Hockey Positioning - 101 Defensive Zone

Defensive Zone Coverage Great defensive teams… Control the “Middle Lane” and “The HOUSE”  see diagram next page Force the opponents to the outside (from the inside out) Function as 1 unit: all players do their own job, cover their assigned opponent/position and communicate as a group Maintain defensive-side position  always stay between your opponent & our goal Read the play, anticipate and block passing lanes (sticks on ice) Win battles and races to the puck everywhere on the ice Are not afraid to block shots! Take pride in shutting down the opponent and their best players Have the ability to quickly breakout after taking the puck away

Key Defense Concept Play the body first and puck second: 1st – position yourself so that your own goal is behind you and your opponent is in front of you 2nd – watch your opponents chest (NOT THE PUCK) and move to stay between them our goal 3rd – once you are in defense-side position, you can sweep or poke-check the puck away

Key Defense Concept Taking the body first!

“The Middle Lane” and “Our House” Defensive Priority Area “The Middle Lane” and “Our House” MIDDLE LANE Fusion Goal Opponent Goal OUR HOUSE Defensively, we must protect the “Middle Lane” and “Our House” ALWAYS Force the Opponent to the Outside

What do we do to opponents in our house? Key Defense Concept What do we do to opponents in our house?

Defensive Zone Coverage - Puck in Corner Red = Fusion Black = Opponent RW RD LW Puck LD CTR C RW LD Eagan Goal RD Opponent Goal LW OUR HOUSE The strength of our Middle Lane/House coverage determines the strength of our defense! Wings - Stay out of the corners (get puck only if loose and you are sure you can get it) RD and RW – don’t just be in your area, cover players in your area Center - 3rd defender below the faceoff dots; block passes from corner to front and cover opponent down low (below the goal line) LW – puck-side (strong side), stay between puck and the LD at point; get to the LD if they get a pass – BLOCK THE SHOT! LD – force inside-out, watch the body (chest) stay with your opponent; go to front of net if puck goes to other side of rink RD – defend in front of our net; lift opponent stick (bug them); head on swivel watching play/puck and your opponent in front

Defensive Zone Coverage – Puck at Point - Red = Fusion Black = Opponent RW RD LD Puck LW CTR CTR Eagan Goal LD RD LW RW Opponent Goal OUR HOUSE LW – is strong sidewing (puck on your side); move to RD with puck; take angle to block shot on net RW – weak side wing (puck not on this side); stay in front of net (between hash-marks & top of circle). If pass goes to your D, hustle out to LD and block shot to net RD/LD/C – all 3 players must be between our goal and the opponent. Clear opponents from front of net by force (push them away) so goalie can see and they don’t tip puck. Cover your opponent.  All - DO NOT try to play “goalie” and knock shots from the point out of the air with your stick or kick at shots – they often get tipped and then end up in your net! Maintain defensive-side position.