Speed is the ability to move quickly. Linear and multi-directional skating speed; acceleration and deceleration; change of direction; speed of thought and decision making. Speed is how we control time and space on the ice and dictate the play as a result.  Achieving high levels of speed gives us an advantage on puck retrievals and puck support, increases the likelihood of breakaways and odd man rushes, allows us to have better gap control and defensive positioning, improves the effectiveness of our forecheck and backcheck, and forces the other team to keep up with our pace of play.

 

Strength is the ability to produce force, and strength is utilized on a spectrum. Strength over a long period of time is endurance; strength over a short period of time is power. Hockey players must have great stamina and explosiveness.The foundation of sports performance is being able to move well; our strength training should always have that goal in mind. Achieving high levels of strength gives us an advantage in corner and net front battles, increases the likelihood of winning contested pucks, improves the effectiveness of our forecheck and backcheck, and forces the other team to contend with us physically through body contact.

 

Mobility is the ability to actively move a joint through its full range of motion with control, strength, and stability. Muscular strength without joint mobility severely limits athletic performance and increases the chance of injury. Mobility is dependent on proper muscle flexibility. Proper ankle and hip mobility improve the technique and efficiency of our skating.  This allows us to produce more speed and power, reduces the energy cost involved in every effort, and significantly reduces the risk of injury.

 

Skill is the ability to perform sport-specific movements with precision, efficiency, and consistency. Skills combines technique, muscle memory, and coordination while under pressure in game-like circumstances.  Skating is the most important skill in hockey, and your on-ice and off-ice training should reflect that. Stick skills determine our ability to control the point of contact for the play: the puck. Developing offensive and defensive stick skills are critical to high level performance. Body contact and checking become more important the older you get, as does the ability to control your mentality and emotions.

 

Hockey sense is a player’s intuitive understanding of the game and their ability to make decisions based on that understanding.  Vision, time and situation awareness, anticipation, game flow understanding, and decision-making are all critical aspects of hockey sense.  The single best way to develop your hockey sense is to watch the game. Watch the pros, watch college and junior hockey, and watch yourself play via video review.