| The backbone of ice hockey - skating, is definitely the | | | | and work on all of the skills necessary to be a great |
| most important skill any player can focus on mastering. | | | | hockey player. If there is one area that you should |
| You'll watch pros on television and you'll hear them | | | | actively put extra focus on though, it is without a doubt |
| classified in different ways; power forwards, play | | | | skating. You might not be the best shooter, the best |
| makers, natural scorers, defensive-defensemen and | | | | passer or the best checker, but if you're the best |
| more. One thing that all of the most elite players have | | | | skater, you'll always be a dominant force on the ice. |
| in common, is that they're all at the top when it comes | | | | This is something that far too many players ignore right |
| to skating ability. | | | | from their youth hockey days. There isn't enough |
| Skating is the fundamental skill of hockey, the base of | | | | focus put on pure skating ability, and if more players |
| the pyramid. Without a strong foundation, the rest of | | | | would dedicate themselves to mastering the |
| the skills can't be effective. Skating is often the | | | | fundamental movement that drives their sport, they'd |
| difference maker between a good player and a great | | | | see huge improvements in their overall game. |
| player, and there are many players with great shots, | | | | Remember, you might have a booming shot or a laser |
| perfect passes or crushing hits that will never make it | | | | accurate pass, but if you can't skate as well as the |
| because their skating doesn't make the grade. | | | | competition, you can't be effective. Dominate at |
| When you practice, it's important to balance your time | | | | skating and you'll dominate at hockey. |