Equipment Needed
- Pucks
- Net
Keep pucks moving
A bulk bag of practice pucks keeps zone-positioning reps flowing as the puck moves spot to spot.
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- Set up in the defensive zone with markers for common puck positions (behind the net, half-wall, point).
Instructions
- A coach moves the puck to different spots in the zone (behind the net, half-wall, point).
- Defenders adjust their position and stick angle to stay between the puck and the middle of the ice.
- Freeze the action at each spot to check positioning before moving the puck again.
- Gradually speed up the puck movement as positioning becomes automatic.
Coaching Points
- Always know where the front of your own net is relative to your body.
- Angle the stick to take away the pass to the middle, not just face the puck.
- Talk to your partner constantly about who has the puck and who has the middle.
Variation
Add a live attacker and let the defense react at full speed once positioning is understood.