Connor McDavid is the master of using the linear crossover to gain speed and be deceptive as he skates down the ice. He makes it looks effortless, like he’s floating above the ice. For the rest of us mere mortals, we need to be taught how this diagonal skating technique differs from the traditional around-the-circles crossover.

This drill is a higher end progression that we use with our players once they’ve mastered slower and more strictly lateral versions of the drill. Always start teaching your lateral crossovers without pucks first and then progress towards drills like this.