F1 Stick in the Lane

Objective: The first forechecker's stick does the work — approach on an arc with the blade in the D-to-D lane the whole way. Setup: One retrieving D behind the net with a partner across the zone (both token). F1 reps the approach from the top of the circles. Execution: F1 skates hard at the retrieval on a curved, inside-out path. His stick stays flat in the D-to-D lane from 30 feet out — the pass across is never available. Arrive under control, steer the D up the wall, and finish with a stick-on-puck poke. Five reps, rotate. Coaching points: Blade on the ice in the lane — a stick in the air takes away nothing. Speed on the approach, control on arrival: chop the feet the last ten feet. Steer, don't chase — F1 decides where the puck goes next.