Practice Like A Pro 8.0

By late February, there’s nowhere left to hide. Systems are in, habits are formed, and the season has made it very clear who can defend under pressure and who hopes the puck just goes away. This is the time of year where small details decide games, not new tactics drawn on the board.

These five drills are built around real game situations, defensive habits, and quick decision-making. Surfing, angling, racing, and reading plays all show up here, with enough pace and compete to keep practices sharp without overloading the group. If you’re looking to clean things up and sharpen details heading into the stretch run, this one’s for you.

Each drill below has a video attached - click on the drill graphic to see the video!

Practice Like A Pro 8.0 – 1v1 Surf

Teaching steer, approach, angling, and surfing can be tricky. Sometimes it’s the wrong drill, sometimes it’s not game like enough, and sometimes it just doesn’t stick. What I like about this drill is that the defensive player starts tracking the forward from a long distance.

The defenceman has to manage the gap, match speed, and adjust his angle before the blue line. Once the forward crosses the blue line, the D can strike and finish the surf efficiently. This setup forces patience first, then aggression.

You can easily tweak the drill by giving the offensive player more freedom. Once he enters the neutral zone, he doesn’t have to go all the way to the second dot. He can cut inside at any moment, which forces the defender to read, not go through the motion.

Practice Like A Pro 8.0 – 1v1 From LRA and Corner

A simple two-part drill with a lot of value. The first rep is a 1v1 off a line rush. You can ask the defenceman to surf, or allow him to skate backward. The focus here is killing the play early at the blue line. Surfing is a crucial skill for defencemen, and it’s not always easy to execute cleanly.

The second part is a 1v1 from the corner, simulating a loose puck after a shot or a missed net. The D is challenged to win the race, establish body position, and close the play quickly. This naturally increases the compete level and carries over directly to game situations.

Practice Like A Pro 8.0 – 2v1 From the Blue Line

How many times do we try to create a full ice 2v1, but by the time players get there, they’re already exhausted because we asked them to do 10 things beforehand?

This straight 2v1 eliminates the fluff. Players get clean, quality reps with pace and decision making. Sometimes repetition matters more than quantity. There’s a big difference between doing something over and over with purpose and just skating through quantity. This drill gives players the chance to try new reads, adjust timing, and actually learn.

Practice Like A Pro 8.0 – 2v2 Buffalo Race

We ran this drill again this week with our ECHL team, and I love it as a practice opener. High compete, high energy, and it gives the offensive team a slight edge right away.

Add a second puck from the coach at the blue line to work on boxing out. Jump starts, inside body position, first touch, and even creating a quick 2v0 are all built into this drill. Simple setup, big payoff. You can ask me for the video from my team, we have every angle possible and I will be glad to share with you.

Practice Like A Pro 8.0 – 3v2 From a Rim

You don’t get much more games like this. The drill starts with a reset from behind the net, a rim, and a weak-side D pinch to keep the puck alive. From there, you’re working your offensive zone play in a true 3v2 situation.

This drill works at every age and at every level. It teaches players how to find time and space, make reads under pressure, and generate offense in realistic situations.

About Mitch Giguere

Mitch Giguere is a professional hockey coach and lifelong student of the game. He is currently an assistant coach with the Wheeling Nailers, an ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). A former KHL coach, Mitch holds both his High Performance 2 certification from Hockey Canada and an Advanced Coaching Diploma (NCCP4) through the Canadian Sport Institute.

As a CoachThem Teammate, Mitch contributes monthly blogs focused on skill-specific drills, practice efficiency, and modern coaching habits. His goal is simple: help coaches design smarter practices, stay organized throughout the season, and create environments where players can develop with intention.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hockey drills for defending under pressure?

The best hockey drills for defending under pressure recreate real game situations, forcing players to manage gaps, angle properly, win races, and make quick reads. Drills like 1v1 surf, corner battles, and 3v2 rim situations develop habits that carry directly into games.

How do you design game-like hockey drills late in the season?

Late in the season, hockey practice design should focus on detail, pace, and decision-making rather than introducing new systems. Game-like hockey drills that involve racing, angling, and pressure reads help sharpen habits without overloading players.

Why are small-area and situational drills important in hockey practice?

Small-area and situational drills force players to compete in tight spaces, make fast decisions, and execute under pressure. These drills improve defensive habits and game awareness far more effectively than isolated skill drills.

What defensive habits should hockey coaches emphasize late in the season?

Late-season practices should emphasize gap control, angling, surfing, body positioning, and winning races. These details often decide games once systems are established and fatigue increases.

How can CoachThem help organize hockey practice drills?

CoachThem allows coaches to diagram drills, add teaching points, attach video, and share practice plans with staff. This makes it easier to run structured, game-like hockey practices focused on real performance outcomes.