Goaltender Initiates Breakout Pass
Goalie practices stopping puck shot or banked around boards and works on
passing skills. Drill encourages goalie to get involved with the offense.
Goalie receives shots from different angles and distances.
This drill is easy to setup and incorporates game conditions using half the ice. Almost every team has a breakout that involves positioning a wing at the sideboards as in the diagram. There is situations in a game where the goalie can become an offensive weapon by stopping pucks shot around the boards and immediately passing to a teammate. Another game situation is when the puck drops in front or near the goalie. Instead of covering up or leaving it for a defensemen, the goalie passes it to one of his forwards. A quick pass to his wing can cause the opposing forecheckers to get stuck in your defensive zone and force them to come back late. This is the foundation for getting your goaltender to start the breakout instead of WAITING for the defense to arrive.
SETUP:
A) PUCKS: with coach in neutral zone.
B) GOALIE: if drill is performed at both ends then a goalie is in each net. If drill is half ice then a goalie instructor should work with the goalie not involved with the drill at the opposite end or perform skill related drills.
C) SHOOTERS: are positioned in two groups as per diagram at side boards.
The Coach's shooting options are-
1) Around the boards (as was performed above by coach but not diagrammed).
2) Wide of the net so puck deflects out front or a shot on goal.
3) Shot on goal.
If shot is on goal make sure goalie can catch it or be able to control the puck by keeping it within 5 to 15 feet from him so he is able to make a pass.
1) If puck is shot around boards as in diagram goalie skates behind net, goalie stops the puck.
2) Goalie passes to LW (forward) at sideboards (to initiate breakout pass) then skates back to goal.
3) Forward that received pass from goalie makes a quick cross ice pass to the opposite side board where the other group is stationed.
4) Forward that receives pass has the option to skate in for a shot or shoot from sideboard. After the shot he skates to opposite line.
The goalie passes the next puck he receives to the RW side group and the drill continues.
The above drill could also be used as a pre game warmup at the college or major junior level where the ice is cut after warmups.