Module 3: Hockey Neutral Zone

Hockey Coaching Course Module 3: Neutral Zone

Hockey Coaching Course Module 3: Neutral Zone

The Neutral Zone is the zone between the blue lines.  It’s not yours, and it’s not theirs.  It’s neutral! The ability to keep possession, or regain possession after losing it, in the neutral zone is critical to quick counter attacks, offensive threat, and strong defense.  Games can be won or lost off turnovers in the neutral zone.

Hockey coaching course modules 1-6 available

Note: These hockey coaching video tutorials are downloadable versions created for our online coaching course, www.howtoplayhockey.ca. The entire course is a available for just $9.99 CAD / month. Some of our students prefer to download the instructional videos to make them accessible to their players and coaching staff in dressing rooms and arena hallways around the world where wifi might not be quite so available. We have listened, and have made Modules 1,2 & 3 available on this site, with more to follow soon.

Video List

• Neutral Zone Forechecking 
• Neutral Zone Transition 
• Offensive Zone Entries

NEUTRAL ZONE FORECHECK 3.1

1-2-2 Wide Forecheck: Video 3.1.1.

1-2-2 is a well balanced neutral zone forecheck using the first player to cut the ice in half skating inside out to force the pass up the boards. The next two forwards are there to take away passing lanes up the boards and through the middle with the defence back in support.

1-3-1 Forecheck: Video 3.1.2

This is quite a passive neutral zone forecheck, allowing one player to pressure, three to clog the middle, and one to hang back waiting for loose pucks or to bail out his/her teammates in the event the offense breaks through the wall the defenders.

1-2-2 Mid Ice Lock Forecheck: Video 3.1.3

The goal of locking the middle of the ice is essentially to ‘cut the ice in half. When rink wide passes have been eliminated, the defending team can close in, cheat a little, and anticipate the next pass.

2-1-2 Forecheck: Video 3.1.4

Sending two forwards to neutralize the other team’s two defense makes takes away the D to D pass as viable option. This is great against teams that love to go D to D, but it does open up space in the middle of the ice because there are only one forward and two defense remaining to cover the rest of the ice. That said, it makes the first pass from the puck carrying defenceman quite easy to anticipate because the D to D option has been eliminated, or can be closed in on very quickly.

Retreating 1-2-2 Forecheck: Video 3.1.5

With all 5 players retreating together, staying as a tight unit in the neutral zone, the retreating 1-2-2 is a great choice in a few scenarios. Teams getting used to each other, teams just starting to work on more passive neutral zone forechecks, and high level teams that need to defend against a team that sends a lot of stretched forwards can all really benefit from this style of forecheck.

TRANSITION & COUNTER ATTACK 3.2

Reading Pressure in the Neutral Zone: Video 3.2.1

When a team regains possession of the puck in the neutral zone, they need to know how much time and space they have in order to execute their transition. The more time and space available, the higher the percentage of passes. However, the longer a team takes to regroup, the longer the team without the puck has to organize a neutral zone forecheck.

Regroups: Video 3.2.2

A neutral zone regroup is an organized series of passes where each position has a rough outline as to where they should be, and reacts to get open for their defense. European hockey, on a larger ice surface, allows for a more organized regroup than smaller ice games in North America. It’s also more common against a team that executes a passive ‘Trapping’ neutral zone forecheck.

Counter Attacks: Video 3.2.3

Different than a regroup, a counter attack implies lightening quick passes and a speedy transition back into the offensive zone. Teams that ‘counter attack quickly’ are likely to catch the opposition before they have a chance to organize their own neutral zone forecheck and may result in odd man rushes and mini breakaways.

OFFENSIVE ZONE ENTRIES: OFF A TRANSITION 3.3

Offensive Zone Entries: Video 3.3.1

I like the puck possession game. I highly recommend that teams learn to enter the offensive zone of a transition with possession rather than just getting rid of it and dumping without a purpose. Unfortunately the game is not that simple. The level of pressure from the opposition will dictate the options available for offensive zone entry. Here are some scenarios.

Offensive Zone Entry Options: Video 3.3.2

Here are some finer details of attacking the zone once you get over the blueline. The more options you can imagine, the more you’ll see when the time comes in a game. Triangulation on attack, pressuring the defense, and sucking in defenders are the concepts explored in this video.

Offensive Rush: 1 on 1, 2 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 2

Rushing the puck successfully requires all players in the attack to recognize the numerical situation. A forward carrying the puck in a 1 vs 1 rush needs to attack the defenseman and get the puck on net. A 2 on 1 or 3 on 1, on the other hand, requires that the puck carrier skate the puck to open ice, trying to isolate the defenseman and use his/her open teammates. A 2 on 1 where the puck carrier tries to dangle through the defenseman is no longer a 2 on 1, is it? No, it’s now a 1 on 1. It drives me nuts when a player tries that.