Ice hockey drills
Ice hockey puck handling drills
6 free Ice hockey drills for puck handling, each with the setup, how it runs, what to coach, and how to make it harder or easier.
6 drills
SkatingPuck handlingCross-ice sharks and minnowsMinnows carry pucks across a cross-ice station while a shark tries to poke them away with the stick; anyone who loses a puck becomes a shark.10 min · 6–14 players · U5+
Team systemsPuck handlingCycling the puck lowForwards keep the puck in the offensive zone by working it down the wall, leaving it for a teammate behind them and curling back high, until a lane opens to the slot.15 min · 6–18 players · U13+
Puck handlingBody contact & checkingPuck protection along the boardsA 1-on-1 in a strip by the boards: the carrier keeps their body between the defender and the puck to reach the end cone, while the defender works stick on stick. Body contact only, no checking.15 min · 4–16 players · U11+
Body contact & checkingPuck handlingSmall-area board battlesPairs race for a puck rimmed into a corner and battle along the boards with legal body contact: body position, stick-on-stick and protecting the puck, then the winner moves it out.12 min · 4–20 players · U12+
Puck handlingStickhandling in a boxEach skater gets a puck and a small box of ice: stationary handling first, then carrying the puck round the box with eyes up, counting the coach's fingers.12 min · 4–16 players · U6+
Puck handlingToe drags and dekesPlayers toe-drag round a line of cones through the neutral zone, beat a passive defender with a deke and finish with a shot on a ready goaltender.15 min · 4–16 players · U11+