Every NHL superstar had to start somewhere, and those beginnings usually trace back to early-morning skates spent working on hockey's fundamental skills of skating, passing and shooting. By stressing the basics, novice hockey players can rapidly improve their games.
Puck Control
This drill stresses skating, stickhandling and puck possession. Have all the novice hockey players skating around in the neutral zone between the two blue lines, each with his own puck. While skating and controlling his puck, each player must try and knock pucks away from opposing players. If a puck crosses either blue line, it's out of play. The last player with a puck wins.
Tag
In this unique twist on tag, one player stands at center ice while his teammates line up along one goal line. On the coach's whistle, the players at the goal line must skate to the opposite goal line without letting the player in the middle touch them. If a skater gets tagged, he joins the player in the middle for the next end-to-end skate. The drill continues in the same fashion until only one player remains standing at the goal line. While fun, the game teaches lateral movement, agility and evasive maneuvers.
Hot Pursuit
Position two lines of players at center ice. Each player in the left line has a puck, and each player in the right line stays down on one knee. On the coach's whistle, the first puck carrier skates toward the net to get a shot on goal, while the first player in the right line gets to his skates and chases him, trying to prevent the shot. This drill places an emphasis on skating, puck control and shooting, and it helps simulate a game situation.
Pepper Drill
Divide novice players into groups of four, with three players in a line next to one another and the fourth player positioned about 10 feet away with a puck and facing his three teammates. On the whistle, the isolated player passes to a teammate, who quickly returns the pass. The original passer must complete six successful passes, two to each teammate, to finish the drill. The passes should be made as quickly as possible, with the drill improving every player's ability to not only pass, but also receive the puck.
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