Hockey drill

1on1 - Two pucks (half ice)

A half-ice 1-on-1 with two pucks: the attacker chooses his puck and the defender has to adjust his gap on the fly. For U9 and U11/U12 players.

Category: Skills and tactics
Levels: U9 · U11/U12

Hockey drill diagram: 1on1 - Two pucks (half ice)

1on1
gap control
half-ice
puck protection
station

How it runs

This is what your players need to understand before the puck moves.

On the whistle, F skates around the top cone. D goes between the two cones, pivots backward, and quickly establishes a one-stick-length gap.

Two pucks are placed on the ice. F chooses one, and the drill immediately turns into a 1 vs 1 toward the net.

Both players are allowed to attack and try to score.

Drill Objective : Create a dynamic and unpredictable situation that forces both players to read and react under pressure.

Key Points : For F, use deception and change of direction. Protect the puck on pickup. Challenge the D's positioning. For D, establish gap quickly after the pivot. Maintain a controlled gap (about one stick length). Stay patient and protect the middle of the ice

Coach Steve's take

Hockey never tells you what is coming. With two pucks, your players have to read and decide in a split second, just like in a game. Don’t stop the drill to fix every move. Let them make mistakes, reset and try something else. That is how a young player learns to adapt, and it is exactly what you want at this age.