General Positional Advice
How to Teach Young Defensemen to Close Gaps Without Getting Beat Wide
Closing the gap is one of the most important defensive skills in hockey, but it’s also one of the hardest for young defensemen to get right. Every player has heard a coach yell “Close the gap!” from the bench, yet very few kids actually understand what that means in real time. They either charge forward too aggressively and get burned wide, or they back off too much and give the puck carrier all the space in the world. The real art of gap control is learning how to shrink the distance between you and the attacker without giving up your inside positioning, your skating base, or your ability to react…
Read MoreWhy Most Powerplays Struggle — And How to Simplify Player Roles
When a team has the man advantage, everyone expects crisp puck movement, clean entries, and dangerous scoring chances. But what usually happens instead is hesitation, overthinking, and five players all trying to do a little bit of everything. That’s when the power play slows down, the penalty killers gain confidence, and the puck ends up 200 feet away. The good news is that most of these problems disappear the moment each player understands a simple, specific role and sticks to it. When roles are clear, the puck moves faster, the decisions get easier, and the power play suddenly looks like it has purpose instead of panic.
Read MoreTeaching Smarter Line Changes to Prevent Odd-Man Rushes
Many players think line changes are just a routine part of hockey, something you do when you get tired, but the truth is that poor line changes are one of the biggest causes of odd-man rushes.
Read MoreHow to Train Players to Protect the Middle of the Ice in All Three Zones
One of the most important defensive habits in hockey is learning how to protect the middle of the ice, and I harped on that often as a higher level coach. Of course, coaches at every level talk about it, but young players often don’t fully understand what it means or why it matters so much. The middle of the ice is the most dangerous scoring area on the rink. It runs from the center lane in the neutral zone all the way to the slot and the front of the net in the defensive zone.
Read MoreTeaching Forwards How to Become Reliable in the Defensive Zone
While scoring is certainly important, strong teams know that the best forwards are also reliable in the defensive zone. A forward who understands defensive responsibility becomes far more valuable to a coach, a teammate, and the overall success of the team. Teaching forwards how to become dependable in their own end is one of the most important parts of youth hockey development, and it is a skill that builds smarter, more complete players.
Read MoreThe Most Misunderstood Skill in Youth Hockey: Angling
Many young players think angling means skating hard at an opponent and trying to deliver a big hit. Others believe it is simply about chasing the puck carrier as fast as possible. In reality, proper angling in hockey is about control, positioning, patience, and smart decision-making.
Read MoreThe Hidden Skill Behind Winning Puck Races
Winning puck races is one of the most underrated skills in hockey, yet it often determines who controls the game. Coaches talk about speed all the time, and players assume that the fastest skater always wins the race to the puck. The truth is very different. The hidden skill behind winning puck races is not just straight-line speed. It is anticipation, smart angles, explosive first strides, and the ability to read the play before it fully develops.
Read MoreTeaching Players to Think One Pass Ahead
Thinking one pass ahead simply means that a player already knows their next option before the puck arrives on their stick. Instead of receiving a pass and then trying to figure out what to do, they scan the ice early, read the defensive pressure, and prepare their next move. This type of anticipation separates reactive players from intelligent, proactive players.
Read MoreA Smarter Way to Teach Net‑Front Play (Without Chaos)
When the puck goes low and shots start coming from the point, things can quickly turn into chaos around the crease. Sticks are swinging, bodies are pushing, and players often forget their assignments. For young hockey players, especially at the youth and high school level, net-front battles often look like survival mode instead of structured defensive hockey.
Read MoreWhy I Need to Hear From You — Often
This site has always been about teaching the game — and teaching it in a way that actually helps you, your players, or your son or daughter. And here’s the truth I want to put front and center today:
I can only do that if I hear from you. Not once in a while. Not once a season. Regularly.
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