| It is often said that defense wins championships. | | | | needs to make a pass to the center. The center is the |
| However, many coaches do not know the defensive | | | | one who will either pass to the winger on the other |
| plays that are needed to win games. Even if the | | | | side or take the puck down the ice to try to score. |
| coach is playing just for fun, the breakout is a strategy | | | | Here is an example to make this easier to understand. |
| that is used in all levels of hockey, from very young all | | | | If the puck is on the right side of the net in the |
| the way up to professional leagues. This is a strategy | | | | defending zone the RD needs to go into the corner |
| that every player has to know if they want to move | | | | and battle for the puck. The LD needs to go in front of |
| to the next level of hockey. | | | | the net and battle the other team for position. This has |
| Defensive Strategy: The breakout | | | | to happen so that if the other team wins the battle for |
| The breakout is the standard defensive play to get the | | | | the puck in the corner then they cannot pass to the |
| puck out of the defending zone and start a break | | | | front of the net and score a goal. |
| down the ice. It starts out with the defenseman in the | | | | While the defense is battling for the puck the offense |
| corner battling the other team for the puck. The other | | | | needs to be getting ready to take the puck down the |
| defenseman needs to be in front of the net making | | | | ice. They must be in a straight line accross the entire |
| sure that if the other team gets the puck in the corner | | | | defending zone. The RW needs to be at the hash |
| they cannot pass the puck in front of then net and | | | | mark along the boards waiting for a pass from the |
| score a goal. If the defender in the corner wins the | | | | defenseman, the C needs to be in front of the net |
| battle for the puck, then he needs to make a choice. | | | | helping the LD stop the pass from the corner. The LW |
| He either has to wrap the puck around the boards for | | | | needs to be on the left side of the net at the hash |
| the other defenseman and go to the front of the net, | | | | marks along the boards. He is waiting for a pass that |
| or he has to pass to the winger. This choice needs to | | | | may be wrapped around the boards. |
| be made by how many people from the other team | | | | When a winger gets the puck, the breakout begins. |
| are on each side, and what the chance of success will | | | | The winger will pass to the center who needs to be |
| be. | | | | skating out of the zone. This center then decides who |
| The breakout starts when either defenseman pass | | | | to pass to and how to get the puck to the other side |
| the puck to a winger. The team then begins to skate | | | | of the ice. |
| out of the defending zone. The winger with the puck | | | | |