Summer hockey has become a major part of youth hockey culture, especially for competitive players who dream about making higher-level teams, junior hockey, college hockey, or beyond. There are certainly benefits to summer training, but there are also hidden costs that many players, parents, and even coaches do not fully recognize until they are deep into the process…
After years of running hockey schools, clinics, and team sessions, I’ve accumulated a lot of training gear — the kind of equipment that keeps players moving, learning, and improving without wasting time in long lines. And I’m now making the remaining pieces available to anyone who can put them to good use…
It can feel like every small detail in hockey equipment is the reason for success or failure. This is what many people call the “equipment rabbit hole,” and it is easy to fall into. Players start to believe that the next stick or a different sharpening will suddenly fix their game. The truth is, while hockey equipment does matter, overthinking it can actually slow down development and take focus away from what really improves performance.
One of the most frustrating things for hockey players and coaches to watch is a player who looks fast and confident in practice but suddenly seems slower and less effective during games. This is a common issue in youth hockey, and it often leaves players wondering what went wrong…
While coaches spend a lot of time teaching breakouts, passing, and positioning, the moment of retrieving the puck is where everything begins. If a defenseman cannot get to the puck cleanly, handle pressure, and make a smart first decision, the entire play breaks down before it even starts.
Net‑front play isn’t about being the biggest or strongest player on the ice. It’s about understanding leverage, timing, angles, and how to make life miserable for the opponent without taking penalties. When a player learns how to own the space around the crease, everything about their game becomes more dangerous. They become harder to defend, harder to move, and far more valuable to their team.
Follow along with Dave as he shows you how to use these bands to train your body for more strength and endurance…
A lot of players grow up hearing that the key to skating faster is simply pushing harder, and it sounds reasonable enough on the surface. But the truth is, the fastest skaters aren’t the ones muscling their way down the ice — they’re the ones moving efficiently…
Many young players are taught to skate as hard as they can all the time, believing that constant speed is the key to beating opponents. While skating speed is certainly an important hockey skill, experienced coaches and skilled players know that the real advantage often comes from something much more subtle. The ability to change speed at the right moment, sometimes called tempo control, can be far more effective than simply racing up and down the ice at full speed. Learning the art of changing speed allows players to become less predictable, more creative with the puck, and far more difficult for defenders to handle.
A young hockey player can improve faster when he or she starts seeing the game as more than just skating hard and chasing the puck. High‑school athletes who separate themselves from the pack usually do it by understanding the deeper mechanics behind every stride, every pass, and every decision. When you begin to recognize how rhythm, timing, and body control shape your performance — and get to use the Skater’s Rhythm Bar, the game slows down in the best possible way.