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Practice Like a PRO 5.0

In this edition of Practice Like a PRO 5.0, our teammate Mitch Giguere shares five dynamic drills designed to activate your players, sharpen details, and drive repetition—no matter what level you coach. Each drill includes video and visual support, so you can implement them right away.

Mitch Giguere's Insight

Summer tends to be quieter for coaches at the professional level—but not for the players. To help both players and coaches continue improving during the offseason, we're launching a 4-part series focused on individual skill development. There’s nothing better than position-specific (PS) drills paired with strong visuals to drive learning and performance.

This time, instead of using NHL clips, we’ve taken a closer look at Team Canada U20 and created a detailed breakdown. Each blog in the series will feature drills tailored for forwards (F), defensemen (D), and goaltenders (G).

If you’re not a member yet, use the code GIGUERE to get 20% OFF your subscription. With a full year’s access to CoachThem, you'll have all the drills and videos at your fingertips, completely free!

Each drill comes with video - just click on the drill graphic to watch.

Practice Like A Pro 5.0 – PSF Net Front Scoring

This is a great drill that players can do on their own to improve their scoring ability around the net. What I really like about it is the emphasis on keeping the stick on the ice and working in a tight area—just like in a real game situation. Too often, players receive a pass and drift 5 to 7 feet away before taking a shot. This drill keeps everything compact and game-like. As shown in the video, there are plenty of variations to work on—forehand, backhand, quick pop-outs, low attacks, wraparounds, and more.

Practice Like A Pro 5.0 – PSF Slot Shooting Options

I use this drill often with my defensemen in Wheeling, but in this case, it’s done with a forward. It’s all about making reads and finding shooting lanes to create quality scoring chances. There are so many ways to challenge the player’s decision-making. To start, there are four shooting windows. From there, you can adjust the coach’s stick positioning—on the side, inside the lane, ahead of the player, or directly on the puck. You can also add constraints, like keeping the puck on the forehand or backhand, or requiring a push or pull move before the shot. This allows for tons of variation while reinforcing good habits and quick reads.

Practice Like A Pro 5.0 – PSD Blue Line Fakes

Placing three pucks inside the blue line forces the defenseman to work around them while maintaining control of the puck on his blade. You can adjust the puck placement to increase difficulty and add constraints like keeping the puck strictly on the forehand or backhand. This drill is excellent for developing deception and poise at the blue line while in motion.

Practice Like A Pro 5.0 – PSD In and Out Shooting

The first part of the drill focuses on receiving the puck either inside or outside the set pucks, then moving left or right for a shot. You can tweak this section by adding constraints—ask your defenseman to keep eye contact with you instead of looking down, avoid stickhandling, or stay on their forehand or backhand. Once the defenseman is comfortable with the drill, remove the stationary puck and introduce token pressure. Vary the pressure to force them to read and react to the situation, helping them develop better poise and decision-making under pressure.

Practice Like A Pro 5.0 – PSG The Diamond Drill

I’ll admit—goaltending isn’t my cup of tea—but this drill is pretty straightforward. Set up around a faceoff dot and work on T-pushes from one puck to the other. The focus is on quick eye tracking, controlled rotation, and staying on your feet throughout the movement.

We hope you enjoyed these drills and insights from Mitch Giguere! If there’s something specific you’d like to see in future updates, feel free to share it in the comments.

Looking for more personalized guidance? Book a 1-on-1 session with Mitch HERE. (scroll down the page to book through a Calendly link)

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