(Transcribed from How to Play Hockey: Our Minor Hockey Coaching Course.)
The “quick up” is probably the simplest breakout. It’s the one where you spend the least amount of time in your zone, used for a quick transition and done if the defenseman has no pressure or some light pressure on him/her. We want to move the puck up the strong side as quickly as possible, it’s that simple.
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Usually when using this breakout option we won’t have forechecking pressure closing in on the strong side. The defenseman retrieves the puck and moves it immediately to the strong side FWD. So the FWD has to hustle on the back check or from the middle depending on where the play was developing and get to the boards with your feet up ice and your stick up ice as a target.
The D makes the pass, the middle lane FWD mirrors the puck, the weak side FWD decides, “Will they stay in my lane? Will they let me lane support? Or will I come right across for a chip?” This defenseman waits to see what happens. That’s the ‘quick up’, FWD receiving the pass wants to get his/her feet moving, either making a direct pass or chip because there could be an opposing D holding the line or pressuring. Take the ice that’s given to you and try to make your next pass just before you get into trouble. That’s a “quick up” breakout.
We’ll see you in the next video!
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