Why Work On Angling: Angling is a skilled used in all three zones. Angling reduces, or eliminates, chances against by taking away your opponent’s time and space. Angling minimizes the quality of the chances against by directing the puck carrier into less-risky areas of the ice. Hockey Angling Drill Description: Version 1: Have the puck-carrier skate down and quickly turn, outside-in, on the nearest cone before accelerating outside of the blue line around the stick and attack the net along the far boards to try to score. At the same time, the defender skates to a further cone, turning inside-out, before accelerating towards the blue but staying on the defensive (or net-side) of the stick, closing the gap and trying to angle the puck-carrier towards the wall or corner. Version 2: Same exact drill set up as version 1 but this time add a 2nd forward lined up along the far wall who jumps into the play as the puck carrier initially exits the blue line, creating a 2-on-1. Tips For the Defender Specific to this Angling Drill: It’s important to close the gap quickly to begin steering the puck-carrier where you want them, so adjust your skating speed accordinly. Your body position is crucial: If you’re too far ahead, you provide the puck-carrier the option to cut back into the middle of the ice, which as a high threat area, we want to avoid at all costs. If you’re too far back, you provide the puck-carrier a wide unobstructed lane to the net, which we also want to avoid. As a general rule of thumb, try to position yourself square to their near hip. Positioned here, the puck-carrier risks and is often deterred by the threat of a big hit if they cut back. Plus, you’re well positioned to keep you feet moving and pressure the puck-carrier to the corner if they attempt to beat you wide. Stick placement is important, but context is key: If it is a pure 1-on-1 scenario, you most likely want to lead with your stick, attempting to go stick on puck. But, in the event you’re still establishing proper body positioning, trailing with your stick can help deter your opponent from cutting back. If the puck carrier is a passing threat, you should adjust your stick placement accordingly to eliminate or deter the risk of them moving the puck to a teammate in a high risk area. For example, you may want to have your stick trailing if there is a drop pass or high slot option. Whereas, you will want to lead with your stick if the puck-carrier has a teammate streaking to the net or waiting on the backdoor (or far side) of the net. Optional Changes or Add-Ons: Could add endless variety to the initial skating maneuvers that create time and space for the puck carrier, i.e. pivots, mohawk turns, stop-and-starts, etc. In this video, the defender stays skating forward, but you could require, or provide the option for the defender to pivot to backwards Could add a backchecker to version 1 on 2 to create back pressure — if I were adding a backchecker to version 2, I’d have them start 5-10 feet behind the 2nd forward. Could add a 2nd puck for a follow up 1-on-1 (if adding to version 1) or 2-on-1 (version 2). This 2nd puck could be placed and retrieved or dumped into one of the corners, another area of the ice, or a direct pass to a forward.