For more information Interested members of CBRMA please contact Chris Whelan at chriswhelan@nl.rogers.com. regarding upcoming courses.

Behind the Bench with Chris Whelan

This season has seen an increase in the number of penalties called in the course of a game. This means that a team that can be effective on the Power Play will generate enough goals to win a game. Playing on the Power Play we have to follow these principles of the game:

Pressure – a quick player or puck movement that forces the defender(s) to react quicker than they would like therefore creating time and space for our Power Play to set up. It is accomplished by speed and concentration of attack.

Puck Control – a team that is able to get and hold on to the puck will have a greater likely hood to create scoring opportunities. Puck possession is accomplished through puck protection and individual skills.

Support – teammates must be active away from the puck and find open ice. They must position themselves in such a way that they will be able to receive a pass and the puck carrier will have an opening to which they may make a pass. This is accomplished by triangulation, mid lane support, numerical advantage and movement.

Transition – the ability of a team to move quickly from offence to defense and vice versa. It is accomplished by anticipation, reading the play and counter attack.

The power play advantage is that we outnumber the opposition either 5 on 4, 5 on 3 or 4 on 3. This means that we have more players going to every loose puck. If the opposition has one player going we have two, if they have two we have three etc. Once we gain possession of the puck we create as many 2 on 1’s as possible by providing the offensive support to the puck carrier.

Our breakout on the PP should move up ice as quickly as their forecheck will allow. Our goalie can initiate a quick up should the other team go for a line change or should there be a lack of a forecheck from the PK. Watch for the line changes by the opposition and use the stretch pass to the side of the ice away from the benches. We want our puck carrier to carry the puck till he/she traps a forechecker with her/his first pass. Through the neutral zone the puck carrier must not interrupt the forward momentum.

Our entry into the offensive zone should be with control and whenever possible we should carry the puck across the blue line. We should outnumber the opposition when crossing the blue line. If the defenders stack the blue line and we are forced to dump the puck we have to do it with the intention of regaining possession of the puck. The soft dump, hard diagonal or the wide rim may do this.

Once we set up in the offensive zone we have to allow the puck to do the work by using good puck movement. We as attackers cannot stand still; we have to move forcing the defenders to adjust their coverage. Again we have to have the PP mentality and make sure we outwork the PK. Control the puck, move it to the point and crash the net.

Special teams win and loose hockey games. Special teams means the coach has to select certain players with the qualities required to execute the Power Play. As mentioned, with the new Rule Emphasis we have to be able to take advantage of our opportunities.

Responsibility of Coaches

We as coaches have many responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is knowing what suspensions our players receive when assessed a penalty during a game.

In order to know this it is important that we understand we are playing by three different sets of rules. We all play by the Hockey Canada playing rules and the HNL suspension guidelines. All Star Coaches play under Tri-Com rules and the House League Coaches play by the Interlocking House League Rules.

Hockey Canada playing rules are found in the rulebook or case book. Example of suspensions in the rule book are: any five minute major is accompanied by a game suspension and any game suspension in the last ten minutes of playing time or OT will result in the player being suspended for the next game.

HNL Suspension guidelines state suspensions for certain infractions. An example of this would be the first offence of a fighting major would result in a game suspension over and above the playing rules. Subsequent fighting majors would mean more games. Any player receiving a five minute major for checking from behind would receive an additional two games over and beyond the playing rules is another example.

Tri-Com has rules, found in their rule book issued to all coaches at the beginning of the season, and include three penalties in one game to a player will result in the ejection of that player from that game. No further suspension is included for the three penalties. If the third penalty included a suspension and it was issued in the last ten minutes of a game, then the player would miss the next game. Tri-Com also states suspensions issued during Tri-Com play must be served in a meaningful game. That is a Tri-Com game or a tournament game scheduled before the suspension was issued.

Should any of the coaches have questions or concerns they can contact the Technical Director of the association for clarification.

This year all levels of hockey will witness a new type of refereeing. There are no new rules put into the game this year but rather a new "Standard of Play" or "Rule Emphasis"

Approved at Hockey Canada’s 2006 Annual General Meeting in St. John’s, NL in May, the new standard of play initiative includes a strict enforcement of restraining fouls – hooking, holding, tripping and interference – and stick fouls – slashing and cross-checking – all of which can be classified as any infraction which impedes the progress of the offensive player.

Some of the main points the officials will be instructed on at their clinics are: