A hockey defenseman has many jobs to perform as part of a hockey team. The primary duty of a defenseman is to keep the puck out of his own zone and prevent scoring chances from the offense, but that isn't the whole story. Defensemen must clear forwards out of the crease area so the goalie can see the puck, they must move the puck up the ice to their own forwards, and they must keep their shots on net to create rebounds. Defensemen must be able to skate both forward and backward well, and exert a physical presence on the ice. Performing drills that mimic real game situations helps keep defensemen game-ready.
Backward Pylon Skating
Strong backward skating is a vital skill for a defenseman to have. Hockey defensemen generally skate backward into their own zone as the offense moves the puck down the ice, and they must do so at a high rate of speed. Lining up pylons in various patterns and having defensemen skate backward around them improves agility and footwork. You can set up the pylons in a straight line down the ice, or staggered to work balance and change of direction.
Breakout Drills
Breaking out of your own zone cleanly often starts with a defenseman behind the net. A defenseman must be able to move the puck quickly out of the zone and up to the forwards to create a scoring chance at the other end. Pile some pucks behind the net and have the defensemen take turns picking a puck up behind the net and skating it out of the zone. Add variations like long passes and short passes, and have a forward pressure them so they have to make a quick decision.
Half Circle Turns
The ability to stop on a dime and quickly retreat to backward skating is called into play several times during a typical game. Turnovers in the offensive zone cause defensemen to stop their forward momentum and immediately start back into their own zone. Have the defensemen line up at the bottom of a face-off circle, and then skate hard forward around one half to the top. They should stop at the top of the circle and skate backward to the bottom of the circle and repeat. Practice skating back on the same side of the circle and the opposite side to vary the footwork.
One on One
A defenseman who gets beaten one on one in a game situation isn't doing his team any favors. Perform one-on-one drills in practice to learn how to direct the opposing forwards toward the boards and out of harm's way. Have a forward take a puck from around center ice and get a defenseman to start skating backward at the blue line. The defenseman should try to steer the forwards to the outside so they won't get a strong shot on goal. Do one-on-one drills from various angles so the defensemen are comfortable anywhere on the ice.
Point Shot Drills
When the puck is in the offensive zone, it often ends up back at the blue line where the defensemen take a shot on goal. Practice different scenarios, such as clear shots, screened shots and a forward trying to deflect the shot. Keep the shots low to induce rebounds and allow forwards the opportunity to tip it in. Defensemen can also take multiple passes from a partner in the corner or across the blue line to work on a quick release.
Member Comments