DRILL OF THE MONTH: Forwards – Puck Protection Progression

Age Groups

• Under-15

Skill Description – First Progression

• Players line up on the goal line near the corner, with one player lining up in-between the two pylons as a defender.
• First player in line weaves through the pylons and defending player. While the player with the puck does this, the defending player must always face the player with the puck in a defensive stance. 
• When skating back towards the line, the player with puck makes a move on the defending player and heads to the net and shoots.

Skill Description – Second Progression

• The second player in line now chases the first player through the drill. 
• When completing the drill, the player with the puck must protect the puck from the player chasing from behind.
• Player chasing can provide light pressure with stick. Player can also use light pushes to force player with puck to use their body to shield the puck.

Skill Description – Third Progression

• Remove the pylons for this set-up. Defending player remains in the middle of face-off circle to start. 
• Player with puck skates up and dekes defending player. 
• After initial deke, defending player can now move and it now becomes a one-on-one.

Key Teaching Points

• Player with puck using their body to shield puck from defender.
• Skating with head up and avoiding defending player and their stick.
• Skating with puck while under pressure.

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