By Ryan Walter /
One of the most important neutral zone regroup options that your defencemen can utilize is the simple D-Up. There is a tendency in the middle ice (neutral zone) for defencemen to pass back and forth to each other laterally while backing up. Not only does this give your opponent precious time and space, but it also allows your opposition to get into their “forecheck structure.”
This simple goalie warm-up drill works on getting your defencemen to receive the puck, backup a little, fake passing to the other side and then make a direct “Up” pass to the same forward, who skates into the neutral zone and then posts to receive the puck.
This drill sets up forwards with pucks in all four corners and starts with opposite corners forwards skating with a puck on the whistle.
Two defencemen receive passes from the forward in the far corner, back up, and then pass back up to that same forward, who skates in on the goalie with an outside shot.
After, the defencemen both pass to the first forward they skate up towards in the opposite corner, receiving a pass from the next forward in line, repeating the same action.
Having forwards in one corner and then the other corner passing also gives your goalies shots one at a time from each side.
Defencemen need to close the gap, pick up passes, backup and then step forward to make accurate “up” passes. This D-Up drill works on all of these important passing skills and at the same time warms up your goalie.
Ryan Walter played 15 seasons in the NHL and is now a coach with the Vancouver Canucks. Use Ryan’s newest online tool, www.inspiringyourbestgame.com, to help inspire your players’ best game or enhance your people’s top performance. |