Equipment Needed
- Pucks
- Sticks
A reliable stick matters here
A durable practice stick holds up to the stick-on-stick contact that defensive positioning work involves.
Shop Hockey Sticks on Amazon As an Amazon Associate, FreeCoachingDrills.com earns from qualifying purchases.Setup
- A puck carrier and a defender face off in a small area with a net or target behind the defender.
- Start at a slow, controlled pace.
Instructions
- The puck carrier skates toward the defender at an easy pace, trying different angles.
- The defender stays between the puck and the net at all times, mirroring the carrier's movement.
- The defender keeps their stick on the ice in the passing lane, using an active stick rather than just body position.
- Reset and repeat, gradually increasing the puck carrier's speed as the defender's positioning stays sound.
Coaching Points
- "Between the puck and the net" is the core cue — repeat it constantly until positioning becomes automatic.
- An active stick in the passing lane disrupts plays even when a defender isn't physically close to the puck.
- Backward skating with good balance is what makes this positioning possible — connect this drill to backward skating practice.
- Physical contact isn't the focus here yet; positioning and angles come first, physical play can be layered in later.
Variation
Add a passing option for the puck carrier to force the defender to also respect a pass, or increase speed to game pace once positioning is consistent.