Using the Net for Better Breakout Passing - Part I
Written by: Todd Drevitch’s Hockey Techniques
Part I of Breakout passes will cover the more basic moves that defensemen use (the early pass, skating/using the net, and setting up behind). Part II, which will be printed in the next issue of Breakaway Magazine, will cover the more advanced and complex moves (the reverse pass, the reverse skate, and the stop escape).
The early pass is used when a player skates from one side of the ice (the strong side) behind the net to make a pass to a player on the other side (the weak side). Most defensemen make the same mistake. They skate to the weak side of the ice before passing the puck. As they skate behind the net, the opposing players are following them. When the "D" passes the puck to his/her teammate the opposing team is already forcing the play making it more difficult to break the puck out of the zone.
To give your forward more time to break the puck out of the zone use the space behind the net. Skate as close as you can to the boards while still having the ability to make a hard accurate pass. Keep your head up and look for the far hash marks of the face-off circle on the weak side of the ice. When you see the marks line up with the back of the net start your pass. You will actually be passing the puck from the opposite side of the net giving your forward much more time to receive the pass and get it out of the zone. The exact positioning of where you pass the puck will depending upon the size of the rink and if the forward is at the hash marks ready for a pass.
If the forward is not in position to receive a breakout pass, then you may need to skate the puck to the weak side of the ice. Again, every situation will be slightly different because you have to read and react to the opposing team. However, still stay along the boards as you skate behind the net. If you skate too close to the net then you will come out the other side of the net wide and it will limit the options you have for passing the puck. It will also allow a player to chase you behind the net and attack you on the other side. By staying close to the boards, you can cut up ice by turning at the far post. This does two things. First it will bring you out from behind the net more in the middle of the ice increasing your options. Secondly, it would allow you to use the net if a player is chasing you from behind the net. The player will be on the inside of you and will be forced to either go wide around the net or they may be pushed into the net when you cut up ice. Be careful not to do this move if an opposing player is right in front of your net because of the danger it would pose if you turned the puck over.
If the player does not chase you behind the net and they are out in front of the net, then you can use the third move, setting up behind the net. When doing this you want to again use the full space behind the net. Set-up so that your butt is touching the boards. Put the puck slightly in front of you so that no matter which side of the net you skate out from or which side you pass to you will be able to be on your forehand side. Do not always set up directly behind the net. Line yourself up with the forechecker. If the forechecker is cheating to your right then you set-up slightly to the left. In other words, have the net between you and the forechecker.
A couple of more hints for setting up behind the net are to not over stickhandle. Most players lose the puck with the little amount of room that is behind the net. Remember that you do not need to panic and make a play immediately in most situations. Take a deep breath, look straight ahead so that you can see the whole ice, and wait for your team to get back into position to support you. Do not stare at the player you are going to pass to. Most forecheckers are watching you and your eyes to see where you are going. They do not see everything that you see.
The Early Pass
 | Stay along the boards |
| Pass when you see weak side hash marks |
Skating the Puck
| Stay along the boards |
| Cut up ice at the far post |
Setting Up Behind the Net
| is between you and forechecker |
| Puck is out in front of you |
| Do not stickhandle |
Todd Drevitch
Prior to founding Hockey Techniques, Todd played professional hockey in
the ECHL for a farm team of the NY Islanders.
Todd has 15 years of experience in coaching beginners, youth, high
school, and college players. He is also a scout for a number of colleges
and professional hockey organizations. Todd has accepted a position with
the USA hockey 1985 Junior Select Festival Team which will compete in St. Cloud,
Minn.
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