All posts in Skills & Development
3 Things You Need To Know About First Step Quickness
The hardest part of my job is educating parents and coaches by having them understand the facts and myths about off-ice development. Most of all understanding that it’s a long-term […]
Common Tight Turn Mistakes
As I’ve been focusing this week’s skating instruction on various types of tight turns, I’ve seen three common mistakes pop up at every level we teach.
Training Tips for Spring
If minor hockey players aren’t physically and mentally exhausted after a long regular season, now they are driving their bodies further into exhaustion, creating more physical imbalances and in some cases, which I’ve seen, mentally burning out from hockey. Aside from the experience playing in highly competitive tournaments, spring hockey eats up the most valuable time of a young player’s development.
You’ve Got To Hit The Net
I was recently re-reading an article by Earl McRae of Sun Media about a friend of mine, Mike Bossy. Mike and I played against each other in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the years that the New York Islanders won four Stanley Cups. In his interview, Earl McRae asked Mike why players in today’s game miss the net so much.
Video: Chaos in the Pucks Drill
Drills that create chaotic situations and force players to adjust to oncoming traffic help simulate game situations. Even the pros do this simple drill.
Video: The Crossover
Smooth and efficient crossovers allow a player to change direction while maintaining speed. Here are the keys: Keep your blades flat on the ice as long as possible. Keep your […]
Video: Winning Face-offs
There are many different strategies for winning face-offs. In any of these, body and stick positioning are very critical in maximizing stability and strength. Watching the referee’s hand is the key to timing the face-off as well. This simple short video gives just a few tips to increase your chance of winning a face-off. Good luck!
Great Skating Makes a Difference
I sometimes wonder if skating experts, or “Power Skating” coaches don’t try to invent their own list of skating tip priorities as a marketing angle. If you search out some of the leading teachers online they all have certain points they emphasize, and a surprising number of them contradict each other.
A Victory For All Of Us!
During my 15 year NHL career I had the privilege of participating in two Stanley Cup finals, winning one in 1986, and losing to Calgary in 1989. The feeling on the ice with the Cup was surreal…
Setting Up A One Timer
The keys to making great contact on a one timer include dropping your bottom hand, rotating the stick to close the blade, getting your nose over top of the point […]
Let Hockey Give You a Lifetime of Memories
I think parents and coaches would agree with me that as we age, the most important thing we can hold dearest to our hearts is sharing memories. My point is such that sometimes the focus on competitive hockey can be narrowed towards just winning, but there’s much more behind what the great game en-compasses. The hustle and bustle of getting to practices, games and tournaments during a hockey sea-son can leave families forgetting what it’s really all about.
Becoming A Leader of Tomorrow
November can easily be the most stressful and physically draining months of the season requiring a brotherhood amongst the team that motivates players to play at their fullest potential. Having a group of players that are motivated and ready to make the necessary steps to achieve the next level is essential in a team’s development.
Coach vs. Trainer
What coaches need to understand about the whole process is this: the problem might actually be something completely different than what they think it is.
Get Outside
If you are human, the hockey season can feel long. One week blends into the next, and one rink parking lot starts to look like every other one. As days grow dark more quickly, a 6 a.m. practice can feel like it must be a 10 p.m. practice. You are not alone.
Shooting Against a Brick Wall
I find it fascinating to watch great athletes proceed through prolonged scoring slumps. I make a habit of observing the best-of-the-best halfway through their slump because I am keenly interested in understanding the process that puts them back on track.
Ouch, That Hurts! Stop Preventable Injuries
We all know that accidents happen and some players get injured during the season from collisions, but what about when a player pulls or strains a muscle without knowing how it happened. Those kinds of injuries are completely preventable and must be addressed.
Enjoy the Ride
When I was a young hockey player, back in Belleville Ontario I use to love this time of year. I loved the feeling of the crisp autumn air. The smell […]
Enjoy the Ride
When I was a young hockey player, back in Belleville Ontario I use to love this time of year. I loved the feeling of the crisp autumn air. The smell […]
Stick Handling 101
Nate Leslie welcomes you back to the hockey season with this video of tips and tricks to stick handling. Arguably one of the most valuable skills in the game, proper technique […]
Tryout Shape
Hopefully most minor hockey players have been participating in an off-ice training program over the summer, especially at the bantam and midget level. There’s no question that staying in shape […]
Home Fitness: What You Need
Parents often ask me, “What can my child do at home?” to stay fit and get stronger. First, it’s important to keep it all in perspective. Parents don’t need to […]
Women’s Hockey: Intensity, Passion, Character
Our family is a hockey family. I was blessed to pursue my dream to play (and coach) in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 17 seasons. Something you may not […]
A True Hero: Dad, This One’s for You
For many years I have worked with kids for a living, however I have no idea what it will feel like when it’s my son I am coaching. Instead, I […]
Move it: Essential pre-game exercises for moving well on the ice
What should a player do to prepare their body before a game? Skating around the rink before a game or practice is a great way to increase player’s core temperature, […]
How to Make the Perfect Saucer Pass
A saucer pass spins like a UFO through the air, hence the name. The key in making a successful saucer pass is to start the puck at the heel of the blade, and slice the blade as you follow through. I like to compare the motion to a cut serve in table tennis.
Are You A Winning Coach? 10 Signs You May Have Lost Your Way
Just like you and me, no coach is perfect. And let’s face it, no matter how great a job a coach is doing, he or she will never be able […]
Learn How To Roof The Puck
In this video we learn how to roof a puck, which means shooting the puck under the cross bar from in close. Pretend to dig a hole under the puck […]
So, what do hockey scouts really look for?
So, what do hockey scouts really look for? It’s a question every serious hockey player will ask as he or she approaches Bantam and beyond. Scouts rate players in five […]
So, what do hockey scouts really look for?
So, what do hockey scouts really look for? It’s a question every serious hockey player will ask as he or she approaches Bantam and beyond. Scouts rate players in five […]
A Fresh View of Success
Everyone knows how great it feels to accomplish something that we really value and have worked hard at to achieve. The feeling of success is an important component in building […]
No Excuses
Outcomes are important; we don’t play to lose! Countries do not go to war to tie. Hockey teams do not play to be average. Life is about outcomes. You can […]
Big Game Preparation — 7 Tips for Staying COOL and CALM in the Clutch
The BIGGEST secret to you playing your best when it counts the most is learning how to keep yourself CALM and COMPOSED. If you allow yourself to get too nervous […]
Improve Your Reaction Time With These Visualization Tips From The Journeyman
I’m not so sure I should even attempt at writing this article. Those who’ve read my book “Journeyman” know the mental part of my game was…um…uh…lacking. But enough about me, […]
The Value of the Long-Term Athlete Development Model
I grew up in small a prairie town. I lived my first 10 years a short skate down icy 8th Street to the rink in Carman, Manitoba. From November to […]
The Secret to Being ‘In the Zone’
Playoffs bring with them what I call the “dichotomy of pressure.” As teams continue to win in the playoffs or at a tournament, each coming game brings higher expectations, which […]
The Secret to Being ‘In the Zone’
Playoffs bring with them what I call the “dichotomy of pressure.” As teams continue to win in the playoffs or at a tournament, each coming game brings higher expectations, which […]
Want To Become A Champion? Then Lose The Perfectionism!
Who would ever think that the one biggest obstacle to achieving success on the ice and reaching your hockey dreams would be your own frustration and self-directed anger whenever you […]
Improve Your Puck Skills With This Simple Piece Of Home Made Equipment:
This simple piece of equipment can quickly help increase puck skills and offensive awareness. The ‘horse,’ as we like to call it, is used to simulate the ‘attack triangle’ of […]
Minor Hockey Memories — By Sean Pronger
I think my best memories from my minor hockey days are more of a collective memory of travelling to play in tournaments. When you grow up in such a small […]
How To Make Your New Year’s Resolution Stick!
How To Make Your New Year’s Resolution Stick! — A Message from Meaghan Mikkelson With the holidays coming to an end […]
Want To Become A Champion? Then Lose The Perfectionism!
Who would ever think that the one biggest obstacle to achieving success on the ice and reaching your hockey dreams would be your own frustration and self-directed anger whenever you […]
Celebrating Great Coaches
In my years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, I’ve known many sport coaches — some good ones and some, well, not so good. Nothing is more refreshing […]
We Are F-A-M-I-L-Y — Values That Build Winning Teams
Watch an interview with any athlete or coach who has just won a major title and you will invariably hear the words “hard work,” “determination” and — nine times out […]
7 Ways Parents and Players Can Team Up to Create High Performance!
Building a strong team environment is essential for enabling all players to be their best. In this busy month, I encourage all coaches, players and parents to focus on the […]
Warm Memories of Cold Winter Days in Northwestern Ontario
We are now entering my favourite time of the year. Yes, it’s the Christmas season, which in and of itself is awesome, but the best part of all is the […]
The best part of my “journey” was realizing my dream of playing in the NHL ~ Sean Pronger
As a “72” tell us a little about your minor hockey experience. For example, what kind of player were you? Did you always play on the top teams? What stands […]
11 “In-Season” Training Tips
All summer long players work on developing their game in order to be the most prepared for tryouts at the end of August. Most elite-level players will spend hours in […]
Getting Your Athletes To Play Their Best When It Counts — A coach’s guide to effectively managing performance anxiety
In practice he’s fast, aggressive and skilled. His stickhandling is outstanding, and there’s no question that this kid has the talent to play at the next level. So how come, […]
Injury Prevention and Rehab Tips for Hockey Players
No matter what your age, if you play hockey — or any other sport — injuries are inevitable. However, according to Terry Kane, an orthopaedic physiotherapist who has worked with more […]
November: Topping Up The Energy Tank
Everything good this season will result from the energy of your players! When it comes to playing your best game, understanding how to re-energize is every bit as important as […]