3-on-2 rush with a trailer

Setup

1. Full equipment for everyone, including a full cage and neck guard. G in full goalie gear in the right net.
2. Attackers: LD with the puck in the left zone, C in the slot, LW and RW at the left blue line on each wall.
3. Defenders X1 and X2 start at the centre red line, facing the attack.
4. Extra players wait in groups at the left end and along the boards.

How it runs

1. LD passes to C, who carries up the middle while LW and RW fill the wide lanes.
2. LD follows the play up the ice as the fourth attacker, a few strides behind: the trailer.
3. X1 and X2 skate backwards, keep a tight gap and protect the middle of the ice.
4. Before the blue line C moves it wide (RW here). RW carries over the line first so LW and C stay onside.
5. RW drives wide. LW goes to the far post, C to the net front, and LD arrives late in the high slot for a drop pass and a low shot once G is ready.
6. Play it out to a goal, a save or a clear. Defenders win a point by clearing past the red line. Rest and water between reps; each rush is about 20–30 seconds.

Coaching points

• Three lanes, wide–middle–wide, and go hard to the net. Speed pushes the defenders back and opens the high slot.
• Trailer: arrive late and into the space the defenders leave, stick on the ice and ready to shoot.
• Drop pass: put it in the trailer's path, not behind them, and keep driving so you take a defender with you.
• Shoot low and through traffic so there are rebounds for the forwards at the net.
• Defenders: one takes the puck, the other takes the most dangerous player in front of the net. Talk to sort it out early.
• Everyone: watch the blue line. If you are ahead of the puck, ease up or cut across.

Common mistakes

• All three forwards drift to the puck side and the far post is empty.
• The trailer joins too early and is level with the forwards, so there is no space to pass back into.
• Passing across the slot into a defender's stick instead of shooting.
• Slapshots from the high slot with players in front of the net: use wrist and snap shots in this drill.