On January 20th’s practice, we kicked off the first Friday Daytime Adult program for the Jan – Mar 2023 session as part of Hockey Extreme.

As per our typical plan template, we started off with a skating warm-up, followed by a powerskating drill, then moved a 1v1 techniques & gap control drill for the remainder.

Warm-up: Full zone crossovers

Each coach led a group of 3 across the defensive and offensive zone with 2 variations. Pucks were optional:

1. 50% speed focusing on long exaggerated crossover strides (there and back to work both directions)
2. 75% speed focusing on short, quicker half-crosses (there and back to work both directions)

Skills Development #1: Basic Stickhandling & Passing

Worked on basic stickhandling (focusing on proper hockey stance) in positions 1-4 (shooting position through puck protection position) and added 2 additional stickhandling concepts:

1. “Shake & Bake” (stickhandling without moving the puck)
2. “Around the World” (focus on puck spin)

Then moved into basic stationary passing with a partner, ~15-20 feet apart:

1. Basic passing (focus on bottom accuracy hand)
2. Slingshot (cushion puck, return in one motion)
3. Receive puck, spin with tight turn before returning

Skills Development #2: 2 Cone Powerskating Drill

Used paired sets of cones to work on powerskating (with a puck). Variations covered (may have varied by group depending on comfort with each technique):

1. Stops & starts
2. Stops & tight turns (protect puck)
3. Stops & tight turns (puck slip)
4. Stops & mohawk deke to tight turn (protect puck)
5. Pivots

Skills Development #3: Gap Control to 1v1

Coach would dump a puck into the corner to initiate the drill. First player in line (defense) would retrieve the puck and pass to second player (forward). Forward would skate around a set of cones while defense closes the gap. 1v1 ensues. Frequent pauses to discuss approach, tips and proper positioning.

Defense Concepts Introduced (may have varied by skill level/group):

1. Closing the gap / gap control
2. Angling the attacker wide with proper shoulder-to-shoulder position

Offense Concepts Introduced (may have varied by skill level/group):

1. Change in direction
2. Change in speed
3. Stutter step