Gap & Hips: Scan at the red. If the defender’s gap is tight and hips are closed → delay or place to space. Open hips + poor gap → attack inside shoulder.
Middle Support: Shoulder-check for the center-lane drive. If late, delay at the dot and hit the trailer; if present, attack the inside lane and dish.
Weak-Side Pressure: Is the far D stepping? If yes, protect and place to back skate; if no, cut across with pace.
2) How To Train It (and What Parents Watch For)
Practice flow: red-line scan → shoulder check → decision at the dot (attack/delay).
Cues: “Scan at red,” “Inside shoulder,” “Delay to middle.”
Parent checklist: 1) Shoulder check at red, 2) First touch under control at blue, 3) Clear decision by the dot.
Player Development Coach
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Cole McBride
Cole McBride—M.Ed., ex-NCAA D1—runs Snap Video Analytics, turning Hudl Instat film and targeted on-ice reps into better reads for competitive players.
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