The main objective here is to limit opportunities for the opposition to score and put ourselves in the best position to counterattack out of the zone. Protecting the house is a vital component of limiting scoring chances. The house is defined as the area from the left post out to the left dot to the top of the left circle then across to the top of the right circle down to the left dot and finally back down to the right post. This area is the highest scoring region on the ice and must be well protected. This includes clearing the front of the net in order let your goaltender see the puck and make the save. If the puck is in this area that means that all players should collapse down low in order to protect the house. Players must maintain an active stick and take away shooting and passing lanes in order to keep the puck away from our net and out of the house. While maintaining a Defensive Zone coverage players should push the puck to the outside and cut the ice in half in order to take away the opponents time and space. Blocking shots is another key aspect of minimizing the opposition’s scoring opportunities. Remember, a shot that never gets to the net has zero chance of scoring. Communication is vital to anticipating the play and reacting to what the opposition and your teammates are doing. Players need to keep their head on a swivel and anticipate the play in order to put themselves in the best position to transition from defense to offense effectively. Once possession of the puck has been won, players must create outlets for the puck carrier, fill lanes, and put themselves in position to receive a pass. We are a defense first team. Exiting our zone quickly, effectively, and with the puck under control is important, but it is secondary to maintaining our defensive structure in the our own zone. Players must learn to read the play and anticipate the right opportunity to breakout of the zone.

Notes: Objective: Limit the amount of chances the opposition has to score, while maximizing our ability to transition from defense to offense as quickly as possible.

Tags: •Protect the house, •COMMUNICATE, •Take away passing and shooting lanes, BLOCK SHOTS, •Active sticks, •Head on a swivel, •Read the play in order to create quick transitions from defense to offense, ANTICIPATE, •Read the play in order to know when to attack and when to stay back, ANTICIPATE, •Push puck to the outside, •Cut the ice in half, •Clear the front of net of bodies and loose pucks, •Always be ready for a pass, , ,