If you're an Edmonton Oilers fan then the first goal of the Stanley Cup Final in the summer of '24 was a harbringer of doom. We either win or we learn. The Oilers did one of these things.
These days I replace backcheck with track - it sounds like an intellilgent tactic rather than an old school punishment for dropping a box of muffins in the parking lot. Tracking through thr neutral zone is often the difference between winning and losing. There's strategy that goes into it, but it's still primarily physical effort rather than mental effort. Get on your horse and get your stick on the puck as quickly as possible so your team can attack the other way. Here are three drills to help your team track naturally without you needing to shout get back until your lungs give out.
Kamloops Angling
Let's start with a fun one in which the players won't even know they're tracking. But if they don't, they'll lose their guy and lose the rep. This one is easy, fast, and fun.
- On whistle both sides (2 or 3 players) touch respective blue lines
- Coach spots puck on either side, that team is on offence
- Defensive players can't skate backwards
- Progress from 1on1 to 2on2 to 3on3
Above the Puck Track, Regroup, 3on2
This one is a helpful bit of brainwashing because it immediately demonstrates the benefit of tracking quickly. It focuses on F1 only, so it starts simple. F1 tracks the puck carrier - it can be half speed if you want some room to teach habits - and once he retrieves the puck, he gives it to the D for a regoup and a 3on2 the other way. The hidden benefit of doing it this way is that there are only two players involved in the action at the start, so all eyes will be on them.
- On whistle, F1 tracks F2 while F3 gets above puck on weak side
- D1 gaps up and stays between dots
- F1 checks F2 and gives puck to D who regroups forwards (F1, F2, & F3)
- 2 D step out and play the forwards 3on2 with D1 joining
Constantine 3on2
This is an obvious progression to the first two, and it's the most game-like. It's helpful for one coach to run the drill on the ice while the other coach watches from the bench and teaches once each rep is finished. This one can start in lots of ways - I like running a quick corner 3on2.
- Offensive zone forwards play quick 3on2 in corner against 2 D
- On whistle, coach spots puck to attacking line who skate 3on2 against D in neutral zone
- Original offensive forwards backtrack and communicate with D to pick up late forwards
- Play out 5on5
