Athleticism First

Drill Creation

Hockey players often look for complicated ways to get better, but the truth is that real improvement usually starts with simple, foundational work…

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The Hidden Mistakes in Summer Stickhandling Routines

The Hidden Mistakes in Summer Stickhandling Routines

Summer is one of the best times of the year for hockey players to improve their stickhandling skills. With no games to prepare for and fewer team practices, players finally have the freedom to spend extra time working with a puck, ball, or stick. Driveways, garages, basements, and outdoor training areas become personal hockey development centers. Many young players dream of returning to the ice in the fall with quicker hands, better puck control, and greater confidence. Unfortunately…

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Drill Creation

Drill Creation

Every coach collects drills — books, videos, binders full of them. I’ve got hundreds myself. But no drill library is ever enough, because every team is different and players’ needs change quickly. That’s why the best coaches don’t just use drills… they create them…

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Band-Dumbbell Home Leg Workout

Band-Dumbbell Home Leg Workout

Resistance bands, with their lightweight, flexible design and variable resistance, allow for joint-friendly, multi-plane strength training that promotes ageless strength without the drawbacks of free weights.

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Coming… July 2026

Coming…  May 2026

Long‑time hockey friends should know that I create this page each month as a courtesy to my members and potential members, trying to give everyone a sense of what’s “coming” within the next month. (As always, I’ve purposely saved a couple of slots for this coming month, so please keep an eye out for those postings.)

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Why Youth Teams Struggle With Breakouts — Even After Practicing Them

Why Youth Teams Struggle With Breakouts — Even After Practicing Them

One of the biggest frustrations for youth hockey coaches, players, and parents is watching a team struggle to execute clean breakouts even after spending plenty of practice time working on them. Coaches draw the breakout on the whiteboard, players skate through the drill over and over, and everything looks smooth during practice. Then game day arrives, the opposing team applies pressure, and suddenly the breakout falls apart…

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