STL Hockey Training

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the hockey moms!

At STLHT, we see the commitment, sacrifice, and love that goes into helping young athletes chase their goals every single day.

Thank you for everything you do for your players, your families, and our hockey community.

The early mornings, freezing rinks, stinky cars, high-fives and hugs!

Your constant support through the highs and lows of the game.

None of this happens without you.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at STLHT.

Face-offs aren’t just about the center.
All 5 guys need a plan.
Know your role before the puck drops—or you’re already behind.

Most defensemen kill the play the second they touch the puck.
Why?
Because they stop.
You can’t generate offense if your feet stop moving.
You can’t stay connected to your forwards if you’re stuck.
The key is defensive footwork — specifically the cross-under.
As you’re skating backwards and receiving that puck, you have to keep your momentum.
Cross under → stay moving → now you have options.
Now you can:
Move it D-to-D
Hit your forwards
Stay part of the offense
If you stop… the play dies.

Most defensemen kill offense without even realizing it.
They sit at the blue line… move side to side… and wonder why nothing gets generated.
If you’re not moving, you’re not part of the play.
We teach our defensemen to move in a rectangle — down to the top of the circles, across to the wall, and back up to the blue line.
Now you’re involved. Now you’re dangerous.
Movement creates options.
Options create offense.
If you’re standing still… you’re easy to defend.

STOP Standing Still — You’re Making It 5 on 4

This is why your team can’t generate offense.
If you’re a defenseman and you’re standing still at the blue line… you’re not helping—you’re making it a 5 on 4.
Most players think their job is just to hold the line and move side to side. That’s not offense.
If you’re stopped, you’re dead.
Watch the difference when the defenseman actually moves, stays involved, and creates options.
Train smarter. Play faster.

Rule #1 of a zone entry:
Enter the zone.
Too many players try to make moves right at the blue line and kill the play before it even starts.
Puck carrier — your job is simple:
Make the defenseman choose you.
Away from the puck:
Spread out
Stay in your layers (low, middle, high)
When it’s done right:
One drives the net
One supports high
You create a clean passing lane into a shot
Simple structure → scoring chances.

Most players are blowing 3-on-2 opportunities and don’t even realize why.
If the defenseman commits to the puck carrier… the puck has to move.
That’s how you turn a 3-on-2 into a 2-on-1… and eventually a breakaway.
Simple concept. Big results.
If you're not creating scoring chances off odd-man rushes, this is why.

This is when most players lose the puck…
The defenseman is skating forward with you and you run out of space.
Use an escape move instead:
Move the puck to the inside
Tight turn or punch turn
Inside foot plant
Key detail:
Move the puck first → heel push → then make the pass
Create space instead of forcing a bad play.

The pull-up is one of the most important puck carrier skills.
Stop on your backhand.
Control the puck.
Then:
Move the puck first → backwards crossover → hit your trailing support.
Most players rush this and lose the play.
Slow it down, create space, and make the right play.

Most players don’t mess up 3-on-2s because of skill…
They mess them up because of BAD decisions.
❌ Passing to the same layer
❌ Shooting from outside the dots
❌ Skating into the defender
You should be turning every 3-on-2 into a 2-on-1… then a breakaway.
Fix these 3 mistakes and your offense changes immediately.