Point Activation For Ice Hockey Defensemen

Creating more offense from the point

In prior articles, we have established that point shots suck. We all know it, and we need to find ways to create more offense. Since we aren’t mindlessly chucking point shots, what are our options?

Moving Across the Blueline (Horizontally)

With the puck

Walking the line = Carrying the puck horizontally across the blueline

• Walking the blueline changes the shooting and passing lanes to open more options while giving time to the skaters to converge on the net for tips, rebounds, and passes.

Without the puck

High Cycle = Scissor action horizontally near the blueline

• The high cycle asks questions of the defense and forces them to sort out their coverage. This creates tough defensive reads and opportunities to roll speed and attack into the zone.

10/23/2022

Moving Into the Offensive Zone (Vertically)

With the puck

Dangling like Cale Makar, players high in the zone can take the puck and skate down into the zone vertically.

Or like Seamus Casey:

• This movement takes advantage of the defender’s opposite directional speed differential and can exploit poor defensive angles.

This could be for a handoff or part of a bigger play:

Without the puck

Scissor Activation = Skating down the wall/boards while a teammate with the puck skates up the wall.

• Puck carrier coming up the wall needs to get inside enough to give space to activate.

• Puck receiver skates on the outside. This allows for the carrier to pass or handoff the puck and become a pick.

Dive Activation = Skating through the middle while a teammate with the puck skates up the wall

• This movement challenges the defenders to defend the middle rather than “cutting the top” and often clears out the middle.

Weak Side Defenseman

Weak side defensemen shouldn’t puck watch or fall asleep. These activations apply to weak side defensemen as well.

An early read can lead to a ton of goals.

Defensive Activation Creating Space

A lesson from Brock men’s ice hockey on how movement creates space.

• Strong side activator commits his check down the wall

• Weak side activator commits his check outside

Even with neither activating player receiving the puck, the double point activation leads to the middle becoming vacated. The activators create the goal despite no assists on the play. Fantastic!

Source: @MacLennan28

Getting defenders to sort and make decisions or putting them in spots that are not used to is a great way to create more offense and limit their counter-attack.

Double Point Activation

I cannot lie… I love D-to-D passes. Look at this beautiful double point activation and D-to-D pass for the goal.

There are further benefits for high players activating, both offensively and defensively. But we’ll save that for another day.

Point Activation Reads

While team specific tactics can dictate these reads, a solid general rule of thumb can be applied. What are some good reads when:

Puck carrier skating up the wall

• Puck carrier on the wall?

• Puck carrier coming off the wall?

Defender’s playstyle

• Defender is sagging and playing off the point player?

• Defender is tight, out of position, or rushing out?

Defensive structure

• Cutting the top?

• Holding middle?

Each situation is like a snowflakes yet they have key items of information players can take in, make a read/decision, and execute a great activation tactic.

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Further Reading

• Better point play with Seamus Casey

• How to dangle at the point like Cale Makar

• How to measure your game beyond goals and assists

• The 3 biggest things players need to understand about playing at the next level

• How “the Great One,” Wayne Gretzky spent his summer improving his game

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