Creating & Attacking Space
Creating & Attacking Space is an offensive concept in the Possession Game. The collective group on the ice are responsible to get open for the player with the puck to support the possession.
Hockey is a time of possession game, the team that wins the time of possession game generally wins the game. The offensive group is responsible for creating and attacking space to maintain puck possession and to create scoring. The defensive group is responsible for contracting the ice surface to create a smaller area of the ice to defend and to check back the puck and limit scoring chances.
The offensive concept is necessary to breakout defensive zone pucks, create an attack rush through the neutral zone, and to create offensive zone time of possession and scoring chances in the zone.
The video clips below are examples of how the offensive group creates and attacks space as a five player unit/group. The players without the puck on the possession take ice by driving lanes (middle and outside lanes) and finding soft spots in the defensive group’s structure to become a passing option by setting a clean passing lane.
To win the time of possession game you must take care of the puck and the best way to manage the puck is to support the puck, the more passing options for the player with the puck under check pressure the better.
In the video clips you will recognize players without the puck on offence attacking space with their feet to get open by taking ice to force coverage and become a passing option. The players without the puck on offence are trying to get open by establishing inside (offensive) position on their defender. As the Forwards drive the zone space is made available for the D pairing to join the attack.
To retain puck possession and advance the puck to create scoring chances you need numbers, it is the responsibility of the offensive group to support the puck to create and attack space and be hard to defend against.
Tactical Play
Taking the puck wide and deep into the offensive zone,
Setting the pace of play,
Use of delays, turn backs and change of direction,
Cycling the puck low, high and reverses in the zone,
Give and Go plays in the zone,
Deception to get into soft spots within the structure.
Kyle MacLennan on X has some excellent videos to support the teaching of these concepts and principles, recommended follow.
Q. What specific acts created space in the zone?
Q. Did the offensive groups create & attack space?
Q. Did creating & attacking space cause the opponent to become disconnected as a defensive group?
Videos from Coach Kyle MacLennan (X account @MacLennan28)
