What are we doing at practice?

Tuesday, November 21st from 7:45pm to 8:45pm
Bridgetown Arena

Practice Plan

Skating Skill Development
10 minutes
Get comfortable with practising different skills you'd typically use during a regular hockey shift, like sharp and smooth changes in direction, tight and wide turns, pivoting, and skating forward.

Wrist Shot Development
5 minutes

Wow! The feedback is in - the team wants more shooting drills! Watch the Wrist Shot Development video prior to practice to remind yourself of what great form will look like when taking a wrist shot and we’ll spend five minutes working on our shots before transitioning to the next drill where you will be able to apply what you learned.

Paint Scoring Drill
10 min

The Paint Scoring Drill is one where players will see how fast they can score three pucks. Players will be able to work on finishing using backhands, one timers, and wrist/snap shots.

Shot and Gap Up 1 v 1
10 minutes

Shot Into Gap Up 1 v 1 lets players work on driving the net, along with angling in a tight space. Everyone needs to try both positions.

  • 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.

  • It’s important that we cover the opponent’s defence in the defensive zone. If you are playing left or right wing - this is your responsibility in the defensive zone!

    Watch this helpful video

    When defending the point. Make sure that:
    1) Your feet are facing the correct way, that your knees are bent, and you are constantly scanning the ice during the play

    2) Resist the urge to attack an opponent that is low in the zone (that’s why you have a centre)

    3) When the defenseman is taking a shot from the point, block the puck not the player.

RPI 2 on 2
10 minutes

This is continuous 2 on 2 small area game with a focus on defending the blue line.

Defense are going to work on angles, gaps, and stick position. Do not give up the blue line easily. It is much harder to defend after the offense gets the puck inside the zone.

Forwards need to keep their feet moving and work hard to get the puck inside the offensive zone. Be mindful of your passes and control the puck. Make a great shot at the end and grab a rebound to practice a real game scenario.

  • Start the game with 2 defenders inside the blue line and lines of players on the outside of the blueline along the boards (we’re going to push back to the red line for the first few rounds)

    On the whistle, the first two player in opposite lines start. One player has a puck and they both skate through the center ice face-off dot before attacking the blue line.

    The defensive players communicate with each other and work to angle and kill the play before they are able to enter the zone to start an in-zone 2 on 2.

    The offensive team is working to score, while the defending team is working to gain possession of the puck and break it out to the next two player in the blue line. When the puck is passed to two new players, the defenders rotate out and now the players that were previously playing offense are now working to defend the blue line and the 2 on 2.

    The drill is continuous and all players should get reps at both offense and defense.

Wall Play Progression Drill 2
10 min
Improve your ability to pick up the puck along the boards. Drill 1 will focus on the basic skill of retrieving the puck from the boards. Drill 2 will build upon the skill and add a 2 on 1 play.

  • PART 1
    - X1 from each line leave on the whistle, skates around centre circle towards boards

    - X shoulder checks before entering the zone, receives rimmed puck from coach

    - X pulls puck off wall and drives net for shot

    PART 2
    - X1/X2 from each line leave on whistle, X1 skates around centre circle towards boards

    - X2 skates around centre circle, slows a little and supports X1 entering the zone

    - X1 pulls puck off wall and passes to X2 above the circle for shot on net, X1 drives net for rebound

    2nd Option - X1 pulls puck off wall drives towards net and delays, finding and passing to X2 who is between top of circle and face off dot

    - X2 drives net for shot, X1 drives net for rebound