04/09/96 - 11:20 AM ET - Click reload often for latest version
Each week, USA TODAY will feature a leading college coach providing tips on improving hockey skills. This week's guest coach is Ron Mason of Michigan State University.
by Coach Ron Mason, Michigan State University
In recent years, many teams have formulated defensive tactics in the neutral zone area to initiate offense from transition. In fact, many teams rely almost completely on transition for their offensive opportunities, especially when both teams are at equal strength. The trap, perfected by the 1995 NHL Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils, is an excellent example of a defense setting up the transition game from a turnover standpoint.
This drill, called a two-on-zero (2-0) interchange pass, helps players develop their neutral zone transitional skills. The players line up at both ends of the rink in the corners (red dots on diagram). Two players start from each end simultaneously, with one player at each end with a puck (black dots). The puck carrier passes to the open man from the opposite end inside the neutral zone (black arrows), then breaks for a pass from his partner. Once receiving the pass, the player goes in and shoots on goal, while the passer breaks in for any rebounds given up by the goalie.
Once the first four are finished, the next four start simultaneously until an entire rotation of players has been completed. When a complete rotation has been done, the players can switch sides of the ice, which helps the players feel comfortable shooting from both sides of the ice.
The drill is effective in teaching players to react to transition by making them deal with passing, changing roles (puck carrier to secondary offensive attacker), initial scoring chances and rebound opportunities. It is ideal as a warm-up drill in practice, when the ice is at its best. Emphasizing difficult shots on goal for each player helps the goalies as well. This drill also stimulates communication in practice, not only between partners, but from one end of the ice to the other in initating each four-player rotation.
Ron Mason is the all-time winningest U.S. collegiate hockey coach. Mason entered 1995-96, his 30th year of coaching, with a record of 724-317-53. He is in his 17th year at Michigan State University where he came into the season with a 435-207-39 record. Mason passed former Boson College coach Len Ceglarski's former all-time wins mark of 673 on March 12, 1993. He took over the helm at MSU in April 1979 and turned the Spartan program into a national power. Only three of Mason's MSU teams have had losing seasons, one in the past 14 years. Mason's 1986 team won the NCAA title. His 1981-82 team advanced to the NCAA tournament in the start of a nine-year string of appearances, and won the first of four consecutive CCHA playoff crowns. His Spartans have made six NCAA semifinal appearances, including five in the last 10 years, and his squads have won 10 CCHA playoff and seven regular-season Central Collegiate Hockey Association titles. Mason, a native of Blyth, Ont., has been named the CCHA coach of the year on six occasions and the national coach of the year in 1991-92. He began his coaching career at Lake Superior State in 1966 and guided the Lakers to five NAIA Tournament appearances. The 1971-72 squad won the national title while three others were runners-up. Mason moved to Bowling Green in 1973. In his six years at BGSU, Mason's Falcons won three CCHA regular-season titles and three playoff crowns. His 1977-78 team finished third in the NCAA Tournament and his 1978-79 squad set a then-national record with 37 victories (37-6-2). He has coached six National Hockey league first-round draft picks in the past 10 years, including the two highest college draftees in history (Joe Murphy and Craig Simpson). Mason played his collegiate hockey at St. Lawrence University where he was captain as a senior. He received his bachelor's degree from SLU in 1964 and his master's from Pittsburgh in 1965. On May 12, 1994, Mason was inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame. On Feb. 17, 1996, he captured his 750th career coaching victory.
