(Transcribed from How to Play Hockey: Our Minor Hockey Coaching Course.)
This module will focus on forechecking strategies and ideas based in the neutral zone of the ice. We will discuss what a 1-2-2 neutral zone forecheck is. In this video though, we will call it a ‘1-2-2 wide’.
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Example:
- F1 is situated towards middle are of the ice.
- F2 and F3 are stacked behind generally using the dots as guidelines.
- D1 and D2 are then stacked behind F2 and F3.
- F1 is very active and everybody else is waiting to see what happens.
- If the opposing D move the puck D to D, F1 wants to with his/her stick try to prevent that D to D pass and try to encourage that D1 to make a pass up the wall so that our F1 or F2 is ready and able to jump and try to hold the red line.
- But if they do manage to go D to D which is often the case instead of one of these forwards jumping, this F1 will track back and then again try to pressure up the same side.
So every time they make a D to D pass we’re not losing this F1. Instead he’s tracking back in pressure, inevitably. Eventually the puck will come up the boards either with a pass or by an opposing D carrying it and our F2 and F3 are ready to jump. The goal is to hold the red line and force the opposing team to get rid of it.
If the other team manages to go from D to D and up to a swinging C and they find that middle lane seam, then the weak side D can come up and pinch up on that C and the weak side F can simply fall back and take away anybody coming up the side. So as soon as the C from their team gets it where they are ready to jump.
The key to this forecheck that F1 is the one that’s being active and tracking back if they keep moving the puck. The higher level of competency of the opposing D oftentimes you’ll get them really spread out making these nice long D to D passes. So this is the 1-2-2 wide with an active F1 and two FWD’s ready to hold the line and weak side D potentially ready to step up.
I will see you in the next video!
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