Do Hockey Players Need Upper Body Strength?

Welcome back! In this email I wanted to share with you my most popular blog post to date according to google analytics. It’s all about the question, do hockey players need upper body strength? Should you be focusing on it in your program or does it even matter in the big picture.

You’ll definitely want to read the article and to find out! I also touch on some post game nutrition and something that can increase skating speed.

Time to dig in!

*Don’t forget to click on the light blue underlined text to go to the articles for the full story.

Off The Ice

Upper Body Workouts For Hockey Players

DiddyOhsmall

Getting right to the point, yes by all means hockey players should be working on their upper body strength. Is it at the top of the list? No, definitely not.

Number 1 spot on the list would go to the lower body hands down, not even close. Next I would have to say core, which ties the upper and lower body together. Last, but not least I would have some
upper body strength and power exercises in the training program.

Actually depending on the age of the athlete, I might put athleticism ahead of lower body strength, but I can get more into that in another email.

Nutrition

What Should I Eat After a Competition

Stack

Even though this article discusses what to eat after a competition, I 100% feel this would definitely be applicable to games, practices, and off ice workouts. When thinking of post competition and workout nutrition,
remember the 3 R’s! Rebuild, Refuel, Rehydrate.

On The Ice

What To Do To Increase Your Skating Speed

NY Islanders/Twitter

The name of the game is speed. It really always has been, however with players like McDavid and Barzal pushing the limits of blazing fast skating speed, it’s a non negotiable.

There are some key performance indicators for skating speed the gives even the slowest kid on the team hope that he or she can one day melt the ice with their blades.

Some of these very important KPI’s mentioned in The Hockey Strength Podcast with Vicki Bendus, Strength Couch at Brock University featured in this article are:

Off ice sprint speed
and Jump height

The great thing about these attributes are they are completely trainable. Listen to the linked podcast or read the transcript to find out Vicki’s thoughts.

Power Play

North America’s #1 Training Equipment Shop – Performing your hockey training at home is becoming more and more common during the pandemic.

Bodyweight Exercises – The perfect way to improve hockey performance off the ice and when training facilities are at a premium.

Ultimate Hockey Domination – The perfectly designed
hockey training program from one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in North America.

*This is sponsored advertising content.

Snap Shots

Great drill for quick release, elevating the shot, and by timing the drill, can make it competitive and fun.
One of the most under utilized core exercises with 7 variations.
Never stop the fundamental edge work, ever!

Words of Wisdom

“Every master was once a beginner. Every pro started as an amateur. Every icon began as an unknown.”

Robin Sharma

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