The "Tarasenko" Move - Hockey Skill Breakdown

There are many different strategies that a player can employ on the rush. Previously, I discussed the importance of the Power Push, but this time, we’ll explore the "Tarasenko". This move is versatile and can be extremely effective. Not only can it be used as a delay tactic on the zone entry, but also to protect the puck and help attackers maintain their speed and gain body position on the opposing defense.

Edge work in practice is crucial. If you can’t do the 10 and 2, you won’t be able to do the Tarasenko. It’s a mix of starting a delay, opening up for a 10 and 2, pushing the puck away from the defender, driving through your back skate, and out skating the defense. Struggling to follow along? I’ve provided a video to demonstrate the maneuver. It’s difficult to describe on paper, but the clip should clear things up.

The name of this technique came from watching the St. Louis Blues sniper in action, skills coaches like to keep things simple when naming their lessons! As the video shows, this skill can be used on the rush, but it can also be implemented when a player is escaping a defender along the wall, getting inside the house, or coming out of the corner.

When teaching this technique to your players, it’s important to break down the precise elements that go into the Tarasenko and use a progressive system to work on each step. 

Here are my five key teaching points to master the Tarasenko:

1. Create deception. This can be done by bringing the puck to the middle of the stance and then spotting the puck forward to protect the hands under resistance.
2. Create a wall. Using your back against the defender and block them from entering your path.
3. Transfer your weight. Weight shifting back to open and push off the back skate. The front skate will stay down to support and protect the puck.
4. Front leg drive. Use the front leg used to drive through the hands to gain inside body position.
5. Strong body positioning. Have a solid balance and sturdy base to maintain position on the defender.

Below, I’ve outlined a four-drill progression that you can use to help your players hone the Tarasenko. All of the drills can be found in the CoachThem drill Marketplace so you can easily add them to your personal playbook!

 

1. Tarasenko - Full Ice Warm Up

• First three players of each line will go down the ice
• Players will explore the use of the inside and outside edge as a warmup
• Variation
  • Inside edge hold
  • Outside edge hold
  • Inside edge, glove touch the ice
  • Outside edge, glove touch the ice

2. Tarasenko - Cat and Mouse

• Place 2 sticks on the ice and a player on each side (they can use their own stick)
• Players will start facing each other.
• One player will be working to get away from their partner, and the other player is working to tag them.
• You have to go around the stick, can't go across
• When you skate around the stick, you have to work on the Tarasenko move only.

3. Tarasenko - Zone Attack

• X  X starts with a puck and attacks the coach. X X has to read the stick from the coach and do the Tarasenko
• After passing the coach, X X attacks the net and can decide which side to skate towards, again, doing the Tarasenko
• Lastly, shoot to score
• *Players can run both sides, if you don't have enough coaches, you can add another net, a deviator or a player who rotates position

4. Tarasenko - Two Shot Streak

• Players will skate out from the corner and do a Tarasenko between the pylon at the top.
• Player in the corner will make a pass
• After the shot, the player comes back and to a Tarasenko between the pylon again.
• Player in the corner will make a second pass
• Variation
  • Players start with a puck
  • Players start with a puck and perform 2 Tarasenko and shot off the second one

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Blog by CoachThem Contributor, Mitch Giguere

Mitch Giguere, ChPC, is the father of four children and a passionate hockey coach, currently working as a video coach for the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL). Previously, he worked with the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg, was the video coach for the Winnipeg Ice (WHL). Mitch has his High Performance 2 from Hockey Canada and has an Advanced Coaching Diploma (NCCP4) from the Canadian Sports Institute. You can follow his popular video breakdown on Twitter @Coach_Mitch85 and Facebook Behind The Bench for more great hockey content.