Mastering three of Hockey Canada’s Key Goal Scoring Situations
Mastering three of Hockey Canada’s Key Goal Scoring Situations
East west, Tips & deflections, Mini Breakaways
Scoring goals is an art, a combination of skill, timing, and the ability to read the play. In this piece, I will dissect three of Hockey Canada’s outlined goal-scoring situations - east-to-west plays, tips/deflections, and mini breakaways. I’ll provide an analysis and actionable strategies to refine these skills, turning opportunities into goals.
1. East to West Plays:
The Situation:
East-to-west plays involve quick lateral puck movements, forcing the goaltender to move side-to-side, opening up spaces in the net. These plays often result from precise passing and positioning, exploiting the goaltender’s reaction time and positioning. The passer can enhance this by using deception, and the receiver can enhance this by having a shot-ready mentality.
Insights and Key Details:
Precision Passing: The effectiveness of east-to-west plays hinges on accurate, quick passes. The ability to swiftly move the puck across the ice can catch the goaltender off balance. The flatter the pass, the easier it becomes for the shooter to shoot quickly and more accurately.
Player Positioning: Position players on both flanks about dot width apart to facilitate quick lateral puck movements that are wide enough to ensure the goalie has to move.
How to Work on It:
Passing Drills: Incorporate drills focusing on quick, accurate passing, around defenders’ sticks. You can use keep-away or rondo games to help players identify the lanes and areas defenders are taking away.
Positional Awareness Training: Use game-like scenarios to improve players’ understanding of positioning, ensuring they are strategically placed to execute east-to-west plays. There is a difference between being open and being available. Being available is positioning your stick in a place that is easier for the puck carrier to find.
2. Tips / Deflections:
The Situation:
Tips and deflections are about redirecting the puck’s trajectory, making it challenging for goaltenders to make saves. Players positioned in front of the net or in the slot are often responsible for these deft touches that can turn a routine save into a goal.
Insights and Key Details:
Hand-Eye Coordination: This skill is paramount. Players need to track the puck and time their deflection perfectly.
Body positioning: Teach players to be in a spot where teammates (most often defensemen) can get the puck to their sticks. If you are standing behind a shot blocker, or presenting your stick behind the shot blocker, the puck will likely not make its way to you.
How to Work on It:
Deflection Drills: Use specific drills to enhance players’ ability to deflect pucks accurately, focusing on timing and puck direction. be sure to include key details for both the shooter and the deflector. about what the objectives of the shot are. Shooting for sticks is a skill, and I will do another post later on this.
Visual Training: Improve players’ tracking skills with exercises designed to enhance visual focus and hand-eye coordination. This can be done off the ice with tennis balls and hand-stick-eye coordination drills.
3. Mini Breakaways:
The Situation:
Mini breakaways occur when a player finds themselves with a sudden, clear path to the goal, often due to an opponent’s mistake or a well-timed pass. It’s a one-on-one situation where composure, speed, and skill are tested.
Insights and Key Details:
Speed and Control: Players need to balance speed and puck control, ensuring they exploit the opportunity without losing possession.
Goalie Reading: Teach players to read the goalie’s positioning and make split-second decisions on shot placement. If the goalie is deep in their net, a great place to shoot is under their glove about knee-high
on either side.
How to Work on It:
Speed Drills with Puck Control: Integrate drills that combine speed and puck control, mimicking the pressures of a mini breakaway. Oftentimes, this can be during drills or SAG’s that have a lot of opportunity for turnovers or changes of possession.
Shooting Under Pressure: Create scenarios where players practice shooting with limited time, enhancing their ability to make quick, accurate shots. This can be with coaches applying pressure to regular drills that end in a shot, or again, through the use of SAG’s
Mastering these goal-scoring situations can significantly enhance a player’s offensive prowess. By integrating these focused drills and insights into training, coaches can equip players with the tools to turn scoring opportunities into more goals by better-preparing players for these game situations.