Led by Head Coach Dru Lucchesi, the Aspen High School Varsity Skiers practiced with the Aspen Leafs Squirts Wednesday afternoon at the Ice Garden. After some solid power-skating drills, the players divided the ice and played small area games, which are aimed to improve skill and conceptual awareness. The Skiers demonstrated incredible leadership skills and inspired all the Leafs players in attendance.

Below the following article is a video of practice...

 Small area competitive games not only force players into tight competitive quarters, they also encourage players to battle hard for the puck while at the same time having a great deal of fun. Similar to how kids used to play growing up and skating on frozen ponds, these games help simulate the past and place the same skills into today’s future stars.

Utilizing small area competitive games provides many other advantages. First and foremost, the games are designed to provide an environment to help players in their ability to make quick decisions. Small area games also simulate game shifts and provide an excellent form of conditioning in practice.There is a growing concern among ice hockey educators that, during hockey games versus hockey practice, players do not have enough time to control the puck in order to develop crucial skills while skating such as passing, receiving, puck and body protection, shooting and stickhandling. Many programs are not following the USA Hockey practice guidelines of a 3-to-1 or even a 2-to-1 practice to game ratio. There is also a concern with the quality of individual skills possessed by North American players when compared to their European counterparts. Former Canadian National Team and NHL coach George Kingston stated in a 1971 study that the average North American youth hockey player handled the puck less than one minute per game. According to Kingston, in Europe there are typically two to five practices for each game played. Kingston goes on to say that in order to get one hour of quality work in the practicing of basic skills of puck control, approximately 180 games would have to played, compared to a quality one hour practice.

USA Hockey conducted a comprehensive puck possession study at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the 2002 Youth Tier I National Championships. Interestingly, the maximum average time any player possessed the puck in a single game – from the top professional players right down to the 12-and-Under level – was a minute and twelve seconds. Through practice, puck possession time and overall skill development can take place at a far more rapid rate than simply playing games. And by utilizing small area games in practice, you’ll find both skill development and fun taking place simultaneously.

(from USA Hockey)