Cail MacLean, Assistant Coach of the Calgary Flames explains the 3 on 2 Race to 5 game. In this small area game, forwards compete against the defensemen and goalie to score 5 points.
Variations
- Can play it so its forwards, defensemen and goalies are all on their own teams trying to get to 5, or you can play it so its forwards vs. defensemen / goalies.
- Can have game be forwards vs. defensemen and goalies or you can break up the teams and rotate the players so that players get chances at both offense and defense.
Setup
- Start with 3 forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie in a playing area below the top of the face-off circles.
- On the whistle, the coach dumps a puck and the players play out 10 to 20 seconds. The scoring is as follows:
- 1 point for the forwards if they score a goal
- 1 point for the defenders if they skate pass the line
- 1 point if the goalie covers a puck
- As soon as a point is scored, all new players are sent in.
- Teams:
- Can play it so its forwards, defensemen and goalies are all on their own teams trying to get to 5, or you can play it so its forwards vs. defensemen / goalies.
- Whichever team scores 5 points first wins.
Coaching points
- Both forwards and defenders should race to be the first to the puck and establish puck possession.
- Forwards should support each other and be outlets if they do not have the puck.
- Defensemen should keep sticks on the ice to block passing lanes and work with the goalie to either skate pass the line or have the goalie freeze the puck.