50+ Hockey Drills To Unlock Your Potential

"S" Warm-up Drill

1. forward in each line passes out to the closest defense

2. The defensemen perform D-to-D passes and forwards skate the "S".

1 on 0 Headman Drill

1. (1) passes a puck to the (D)

2. The puck returns to (1) after a D-to-D pass

3. (1) makes a stretch pass to the “Ghost Man”

4. (Gh) takes a shot and (2) passes a puck to the (D).

5. Puck is returned to (2) after a D-to-D pass

6. (2)  passes to (1), (1) shoots, and (2) will be the next “Stretch Man”.

4 Blueline warm-up

1. cross pass from (1) to (2) and shot on goal

2. pass from (1) to (2), pass back to (1) and then to (3), skate and pass back to (1) for shot on goal

3. (3) makes a cross-ice pass to (2) and (2) makes to (1), (1) makes a shot on the goal

Bednar Skating Warm-up

1. skate in the patterns as in the figure

2. The first player of each line goes at the same time

3. Once a player receives a pass from the first player, he goes the next

4. Drill is perpetual

Half-Ice Bednar Conditioning

1. Skate through the pattern forward and backward

2. Skate through the pattern, forward, with a puck and shoot at the end

3.  Skate through the pattern with a puck pivoting backward as diagrammed, shoot at the end

Chaos Skatehandling Drill

1. one player from each line in the corner leaves on the whistle

2. players skate through the cones with heads up and feet moving

3. players shoot on respective goalies after deking through the cones

Give and Go Corner

2. Skate around the cone and make a shot with your feet moving

4 Man Center Chaos

1. 4 skaters move to the center circle and skate around within the circle

2. X1 and X2 shoot at one end

3. X3 and X4 shoot at the other end, the next group leaves on the same whistle

"Snake" Shooting

1. The first player in line skates up and around the top of the circle  and attacks the “seam”

2. The player shoots in stride if he is on the forehand and executes a mohawk if he is on the backhand

3. shoots from the forehand

4. players line up in the opposite corner after the shot

1 on 1 Big Arc Backchecking

1. The offensive player starts slightly in front of the back-checker

2. Both players skate the arc looping around both cones

3. The offensive player tries to gain positioning and open up to receive a pass

4. The defenseman tries to stop the other player from receiving the pass

Give & Go Shooting

1. The first player passes out to the point man and shoots

2. Point man bank passes back to the next player in line

3. The receiver performs a give-and-go with the point man and the point man shoots

4. The player who made an attack becomes the new point man

Give and Go 1 on 1

1. The forward makes a pass to the defense

2. Pass returns to the forward

3. The puck is carried by the forward under the blue line for a 1 on 1 on the opposite side

3 Man 3 Zone Timing Drill

1. Player (1) swings low and Player (2) swings to the boards, Player 3 swings high across the far blue line

2. Player (2) passes to Player (1), who makes another touch pass to Player 3

3. Player (3) and Player (1) attack 2v0

Five Pass One Touch

1. Move forward to the middle, pivot, get a pass from the next player, pass back to him

2. Get a pass from the first player in the next line, and pass it back to him

3. Make a sharp turn to attack across the blue line, make a shot

Center Line Boundary 2 on 1

1. A 2-on-1 on each side, nobody can cross the center line.

2. The defender must pass the puck across the line to the forwards on the other side.

Window Drill

1. The first player skates from both sides at full speed to the blue line

2. Enter into the “window” zone of the blue line and maintain crossovers through the entire window

3. Shoot with head up and feet moving after exiting the window

Power Turn Give & Go

1. Power turn through the cones

2. Give & Go with coach

3. Drive wide, and attack the goal

Czech Race

1. Players line up on red lines, two players across from each other race to the puck

2. The player who gets to the puck first shoots, another player backchecks

4. Continue

3-Shot Hockey Warm-Up

1. Line up in diagonal corners, 3 players from each line leave together

2. Player 1 drives wide and shoots

3. Player 2 cuts around the 1st and 2nd cones and shoots from the middle

4. Player 3 cuts around the 1st and 3rd cones and shoots from the far side

5. Shots are made from the tops of the circles

On the Dot 3 on 2

1. 2 on 2 plus 1. Players on dots can’t leave the dots but can pass or shoot.

2. 3 on 3 plus 1 can be practiced after a while.

Overspeed Agility

1. First players from each line go at the same time at the edge of the circle, move to the center faceoff dot

2. Stop at the dot, sidestep back to the edge from the start point, quickly cross over around the circle, and focus on Overspeed

3. Continue around the circle, skate out to the neutral zone faceoff dot, pivot, and skate backward to the opposite faceoff dot.

4. Pivots forward and takes a shot at the goal

Perpetual Power Turn and Passing

1. Run both sides at the same time

2. Starts with a “ghost man” (Gh) in each corner. The Gh isn’t needed after the first rotation.

3. Execute power turns and passes

4. The outside man drives wide and shoots after the last turn

5. The inside man starts the drill going the opposite direction as the wide man

1-on-1 Swedish Overspeed Drill

1. The forward makes a pass to the defense and skates across the ice to receive a return pass.

2. The defense follows up the ice.

3. The forward moves around the center circle and goes 1 on 1 with the defense

3 on 0, 3 on 1, 3 on 2

1. Forwards and defensemen in different benches, 3 Forwards swing low, receive a breakout pass, then attack 3 on 0

2. The same 3 forwards swing for a breakout after a quick attack, defenseman closes the gap.

4. Breakout and Forwards attack 3 on 1 is initiated

5. The same Forwards will swing again after the 3 on 1, receive a third breakout pass, then attack 3 on 2.

3 on 3 “D” Support

1. 3 on 3 battle of forwards in the neutral zone, but can’t pass the imaginary goal line.

2. When the puck passes the goal line, the respective defenseman must break it out

3. Forwards must swing to get open. Opposing forwards can pressure defensemen without crossing the line.

4. The defenseman also can’t cross the line.

Full Speed Power Play Passing Sequence

1. Players in line for the team's power play set-up

2. Place cones in the opposing defensemen's possible positions

3. Attack from highest probability option to lowest

4. Make sharp passes and move at full speed with attacks and rebounds

Penalty Kill Forecheck Angling Drill

1. The breakout man opens up to either side for a breakout pass from the coach

2. F1 and F2 take away the skating lane and passing lanes

3. If the forwards can't eliminate the breakout, the breakout man passes to the neutral zone coach for a give and go, and a shot on goal

Half Ice Offensive Zone Entry

1. Starts with players from the corner, 3 players skate circle and each takes a shot at the net

2. The players loop up side boards to the center following the shot to receive a pass from a coach.

3. The forwards execute a zone entry and maintain a support triangle to F1 for a shot. Players skate to the net to find rebounds.

Net Drive 2 on 0

1. After receiving a pass from X, O skates across the ice.

2. O Skates wide drives around the cone

3. X skates inside and drives to the goal for a return pass or a rebound.

1-on-1 BW XO

1. Defense faces the boards

2. Powerful X-Overs to the faceoff dot

3. Half turn into powerful corkscrews to the top of the circle

4. Half pivot and shuffle with an active stick

5. Pivot to forward and go to the net

2-on-1 Triangle BW XO

1. F1 goes around the far cone, and F2 the near cone. D1 BW X-O to the cone, and corkscrews for the 2-on-1

2. Forwards try and create a triangle to form a pass option

3. Defense analyses the game and decides quickly whom to cover.

4 Dot Defense

1. D1 sets up to defend from the slot

2. Any forward number from 1-4 corresponding to the four corners is called and he tries to score

3. There is 1-on-1 between the forward and the defense

4. When the scoring or defense chance is cleared, another forward is called and the steps continue

Ferrari 3 on 2

1. Forwards on all 4 blue lines with pucks with defenders inside

2. F1 leaves without a puck, tries to curl at the far blue line, and hits the forward that is curling around the blue line with a pass

3. The two active forwards explode up ice, and the third forward jumps into the rush for a 3-on-2.

4. The 2 defensemen jump into the center of the ice and pivot around the face-off circles, trying to gap up properly.

Weak Side Attack

1. Forwards on bluelines against the boards, defenders on the center ice line against the boards

2. Two forwards cross-exchange a puck and skate against a defender to create a 2-on-1.

3. The third forward moves with a puck to making way inside the blue line

2 vs. 2 - Two Ways Drill

1. The puck is passed to any forward to start

2. The forward and his team try to get the puck into Zone 1 and score

3. Defensemen try to hold the blueline and gain possession of the puck

3. Puck is passed to the second set of forwards into Zone 2

4. The first forwards and defense come to Zone 2 to begin a 4 vs. 4.

Long Angle Checking

1. Forward tries to use space with speed and attack the net.

2. The defenseman tries to create a tight gap, read the forward's control of the puck, speed, etc, and pressurize him. Try to angle and influence the path of the forward.

Mirror Gap Control

1. The defenseman locks the attacking forward in the defensive zone and plays 1-1. 

2. The defense wants to make use of good defensive tactics such as sticking on the ice, closing the gap, protecting the house, etc.

1 Up - 1 Down Gap Drill

1. The forward must be on the blue line while the defenseman must be on the goal line.

2. The forward wants to score, and the defense tries to clear the puck.

Before starting any goalie drills, the goaltenders should have ideas about the visual targets.

Angles are the most important part for goalies and if they are not managed properly, it will be difficult even to save the simple shots.

Shuffle T-Pass

1. Shuffle from one side of the net to the other, stop square to each puck

2. Come back the other way once reach the far post

3 Cone Rebound Drill

1. 3 players leave from the same line at the same time

2. P1 makes a shot from above the circles around near the cone and waits at the net for the rebound

3. The goaltender tracks, squares up, and shoots

4. P2 makes a shot from above the circles around the middle cone, waits at the net for the rebound

5. The goaltender tracks, squares up, and shoots, trying to control the rebound

6. P3 makes a shot from above the circles around the far cone, drives for own rebound

7. The goaltender tracks, squares up, and shoots, trying to control the rebound

1 on 0 Snake Drill

1. Quick pass back to the player who passed the puck

2. Second pass when the player is skating towards the 2nd cone on the defense zone

3. The last pass is a cross-ice pass, but players should move towards the puck, and not wait for the pass.

4. Go and take a shot on the goal

"No Look" Stickhandling

1. Stickhandle through 3 pylons without looking down. Players are sent back to the line if they look down

2. Make a shot upon completion

1-on-1 Transition Full Ice

1. Starts at the same time from both sides, forward starts from the corner with the puck

2. The defense takes position at the point, receives the puck from the coach, and makes a shot at the goal

3. Forward deflects, and both transition into 1-on-1 down the opposite side

Pioneer 2v2 Rush

1. Blue passes to red on the first whistle

2. Red gets outside the blue line and attacks the zone 1v1.

3. After the second whistle, the blue player in the other zone passes to the red one. The red player must leave the blue line before they can attack.

The 1v1 contest stops and the first players join their team to make it a 2v2.

Hit The Tire Passing With No Goalie

The drill aims to move the puck quickly to open up passing or scoring lanes.

1. A tire is placed on each of the face-off dots inside of a zone.

2. A 3v3 is played. The offensive team hits the tire in the opposite circle to score

3. The offensive team is not allowed to enter the offensive circle, but the defensive team can enter the defensive circle.

2v0 Continuous Backcheck

1. Starts with a 2v0

2. The coach gives a pass to the players and they attack 2v0 and stop at the net.

3. The next 2v0 starts with a whistle, and the coach passes to the next group

4. The next group that goes 2v0 is backchecked by the first group and the drill continues.

O-Zone Play - Attack Options

1. 2 defensemen along the blue line, and forwards in the corner with pucks

2. Forward skates behind the net and up to hash marks, waits, turns back towards the corner, another delay, turns up the wall, and attacks the goal

3. The forward receives a pass from the coach after the shot, passes up to the strong side defenseman, D to D shot on the net

4. After passing, the forward moves to the net looking for a rebound

Pass Under Defender Stick

1. Players are positioned on dots outside the blue line, and coaches on dots in corner circles

2. Players move diagonally to get a pass from the first player of the opposite line

3. Drive wide and slide the puck between the defenders' feet and stick

1 v 1 Get Open

1. X passes to the coach, then moves to get open going to the goal.

2. Setup can be done at different locations on ice

1 on 0 - Chaser Drill

1. Both sides stay on their half of the ice and go at the same time

2. The first player skates with a puck to the far end to shoot

3. As the first player crosses the top of the circle, the second player skates with a puck to shoot at the far end

1 on 2 Attack Drill

1. F1 skates along the boards with the puck, and makes a drop pass once at the far blue line

2. D2 closes the gap and skates backward keeping a good body position

3. F1 moves to the net and tries to get a pass from the coach and D2 defends

4. D3 skates across to retrieve after a drop pass is made and makes a stretch pass to F2, F2 continues drilling and D4 defends.

1-2-3 Triangular Attack

1. The player with the puck skates hard for the net outside of the D

2. Center drives hard for the front of the net

3. Right winger cruises into the high slot

4. The player with the puck can now shoot to the net to make a score, or pass to a hard-driving center in the slot, or look to the high slot for a winger.

1-3-1 Trap

1. Puck is passed

2. The offense works a breakout

3. The center for the opposing team chases the puck to the neutral zone

4. Wings and a defenseman line up in the neutral zone

5. Center forces play to the wall

1On 1 Type I

1. The forward starts carrying the puck, and the defenceman skates in and curls around the pylon inside the blue line.

2. The forward wants to score by hitting on the net, while the defenseman skates backward trying to break up the forward rush.

1 On 1 Type II

1. The defenseman starts on the cone.

2. Forward passes to the defenseman and back to the forward

3. Forward enters the zone skating at full speed

4. Forward can cut to the middle once inside the blue line

5. The defenseman backs up, and pivots if necessary

6. The defenseman holds the gap so the forward has no option to come inside.

1 On 1 Corner

1. The center dumps the puck in both corners and one forward and a defenseman from each line goes to the puck.

2. Players battle for the possession of the puck in each corner. The forward tries to score a goal, defense wants to clear the zone.

2 on 1 Tracker

1. F1/F2 attack D1 on a 2vs1 on whistle

2. F3 should track back from the bottom of the circle

3. F3 picks a side and is joined by F4

4. F5 starts tracking from the opposite side. D2 skates in for the next 2 on 1.

2-1 Defence Progression

1. The forward starts in the corner with the puck, quick pass, and criss-cross.

2. Defenseman can not attack or turn until 2nd blue line

3. Forward skates wide. Creative entry, fast skating, and drop passes can be practiced under this drill.

2-On-1 Center Ice Pivots

1. Started by F1, F2 and D1. D1 performs the forward crossovers, pivots, and BW.

2. D2 hits F1 with a pass

3. 2-on-1 by D1, F1 and F2

2v1 Corner Quick Press to Regroup

1. Coach passes the puck into the corner. F1 and F2 pressure D1 and both want the puck possession

2. Attack the net 2v1. Another puck passed into a neutral zone by the coach. D2 gets it, F1 & F2 get on-sides and re-attack D1 2v1.