Hockey teams rely heavily on their ability to get the puck out of their own zones through a breakout. Without an effective breakout, a team ends up pinned in its own zone for long periods, making it very difficult to create any offense. Coaches should teach various breakouts to their teams early on in the season, as it is extremely difficult to win games without this skill.
Breakout
As soon as the defensive team gains possession of the puck in its own zone, it starts a breakout. The goal is to get the puck out of your own zone, through the neutral zone and into the other team's zone, where you can attempt a shot on net. As you attempt a breakout, the opposing team can either pressure the puck carrier or fall back into the neutral zone to intercept a potential pass. Teams should develop a breakout system to follow, so that every player on the ice knows where to go throughout the breakout pattern.
Chip
Chipping the puck off the boards is one of the simplest breakouts, as long as a teammate goes to the right position. When the defenseman has the puck deep in his own zone with a forechecker bearing down, he can chip the puck up the boards to his strong side winger or center. Once the second player has possession of the puck, he can carry it out of the zone, chip it up the boards to another teammate or pass it to the weak side winger who cuts across and up the ice once the first pass is made.
Reverse
When a forechecker is in hot pursuit of the puck-carrying defenseman, the defenseman's partner can tell him to reverse. During a reverse, the puck carrier shoots the puck behind him along the boards, where his partner is waiting for it. This gives the team time to attempt another breakout before the forecheckers can regroup. Once the play reverses, the strong side winger and center come back in support and the weak side winger heads up the middle of the ice looking for a pass. This gives the defenseman three passing options.
Wheel
If the opposing team brings a passive forecheck or is too slow getting to the puck carrier, the puck carrier has the option to carry it out of the zone. Carrying the puck out of the zone gives the offensive team many more options, since it spreads the opposing team out over the ice. As the puck carrier skates out of the zone, the center skates out in front of him, giving him support, while one winger skates up the boards and the other winger cuts across the ice through the neutral zone. This gives the puck carrier room to skate, while also providing three passing options through the neutral zone.
References
- "Hockey Drill Book"; Michael Smith; 1996
- "Hockey Plays and Strategies"; Ryan Walter, et al.; 2009
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