Coach’s Corner: Center Responsibilities in the Defensive Zone
For this week's Coach’s Corner, let's focus on the Center's responsibilities in the Defensive Zone. Yes, you have more responsibilities than just taking faceoffs!
The Center position in the Defensive Zone is the most difficult position as it carries many responsibilities which vary greatly depending on the location of the puck and your Defensemen.
The Center Support is the standard Defensive Zone coverage. In this coverage, the Wings are responsible for covering the Points, and the Center is responsible for staying down low and supporting the Defensemen.
Like the Defensive zone positioning for the Wings we discussed last week, for the Centers, you can envision a triangle of coverage in your Defensive Zone (see the attached graphic). This triangle extends from the goal line mid-way between the dot and the boards, to mid slot area, to other side of the goal line mid-way between to dot and the boards. When the puck is in the corner, the Defensemen should be the first player on the puck. The Center should position himself a short distance away between the puck and the net. This postion allows the Center to support the puck, assisting the Defensemen if needed, or ready to engage an attacking player if the puck should move towards the net.
If the puck moves to the opposite corner, the Center can move to provide coverage in front of the net, allowing the other Defensemen to pursue the puck into the corner. Once the weak side Defensemen (the Defensemen on the side of the ice opposite where the puck is) moves to the front of the net, the Center can again move into a support position in the opposite corner.
If the puck moves high in the Zone, i.e. the opposing team's points, the Wings are responsible for staying high and pressuring. The Center will move to help provide coverage in the middle of the ice. Looking to find any open attacking player in the slot area.
One of the key points to keep in mind when playing Center, is that the Center position is largely a support role. As the Center, if you are near the puck, ready to be an option for a pass, step in to help win a battle, or cover an attacking player, you are likely at least close to the correct position. It is important for the Center to have his head on a swivel, i.e. continually turning your head to scan the zone, and have an understanding of where everyone is on the ice, both Offensive and Defensive players. This situational awareness aids the Center in determining where he needs to be to best support the puck.
In a scramble or broken play, the center will generally fall back to the slot and assist defensemen in front of the net.
As your team gains possession of the puck and transitions to forecheck, i.e. starts their breakout, the Center should continue to provide support by swinging down to provide an option for a breakout pass from the Defensemen, then continue up the ice along the line of the dots to support the Wing in the event they are pressured by the opposing Defensemen.
And finally, if the puck is deep in your Defensive Zone, and the Center is out at the red line (or worse yet, the far blue line), then the Center is about 90 feet out of position!
Have questions? Let's discuss at hockey this week!
Below is a pretty good video describing Defensive Zone positioning for Centers.
https://youtu.be/E1BN-Om5i6Q
