This week we’ll focus on something a bit different – after a couple warm-up drills to progress our passing options during the regroup, we’ll spend time on the Forecheck.

Warm-Up #1: Continuous step-out regroup pass

Before moving to the “full” 3v2 regroup-to-cycling drill, we’ll just introduce a couple more passing options for the regroup. This one involves the player making the pass to step out (behind) the forward curling in for the regroup, then receiving the pass over their shoulder.

Skills Drill #2: Regroup 2nd-forward passing option

This additional option is a similar drill but sends 2 forwards at a time. The pass is made to the trailing forward with an additional pass wide in the neutral zone.

Skills Drill #3: Continuous 1-2-2 Forecheck

This drill has 3 teams of 5 players each. Each team occupies one zone on the ice. The neutral zone team is the “attacking” team while the others are “defending” teams.

The attacking team dumps the puck into one of the offensive zones and attempts a 1-2-2 forecheck, where 1 forward pushes the defender retrieving the puck to a side, and the other 2 forwards attempt to cut off the passing options to generate a turnover. Both defense try to hold the blueline.

The attacking team “wins” by generating a turnover and a scoring opportunity. The defending team “wins” by successfully skating out of the zone with the puck (possession required – dump-outs are not considered successful and results in the drill re-starting).

Battles continue until the defending team successfully exits the zone with possession. They then become the attacking team and proceed through the neutral zone, dumping the puck into the opposite end. The drill repeats continuously back & forth between teams.

Compete: Full-Ice Scrimmage