Daily Training Tip #616

This one's for you Josh,


I've always said that hockey is a lower body sport. That the game is played from your mid-line down. While this is true, you still need to develop your entire body. You can't focus your training on just one area. All of your muscles are used at some point during a game, so all of your muscles need to be developed. Example; your hamstrings can hinder the performance of your quadriceps. If your quadriceps are developed at a faster rate than your hamstrings, your skating speeds are going to be slower and injury could happen. So your hamstrings need to be developed as well!

Daily Training Tip #615

As discussed on Friday, Pre-Game Meals help bring the team a little closer together. Pre-Game Meals are designed to add the proper nutrients to your body, so your body can perform better during competition. Pre-Game Meals should...


1) Be rich in Carbohydrates, low in Fats and low in Proteins. Meals should be 60% low glycemic carbs and .5-1.5 grams of protein per KG of body weight.

2) You should eat your meal 3-4 hours before the start of your game.

3) Meals should be easy to digest foods. These might be different for different people. So a "generic" meal for the entire team might not work.

4) Stay away from foods/drinks with lots of sugar within an hour of the game.

5) Drink small amounts of water very frequently. Small amounts more often is much more beneficial for you than one large amount of water.

6) Stick with familiar foods. A Pre-Game Meal isn't the time to try new foods.

Daily Training Tip #614

Pre-Grame meails are a not only a great way to put the right nutrients into your body before a game, but they also get the entire team thinking together before a game. Bringing the entire team together gets everyone's thoughts on the same page and lets everyone focus on game specific situations.

Daily Training Tip #613

Most of you are nearing the end of your season. So when do you stop doing your “in-season training” and start your “off-season training.”




Your in-season off ice training program should be designed to be getting less and less. Your focus should be more and more on your game performance. Once your season is all done, let your injuries heal up. If you are not injuried, take 2 weeks off after your last game and then start you off-season off ice training program.

Daily Training Tip #612

In all reality, you are the only one that knows your own body. You know what your body can do and how hard you can push it. You are the only one that looks yourself in the face in the mirror each morning. So in all reality, you are the one that decides how good you are going to become.

Daily Training Tip #611

Injuries, unfortunatly, do happen and are a part of the game. What you do during your injury will determine how fast your recovery is. Follow your rehab program. Sometimes, one of the hardest things to do, is to just rest. That might mean taking a day or two or more and stay off of the ice!

Daily Training Tip #610

Recently read an article “Improving Endurance through Power Training.” While this article was geared towards endurance runners, it hold very true for hockey players as well. I hate hearing a hockey player tell me their coach :told them to go for a long slow run or a long slow bike ride because they look fatigued during the 3rd period. ” This is the exact opposite approach. Hockey players need to do explosive, power training, which is anaerobic in nature. However, if done properly, all anaerobic training becomes aerobic after an extended period of time. So hockey players, get off of the bike and into the gym!