This a great 2v1 drill that allows for work on both along the wall retrievals and regroups in the neutral zone.
SETUP:
- This is a half ice drill so the net should be in its usual spot on the goal line with a goalie in net.
- This can only be run out of one side at a time. One line should start at the hashmarks along the wall and F2 and the D can be standing in front of the net ready. F1 will be the first player in line on the hashmarks.
- There should be a coach with pucks on the other hashmarks on the other circle along the wall.
HOW THE DRILL WORKS:
- To start the drill, F1 will rim a puck down behind the net and jump to the slot to be ready for a pass. F2 and D will go battle for the puck below the net, F2 will do their best to get the puck and pass it to F1 in the slot for a quick shot.
- After the shot, the coach will start to skate up the ice with a puck about in line with the dots closest to their starting hashmarks. F1 will go chase them down and stick lift to take their puck just before the red line. F2 is getting out of the zone as quick as they can to help regroup with F1. D skates up and times their transition to leave as small of a gap as possible.
- F1 and F2 will regroup and attack the zone 2 on 1 against D.
COACHING POINTS:
- Defensively, D should be aware of their stick position and gap control. Since they are outnumbered, they should be playing smartly.
- Offensively, F1 and F2 should be communicating, skating fast and making good passes to each other in both the rim, retrieval, and regroup.
This video was from the Buffalo Sabres 2023 Dev Camp. A huge thanks to the Buffalo Sabres for making these practices public and sharing them with the hockey world.
