A Coach’s Notebook
Goalie Mindset in Reading Shooters and Choosing Your Save
Every great goalie knows that goaltending is about far more than quick reflexes or flashy saves. It’s about mindset — the mental discipline to stay calm, read the play, and make the right decision in a fraction of a second. The best goalies in the game have learned how to study shooters, recognize their tendencies, and choose the right save for the moment…
Read MoreHow to Train for Game Pace Without an Ice Rink
The speed of the game isn’t just about skating fast; it’s about thinking fast, reacting fast, and staying physically and mentally sharp from the first puck drop to the final whistle. When players can’t train on ice every day, finding ways to simulate those demands off the rink becomes essential for maintaining game readiness and improving overall performance…
Read MoreWhy Some Players Never Get Fatigued
Some players seem to have a secret energy source. You watch them glide through the third period with the same power and precision they had in the first, never dragging, never slowing, and always ready to make one more big play. It can make you wonder what their secret is. Are they just born that way? Do they train differently?
Read MoreMental Toughness in the Third Period
The third period of a hockey game is where legends are made and where games are often decided. Players who have prepared mentally as well as physically are the ones who rise above fatigue, pressure, and momentum swings. It is easy to play with energy in the first period when legs are fresh and the score is even, but…
Read MoreTechniques for Shielding the Puck
Shielding the puck, or learning how to keep it safe from defenders, is a foundational skill that every great hockey player develops early. Teaching this concept to young players is less about complicating things and more about making the process fun, engaging, and repeatable so that it becomes second nature as they grow in the game…
Read MoreCoach Chic’s Hockey Podcast 67
Don’t forget to grab all you can from this awesome site, and make this coming month one to truly remember…
Read MoreHockey Without Borders: Global Styles on Ice
While the game looks the same on the surface no matter where it’s played — skaters, sticks, pucks, goals — the way it is taught, played, and celebrated can vary a lot depending on where the players come from…
Read MoreImproving Off-Puck Positioning for More Scoring Chances
Off-puck positioning starts with awareness. Too many young players get caught staring at the puck, following it around like it has a magnet attached. That habit leaves you out of position and easy to defend. Instead, the best players are constantly scanning the ice…
Read MoreFake it or Face it!
With mental toughness always being a key to solid hockey play, we’re thrilled to once again present Shawnee Harlee’s monthly insights into that area. And, in this entry video, she addresses the well worn question, “My bad! My Bad!”
Read MoreFruit Nature’s Multivitamin
Kim’s passion is showing youth ice hockey parents how to create simple and easy meals to help their skater’s increase their speed and stamina on the ice.
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