7 Principles for Coaches: Creative & Dynamic

Creative and dynamic play unlocks success by creating confusion within your opponent’s defensive structure.

A creative and dynamic player in today’s game is one that plays with pace, is deceptive and thrives in small spaces. These players create confusion within the opposing team’s defensive structure and can separate themselves from defenders to give them a technical advantage. Their ability to read the game and react quickly allows them to consistently outmaneuver opponents.

Impact on Playmaking & Team Success

Creative and dynamic players don’t just showcase their skills—they make plays that drive success for their team. By utilizing their creativity, they extend puck possession, make smarter next plays and create more offensive opportunities for their teammates. This unpredictability keeps defenders guessing and opens the ice for others to capitalize on.

Skills for a Creative & Dynamic Game

Players looking to enhance their creativity and become more dynamic often work on specific skills during practice, such as cutbacks, escapes, jab steps, jukes, stick fakes and head and foot fakes. These techniques allow players to evade defenders while creating time and space, leading to better decision-making and game play execution.

Energizing the Team

Creative and dynamic players boost their own performance while energizing their teammates. Their style of play can lift the entire team’s morale and create a positive ripple effect on the ice. These players often elevate the performance of those around them, making their team more effective and difficult to defend against.

Teaching Creativity & Dynamism at All Age Levels

Fostering creativity and dynamic play should start early and be reinforced at all levels. Encouraging young players to experiment with new moves and take risks builds confidence and adaptability. As they advance, these skills become vital in keeping up with the increasing pace of the game, ensuring they continue to thrive as game-changers.

Here are three drills that can be used at all ages to teach creativity and dynamics:

Drill #1 – Warm Up / 10-Second Conditioning

Players line up in three lines along the red line.
On the coach’s whistle, players skate into the zone with a puck.
Players perform the communicated skill within that area until the next whistle.
The coach will vary the desired skills to be performed with the puck.
Players should have their eyes up, head on a swivel and keep their feet moving.

Progressions:

1. Navigate/heel skate
2. Heel-to-heel
3. Cutbacks
4. Two players per puck
5. 1v1 keep-away

Drill #2 – Puck Control / 1-on-1 Small Space Attack Sequences

Players start on the goal line.
Set up pylon – player – pylon on the ice.
Weave up and back, attacking the stationary player in the middle and finishing with a shot on net.
Alternate sides so the goaltender has time to get set for next shot.

Progressions:

1. Attack triangle (up and back)
2. Open to backhand to protect – cut hands
3. Disrupt stick (stick lift/stick swipe)
4. Add chaser
5. Player in the middle turns and gaps up the puck carrier to play 1v1
6. Chaser and regroup 1v1 (front and back pressure)

Drill #3 – Defence / Puck Control / 3 Puck Stop-and-Go Shooting

Three pylons are placed in a triangle formation close to the blue line.
Players skate inside out, around outside pylon and visualizing pressure while skating backwards away from it.
Players skate around other outside pylon, still visualizing pressure against and incorporating fakes to evade.
Repeat one more time, then head in for a shot on net.

The Hockey Canada Network gives coaches and players the tools to succeed with drills, skills, videos, practice plans and articles on their tablet or phone. There are over 1,500 drills and more than 100 lesson plans available.

Looking for more skills and drills? Hockey Canada frequently posts skill videos on its social channels that can be incorporated into practice plans. Search the #HCSkillsCoach and #HCGoalieCoach on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to find more drill videos to utilize on the ice.