Part of the Hockey 101 series: positioning and systems basics for beginner to intermediate beer league teams.
Even-strength defensive zone positioning: wingers
This covers the “Sagging Zone,” a common, simple defensive system used at every level, including the NHL and international play.
Wingers have the most offensive and least complicated job in the defensive zone, but they still have real responsibilities:
- Cover the opposing defensemen at the points.
- Be available to start the breakout and the transition.
- Be a safety valve that helps out and cuts off passes to open attackers.
Some advanced systems drop wingers a little lower to cover seams and support the D. That costs you breakouts unless your wingers are very fast.
The winger’s job depends on which half of the rink the puck is in. The strong side has the puck. The weak side is away from it.
Strong side
Your main job is to stop passes to the strong-side point. Be ready to grab any puck moving up the boards to the point, and be ready to start the breakout at any time.
Weak side
The weak-side winger has a split role. Loosely cover the weak-side point, and also take away shots, puck movement in the scoring zone, and passes through the slot. Sit closer to the middle of the zone than the blue line so you can protect the net and pick up long rebounds.
Breakout
Being available for the breakout is a big part of the job. Stay close enough to the half-boards to pick off pucks rimmed up the wall and to reach pucks your D send up the boards after a turnover.
More on breakouts: Basic Breakout Strategy
Pair this with center positioning and defensemen positioning. For draws in your own end, the alternative defensive zone faceoff lines wingers up on the shooting lanes.
Bottom line
Strong side, own the point and the wall. Weak side, sag toward the slot. Either way, be ready to go when your D gets the puck.
That works best when the same wingers show up every week. If figuring out who is in still happens in a group text, that is what RosterFX is for.
