Defense Yo Yo Footwork Drill

This drill is specifically for defense. The focus is on footwork and quick puck movement. Have the defense split up into pairs. Set up as shown in the diagram. On the whistle, D2 takes 1 or 2 strides towards D1 and then transitions backwards. D1 dumps a puck lightly off to one side of D2. D2 needs to open up and transition forwards to go receive the puck. They should recieve the puck and turn up ice as quick as possible to give a pass back to D. D2 then skates up to D1 and transitions backwards to repeat the same thing.