Down Low Play

The Box Game from Brad Flynn is a small area game that works on quick decision making, transitions, give & goes and net front play.

Setup

• Teams line up at the blue line.
• Coach dumps a puck in the corner, which starts an in zone 2 on 2.
• The 3rd person in each line jumps into the zone at the point and they are the "slide player" at the blue line. They are allowed to go to the boards, to the coach. The slide player can pass or shoot.
• Anytime there is a change of possession, the team that got the puck must pass to their slide player and work to get open, or get to the front of the net. 
• Part 2 progression option: Coaches can move the slide players up to the tops of the circle, so there is a smaller amount of space, which will require quicker decision making and give the slide players more opportunities for quick shots to the net.

Coaching Points

• Defending team: keep sticks on the ice to block passing lanes and angle players to the outside of the ice.
• Offensive team: communicate, practice give & goes, and quick shots on net.
• Slide players: keep your head up and look to make quick passes, or shots on net if there is traffic in front.

Variations

• Can reduce the playing area as shown in the video
• Can make this a 2 v 2 or 3 v 3 game.

The Out of the Corner drill from TJ Manastersky, the Head Coach of Brock University, helps players practice collecting a puck along the boards, protecting it, and cutting the defenders hands while they attack the net.

Setup

• Setup two lines along the boards as shown in the diagram with two players in each corner.
• On the whistle, one player sends a puck into the corner to begin the drill.
• #1 in blue picks up short rim, gets off the wall, initiates contact with defender (#2), cuts back and attacks net, cut hands on defender on way to to net.
• Player 1 goes to end of the line, player 2 becomes the new player along the boards, and a new player from line becomes the new defender. Alternate corners.
• Progression: Players can start from different areas of the ice, like the front of the net as explained in the whiteboard video and showed in the drill demonstration.

Coaching Points

• Offensive player should initiate contact with the defender and work to get off of the boards and cut their hands on the way to the net.
• Defending player should use token pressure to allow the forward to practice cutting hands. Coaches can progress to allow the defender to fully play. In this case make sure to keep your stick on the ice at all times and work to angle and deter the player from getting to the net.

Variations

• Coaches can line up players in different areas of the zone to practice collecting the puck from different areas.
• After players get used to the token pressure from the defender, coaches can progress this drill to be a 1 v 1 battle where the defender is working to take the puck away and skate to the stop of the circles while the forward is trying to score.

The Big Man Cycle 2 on 1 from John Dean is a 3 part drill that helps players practice using the boards and net to protect the puck in an offensive situation and ends with a full ice 2 on 1.

Setup

• Set up lines of forwards & defense on opposite ends of the ice.
• Whistle # 1: Coach chips puck into the corner. One forward goes to retrieve the puck, while the other forward goes to be the "Big Man" next to the net. The defender applies light pressure to the puck carrier.
• Whistle # 2: The puck is wrapped along the boards by the puck carrier. The "Big Man" next to the post, picks up the puck along the boards, this starts a 2 on 1 down low. It is encouraged to use the net as protection. Coach should let the 2 on 1 play out, before the coach blows a 3rd whistle.
• Whistle # 3: The in zone 2 on 1 stops, the Coach chips a puck outside of the blue line which creates a full ice 2 on 1. The defender in the zone gaps up with the oncoming forwards.

Coaching Points

• In part 1 & 2 of the drill, the forwards should utilize the boards and the net to protect the puck and create space from the defender. The defender should keep their stick on the ice to block passing lanes.
• In part 3 of the drill, the full ice 2 on 1, the defender should work to get up ice, pivot backwards and match the oncoming forwards speed.

The Go Go from TJ Manastersky, the Head Coach of Brock University, is a high tempo small area game turns into various situations: 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, and 3v3. The game practices down low defending along with puck protection, puck support and attacking down low. Players in line need to be ready to jump into the game when the coach yells go!

Setup

• On the whistle, the coach chips the puck into the corner to start a 1 v 1.Whichever side the coach chips the puck into, that team will be on offense.
• Every time coach yells "Go" the first offensive player in line jumps into the play. The next "Go" will have the next defending player in line go. Alternate lines with each "Go." 
• This game turns into various situations: 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, 4v3, etc.
• The offense tries to score while the defending team tries to skate the puck over top of the circle to end the rep.

Coaching Points

• Offensive players first to the puck should practice puck protection and cutting the hands of the defender.
• Players in line that are called into the game need to jump to support their teammates and communicate to let them know where they are.

Player behind net passes pucks to teammates at net front. Defenders must put puck below the goal line or pass to a coach on the dots. On whistle, go to next puck. 3 pucks per rep.

The Gretzky 2 vs. 2 Game from Topher Scott is a fun small area hockey game that has one major modification to a normal 2 vs. 2 game: each team has two "Gretzky's" behind the net that they can pass to. These "Gretzky's" behind the net must stay behind the net. The setup of the game allows for a lot of creativity, and give & go's!

Setup:

• In a half ice setup, place two nets facing each other in opposite face off circles.
• Each team has 2 players behind the net in their offensive zone. They can not go in front of the net.
• Have a 2 vs. 2 in the middle of the ice.
• To start, coach can pass a puck, take a shot on net, or chip it in the middle of the ice for a battle.
• Keep score! 

Coaching Points:

• Offensive players:
  • Players in the middle of the ice: work on give and go's! Pass and get open.
  • Players behind the net: know where you want to pass to before you get the puck. Use the net as protection and get creative!
• Defensive players:
  • Head on a swivel and know where all of the players are.
  • Keep stick on ice to block passing lanes.

Variations:

• Can be 2v2 or 3v3 in the middle of the ice.
• Can allow 1 or 2 "Gretzky's"
• Can require players to only hold the puck for 1 or 2 seconds or a whistle is blown.