Developing Defenseman and
Defensive Zone
Jeff Giesen
Assistant Women’s Hockey Coach
St. Cloud State University
Defenseman Skills
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Skating
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Puckhandling
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Passing
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Shooting
Skating
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Probably the biggest thing in hockey
Work on a daily basis
Good starts gives more confidence and can help
on gap control both offensively and defensively
Pivots, don’t crossover open up your hips
Skating Drills
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Up and Back
Triple Circle
Big Figure 8
Mirror drill
Small Figure 8
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Horizontal
Lateral
Iron Cross
Puckhandling and Passing
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Do as many things with pucks as possible
Always try and keep the puck on the forehand
Have players pass in practice
Incorporate into off ice
Communicate when passing both ways
Don’t give your problem to someone else
Puckahandling Drills
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3 circles with pucks
Big figure 8 with pucks
Small figure 8’s
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Horizontal
Lateral
Iron Cross with pucks
Chop chops and Figure
8’s with pucks
Passing Drills
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Breakout warm up
Dump in with pivot B.O
Big figure 8 with one
touch
Small figure 8 with one
touch
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Lateral
Horizontal
Rocking Horse
Shooting
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Proper technique
Keep your head up
Something to incorporate into off ice workouts
Keeping shots on net
Change shooting lanes
Limit stick handling
Shooting Drills
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Down up and around
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Pass re-pass for shot
Gather and Shoot
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With pass to partner
With pass to partner
One timers
Defensive Zone
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Defense is dull, boring commonplace. It is the
unimaginative plodding attention to duty. It is
grit and determination. There is never a day you
can’t use defense. All you need is the decision to
put out. To give 100 percent. What defense
discloses is character. Effort and energy are a
matter of will.
Dr. George Sheehan
Running and Being
Defensive Zone
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COMMUNICATE
Always on the defensive side
Know your responsibilities
Defense one in front at all times
 Centers working board to board
 Wings on points and high slot area
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Good position
Defensive Zone
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Keep your stick down in passing lanes
Head on a swivel
Control your opponent in one on one situations
Chase vs. contain
Contain after the puck moves
Establish good angles and gap control be quick,
take away time and space
Defensive Zone Development
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Breaking it down into
smaller parts
1 on 1
Situations
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2 on 2
3 on 2
3 on 3
5 on 5
1 on 1
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Shadow
Out of the corner
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Fwd in the corner
Fwd half way
Fwd and D are even
Def. plays 3 1on1’s
Zone entry
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Fwds have three options
Situations
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1 on 1 x 3
3 on 3 low
2 late back checkers
5 on 5 in the zone
5 on 5 ¾ ice scrimmage
In Closing
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Special thanks to Nicki DelCastillo
for video help
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Questions