Hockey Drills

Half Ice Hockey Drills: Larsen Give and Go

There is an old school mentality that you have to line the players up and do skating drills for 20 - 30 minutes to get your team in shape. However, have you ever lined up two players on the goal line, places a puck at center ice, and said "go"?

Ice Hockey Drill - Center Lag Timing Drill

Get your practice off on the right skate by moving the puck and driving the net in this week's edition of the Drill of the Week.

One down side to station based practices is that players don't get to skate the full length of the ice. Here is a station drill that uses half of the ice but the full length. This drill works on passing the puck up the ice using two different methods, a direct pass, and an in-direct pass (off the wall). The timing concept will most likely be the most difficult for the young players to grasp so it can be a good idea to place a coach at each line and let the coach dictate when to go.

As simple as this ice hockey drill looks in the animation, it is very challenging to do the correct way. Challenge your players to do the following: Keep their feet moving the entire time, sell the move to the outside and use the toe of the stick to pull the puck to their forehand as they accelerate to the center of the ice, and be sure to follow their shot for a rebound.

Challenge the angling and gap control of your defence with this full ice 1 vs 1 drill. It's a great way to get players working on timing.

Here is a half ice drill that focuses on several defensive skills and works well when practice is split up into forwards and defense. Four cones or tires are helpful although not required. Pucks should be set out along the boards at center ice and in each corner. The two lines of defense line up as shown in the diagram and one player will start in the corner on the same side as the player who will go first.

Tom Renney Warm-up – Weiss Tech Hockey Drills and Skills

This is a defensive specific hockey drill that requires a minumum of 4 players, 1 puck, and one half of the ice. The players should line up along the boards at center ice. If possible it is best for the players to go with their defensive partner. The first player in line on the strong side (D1) starts backwards and calls for the puck. The weak side defense (D2) starts near the middle of the ice and provides support for their partner as they receive the puck. D2 needs to call for the puck and…

Admiral Drill - 3rd Progression

The 4 vs. 2 No Stickhandle Game from Topher Scott is a great game to reinforce quick puck movement by the offense and good stick position by the defense. As the name states, the offensive team can not stickhandle the puck while they move the puck and try to score. The defense can practice disrupting plays by having their sticks on the ice and getting into passing lanes. If the defense gets the puck they must pass to their forwards on the other side of the ice.

Great drill here if your looking for a flow drill that involves a lot of players, passing, shooting, and skating. The setup is similar to the typical horseshoe drill with two lines in opposite corners with pucks except now there are four defense at center ice as shown. Two players from each line will go on the whistle.

Swiss 4 vs. 2 Scoring Game: A fun small area hockey game that sets up the offense to work on generating passing & scoring opportunities by keeping head up, being patient, using deception and communicating with teammates. Swiss 4v2 Scoring Game Set Up: