TEAM USA Building a Team and The Road to the 2014 Olympic Games Dan Bylsma – Peter Laviolette – Todd Richards

Getting to know your players Captains group Speak with their coaches – teammates if possible Orientation Camp – See each player 3 times (45 players) Conversations with Ron Wilson Lines, Combinations, Line-up Challenges Short tournament issues Conversations with Coach Krzyzewski The Standard Team Bond Formulating a TEAM

Lines, Match-ups, Roles, etc. Make up of lines Scoring, Checking, 4 th Line, etc. Extra players – best players vs role players Management Team and GM Advisory Committee Their job is to pick the team Picking a TEAM

So much to do…So little time Talk to each player Systems Special Teams: PK/PP Down to 25

Team – The Standard “Get Better Every Day” 3 Practices & 3 Games to come together as a TEAM Sochi

NZFC  LW Locks – 1-4 Forecheck Special Teams: PP/PK Defensive Zone Coverage Big Ice

Adjusting to the Big Ice/Sochi Tired Extra Ice Adjusting to New Roles/Playing Time Vs Role on NHL team Players Sitting Out The Players

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the LWL is to force a turnover and regain possession of the puck. It resembles a set up. This system is used to have one man pressuring the puck and the other 4 players filling lanes and taking responsibility for their assignment. NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

OBJECTIVE: When there is a pass made up ice, one man will check forward to create a turnover, the others will reload behind to support the player checking forward. It should be difficult to make plays up ice because all three lanes are filled. It is a very safe and effective system. NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

LW LOCK LANGUAGE F1 and F2: Generally refer to the C and the RW If possible have the RW be F1 and F2 be the center LW or LF: Refer to the left wing side or the left forward filling the left wing lane RD: Refers to the right defenseman filling the right wing lane LD: Refers to the safety D taking away the middle of the ice CHECKING FORWARD: Refers to a player anticipating a pass and moving forward to check the body or the puck to create turnovers NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

F1F1 F1F1 F2F2 F2F2 LWLW LWLW LDLD LDLD RDRD RDRD Protect the middle of the ice LW-LD-RD: Stay in lanes until there is a pass made up ice NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

F1 & F2- “I” Formation F1: Watch your speed, angle & steer Return thru middle, Back pressure Don’t finish your checks F2: Lock middle, discourage C option Reload support behind LF/RD F1 and F2 are INTERCHANGABLE NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

LF & RD: Identical Jobs Left Forward: LW or C Check forward on plays to your side Priority #1: Create turnovers Priority #2: Defend Entry Weak side must reload support LD: Keep everything in front of you Safety D, No homerun plays Reload support towards puck side NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

FACEOFFS RW Forechecks C Becomes F2 in “I” LW & RD Lock Lanes LD is the safety D OBJECTIVE: #1: Create TO’s #2: Deny Entries #3: Transition to Offense NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

BULLET POINTS F1 and F2 work in tandem and can exchange places. If the LW is clearly the 1 st F up ice in the neutral zone, the Center becomes the lock forward on the left side With good gaps, you can anticipate passes and check forward in the lanes. All others reload behind puck movement. 1 man checks forward, 4 players reloading to defense and support. If you can’t establish a good gap, play the rush skating backwards like a defenseman. We will have three or four defenders in front of the rush. No all or nothing plays. NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

BULLET POINTS Reloads are crucial to help defend the rush and east-west plays on the opposition’s entry. SKATE BACK HARD. LF and RD MUST take the man back to the post in our end on plays away from the puck. Can’t get beat on a pass play to the weakside of the ice. If forwards swing into different lanes, hold your lane and accept the other player into your lane. Do not leave your lane until there is a play made UP ICE. There will be many dumps or redirects against us so all players work hard to get back and be available for BO’s. When we are in a line change the LWL IS OFF. Defense stay in the middle of the ice and defend the rush between the dots. NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK LWL 1-3-1

KEYS Tracking hard into DZC and stopping in spots Ready to skate (Defensively Aggressive): 1.To eliminate the opposition time and space 2.To support a team mate defensively 3.As option on break out offensively Work from the inside out, protecting the middle and front of our net Stops and starts, beating your check back to the inside DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE

KEYS The 1 st battle: 1.Get the puck stopped and neutralize the opponent 2.Win the race for second man support 3.Execute – make the next play with the puck Deny the opponent the back of our net and cut off cycles up the wall (away from our net) Face the play with sticks in passing lanes and bodies in shooting lanes COMMUNICATE!!! DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE

D or F1 – 1 st Man 1.Close fast, stick on puck 2.Get the puck stopped and neutralize the opponent 3.Create separation from man and puck

DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE D or F1 – 2 nd Man 1.Supports the 1 st battle and ready to skate 2.Ready to jump on loose puck when separation is created

DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE D or F1 – Net Front 1.Plays off the SS post and ready to skate3. Low slot awareness of F3 2.Communicates to direct his teammates 4. In position to cut off deep cycle to the back of our net

DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE F2 SS Wing 1.Protects the “slot” area helping on coverage of the opponent’s F3 2.Denies cycle up the wall 3.Gets to shooting lane first, then to point when puck is moved to blue line

DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE F3 WS Wing 1.Protects the “slot” area helping on coverage of the opponent’s F3 2.Has weak side D coverage responsibility

DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE When puck is below goal line/back of net: F’s collapse and protect the “house” All 5 should be at/below the hash marks

DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE When puck is moved Low to High: F2 and F3 explode to points – bodies in shooting lanes, sticks in passing lanes F1 works to find opponents “high” forward

DZC vs High Cycle

DZC vs High F3