Off-Season Hockey Training

Posted by Robert Owen on February 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Hockey Fitness

After the NHL playoffs are over and the NHL draft comes to a close, what do the professionals do during their off-season? One thing is for sure; they certainly do not sit on the couch watching hockey news all day. Professional NHL players need to be in peak condition so that they will be able to perform well the next season. To do this, they need to establish a workout over the summer that will improve their performance.

Once the season is over for a team, the players usually get a break. This break can often take from 2-4 weeks and allows the players to relax and recover from any injuries and sores that they had. Once they have recovered, they will then create their own workout schedule consisting of specialized hockey training exercises that include endurance, mobility, and strength exercises. NHL players will usually have a trainer split these programs up so that the player gets an equal amount of each of these exercises in his daily routine. They are usually given 1-2 days of rest each week to regain their energy.

Why do hockey players need to work so hard to stay in top condition over the summer? The main reason is to be able to perform well the next season, but at the end of the season, the players go to a training camp that help them get back into shape. In the past, players were able to enter the camp after not doing any physical work over the summer; nowadays, however, a person who slacks on their workout regime over the summer will have trouble making it past the first day of physical testing. This means that players need to establish a good fitness regime so that they will be able to withstand the physical tests that they will have to face later.

Hockey training for these professional hockey players focuses mainly on explosive power, tolerance of lactic acid build-up, and a player’s aerobic capacity. Hockey is a unique sport in how the players are normally on the ice for a very limited time but are working extremely hard during that limited time. If they are not able to perform effectively, they will not get paid the amount that they need. Professional hockey players are built to perform at high intensities for short periods of time without getting fatigued later.

One of the main things about keeping themselves fit is their off-ice work habits. Off-ice training includes all things that are not done on the ice; this includes eating, drinking, and workout habits. Fitness is very important for a professional hockey player because it will allow a player with higher endurance to get paid higher than a player with lower endurance. Hockey players are not supposed to consume high-fat foods or alcohol during their training because doing any of these will impede their progress during their training. The workouts in Off-ice training includes strength training and endurance workouts that keep the player physically active for a long period of time. Hockey players need to be disciplined to endure these workouts during the off-season because it is as important as any other workouts they are going to do.

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Benefits of Playing Ice Hockey

Posted by Robert Owen on January 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

For those who have never played or watched ice hockey before, you are truly missing out on what is arguably the greatest sport in the world. There are countless benefits that come with playing hockey both competitively as well as recreationally. If you are on the fence about whether or not you want you or your child to join ice hockey, you should definitely consider the following benefits to ice hockey.

No matter what age you are joining a hockey league is always a possibility. The great thing about hockey is that it is getting more and more popular each and every year, and with that popularity comes more ice arenas being built and more hockey leagues being formed. With more hockey leagues out there also comes a variety of levels to play, whether you are an advanced hockey player or a complete novice, there should be a league that suits your skill level at your local ice arena. It is important to realize that it is never to late to start playing hockey.

Another great thing about ice hockey is the fact that it is great exercise and playing just a few times a week can help to keep you in shape and get your blood pumping. No matter what position in hockey you play, you will find that you are working different muscles than you typically use in your every day life. Not only can adults benefit from the anaerobic and aerobic activity that takes place while you are playing ice hockey, but it can help children to not only have an active lifestyle, but also teaches kids how to be a team player as well as other important life skills.

While you might think that you cannot afford the ice hockey equipment for you or your child, if you know where to look and what to buy you can definitely buy the necessary protective equipment even if you are on a tight budget. Though many hockey players and parents often spend a lot of money each year on new ice hockey gloves, skates, sticks, etc. most of the time these people are spending extra money unnecessarily. Doing some simple research online as well as some budgeting should allow you to get some quality gear at a great price.

All in all, ice hockey is a great sport to play as well as watch. Just about everybody that I know that plays hockey has become obsessed (in a good way) with getting out on the ice and playing hockey with their friends. If you are debating whether to start playing hockey, you should definitely give it a try as soon as you can.

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