Chip to Speed

The modern game is about speed and learning how to “feed the speed.” The purpose of this drill is to create a realistic game situation in which players learn to “chip” the puck or make an indirect pass off the boards to an area so that a player, who is coming from the weak side away from the puck with speed, can pick up the puck.

Explanation of the Drill

This is a full ice drill. The drill runs in both directions at the same time. There is a coach at each end, positioned on the blue-line half way between the boards and the middle of the ice, in line with the dots with pucks.

Defenceman 1 (D1) starts on the same blue-line as coach 1 but closer to the middle of the ice. D2 will be in the same position at the far end beside Coach 2. Both D1 and D2 start together on the whistle. Their actions mirror each other. Focusing on D1, the drill starts with D1 backing up from the blue-line towards the near corner facing Coach 1. Coach 1 then dumps the puck into the near corner and D 1 then pivots and skates into the near corner to the puck.

Forward 1 (F1) starts on the blue-line face off dot on the same side and skates back into the zone, into a break out position near the hash marks. D1 makes a break out pass to F1. F 1 takes a couple of quick strides up the ice with the puck so that they are between the blue-line and the top of the circle.

Coach 1 approaches F1 as if forechecking the player and puts pressure on F 1. F1 then chips the puck or makes an indirect pass off the near boards to an open area where F2, who has come across with speed from the near face-off dot on the far side of the ice, can retrieve the puck. F2 then attacks the far net, going 1-on-1 on D 2 who has made the pass and then moves up ice in the far end. After making the pass to F 1, D1 will move up the ice to close the gap and then defend by playing F4 on a 1-on-1.

Options

After making the chip pass off the boards, F1 can hustle up the ice to join F2 on the rush to make it a 2-on-1. Just like in the game, whether F1 will be able to join F2 or not will depend on how physical the coach is when pressuring F1.

Another option is to start the drill by having D1 make the break out pass and then follow both F 1 and F2 up the ice. After F1 and F2 attack the far net 2-on-0 or F2 attacks the net with F1 looking for a rebound, D1 can follow the play, stop at the far blue-line and take a pass from a Coach 2 before shooting on the net, with F1 and F2 staying in front of the net for a tip and rebound.

Another great option is to make the drill a 2-on-2. Send two defencemen backing into the zone to start the drill. Have one of the defenceman pass the puck to F1 while the other stays in front of the net, or dump the puck into the opposite corner and have one defenceman pivot, retrieve the puck and pass it D to D behind the net to the other defenceman who will relay it to F1. Then both defence move up ice quickly to close the gap and defend the rush from the other end by F3 and F4.

Coach's Tips

Start both ends of the drill at the same time with the defenceman at opposite ends backing off the blue-line. Make sure they back up with speed and then pivot and skate toward the puck with speed after you shoot it in.

This drill creates a very realistic game situation. It is important to give the players enough space to allow them to learn how to chip effectively. But once they have acquired the skill and understand the drill, you can put some strong pressure on F1 to create more of a game situation. Make sure F2 and F4 who are coming across from the weak side to support on the puck and retrieve the chip are communicating with F1 and F3. “I'm coming,” ”chip” or “boards” are examples of good messages. They should accelerate through the puck so that the players learn to chip to speed.

The timing of F2 and F4 who will receive the chip or indirect pass off the boards is crucial. Players learn to support with speed. F1 needs to learn to chip the puck on the forehand and the backhand depending on whether they are on their proper side or their off-side. (see player's tips below!) Teach your players that a chip up high on the white part of the boards can produce a “slower” chip, while a lower chip off the yellow at the base of the boards will produce a faster indirect pass.

Use this drill to help your defenceman to learn to get quickly up the ice after passing the puck out of the zone, and to quickly close the gap to defend. As they come up the ice, and when they defend, they should angle towards the attacking forward to direct the attacking forward away from the middle and towards the boards.

Tips for Players

Defencemen should get into the habit of shoulder checking before retrieving the puck. Defenceman should try to pass the puck directly to the forward if at all possible. The break out forward should have their stick up the ice, whether on their proper side or their off-side.

Take the pass and then move your feet quickly to move up ice with your head up to make the play. Watch for the player coming with speed from the weak side to support and retrieve the chip. If you are on your proper side, make the chip on your backhand. If you are on your off-side, make the chip on your forehand. When taking a pass on your off-side, get your hands away from your body to allow you to cradle the pass. When on your proper side and the defenceman is near the boards, bring your top hand through your body to give a better target with the blade of your stick. An indirect pass with an open blade up on the white of the board will give you a soft or slow chip. An indirect pass with a closed blade off the yellow at the base of the boards will give you a harder or fast chip.

. The forward who retrieves the puck should watch for the trailer (Forward 1 or 3) who might be able to join you on the rush. The defence should be moving up ice quickly after passing the puck, to close the gap and defend the rush. Even as you move up ice, you can start to angle and direct the attacking forward (s) towards the boards and away from the middle. Your transition from forwards to backwards will be different depending on if you are angling forwards before you pivot from forwards to backwards, or whether you are coming straight up the ice and then sliding before skating straight back. See the book Play Better Hockey for details on the most efficient ways to transition from forwards to backwards to close the gap and defend the rush.

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