Promotes: Defensive awareness, backchecking

Key Elements: Skating, defensive positioning, competing, battling 2-on-2, skating speed, angling, protecting the puck

Organization: Two lines of players at the red line facing the same direction, pucks at one of the lines and also at the opposite blue line with the coach. The first two players in each line start by passing the puck 2-on-0 down the ice toward the goal for a shot on net, both players turn to the boards and skate to the other end. The next two players in line follow the first two to just inside the blue line then pick up the first players on a backcheck down the ice. As the first two players enter the zone, the coach throws the puck into one of the corners for the first two players to retrieve the puck and and try to score against the two backchecking players 2-on-2 in the zone. If a goal is scored quickly the coach can add a second puck

Goalie: 2-on-0 at one end and game-like situation 2-on-2 at the other. Switch goalies halfway through the drill.

Enjoy the drill and have fun learning!

— Coach J.F. Houle