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Breakout Passing Part II (Defensemen Skills)

Written by: Todd Drevitch of Hockey Techniques

Part I of Breakout passes covered the more basic moves that defensemen use (the early pass, skating/using the net, and setting up behind). Part II will cover the Reverse Escape and the Passing Breakouts.

The Reverse Escape: This is much like the escape moves used by the forwards as they enter the zone. There are 3 different types: 1: Quick Stop With The Puck on the Stick 2: Cycle to Yourself 3: Quick Power Turn Towards Boards.

1. The Quick Stop (puck stays on the stick): Much like the stop behind the net, the "D" has an over-pursuing forechecker and has a loose gap. The "D" stops suddenly and goes back the other way to either skate, pass or shoot puck off glass out of zone.

2. The Quick Stop (cycle to yourself and/or puck between your own legs): This is in a much tighter area and in a very tight gap. The forechecker again is slightly over-pursuing. Both players are going from East - West along the boards in the same direction. At the last second, the "D" should either cycle the puck behind off the boards, or throw the puck between his legs. Do a quick stop and reverse directions. Make sure you move your feet at full speed out of the stop. (*IMPORTANT: Never do these escapes if you are going along the boards and the forechecker is coming straight at you from center ice. You could get hit from behind!)

3: The Quick Power Turn Escape: (*IMPORTANT: Never do this escape move if you are going along the boards and the forechecker is coming straight at you from center ice. You could get hit from behind! Same as above.) This would be a tight gap, but not too tight that you cannot make a wider turn. Think of this as being about 10 feet from the boards or more. The forward is over-pursuing to the middle and you do a quick power turn and escape away from him. Do not stickhandle after the turn, for the forechecker may be too close and steal the puck from you.

The Passing Breakouts

Before we go over the passing breakouts, it's important to cover the Defensive Zone and the visuals needed for the player to understand when to use each breakout. I like to use the dots as a visual gauge of which type of breakout to do. Of course, every rink is different. Meaning, use whatever visuals work for your team's level and what type of environment they are in. Draw a line from the boards behind the net out to the blue line. If you have a permanent marker that is waterproof, you can do this on the ice and give an actual visual for your players. The Quick Pass to Wing and the D - D Reverse Pass would start with gaining control of the puck in Zone 2. The Quick Pass to Center, the D - D, or the D - W Reverse Pass would all start with control of the puck coming in either of Zone 1's.

1. D - Center Quick Pass (Pass Starts in Zone 1 to Center at edge of Zone 2): Control of puck occurs in Zone 1, then a direct pass to a wing in Zone 1 along the boards is a dangerous and less effective pass. The wing would have no angle to catch the pass and often turns his back on the pinching "D" from the other team. Also, this is the strong side of the ice, which means the wing will have less time to gather the puck, as there will most likely be a forechecker on him. The center, if he were timing it correctly, would be swinging towards the "D" to give support in the corner. A small 10-foot pass to the center just crossing the dot is a better angle pass. The danger is that if a bad pass is made or if the center misses the pass, then the puck may end up in a dangerous area and give the other team an offensive opportunity.

2. D - Wing Quick Reverse Pass (Pass Starts in Zone 1 to Wing in Zone 1): This is mostly used when the puck is dumped behind the D and lands along the boards deep in the Zone 1. The other team has a forward forechecking hard on the puck. The Wing or Center from your team is backchecking through the middle of the ice. If the forechecker reaches the "D" as he is reaching the puck, then the "D" should chip the puck off the boards behind him (like a cycle) to his teammate. The forechecker will be caught down deep. It is important that the puck travel at least 10 - 15 feet to open up space for the forward to retrieve the puck and head in the other direction. Also, the "D" should use the boards side not the middle when chipping the puck behind and curl back inside the dots in case there is a turnover.

3. D - D Pass (Pass comes from Zone 1 to a D placed on the far post boards in Zone 2): This play starts with the same scenario as the last breakout. The puck is dumped along the boards or closer to the corner. With pressure on the "D" and a 1 player forecheck or overload forecheck, the weak-side Defensive partner should be wide open. If possible, a direct pass is best. However, if there is little room behind the net or the puck is too high in the zone, then use an indirect pass off the boards behind the net. The "D" partner should have his butt up against the boards just off the far post. I often see defense stand in the opposite corner. That creates a bad passing lane for themselves when they receive the pass and makes the original pass harder to complete tape to tape. After the "D" - "D" pass, immediately go to the net to protect and support in case of a turnover. The "D" partner should be able to receive and give a good angle pass if he stays in Zone 2. If he skates into Zone 1, then he creates a bad passing lane to his winger and takes options away for him to escape. On a side note, when gaining control of the puck in the corner, try not to skate the puck into Zone 2. By doing this, the "D" would be bringing all the forecheckers with him, and his defensive partner would no longer be open.

4. D - W Quick Direct Pass (Pass comes from Zone 2 to the Strong-side W placed on the boards in Zone 1): Puck control occurs inside the dots down low in the zone. The Defenseman has his head on a swivel (looking both directions behind him to know his options), and makes a quick pass to the winger on the boards. Although this appears to be the easiest breakout, keep the following points in mind. If the "D" has time to get to his forehand, he should do so to allow for a higher percentage pass. However, he must do so while not jeopardizing the wings time and space. The "D" should pass the puck in front of the wing to allow the wing to get motion and not be flatfooted. The pass should be hard and deliberate. Try not to make a pass while skating away from the wing or a flip pass. Pass the puck hard enough so that if the wing misses the pass, then the puck would still leave the zone. Angle your approach of the puck from net to puck. Use the near post as a gauge. This allows for easier control of the puck (especially on the backhand). Try not to slap the puck. If the forechecker is cheating to the boards, the wing is not there, or if the puck is a too close to the net, then default to the "D" - "D" Reverse or any skating breakout going behind the net.

5. D - D Reverse Pass (Pass is done behind the net): When the puck is too close to the net, there is a forechecker pursuing from board to middle, or (the most effective and likely to be used) the "D" has a player chasing him behind the net, then the "D" would use a "D" - "D" Reverse Pass to his "D" partner. To make it easier to understand, notice that I broke Zone 2 into 3 parts: Part A, B and C in the diagram below. The player wants to suck the forechecker that is chasing him to commit behind the net. This makes it appear as if he is going to come out the other side and traps the forechecker. The remaining forecheckers in the zone will read this and start to anticipate towards the side of the ice the "D" is skating. The "D" partner in front of the net calls for or reads that a reverse is needed. The "D" with the puck reverses it off the boards (like a cycle) behind him. It should land just off the post on the far side of the net. The "D" partner in front then releases (leaves) from the front of the net towards the now vacant corner and picks up the puck. Looking at the diagram: You carry the puck from Part A and through Part B. It is important to try and get to the other side of the net or Part C for the play to work better. Reverse (or cycle) the puck off the boards to land in Part A of Zone 2. Try not to reverse it too hard or the puck will land in Zone 1 and create problems and a more difficult breakout situation for the "D" partner. The "D" in front of the net continues to have toes up ice and 1 hand on stick while the puck is being skated behind the net. He does not release from the front of the net until the puck has been or is just about to be reversed. The "D" partner should know his options for breakout before he retrieves the puck to move it quicker. Important: the original "D" that was carrying the puck and reversed it should immediately return to the front of the net in case there is a turnover. The other "D" has left the front of the net undefended to retrieve the puck.

Todd Drevitch (www.hockeytechniques.com)

Prior to founding Hockey Techniques in 1995, Todd played professional hockey in the ECHL for Richmond, VA a farm team of

the NY Islanders. He also played in Greensboro, Fort Worth, and Roanoke.  As a year-round Professional coach, Todd works

with many Travel, town, and house programs (Mite - Midget), Todd also is the skating and skills specialist for all 4 Junior

Wildcat teams (MAD, Select, Premier Junior "B", and Empire Junior "B").  In addition to Hockey Techniques, Todd is currently

going into his 5th season as Head Coach of Mt. Lakes HS.  He has brought the team from 5 wins in their history (before Todd),

to 2 Division Championships and 2 trips to the sweet 16 in the NJSIAA State Tournament.  The school is now considered one of

the top programs in the state and is in the highest Division in the County.  Todd is also on the USA Hockey's Atlantic

District Coaching Team that trains and certifies ALL coaches in the district.  Spreading the joy of the game with his two sons,

Todd coaches their Team Blizzard Squirt A and B travel teams.