Angling Stations 2024

Drill Setup:

• Split players into 2 teams. Whoever coach passes the puck to, that team must skate around their net with the puck before moving into playing.
• The opposing team (defenders) now angle the puck carrying team. After this the players play cross ice until coach changes lines.

Variations:

• Start with the "small area version." Start1 v 1. This is easier for the players to angle and work on angling skills in.
• Can move to 2 v 2 in this small area version as well. Once shows proficiency can move to full zone 3 v 3. Being bigger area makes it harder to angle.
• Can also set up situations where the offense has the advantage - like 3 v 2 or 3 v 1, or 2 v 1 games.

Purpose:

• Purpose of this drill is to work on angling and creating a turnover to be able to transition into offense. Focus on all the skills of angling as well as tight gaps and taking away passing lanes/options.
• Let the players play the game out for a little bit and continue to stress looking for new angling situations as well as using all body contact skills previously reviewed.

Shot Into Gap Up 1 v 1 lets players work on driving the net, along with angling in a tight space.

Setup

• Set the net up below the face-off circle on the goal line.
• Set up 2 lines, one on the outside of the face-off circle in the slot, one at the blueline.
• On the whistle, the player close to the slot takes a shot, while the player at the blueline explodes into the zone and goes around the far cone.
• The player that took the shot works to gap up and angle the player coming in from the blue line.
• Play out the 1 v 1.
• Make sure players get reps at both sides.

Coaching Points:

• Defender:
  • Gap up and match the offensive skaters speed.
  • Keep your stick on the ice and angle them towards the boards, do not let them cut back into the middle of the ice.
  • Go stick on puck and finish through their hands to remove the puck from their stick.
• Offensive skater:
  • Keep your head up and look for an opportunity to cut back into the middle of the ice.
  • If there is no space, keep feet moving and try to protect the puck along the boards and drive to the net.

Drill Setup:

• Split players into small groups at the circles.
• Draw a line to split the circle in half. X1 starts with the puck, passes to X2 at the opposite side of the circle. X2 passes the puck back to X1.
• X1 must choose a 1/2 of the circle and skate attempting to skate on that half and ge tto the opposite half of the circle.
• X2 angles, X1 and does not allow them to get to other half/side of the circle.

Drill Purpose:

• Purpose of the drill is to introduce angling. BecauseX1 and X2 start across from each other, the drill stresses that"X2" cannot skate straight atX1 but must angle and push X1 one direction.
• Can introduce the concept of using your stick to help steer the player as well as going stick on stick and body on body at the right moment.

Common Mistakes:

• "X2" giving up the middle behind them and not being patient. "X2"looking at the puck and/or only going for the puck instead of body &puck.

The 2 v 1 Puck Pursuit Angling drill helps offensive players work on forchecking principles, while defenders can work on retrievals and puck protection.

Setup

• Coach sets up an a net on the goal line and a tire out by the blue line.
• On the whistle, a coach, or a player, chips the puck behind the net.
• The defender retrieves the puck and works to wheel around the net, protecting the puck and trying to get past the tire in the blue line. If they are able to get past the tire, they are awarded 2 points.
• The 2 offensive players work to angle the defender, strip them of the puck, and attack the net. If the offensive team scores, they are awarded 1 point.

Coaching Points

• Offense:
  • The first forechecker skates at an angle, keeps their stick on the ice, aims to go stick on puck, and check through the defenders hands, separating them from the puck.
  • The second forechecker skates at more of a flat angle, and provides support to the first forechecker.
• Defense: 
  • Protect the puck and use deceptive skating and moves to try to throw off the players forcehcking and angling techniques. 

Variations

• Coaches can set this up to be 1/4 setup (as shown) or 1/2 ice utilizing the full zone.

This drill from Alyssa Gagliardi is designed to develop Neutral Zone Angling skills with the focus on sealing off the puck carrier and transitioning the puck to a teammate for a quick 2v1. 

Setup

On the whistle, the offensive player takes off across the zone and receives a pass from the coach. At the same time, a defending player starting in the far side of the NZ takes off. The defending player is focused on their timing, stick positioning and body positioning to read the puck carrier's speed and take away the middle to limit their space.

In order to activate their teammate and get the advantage on the 2v1:

• The puck carrier must either skate the puck to the center ice red line and then pass to their teammate on the far side OR skate the puck over the far side blue line themselves which allows their teammate to activate.
• The defending player must win the puck anywhere before the far blue line in order to activate their player for the 2v1. 

Whichever player does not accomplish the objective has to transition to defensive play. 

Coaching Points

• Angling Player:
  • Stick on the ice (to help you angle, intercept a pass, or go stick on stick to take the puck away).
  • Match the speed of the player you are chasing.
  • Take a proper angle so the player can not easily cut back to middle of ice.
• Player With Puck:
  • Protect the puck with your body or stickhandling the puck away from the defender.
  • Cut back to middle of the ice if the defender leaves the middle open.