Daily Training Tip #500

Become a better athlete first! Don't commit to a specific sport too early. Typically, the best young hockey players (or any other sport) are the best athletes. Improving in all aspects of your athletic ability at an early age, will translate into a better hockey player at a later age.

Daily Training Tip #499

To avoid early season injuries, make sure you're in great shape prior to training camp. Typically, early season injuries happen because a player gets out of shape and then tries to push it too much at the start of the season.


This year, the NFL has experienced an increase in Achilles Tendon tears during their preseason matches. With what football has gone through so far this season, it is easy to see why. Players thought they were working out and some have found out the hard wary, there is a difference between just working out and actually paying a price.

You can never be in too good of shape. No matter where you play, you can never be too good. Always continue to do the little things to help yourself improve. Your career is too short to let yourself get out of top shape.

Daily Training Tip #498

First Step Quickness means slightly different things to different people, but simply put, First Step Quickness (FSQ) means getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. When, in hockey,  point A and B are always changing, FSQ is very important. No matter how you are training, make sure you  are improving on your FSQ.

Daily Training Tip #497

Perform some of your exercises on unstable surfaces today. Unstable surfaces help improve your balance and your core conditioning. Unstable surfaces can be sand, bosu balls, balance boards, dynadiscs etc. You can do all sorts of exercises on unstable surfaces!

Daily Training Tip #496

Another new study just out, proving what MHC has been saying for numerous years...Milk, it really does a body good! This new study found that milk is the best recovery drink. It beat out sports drinks, water and supplements. When you head home from the gym today, drink a big glass of milk!

Daily Training Tip #495

MHC has been saying this for many years...cycling tends to shorten your hamstrings. Don't use the bike for the majority of your training. You need to sprint, lift, skate and jump for your training.

Daily Training Tip #494

Pay close attention to rest intervals between exercises. During certain phases; more rest inbetween exercises is needed, while during other phases less rest is required. On average, hockey players can work 1 and rest 2 or 3. Which means the 1 is dependant on the length of the exercise.

Daily Training Tip #493

Functional shoulder traiing is a great way to strengthen your shoulders and help to prevent injury.

Daily Training Tip #492

Plain and Simple...YOU CAN NEVER WORK TO HARD!

Daily Training Tip #491

There is no such thing as a "last day." Once you leave MHC, you need to continue what you've started. Don't go home and sit on the couch! Because of the equipment involved, you might not be able to do everything we do here, but you can do some things. Be creative and continue working. When tryouts arrive, you will arrive!

Daily Training Tip #490

Hockey is a one-legged sport. You get your power from one leg at a time, while the other leg is supporting your body. Your training needs to mimmick this. Use one leg exercises in the gym today!

Daily Training Tip #489

The athletes that really pay a price are always rewarded! Don't just think you train, go out and actually train!

Daily Training Tip #488

Playing strong in the third period of a game or playing strong late in the season is directly correlated to your off-season training. The better conditioned you are before the season starts, the better you are late in the season and late in the game. Make sure you are in great shape before your season starts!

Daily Training Tip #487

Lack of water has the potential to induce cramps. Another important to make sure you are well hydrated.

Daily Training Tip #486

As we progress closer to our seasons, the intensity of your training needs to pick up. Your weights needs to increase, while your repetitions need to decrease. You need to be lifting, sprinting, jumping and skating more now then ever. Prepare yourself now so you "turn heads" when the season starts!

Daily Training Tip #485

Along with physical improvement, functional training also needs to promote welfare and well being. Great people have a better chance of being great athletes.

Daily Training Tip #484

A common curry spice called curcumin may offer some relief to athletes who suffer from tendinitis. When you have tendinitis, every bit of relief helps. This is just another example how a good diet can help you in many ways!

Daily Training Tip #483

Do your homework on any supplements you want to take. Some are good for you, some aren't. Some work, some don't. You only have one body, you don't have any room for mistakes!

Daily Training Tip #482

No matter how hard you worked yesterday, you owe it to your body to work even harder and even smarter today!

Daily Training Tip #481

Rubber bands are a good supplement to add to your workouts. Rubber bands can be used for numerous aspects of improvements. They can be used for stretching/recovery, strength building in lifting, explosive strength in jumping and certain partner battling drills. If you don't have a set of rubber bands, think about purchasing some.

Daily Training Tip #480

Control what you can control. You can control what you do with your body. If you develop and prepare your body, you will put yourself into a position to succeed. You body is your greatest assest, take the proper care of it!

Daily Training Tip #479

Active rest is an important part of the training process. You body does need to rest, however, it doesn't like not doing anything. Active rest is a way to let you body rest, while not affecting what you developed during the previous days. For every day, you take completely off it's like throwing away the past three (3) workouts. Active Rest is getting off the couch and being active; running, rollerblading, racquet ball, basket ball, etc. Something that is fun, but causes you to sweat a little bit!

Daily Training Tip #478

When a player shows improvement in any one certain area, it is a good indicator that they have room to improve more yet, if you continue to "pay a price." When a player becomes stable in anything, they will only get to a certain level and not beyond. If you've improved a little bit, you can improve a lot!

Daily Training Tip #477

Even if you are the best in the group or the best on your team, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Somewhere, another hockey player is better than you. You need to keep them in your sights and continue to "pay a price" and catch & pass them!

Daily Training Tip #476

Circuit training can be a fun, sport specific way to improve your game. There are so many different types of stations you could use. Make sure you use the proper work/rest ratio and pick hockey specific stations.

Daily Training Tip #475

Your leg (or really entire lower body) strength is crucial to your development. There is a big difference between your strength, explosiveness, speed, cycle speed, etc. Most athletes need to improve on all areas. However, without strength the others become weakened as well.

Daily Training Tip #474

Hockey is played outside of a box, so your training needs to be outside of the box as well. Mix your training up. Think outside of the box and train outside of the box!

Daily Training Tip #473

You back plays a key role in your athletic career and beyond. Without your back, you won't be able to do to much. Train and develop your back properly! Back Extensions, Hypers, Pull Ups, etc are just a few common lifts that help develop your back.