Hockey progression drills become useful when a team runs a breakout from the defensive zone, as the progression teaches the puck carrier how to determine a passing target. Just like a football quarterback runs through his progressions before making a pass, a puck carrier must make a decision on the fly and pass to an open teammate. If the defense covers the first player in the progression, the puck carrier must then look to the next player in order to continue the play.
Positioning
You must begin by developing a breakout system, so your players will know where to go during the breakout process. Have your players go through the positional patterns that you wish for them to follow during a breakout and have them practice receiving passes at different places throughout the pattern. Since an opposing player can pressure the puck carrier at any time during the pattern, your player must maintain awareness of the situation and know the location of the puck at all times. If the puck carrier knows the location of each player in her progression, her chances of completing the first pass will increase.
Communication
Communication remains vital during progression drills, as your team must relay information to the puck carrier before he touches the puck. He must know where to look as a first option when he touches the puck, as you cannot predict where an opponent will end up. When practicing a breakout drill, have forecheckers attack the puck carrier from different angles and have his defensive partner communicate where he should go with the puck.
Reverse
If the puck carrier gets into trouble, her partner might call for a reverse. To prepare for this, you can run a drill where the puck carrier goes around the net with a forechecker in pursuit. The puck carrier's partner will yell for her to reverse, at which point she will shoot the puck back around the boards to her partner. When this occurs, one winger will head to the same boards as the puck, the center will support that winger and the second winger will skate across the middle of the ice. This gives the puck carrier three different options from which to choose when making a pass. The puck carrier should look to the winger on the boards first, as this remains the easiest pass to make, unless her teammates advise otherwise.
Wheel
When a forechecker pressures the puck carrier, but the puck carrier can out-skate him, his partner will call for him to wheel. The puck carrier will then skate around the net, which gives him time to go through his progressions. In this drill, have a winger up the boards, a center mimicking the puck carrier's motions at the hash marks, and the third skate towards the blue line in the middle of the ice. This gives the puck carrier three progression options, depending on who the forecheckers take. The winger on the boards remains the simplest option, as shorter passes have a higher completion rate.
References
- "Hockey Drill Book"; Michael Smith; 1996
- "Hockey Plays and Strategies"; Ryan Walter, et al.; 2009
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