Animated Ice Hockey Systems

This 5 on 3 power play option places two players at the top of the box on their off-hand.  This allows them to one-time the puck back and forth quicker.  There are two players at the bottom of the box also on their off-hand which allow them to make one time passes and have their stick further outside the box. A player with a good shot... Continue Reading >>

This breakout starts with the defense "wheeling" the puck behind the net and passing to the strong side wing.  The center swings towards the strong side wing but ahead of the play.  This should drive the opponent's defense off the blue line and create some space for the weak side wing.  The weak side wing swings into the slot and... Continue Reading >>

  In this neutral zone forecheck system, two forwards apply pressure to the opponent's defense.  The goal is to eliminate any D to D pass and create a turnover. F1 and F2 skate right to the defense slightly inside to outside as if to pry them apart.  They have to attack them with speed.  When the puck is moved up ice the have... Continue Reading >>

This animation and diagram show how to prepare for a face off loss in the defensive zone against a situation in which they line up with a player behind, or slightly to the net side of the center. Center The center should always tie up their man and make it tough for them to get to the net. Board Side Defense Continue Reading >>

The centers playing low means man on man coverage down low in the defensive zone.  Every player has a responsibility but there are also some key objectives as a group.  Continue Reading >>

This power play breakout offers three very good options. The best option depends on the penalty kill forecheck being used by the opponents.  P1 will have to read the forecheck and set the tone for the breakout.  Each player has a critical role and their positioning and timing is critical in order to give each player with the puck at... Continue Reading >>

This power play system starts in a typical overlaod set up.  The idea is to move the puck quickly and provide options to each player that has the puck. The player with the best shot or scoring touch should be P5 and in this case P5 is right handed.  The best play-maker in the group should be P4.  The animation will explain the... Continue Reading >>

In this offensive zone face off, the right wing lines up on the left slightly off of the hsh marks. Continue Reading >>

The center needs to act like they are going to try and win the draw back to t he left wing.  Instead, they win the draw to LD on the boards.  LD then passes the puck behind the net to RW.  RW then has an optio to pass to the Center or Right Wing from behind the net. Continue Reading >>

In this neutral zone (offensive blue line) face off play, the right defense and right wing switch positions.  The center and right defense have to tie up with the opponent opposite them.  The center tries to win the face off back to LD.  RW releases and looks for a quick pass from LD and tries to catch the opponents out of position... Continue Reading >>

The formation for this face off play is the same as the regular 1/2 shock with the Left Wing and Left Defense switching places.  If the opponents don't cover the board side wing, or if you have a mis-match along the boards, the center can try to get the puck into the corner. RW needs to get to the puck and just get the puck to the front of... Continue Reading >>

This is a neutral zone face off play for the offensive blue line.  The Left Wing and Right Wing switch places with the Defense but are offset so that the player near the boards lines up directly behind the center (in this diagram the RW). Continue Reading >>

This is one of the more common penalty kill systems.  It requires the penalty killers to be passive and allow the team on the power play to carry the puck out from behind their own net.  This diagram shows a standard power play breakout with the defense carrying the puck out from behind the net in the middle of the ice.  K1 attacks... Continue Reading >>

This penalty kill will often give the opponents a look they have rarely seen before.  In this case we have stacked K1 and K2 on the right side of the ice just inside the red line.The key is for K1 to time their swing so that P1 has to make a decision about ten feet inside the blue line.  If K1 has a good angle, then the only play... Continue Reading >>

This power play systems is intended to spread out the penalty kill and create space in the slot to feed your best shooter.  Of course, you need to gain posession of the puck before you set it up by getting two players on the puck.  Once the puck is fed to the player in the slot, the players in the corner need to get to the net as fast as... Continue Reading >>

Here is another option to run out of the Overload Power Play.  This is more commonly known as the Give & Go.  The idea is for F1 and F2 to Isolate X1 into a 2-1 situation.  F1 gives and the puck to F2 and breaks to the net and expects to receive the puck back in great scoring position. F3 has the option of blocking out X2... Continue Reading >>

This option of the overload requires F2 and D1 to read how the penalty killers react to a situation where F2 takes the puck behind the net.  If X1 gets takes away the pass to F1, then D1 slips quietly into the space that was just vacated. Typically X4 will get caught looking at the puck and that gives D1 the chance to skate into the slot... Continue Reading >>

The double swing break out has the advantage of giving several options to the player bringing out the puck.  D1 has to read the penalty killers and react to how they are forechecking.  D1 carries the puck up the center of the ice until pressured.  Depending on the pressure, he can pass it to F1, F2, or D2.  Ideally D1 should... Continue Reading >>

The 2-1-2 Forecheck is one of the most common forecheck used.  The idea is to always pressure the puck with two players until possesion is gained.  The third player needs to remain in the high slot for two reasons.  First, it is harder for opponents defense to cover the high slot area.  Second, if the opponents gain posession... Continue Reading >>

The idea behind the trap is to force the puck to the winger on the boards.  If players are positioned correctly, this player will have to force a play into the triangle.  Forcing the play through this area typically results in a turnover and good scoring chance. Continue Reading >>