Corner Escape Under Fire

Objective: Corner retrievals with a checker arriving — escape the kill zone with possession and make the next play. Setup: Pucks spotted in the corner, retriever and a live checker starting equidistant, coach at the point as the outlet. Execution: Retriever arcs into the corner as the checker closes — pick the puck up on the move, never flat-footed. Absorb or spin off the contact, escape past the dot with the puck protected. Head up out of the escape and hit the point outlet. Checker becomes retriever next rep. Coaching points: Arc the pickup so your feet already point out of the corner. Take the picture BEFORE the puck: know where the checker is at first touch. The escape isn't done until the pass is made — exits without a play are just delays.