| Training for hockey can be more difficult than some | | | | power because they artificially limit your motion. |
| other sports. Hockey is a game played on a surface | | | | Strapping on a chute and running at full capacity will |
| unlike any other. And accessing ice for hockey training | | | | force you to deal with the added drag, which will make |
| can be difficult, with ice rental often costing at least | | | | it much more difficult to run. This will not only give your |
| $100 an hour. This means it's extremely important that | | | | legs a hell of a workout, increasing your speed and |
| hockey players be diligent in their off-ice training, and | | | | power, but when you take the chute off, running will |
| look for ways to maximize their improvements to help | | | | feel much easier. |
| ensure their on-ice game is at its peak. Here are three | | | | 3) Wrist weights - Shooting never seemed so easy. |
| great training aids to help you reach that goal. | | | | I like wrist weights for shooting practice at home (it's |
| 1) The Swiss ball - If you don't have one yet, run to the | | | | hard to wear them on the ice with your gloves on), for |
| store as fast as you can. | | | | much the same reason as I like parachutes. They |
| This is such a simple aid, but so many players either | | | | force you to overcome extra weight you don't |
| don't have one at home, or don't utilize one when they | | | | normally carry around, which will increase the speed |
| go to the gym. There are so many advantages to | | | | and power of your movements when you take them |
| incorporating Swiss balls into your workouts that is isn't | | | | off. There is one big caveat though with this one. If you |
| even funny. You should be using one anywhere you | | | | can't maintain proper shooting form with the wrist |
| can. Do your crunches on one; sit on one when you do | | | | weights on, don't use them. Anything that forces you |
| your curls. Lie on one for your chest press. The | | | | into bad form and reinforces bad habits is not worth |
| instability provided by the ball will force huge | | | | using. |
| improvements in your core strength, and activate your | | | | These are all great tools that can really help your |
| stabilizer muscles in a much greater way. | | | | game, but they aren't a complete solution to off-ice |
| 2) Parachutes - Build speed and power through air | | | | training. For a full workout designed to meet your |
| resistance. | | | | hockey goals, consult a hockey specific trainer, or pick |
| Parachutes are a great aid for generating speed and | | | | up a good book on hockey specific fitness programs. |