1. Place O in each corner with a puck 2. D starts in front of net and skates toward one of the O 3. When he stops and transitions, the O drives the net and they play 1 on 1 until a score, puck freeze or D clears the puck 4. D then picks another O and repeats until all 4 O have played
Focus: 1. 1 on 1 work both for O and D 2. Backward skating and Defensive play 3. Stickwork and beating D
Notes: This drill is good Defensive work and will help them develop their backward skating and 1 on 1 play.
1. Place O in each corner with a puck 2. D starts in front of net and skates toward one of the O 3. When he stops and transitions, the O drives the net and they play 1 on 1 until a score, puck freeze or D clears the puck 4. D then picks another O and repeats until all 4 O have played
Focus: 1. 1 on 1 work both for O and D 2. Backward skating and Defensive play 3. Stickwork and beating D
Notes: This drill is good Defensive work and will help them develop their backward skating and 1 on 1 play.
1. Place O in each corner with a puck 2. D starts in front of net and skates toward one of the O 3. When he stops and transitions, the O drives the net and they play 1 on 1 until a score, puck freeze or D clears the puck 4. D then picks another O and repeats until all 4 O have played
Focus: 1. 1 on 1 work both for O and D 2. Backward skating and Defensive play 3. Stickwork and beating D
Notes: This drill is good Defensive work and will help them develop their backward skating and 1 on 1 play.
In previous articles I’ve written about the roles of a winger, and the roles of a centerman. In this article I will be going into detail about the roles and responsibilities of the Defensemen. I’m going to start by making it VERY simple, and then we’ll go into a little more detail based on zones. […]
A few years ago I was working at a hockey camp with Dennis Maruk (former 50 goal scorer and NHL all-star) and we were ending the camp with a scrimmage. One of the students playing defense rimmed the puck a few times to move it up ice to the wingers. I didn’t think much of […]
We’re breaking down some fundamental defensive strategies to help you play better hockey. These tips aren’t just for defensemen. Anyone who plays hockey should know how to play defense, because remember, when the other team has the puck, everyone is playing defense. Using the Markings Key Takeaways from the video The dots can be used […]
One topic we haven’t covered a lot here on How To Hockey is defense. I’ve been getting requests for a few years for more info for playing defense, so I have put together a 4 video series all about playing defense!
These videos are not JUST for defensemen. As a coach, I have a simple rule, when the other team has the puck our entire team is playing defense. The tips in these videos will help forwards and defensemen improve their skills, get scored against less, and end up with the puck more often!
3 Universal Defensive tips
In this video we share 3 tips that will help anyone improve their defense. These are simple pieces of advice most players would hear from their coaches.
Stay between the guy with the puck, and the net
Watch the chest not the puck
Hide the poke check
Using the Markings
This video contains all kinds of tips that seem so easy, but are not discussed much in hockey. By using the markings on the ice you can easily check your position and improve your defensive game
Playing 1 on 1 in open ice
Defensemen and forwards will both get caught in this situation. Getting beat on a 1 on 1 can be embarrassing but if you watch this video and practice enough, you should barely ever get beat in a 1 on 1. Some tips include
Giving the opponent the outside
Match their speed
Gap control
1 on 1 along the boards
When your opponent has the puck along the boards you have a whole new set of rules. For instance in the video above I recommend having the stick in front of you, or using it to steer the player to open ice. In this video I encourage players to use “stick on puck” which means always having your stick lined up with the puck which helps block passes and shots. Here are some quick tips
Stick on puck, body on body
Know when to contain, and when to pressure
Angle the opponent for better results
Some final tips for playing defense from the pro’s
Whenever I read coaching books I collect bits and pieces. Here is a collection of defensive tips I have collected from a few coaching books
Pat Quinn
Good defence starts with learning the fundamentals. First it’s learning to play without the puck. It’s learning to play your angles, to position yourself on the inside, to be able to put or move the attack where you want it to come, to play outnumbered, and to protect the goaltender.
Ken Hitchcock
The single most important lesson that any defender can learn is that he doesn’t need to have the puck to dictate what will happen. Learn how to invite the puck carrier to do what you want. Soon [the puck] will be on your stick.
Gary galley
On playing against guys bigger than him – Don’t give up space in the neutral zone. Big guys need space to get speed, give them space in the corners. Dont run them give them a yard and a half then take it away. If you can’t move the stick, take the stick away.
Coaches note – That means lifting their stick, play the stick, then body, then puck
Gary’s ABC’s of good defence
Play good angles
Maintain good position
Know who is on the ice
Defence – on the bench watch other players, what the forwards are doing and what you would do in those situations
Ed jovanoski
Keys to defence
position
patience
poise
Most of these tips are from Simply the Best a great book that includes interviews with some of the best coaches hockey has ever seen.
Robert Morris University head ice hockey coach Derek Schooley sent over a defensive zone coverage drill that works on 1×1, 2×2 and 5×5 skills. This drill is excellent for use on half ice practices as well as full ice practice slots. Every coach needs to work on his teams defensive zone coverage throughout the year and this drill gives us a way to accomplish that goal while working on other defensive skills and keeping the tempo high.
