(Transcribed from How to Play Hockey: Our Minor Hockey Coaching Course.)
This video is on the ‘retreating 1-2-2’ neutral zone forecheck. It really keeps the five players compact, protecting the middle of the ice trying to force plays up to the wall but keeps everybody in position.
There’s not a lot of coming across the ice or switching, trying to hold the redline, trying to hold the blue line. It’s very similar to the controlled forecheck which we discussed previously, where we came up and backed up together. We’re trying to shield, angle and steer, then jump on loose pucks. It can be effective if the other team is stretching players.
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It’s pretty simple and is probably one of the best systems for a novice or recreational team to use. There’s not a lot of switching and we’re only giving up one player on the first pass from the opposing D to an opposing FWD. If we can’t be there to force then we’ve only lost one player that’s been beaten by the initial pass and they’re still involved in the play and the next FWD is ready to jump.
When I see lower levels of hockey or kids play and you ascend two FWD’s sometimes it opens up far too much with only one player remaining in the neutral zone. So this is a pretty conservative way to clog up the neutral zone and still be able to pressure and angle but without getting caught it position too much.
So the retreating 1-2-2…
Example:
- F1 is out in front a bit steering the opposing D1 to make that pass up the wall.
- Strong side F2 and weak side F3 are back up using the dots as guidelines, taking away the middle of the ice being passive forcing the opposing FWD who received the pass to skate up the wall.
- D1 and D2 as well backing up together until they are able to help cut off that FWD at the red line or the blue line, or by securing any loose pucks.
- The goal is to not give that play any options to make a secondary pass except or being able to attempt and skate until they lose it or are forced to make a chip play. That’s when we regain puck possession and regroup fast.
- Remembering that when F1 at the start gets beat by the first pass which is okay, they are then the back pressure on the opposing FWD.
Think about the team retreating coming back together, staying together, supporting each other trying to prevent wide passes through skates and sticks. Holding the red line, if not then holding the blue line.
That’s the retreating 1-2-2, highly recommended in the neutral zone for most of the teams that you may be coaching or you’re playing with!
Thanks for watching, we’ll see in the next video!
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