Hockey Notes

Summer 2012

M. M. McMahon, Ph.D.

Offensive Players: In Our Zone

• Stay between the top of the face-off circle and the blue line

• When the puck is on your side, stay near the boards for a pass

• The center may go in deep to help defend

• The center needs to be ready to move the line out and break out

Offensive Players: In Our Zone

• Between the top of the face-off circle and the blue line– You can take a pass from the defenseman and

break out– You can cover the other team’s defender– You can intercept a pass to the other team’s

defender and skate away with it

Offensive Players: In Our Zone

Wait by the boards to take a passThen break out of the zone

Offensive Players: In Our Zone

• There are time your Captain / Coach may tell you to wait on the other side of the Blue Line

• HOWEVER,

• It will not be easy to get a forward pass from your defenseman

• The other defenseman will have no opposition when passes go her way

Usually not the best option

Waiting outside your zone

The other defenseman can get the puckThere’s no one to take the pass

Offensive Players: The Neutral Zone

• Keep the puck, or

• Go get the puck

• Think lanes as you go forward

• When you stay where you are expected to be a pass can come

Offensive Players: In Their Zone

• Make sure the puck goes into their zone before our players or their will be an offside call

• "Play the triangle"– One person to get the puck– One player high slot– One player closer to the net

• If we lose the puck, try to get it back• Continue to try to get the puck on the way

back

Play the Triangle

One player goes after the puckOne player goes “high”One player goes near the net on the opposite side where she can tip in a rebound

The player with the puck can shoot at the net, pass to the high player, or skate closer to the net

Offensive Players

• Look for the breakout out of our zone• Be able to switch with other players

– If the center goes in the corner to get a puck, then that side wing goes toward the center

– If a defenseman skates with the puck, one player stay back to cover her position

• Be alert to switch back to your position when the other player is back in her position– Listen for "I'm back"

• Passes can go faster than a person can skate

Defensive Player: In Our Zone

• Ask the goalie what she needs from you– Listen to the goalie ("Front!", "Screen!")

• Cover players in front of the net– Pick up her stick when a pass comes

• Players slide right and left– Depending on the side the puck is on– One defenseman is always in front of the net

• When you get the puck, break out• Try not to pass to the middle in our own zone• Returning to the zone

– One player goes after the puck– The other goes to the front of the net

Defensive Player: In Our Zone

• The goalie takes the first shot

• The defensemen make sure there are no rebounds

Thoughts from a Goalie

• Shoot where the goalie isn't

• Take an extra step or pass to a teammate if you can

• If she's already gone down-- you can take a step much faster than she can get up again

Defensive Player: In Their Zone

• Keep the puck in

• When you get the puck – Take a shot on the net– The Wings can deflect or get a rebound

• Try to prevent a breakout, but get back to defend our zone

All Players

• Talk to each other– Yell "Thunder" if you can't remember a name!

• Listen to each other • Make sure key positions are covered• Don't bunch up

– Move away and give your teammate someone to pass to

• Use the boards like another player• Go get the puck!

Defending on a Penalty:Play the Box

• We have 4 players• They have 5 players (power play)• In our zone

– The 4 players form a box

– Defense at back

– Offense at front

• Keep them out of the box – Minimizes their angles and changes of scoring

• If you get the puck ice it – hit it so hard that it goes all the way to the other end

Defending on a Penalty:Play the Box

Defending on a Penalty:The Box Moves

• The box shifts to the side where the puck is

• You are always trying to get the puck away from the other team and ice it

• Sending the puck to the other side of the ice – Kills penalty time– Gives you a chance to change players

Defending on a Penalty:Play the Box

Defending on a Penalty:In Transition

• When the puck leaves your zone– One player may backcheck– Form a "T"– If possible, get a change– Stay in the T configuration in their zone

• Resume the box as the other team comes back

Defending on a Penalty: The Box to a T

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