Most parents involved in youth and high school hockey care deeply about their childās success. They drive to early practices, pay for equipment, and spend countless hours in cold rinks because they want to see their player grow and enjoy the game. Coaches recognize this commitment and appreciate it, but they also see many misunderstandings about how player development really works.
While many players focus on top speed, the truth is that explosive first strides matter far more than how fast someone can skate once they are already moving. The ability to accelerate quickly from a near standstill is a hidden skill that separates confident, effective players from those who always feel a step behind.
Don’t forget to grab all you can from this awesome site, and make this coming month one to truly remember…
Using a mini-band and a single 41″ Quantum band, follow along with Dave as he shows you how to use these two bands to train your lower body strength endurance. You are going to be surprised at how challenging this workout will be. Complete 50-reps per exercise before moving on to the next exercise. Scale Total Reps and Quantum Band Resistance to fit your fitness level.
With mental toughness always being a key to solid hockey play, we’re thrilled to once again present Shawnee Harle’s monthly insights into that area. And, in this video, she addresses an obvious concern with “Negative Self-talk”!
Folks should know I create this page as sort of a courtesy, trying to give visitors a sense of what’s “coming” within the next month…
When breakouts are rushed, sloppy, or unorganized, teams spend too much time defending and chasing the puck. When breakouts are smart and consistent, players gain confidence, create offense, and control the pace of the game.
Choosing the right hockey stick flex can feel confusing, especially when players hear different advice from teammates, coaches, and sporting goods stores. Stick flex might sound like a small detail, but it plays a major role in shooting power, accuracy, puck control, and overall confidence on the ice. Understanding the science behind stick flex helps players make smarter choices that match their body, strength, and playing style, instead of guessing or copying someone elseās setup.
Better fuel leads to better skating, yet many hockey players never think about what they eat or drink until they feel tired halfway through a game. Skating is one of the most demanding skills in hockey because it requires speed, power, balance, and quick recovery between shifts. When the body does not have the right fuel, even strong skaters can look slow and sloppy. Learning how nutrition affects skating helps players stay fast, focused, and confident from the first shift to the last.
Hockey is a fast, intense, highly demanding sport that requires quick bursts of speed, sharp decision-making, strong skating, and the ability to repeat those efforts over and over again. Because of that, what a player eats before stepping on the ice affects their energy level, focus, endurance, and recovery. Understanding the best combination of carbohydrates and protein before a game is important for any player who wants to feel strong, stay quick, and avoid running out of gas halfway through a period.