Hockey Positioning - 101

Defensive Zone

Defensive Zone CoverageGreat defensive teams…

• Control the “Middle Lane” and “The HOUSE” see diagram next page

• Force the opponents to the outside (from the inside out)

• Function as 1 unit: all players do their own job, cover their assigned opponent/position and communicate as a group

• Maintain defensive-side position always stay between your opponent & our goal

• Read the play, anticipate and block passing lanes (sticks on ice)

• Win battles and races to the puck everywhere on the ice

• Are not afraid to block shots!

• Take pride in shutting down the opponent and their best players

• Have the ability to quickly breakout after taking the puck away

Key Defense Concept

Play the body first and puck second:

1st – position yourself so that your own goal is

behind you and your opponent is in front of you

2nd – watch your opponents chest (NOT THE PUCK)

and move to stay between them our goal

3rd – once you are in defense-side position, you can

sweep or poke-check the puck away

Taking the body first!

Key Defense Concept

“The Middle Lane” and “Our House”

FusionGoal

Defensively, we must protect the “Middle Lane” and “Our House” ALWAYS Force the Opponent to the Outside

OUR HOUSE

MIDDLE LANE

OpponentGoal

Defensive Priority Area

What do we do to opponents in our house?

Key Defense Concept

Defensive Zone Coverage - Puck in Corner

The strength of our Middle Lane/House coverage determines the strength of our defense!Wings - Stay out of the corners (get puck only if loose and you are sure you can get it) RD and RW – don’t just be in your area, cover players in your areaCenter - 3rd defender below the faceoff dots; block passes from corner to front and cover opponent down low (below the goal line)LW – puck-side (strong side), stay between puck and the LD at point; get to the LD if they get a pass – BLOCK THE SHOT!LD – force inside-out, watch the body (chest) stay with your opponent; go to front of net if puck goes to other side of rinkRD – defend in front of our net; lift opponent stick (bug them); head on swivel watching play/puck and your opponent in front

RW

LD

RDLW

RWRD

LD

C

OUR HOUSE

Puck

OpponentGoal

EaganGoal

Red = FusionBlack = Opponent

LW

CTR

Defensive Zone Coverage – Puck at Point -

OUR HOUSE

LW – is strong sidewing (puck on your side); move to RD with puck; take angle to block shot on netRW – weak side wing (puck not on this side); stay in front of net (between hash-marks & top of circle). If pass goes to your D, hustle out to LD and block shot to netRD/LD/C – all 3 players must be between our goal and the opponent. Clear opponents from front of net by force (push them away) so goalie can see and they don’t tip puck. Cover your opponent. All - DO NOT try to play “goalie” and knock shots from the point out of the air with your stick or kick at shots – they often get tipped and then end up in your net! Maintain defensive-side position.

RD

LD

LW

RWRD

LD

CTR

RW

LW

Puck

CTR

Red = FusionBlack = Opponent

OpponentGoal

EaganGoal

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