Developing Defensemen CEP Level 3 Brian Johnson

Developing Defensemen Skating Puck Handling Partner Support 1 on 1 Offensive Shooting

Skating Skills

Backwards Skating Proper knee bend Back straight up (80-90 degrees) Extension out and recover in under body Stick in front of body, one hand Don’t crossover when defending

Mobility Pivoting right and left Transition forward – backwards Stops; one foot, two foot, two foot uneven Power turns

Drills To Use (Quick Feet) Wishbone Russian Cross Star 3 Phase Transition Figure 8 Quick Pass Partner Pivot Pass Up and Back Russian React

Wishbone Start at top of circle Skate bkwd to the dot Pivot fwd and skate to circle Stop and bkwd to dot Fwd to circle Repeat in 12-4-8 pattern

Russian Cross Fwd to middle Chop to one side and back to the middle Fwd to the top and bkwd to the dot Chop to opposite side and bkwd to finish

Star Start at dot Fwd to circle, bkwd to dot Fwd to circle at hash, bkwd to dot Fwd to hash, bkwd to dot

3 Phase Transition Start at net Fwd to far hash Bkwd to net Fwd to goal line @ boards Fwd to end boards

Figure 8 Quick Pass Player skates figure 8 transition from backwards to forwards while receiving passes and giving back

Partner Pivot Player skates the circle, pivoting at four points from back to front while receiving and giving passes. Go 2 times, switch directions, go 2 times then switch partners.

Up & Back Player performs front to back transitions between blue and red line while passing with a partner or coach.

Russian React Player performs a series of moves. Russian chop out & in Skate to boards & do a figure 8 Skate to corner Retrieve puck and do an Orr, escape, reverse move.

Puck Handling

Game Time Situation Drills Retrieve, scan and up Retrieve and Escape Retrieve with Double Escape Retrieve, stop and quick up Retrieve and Orr

Scan and Up

Retrieve & Escape

Retrieve with Double Escape

Stop & Quick Up

Retrieve & Orr

Skating & Puck Handling Figure 8 Handle 360 Transition Handle Y Passing

Figure 8 Handle Player alternates forward to backwards in a figure 8 motion while handling puck. 30 second intervals.

360 Transition Handle Player does same figure 8 motion but does a 360 transition instead.

Y Passing Player executes control with give and go passing in 3 directions. Player can execute 2 revolutions.

Partner Support

Defensive Zone D to D D Reverse D bump (counter) Reverse ring or stop and back

D to D Player opens to the puck as partner heads to post and then behind goal line for a pass.

D Reverse Defenseman must sell going behind the net before making reverse. Always turn towards the boards.

D Bump The carrying D must make the bump pass behind the net and sell the fake carry. Player out front must call the play and make move after the bump.

Retrieve & Ring Players on off hand can ring puck back around boards to the wing. Players on forehand will have to stop and quick-up to wing.

Neutral Zone D to D D to D to D Drop Up

D to D Make sure partner stays below puck. Always turn towards the boards.

D to D to D Each time the player goes below the puck. Always turn towards the boards.

Drop D must retrieve the puck, force play to follow him to the middle of the ice. He/She must then drop to partner to change flow for a quick-up.

Up Good way to beat a trap forecheck. Have D follow play up ice instead of hanging below the puck. This forces the middle of the ice to open up.

1-1 & 2-1 Skills

1 on 1 Keep outside shoulder with opponent’s inside shoulder. Stick in front of body with one hand. Keep the gap tight to deny space and time. Eyes on chest (logo) of opponent. Pivot to attack, don’t cross-under.

2 on 1 Keep the gap tight to keep the passes at a minimum. Position between attackers initially, keep eye on player without the puck, stick in front of body. If play gets below circles, keep stick toward the puck carrier which will close the space between stick and skates and limit a pass out front. D must start to drift to player out front after forcing puck carrier to a bad angle. If play gets below dots, use two hands to intercept a pass.

Drills Grind 1-1 Workhorse 1-1 Survivor 1-1 Star 2-1 Gap Control 2-1 Breakout/Regroup 2 spot or 4 spot 1-1 Block Out 1-2-3 Partner

The Grind D starts at dot, F in corner. On whistle, D skates to boards, touches and hips out and then grinds bkwds across ice to meet fwd who is heading up ice. Both ends, opposite corners.

Workhorse D starts with puck On whistle they pass to the F below the goal line and then head around circle to meet oncoming F.

Survivor D starts on inside hash marks, F on goal line. From a dead stand still, on the whistle the players begin up ice. Fwds trying to beat the D down the boards while the D try to gain gap control and angling. Both ends.

Star 2-1 Gap Control D skates behind net and passes to forward on boards. F on far side comes across middle of zone and gives pass option to partner. Those players then skate down 2-1 on waiting D. Both Ends

Breakout/Regroup D breaks out 2 forwards who regroup with D at neutral ice. F turns up and heads down 2-1 with D that broke them out. D that did the regroup then chases puck in and starts same thing out of opposite end.

2 Spot 4 Spot 1-1 D plays 1 F out of the corner, then one from out high. Each one goes on the coach’s whistle. You can do it with 2 or 4 forwards. Give D a chance to get up on corner forwards who must start with backs toward middle ice.

Block Out Protecting the middle of the ice. Driving forwards outside. End vs. Neutral

1-2-3 Partner 1-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3 1st start 1-1, then blow whistle and new puck is alive and play 2-2. Then on next whistle, a new puck is alive and third person joins and you do either 3-2 or 3-3.

Shooting

Shooting Skills Control the puck Quick release Low and on net Move to a good angle to get goalie moving Keep head up

Drills Up & Back quick release Off the boards, control and release Off the boards, control to partner (one time) Partner and back Lateral move, catch, and shoot Rounder Husky Shooter Star Shooter

Up & Back Player skates to the puck, picks it up, transitions backwards to a good angle and shoots.

Off Boards – Control & Release Coach puts puck off or around boards as player must keep the puck in the zone. Quickly control the puck and pull it into a good angle to shoot.

Off Boards – Control to Partner Same board pass with quick pass to partner who can catch & shoot or one-time the puck. This can also be done continuous with the coach throwing a puck from one side then after the shot right away to the other side.

Partner & Back Same drill as previous, but with a pass back to original D, who must put him/herself in a good pass lane for a shot. Very good for power play.

Lateral Move, Catch & Shoot Player takes passes in-between cones from coaches/players, moves to the outside of cones for a shot and back to middle for another shot. Reps of 4, 6, 8, 10.

Rounder Players skate to pucks, retrieve a puck, hip out backwards, around top cone and shoot on net.

Husky Shooter Player skates in on right side of cone, retrieves puck and skates backwards out around cone, then back around high cone into forward stride to a good shooting angle. Always face the net.

Star Shooter Player starts low and always faces the boards. A lot of transitions with the puck and a shot at the end. At the top, open to the necessary hand for shot.