Protecting the puck is body position. Defender on one side, puck on the other, body between. This is how players hold the puck under pressure long enough to make a play. Most kids just try to outskate the defender. This drill teaches them to hold instead.
What you need: Sticks, puck, two players in full gear.
Setup: Player A with the puck along the boards. Player B (defender) 5 feet away.
How to run it:
- Coach blows whistle. Defender skates toward Player A.
- Player A turns the body so the defender is on one side and the puck is on the other (puck on the far side of the body).
- Player A skates along the boards while keeping the body between defender and puck.
- After 5 seconds, Player A makes a play (pass to coach or shoot).
- Do 6 reps. Switch roles.
What to watch: Body position. If the defender can reach the puck without going through Player A, the body isn’t between them. The puck has to be on the far side.
If they’re struggling: Slower defender. Or no contact (defender just stick-checks).
If they’ve got it: Two defenders. Or open ice (no boards) so the player has nothing to lean on.