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OTTAWA DISTRICT HOCKEY ASSOCIATION OTTAWA DISTRICT MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
The Neutral Zone Trap is an extension of the basic 1-2-2 forechecking scheme into the neutral zone combined with a two man trap forecheck. In order to understand the Neutral Zone Trap, one must possess a rudimentary knowledge of forechecking schemes.
The 1-2-2 applied in the offensive zone can be used in three ways. These are: 1) The 1-2-2 Man-to-Man 2) The 1-2-2 Zone (high or low) 3) The Pressure or Rotating 1-2-2.
Anyone of these may be applied in the neutral zone separately or as an extension of the offensive zone by retreating. The two man trap can also be applied in either zone individually but really cannot be utilized in both zones simultaneously as it requires two players. In the two man trap, the first player attacks the puck carrier using inside out, thereby forcing the puck carrier to the outside reducing his time and space. The second forechecker is stationed along the boards, about ten feet behind the first, waiting for the puck carrier to arrive. If the first man is successful, he will run right into the second man; thus "the trap". Please see appendices for diagrams.
There are three neutral zone traps presently in vogue in the game of hockey. The first such mention of the name was in reference to Jacques Demers' system with the 1992-1993 Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens trap was a true trap forecheck used in either the offensive or neutral zones and is still used by the Canadiens now. In this past season, Jacques Lemaire (New Jersey), John MuckIer (Buffalo) and Jim Schoenfeld (Washington) also instituted this form of the trap. In this system, while the offensive team is regrouping in the neutral zone, the trap is "set". The closest man to the puck carrier applies inside-out pressure while the other two forwards are lined up along the Boards and down the middle of the rink (1-2-2 zone). The only open space for the puck carrier to pass to is in the middle of the rink between the two forwards and the two defencemen. Therefore, the defencemen play in line with the faceoff dots and are ready to pinch into the middle on any pass receiver. The puck carrier may also attempt to carry the puck up the boards where he meets the second forechecker or he can chip the puck up the boards creating a turnover. .
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This system can be applied to any team with quick, smart forwards and agile smart defencemen. The two big keys are speed and smarts.
The second, newer form of the neutral zone trap is the pressure 1-2-2 applied in the neutral zone. This is the current forechecking scheme of choice with Pat Burns (Toronto, Darryl Sutter (Chicago), and Bob Gainey (Dallas). In this system, the 1-2 part of the formation is constantly changing or rotating. The forwards basically play (a 1-2-2) man-to-man but, if at any time, the puck goes D to D, then the closest forward applies immediate pressure while the other two back up. with every successive pass the rotation of pressure continues until center ice where a 1-4 is set up. This is where the trap is sprung, thereby limiting the puck carrier's options to stickhandling through four men or dumping the puck in. The first man may pressure in one of two ways depending on the coach. He may either take a direct or straight- line approach or he would alternate between inside-out and outside- in depending on the available defensive support.
This system can be applied to any team with fast, physical, smart forwards with good endurance. It can be very tiring on the forwards and very taxing on them mentally.
The third most current and most boring form of the Neutral Zone Trap is really the 1-2-2 High Zone Coverage. This system is generally used by the weaker offensive teams and is currently employed by Rick Bowness (ottawa), Kevin Constantine (San Jose) and of course Roger Neilson (Florida). In this system only one man, usually the center, applies forechecking pressure down low in the offensive zone or at the blue line in the neutral zone. The other two forwards play zone defence backing out like a football corner back. Their zone is from the faceoff dot to the boards and they simply pick up any man entering their zone. The defencemen here must play in line with the dots and have the "green light" to step up and take the body on any pass receiver floating through the middle. If the puck carrier beats the first forechecker, the defensive wingers stay on their wings while the defencemen back up slowly until they stand up at the defensive blue line (a 1-4 formation) .
Again under this scenario, the puck carrier is forced to turn the puck over via the dump-in. This is the system to use with a team of plodding, not overly intelligent players. It is simple resembling a basic football play whereby all the players have simple responsibilities that do not change.
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