Puck Traffic Light
A playful warm-up where everyone has their own puck. Kids work on puck control, skating with their head up, and stopping and turning with the puck still on the blade.
Sharks and Minnows
A classic game where the minnows skate across the zone with a puck each while the shark tries to take one. Trains skating at speed, puck control under pressure and protecting the puck with the body.
Cross-Ice 3-on-3
A small-area game across the ice, as in cross-ice hockey for young players: a small surface, lots of puck touches, lots of shots and goals. Players learn to get open, pass under pressure and finish.
Skating Circuit – Crossovers, Stops and Backwards
A full-ice skating circuit that covers the key skating skills: crossovers both ways, sprints and hard stops, backward skating and tight turns. Good as a warm-up and for skating technique.
Stickhandling Slalom and Shot
Players stickhandle through the cones, skate out to a shooting spot and shoot on the goalie. Trains puck control at speed, going from stickhandling to shooting, and gives the goalie lots of shots from both sides.
Passing in Pairs Up the Ice
Pairs skate the length of the ice passing back and forth at speed; the last pass goes to the player driving the net, who shoots. Trains passing and receiving on the move, forehand and backhand.
2-on-1 – Read the Defender
Two forwards attack one defender and the goalie. The puck carrier reads the defender: if the defender commits to the puck, pass; if the defender takes away the pass, shoot. Trains decision-making on the rush and defending when outnumbered.
Goalie: Angles and Lateral Movement
The goalie sets up on three shooters in turn and then has to come off the post when the puck is passed out from behind the net. Trains positioning, shuffles, T-pushes and staying square to the puck.
3-on-3 in the Zone – Clear the Blue Line
A small-area game in one zone on one net with a goalie. The team that wins the puck must take it out over the blue line before it can attack. Trains transition, play behind the net, finding the slot and moving the puck out under pressure.
Breakout – Wall and Reverse
Five players break the puck out of their own zone against a forechecker. First the standard way: D-to-D, up the wall and into the middle to the swinging centre. Then a reverse behind the net when the forechecker takes the first defenceman's side.
2-1-2 Forecheck
Three forwards forecheck against two defencemen and a winger. F1 angles the defenceman with the puck, F2 reads the next pass and F3 holds the middle and pinches on the wall. The second time the defencemen reverse it behind the net. Trains the forechecking roles and winning the puck high in the zone.
Screen and Tip in Front of the Net
The defencemen move the puck along the blue line while the forward screens the goalie and tips a low shot. Then a real shot through the screen and the rebound. Trains point shots that get through, net-front positioning and being first to rebounds.
Face-Off Plays in the Attacking Zone
Two face-offs in the attacking zone: the first is won cleanly back to the D, D-to-D and a shot through the screen with the rebound in. The second is lost, but the D pinches and wins the puck back on the boards. Trains face-offs, everyone knowing their job and quick finishes after the draw.