for a return pass.
2. Pass the puck to the outside and outside player escapes to the wall, cycles the puck low, look for a return pass high in the slot.
3. Pass the puck to the outside and drive to the net, outside player cuts to the middle and looks to shoot through player drving to the net or a tip.