In modern hockey, every player plays a full ice game. Every team has great backpressure and has players willing to backcheck/trackback. This is highly effective at limiting offense and creating turnovers.
First, let’s define the topic at hand. A backcheck is when the defensive team hustles to chase down the opposition player(s) that are attacking in transition from either the attacking team’s defensive zone or neutral zone into the offensive zone.
In order for the attacking players and teams to thrive in this environment, they must find ways to effectively “defeat the backcheck.”
The backchecking player(s) are often referred to as backcheckers, backpressure, or trackers. We are going to use them interchangeably for the rest of the piece.
Defeating the Backcheck
The first piece is awareness. Scanning/shoulder checking to understand where back pressure is coming from, or if there is any back pressure. We have covered scanning/awareness in detail before:
Scanning series
The next step is to cut off the backpressure with great body position and/or by initiating contact. There are a bunch of benefits to this tactic:
If the tracker bumps into the attacker they push them and help create separation for the attacker to operate within.
Once a tracker gains positioning, the tracker has to go around or reach with their stick. This takes more time and also creates a penalty risk for the tracker.
Cutting off the tracker to establish body positioning and exclusive space should be done as early as possible. Do it early. Do it often.
On The Puck
When defeating the backcheck as a puck carrier there are two main things to be aware of and understand:
Positioning and direction of backpressure
Handedness of the player pressuring and backchecking/tracking
If continuing to carry the puck up the ice, the player carrying the puck should cut across the backchecking player’s route and stick. This allows the puck carrier to preserve space in a box-out type positioning and avoid a stick lift. Often players fail to understand handedness and easily are stick-lifted.
A common issue is the attacking player skating away from pressure rather than into or across the tracker.
Here is a great example from Artemi Panarin from his days with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He cuts across the tracker’s path (twice) and stick lifts the tracker’s stick.
Two key details to note:
The attacker gains body positioning leverage by getting his shoulder in front of the trackers. The attacker pushes into/through the tracker’s hands.
Tapping the puck to a safe space before contact. Since the attacker initiates contact, he has a better understanding of when + where to tap the puck. This allows for greater puck control.
Another great example of an attacker deploying the elements we’ve discussed to defeat the tracker.
Off The Puck
This isn’t just something players should be doing when they have the puck. Watch how Connor McDavid initiates contact against his tracker to gain leverage.
Hockey is an invasion game and controlling space around the rink is critical to success. Players should control space for themselves and their teammates.
Cutting off backcheck pressure (usually through hands)
Control the puck area first and grab the puck second (featuring Matthew Knies)
The higher the level of play, the better the backcheck and backpressure players must be cognizant of to defeat the backcheck!
Further Reading
Win more puck battles and races by prioritizing position before possession
Backchecking Series
Part 1: Key terms and tactics
Part 2: Common backchecking issues