2 v 2 Play Fast with Support

By: Ice Hockey Systems

2 v 2 Play Fast with Support is a high tempo game from the 2025 Buffalo Sabres Development Camp that practices quick transitions, rush attacks, one touch passing & shooting.

Setup

• The game starts out at 2 v 2 in center ice. Each team also has 2 support players in their offensive end, located on the face off dots.
• Each team has a goalie inside the bluelines.
• The support players are stationed at the dots and do not join the play but act as support. These players can be allowed to two-touch, or one-touch a pass to their teammates in the center, or to their partner across the ice, or they can fire a shot on net.
• If there is a goal, the puck goes out of play, or the puck goes past the goal line, the nearest coach passes the puck to the defensive team.

Coaching Points

• Encourage the offense to "play fast" by passing to their support players up ice and sprinting up to be an outlet for them.
• Encourage the support players to already have an idea of what they want to do with the puck before they get it, so they can one-touch or two-touch the puck.
• Defense should keep sticks on the ice to block passing lanes and angle players away from the center of the ice.

Variations

• Can require support players to one-touch, or two-touch everything to encourage quick decisions.
• Can move the nets closer or further away from the blue line.
• Can be set up as a half-ice but will need to position the support players in an area that makes sense for your team.
• Can be played 2 v 2 or 3 v 3. Watch Seth Appert explain the 3 v 3 version that has support players in the line instead of at the faceoff dots.