Better breakout after stoppage in pick up hockey

[deathb4dismount 11]

Hey guys

I am new to forum but I have playing off and on for last 20 years. I play a weekly pickup game with a bunch of other cops and firefighters. I call it pickup, but it is really a two team league with the same 8-12 skaters a side, we even have jerseys.

My team is made up of cops and firefighters and most of them, besides myself and the team captain, have never played any organized hockey. The other team is all of our friends and realitives who have played before and just want extra skating time. They look like a hockey team on the ice; short crisp passes, puck rotation in the offensive zone, high percentage shots. We look like a bunch of individuals; one stretch pass from goal line to red line, rush the puck through 4 defenders, weak shot on net through 3 layers, no rotation in the O zone. We get killed.

I need some help on how to better breakout after a goal or other stoppage. The other team only sends 1 forechecker or sometimes not any. Usually our D Men will make one strecth pass and the recipient will then try to rush it through the 4 or 5 guys hanging aroung that blue line, there doesnt seem to be many passing lanes. We could dump and chase but there is no one on either team that really has the stamina or speed for that.

I have switched from left wing to center to try and help facilitate play, but since it is not my naturally position I am struggling to create any offense. I usually net one or two a game, but I have rolled a big donut the last 5 games.

Any ideas, help? Besides get better players on my team

[Chadd 916]

The biggest thing is coming out of the zone as a group. More often than not, the long stretch pass results in one guy going in all by himself with no passing options. If you do make a pass to someone that is going in one on four, then he should be looking to find some space and buy time for reinforcements to arrive. Sending one guy to stretch the defense isn't always a bad thing, it can back off the defense and open up the ice for shorter passes.

[iceholes 0]

simplest term.. starting behind the goal or in the corner... D carries it out and if challenged would pass to wing on the side boards or a center in the middle heading up ice. through neutral zone. If its to a wing, the center should offer support and be an option. Weakside wing needs to find space to be an option or look for the dump and chase once the initial pass has been made.

if they are sending one forechecker this situation will work. Remember also, cross ice passes open up more open ice and force lateral movement from the other team