Interchangeable Positions Be Less Position Focused Be More Puck Support Focused

Player(s) closest to the puck support the puck, it doesn't matter what position a player is playing. To win the puck possession game you need all five players on the ice supporting the puck.

An excellent video is shared titled “Interchangeable Principles”. In the video clips you see the team with the puck playing as a five player unit to support the puck possession and to create & attack space to create scoring. Players need the flexibility of movement to support the puck and they can’t be restricted by their position on the ice surface as a D, C, RW, LW to support the puck possession. Players have the hockey intelligence (hockey sense) to cover for each other (rotation) when they relocate to win a race to a loose puck or move into open space to set a passing lane/seam for a player with the puck.

Players should be encouraged to use their skills and abilities to play as a collective group in all three zones to support systems and tactical play in their execution, it’s a better game to play and watch. You need numbers and puck support structure to retain puck possession and to create offence.

The team that wins the time of puck possession game, generally, wins the hockey game. You only win the puck possession game when you’re playing as a collective group to manage the puck and check it back quickly and efficiently as a collective group when you’ve lost possession.

Constant player and puck movement is a key principle in the ability to create and attack space by using the width and depth of the ice surface breaking out a defensive zone puck, getting through a neutral zone regroup or in creating time of possession and offence in the offensive zone.

Support interchangeable positions and being less position focused. Good Coach teaches players to want the puck, how to manage the puck and how to get it back quickly & efficiently by staying connected as a group. Simple game, hard to play.