Practice 1 Concepts Defensive Zone Positioning Breaking Out of Defensive Zone

Standard Defensive Zone Positioning X LW X D X C RW X X D

If their player in front of the net moves to the high slot the “weak side” winger must come down to cover him. X LW X D X C RW X X D

If the puck moves up the boards, the center will take over coverage of the puck carrier and the defenseman shifts to the open player down low. X LW X C X D RW X X D

If the puck moves back to the point, the same basic assignments apply. X X C LW X D RW X X D

On the other side of the ice, everything is a mirror image On the other side of the ice, everything is a mirror image. We always want to keep our body between the man we’re covering and the net. X D X LW C X RW D X X

Breakouts Good Defensive coverage causes turnovers and allows us to breakout of our zone. The goal of the breakout is to get the puck out past the blue line. If possible, we want to keep possession of the puck, but our main goal is to get it out of our zone. We will focus on 3 options when breaking out of our zone.

Option 1 – Pass up the boards to the strong side winger LW D C RW D

Option 1 – Pass up the boards to the strong side winger LW D C RW D

Option 1 – Pass up the boards to the strong side winger LW D C RW D

Option 1 – Pass up the boards to the strong side winger LW D C RW D

Option 2 – Pass up to the center. LW D C RW D

Option 2 – Pass up to the center. LW D C RW D

Option 2 – Pass up to the center. LW D C RW D

Option 2 – Pass up to the center. LW D C RW D

Option 3 – Pass behind the net to the other defenseman then up the boards to the winger. LW D C RW D

Option 3 – Pass behind the net to the other defenseman then up the boards to the winger. LW D C D RW

Option 3 – Pass behind the net to the other defenseman then up the boards to the winger. LW C D RW

Option 3 – Pass behind the net to the other defenseman then up the boards to the winger. LW C D RW