What Is The Gauntlet Drill In Ice Hockey?

Learning how to handle the puck and carry it up ice is vital in ice hockey. It's one thing to accept a pass and shift from forehand to backhand at full speed with no encumbrances, but it's quite another to maneuver the puck when there is significant traffic. The gauntlet drill helps hockey players improve their stick-handling ability.

The Basic Gauntlet Drill

Take the puck at one of the face-off dots. Have six teammates line up in front of you on your left side and six teammates line up in front of you on your right side. The two rows of teammates should be about three feet apart from each other. On the coach's whistle, you should stick-handle the puck between the two rows of players. At this point, the players will not be trying to take the puck off of your stick. Just move the puck from forehand to backhand and go through until you are at the end of the line.

Advanced Gauntlet Drill

After going through the line of defenders, they will now use their sticks in a defensive manner to knock the puck off of your stick. They are not going to be reckless, but they are going to force you to take protective measures when carrying the puck. You will have to shift more quickly from forehand to backhand to avoid losing the puck. This will help you learn to handle the puck with more precision and help you to become a better stick-handler.

Body Checking Gauntlet

At higher levels of hockey, the single lane gauntlet is used to help players handle body checking while carrying the puck. One line of teammates lines up about five feet from the boards. On the coach's whistle, the player tries to skate through the lane while teammates skate at him and try to take the puck by stick-checking or body checking him. Players will not come at the stick-handler to knock him down or hit him at game speed. Instead, it is about building concentration and stick-handling skills.

Benefits

When a player can control the puck while teammates are trying to take it away from him or body check him in practice, he will develop confidence when stick-handling in game situations. The biggest benefit is that when you know you can stick-handle well, you won't have to look at the puck when you are carrying it up ice, allowing you to pass to open teammates without having to look at the puck. And when you get open in the offensive zone, you'll be able to shoot more easily.