Brea Hockey

Playing hockey at a competitive level can be physically exhausting. Getting into shape can help you perform at your highest level. How many times have you went to a hockey tryout or camp, and thought wow I am not in shape! If you are trying out for a high level of hockey it is important to start working out many months before it starts. Putting on an extra 10-15 pounds of muscle can be crucial in making the cut. You want to be the biggest and strongest you can be when hockey season hits. That being said what are the best hockey workouts and hockey exercises that you need to perform to gain that muscle fast? The truth is there are many. You want to stick to compound exercises that put on size fast...

Now available in White, the Synergy SE16 is not only lauded for its technology and fit, but the style factor has been kicked up a notch for a skate that’s at the top of its game in performance and looks. The Synergy SE16 White Skate is made from a lightweight one-piece titanium/carbon fiber boot form with patented Coil Technology for the ultimate in lightweight, solid protection. It also features an Ideal-Fit™ professional felt tongue with integrated lace bite protection for traditional comfort and fit, as well as an Ideal-Fit latex anatomical ankle padding system. A rubberized toe cap cover offers extra protection for long-lasting performance during the most rigorous hockey action. To combat...

The National Hockey League needs to do more to encourage better coverage of the hockey games. With so many other sports realizing national coverage, the NHL is sometimes forgotten. However, this year, there's a race for the Stanley Cup, and only one is set to win it. But which team will that be? Right now, bookmakers are showing that, while the Philadelphia Flyers were on top only days ago, the odds are now swinging back and forth with the Flyers and other potential contenders such as the Ottawa Senators, as the teams to watch in the sprint for the Stanley Cup this year. Of course, all of the NHL information and stats change daily, but the odds are the best current indicator of which team is...

As you learn how to play hockey and you progress up the skill ladder the one skill that makes players better than others is their ability to skate and to skate well. It won't matter how fast your slap shot is or you if can check someone into the boards if you can't get to the puck or if an attacker can skate around you. The first tip is to get a skate that fits. Hockey skates fit differently than sneakers and shoes and need to fit your feet more snugly. You don't need to get the skates that Wayne Gretzky or Paul Coffey wear but ones that fit you properly. This is probably the only piece of equipment that you need to get fitted for at a local shop and not purchase on line. The second tip is to keep...

Underwater hockey is also called "octopush" and it is a non-contact game in which two teams compete with each other to move a puck across the length of a swimming pool for scoring "goals". In this sport, players wear diving masks, snorkels, and swim fins. Some safety gear is also used for ear protection, usually in the form of a mouth guard, water polo cap, and gloves. Gloves are used for the protection of the players hand. Moreover, they are also used to protect against pool abrasion. The current rules of underwater hockey also permit that the players may switch the "playing stick" between both hands in mid-play. The sticks used in underwater hockey are quite short in size. Usually, they are not...

The year was 1993. Health Care Reform was the big issue dominating news. In sports, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a losing season and the Penguins were poised to make their 3rd straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Somebody hit the gas on that DeLorean and let's get it up to 88 MPH... Having grown up in Pittsburgh, I've been blessed to see some of the greatest offensive talents in NHL history dominate the score sheet for the past 25 years. Since 1987, the Penguins have produced the Art Ross Trophy winner in 14 of 22 seasons, between the likes of Lemieux, Jagr, Crosby, and Malkin. We've also been privileged enough to see them lift the Cup 3 times in that span, albeit never on home ice. However...

Ice skates were originally invented to help people save energy whilst they were hunting in harsh winter conditions. Early ice skates were made from the leg bones of horses, ox's and deer. The early versions of the skates were attached to the feet with leather straps and the people that wore them used a long pole with a sharp metal spike to help propel them along. These skates have since been developed for different types of skating. The most notable development of the traditional Finnish design took place in New Brunswick in 1859 when James A. Whelpley developed the skate to help people that wear them travel over extensive distances. The skate was designed to help the user travel rapidly along the...

This article will give you a good idea of how to deke in ice hockey. When stick handling you should always move the puck. This is also called dribbling. When you keep the puck moving you keep the other players thinking, which makes it harder for them to take the puck off of you. If you watch NHL or any level of hockey you will see other players that are amazing with the puck. You will notice all of these similarities in the best stick handlers in hockey. The first step is the preparation. You have to prepare to deke. You should know what deke you are going to do (in time it just comes naturally without thinking) If you are going to just fly past the player then put the puck as far away from the...

If you have read my article on how to deke, you are now ready to learn how to beat the goalie. This may be easier said than done, but there are some tips that will be helpful. The first thing to know when you are one on one with the goaltender is puck placement! Do not have the puck in front of you, this will tell the goalie that you are going to deke. You can not shoot with the puck right in front of you. The best place to have the puck is on your shooting side, this means you can shoot, deke, pass, or drop pass. This will keep the goalie thinking. Where to shoot? When you are alone with the goalie you should look for an opening. Usually the openings are the corners and between the goalies legs...

Speed and agility training is a necessity for any hockey player who wants to maximize their on-ice abilities. Speed and agility on skates are what separate good players from great players, and no one can be dominant in hockey without focusing on these areas. Here are some great tips on using your time in the off-season to get faster and quicker on the ice. First of all, you should focus on getting faster when you do your dry land training and in the gym. Whether you run, bike or inline skate, it's important to focus on increasing your speed. The best way to do this is to incorporate intervals into your workout. Intervals are sets of intense output followed by low intensity output. For pure speed...

Hockey off ice drills are one of the most important things any player can do in order to become a more dominant player when they take the ice at game time. Training in the gym is of the utmost importance, and there isn't a single dominant player in the world that doesn't use off-ice training to build their speed and power. Here are a couple of great drills you can do off-ice in order to become a faster, stronger, more dominant hockey player. Shift-Approximation IntervalsIntervals are the single best way to build speed and quickness when doing your cardio. Shift approximation intervals take that an extra step by setting the intervals to match the same periods of intense work and rest you see during a...

Hockey is a not just a game of smarts; it's a game of skill that calls for precision. One miscue and your defensive man can steal your puck, aim, shoot and score, all in less than 30 seconds. Obviously, it's a game that requires focus, strategy, quick thinking and top-notch skills. Although it admittedly takes years to gain the playing skills of competitive professional hockey players, amateurs can improve their game quickly with constant practice and a few useful tips: 1. Work on both forehand and backhand wrist shots. You need the variety and the alternative to get around a defender or two. It would also be helpful to master a backhand shot off a deke. You don't want to be too easy to stop. If you...

There is no doubt that we are looking at a serious turnover in the stars in the NHL. In the past several seasons, we have witnessed some of the all time greatest players ever to lace up the skates call it quits. Two of the last three years have featured incredible Hall of Fame induction classes welcomed in Toronto. The 2004 class was inducted in 07 with the likes of Ron Francis, Al MacInnis, Mark Messier and Scott Stevens. The talent in that crew was matched two seasons later when 2006 gave us Brett Hull, Brian Leetch, Luc Robitaille, and Steve Yzerman. While both of those groups will be remembered as two of the all-time great entries, the voters will have their work cut out for them more than ever...

From now through the rest of the playoffs, I'm going to devote each of my "hockey quotes of the week" to players who've won the Stanley Cup in the past. If you play hockey, you know Gordie Howe. Mr. Hockey, as he's also known, was one of the first - if not, the very first - hockey player to create a permanent impression on the world of hockey. He set a bar to which all players have strived to reach since then. Sure, it has been raised since then, what with the likes of such superstars as Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemiuex and soon to be Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. But really, you'd be hard pressed to find a forward comparable to everything that Gordie How was - and still is - to the game of...

Each Saturday I like to research and share a little hockey trivia with all my fellow Hockey Chumps out there. During the playoffs, though, I'm going to limit the facts to stuff specifically having to do with either the Stanley Cup, playoff matchups, or the remaining playoff teams themselves. That said, in regards to the Bruins v. Flyers series, did you know that this is the first time these two teams have matched up in the playoffs in 32 years? Pretty hard to grasp, especially when you consider how good - or at least competitive - both teams have been over all these years. 32 years ago it was the Big Bad Bruins v. the Broad Street Bullies, when both teams were more so known for their ability to bash...

We have all seen the pros pull moves that normal people can not do, and we have all tried to pull a move that ended up with us laying on the ice with the entire team laughing at us. But that was when we did not know what a good deke required. It was before we realized that the best dekes are not the ones that make us look good, but the ones that put points on the scoreboard. When you look at deking with that mentality, more moves become obvious, and it is much easier to score. When we talk about deking there are a couple of flaws that players will have that will stop them from pulling all the moves that they can. To become a good deker you must make sure that you do not have any of these mental...

For any player serious about taking their game to the next level, off season hockey training is of the utmost importance. There isn't a single guy playing in the NHL or any other elite league that didn't dedicate themselves to training during the summers. Here are the top 3 tips to using the off-season to become dominant. 1) Don't play ice hockey. It's important to keep active, and playing sports is a great way to keep fit to supplement your gym workouts, but a lot of guys, even at the highest ranks, burn out if they play hockey all year around. Taking the summers off will give your body a chance to recoup from a long season, and will leave you dying to play by the time fall comes around. Use the...

I don't have to tell you how unpredictable the ice is, nor do I have to tell you how unpredictable the sport of hockey is for you during game play. Lets face it, the sport is fast, violent, and is always on the brink of total chaos! As an elite hockey player the only thing that is going to keep you in the "control" and out of the "chaos" is a smart strength and conditioning program. Your body has to be ready for anything. This is why I am proud to introduce to you the overhead kettlebell snatch! Kettlebell Fitness For Hockey Players! If you have heard of or seen the ancient kettlebell by now then you understand that this is one strength training device that can withstand any chaos! The reason for...

Hockey dryland training for early teen players is incredibly important, yet so many kids don't get any dry land training at all. At this age, natural talent won't cut it anymore, and the kids who train the hardest are the ones who are going to make it farthest in the long run. For a young player to stand out from the crowd, they absolutely need to be training off-ice. Here are some great exercises kids can do to get that edge on the competition. Shift Approximation Intervals:Shift approximation intervals are one of the absolute best exercises that kids can do off-ice. The reason is, these intervals will improve their overall speed and quickness, and also condition them to be able to perform at a...

Anyone who has ever participated in an elementary school gym class probably has some memory of playing floor hockey. This sport allowed both boys and girls the chance to play hockey without having to worry about learning how to skate. Today it's reaching well beyond the confines of school curriculum and there are leagues for this fun and faced paced competitive activity in many cities. For someone familiar with ice hockey it doesn't differ much. Not everyone has the chance or the interest to learn how to skate. Many children live in warm climates where ice is a scarcity. For them the closest they get to hockey is watching an NHL game on television. With floor hockey, though they can go through the...

Hockey dryland training is one of the most often overlooked aspects of hockey training, yet it is also one of the most important. Off-season is the best time for dry-land, but it can be done all season long, and all it requires is somewhere to run and jump. Here are three simple exercises you can do off-ice to help bring your on-ice game to the next level. 1) Shift-approximation intervals This can be done on a stationary bike, a treadmill, a running track, rollerblades, or just about any type of cardio you want. The key here is to do intervals that will approximate the shifts in a game. In a hockey game you exert yourself at a high capacity for a minute or so, and then hit the bench to rest up...

Hockey power skating is something that every elite player in the world has taken at one point or another. In fact it's so important that Pro clubs have power skating instructors on staff. Yet many recreational and even competitive players have never taken power skating and never will. If you're one of them, here are some techniques you can use to get more out of your own skating. First of all, your edge control is very important. Without good edge control you can never get the most out of your pushes, turns and stops. When it comes to speed, the key is getting your edges at the right angle with the ice. You want your edges to bite into the ice as close to 45 degrees as you can. Greater than 45 and...

If you watched the post-game routine of most elite men's or women's hockey teams, you would see players riding the bike. Most elite male and female hockey players do their conditioning on the bike both in and out of season. But when it comes to summer training, should young players "train like the pros" by riding the bike or should they be out running sprints? Same In-Season, Opposite Off-Season The theory is that cycling allows players to use their well-conditioned "skating" muscles and prevent excessive strain on the muscles that are not used as much during the season. While there is some truth to the theory of focusing on the same muscles in-season, players must focus on training the opposite...

The backhand shot is a very important shot to master and add to your arsenal. Many goalies do not expect a powerful backhand shot, or an accurate backhand shot either. For this reason it is very beneficial for you to work on a powerful accurate backhand shot, and a backhand that you can raise quickly to put top shelf. Many players, even some NHL players have a common problem in hockey. The deke, go to their backhand, have the top of the net open, and a sure goal, but still end up jamming the puck right into the goaltenders pad. If only these players had mastered getting the puck up quickly they would be able to score more goals in hockey. How to raise your backhand quickly in hockey In order to...

Do you want to get better at field hockey? Do you want to score more goals or make more clean tackles? I know how you feel, I've played field hockey for years. Yet the last 5, maybe even 10 years my game has plateaued. I even got bored and was on the verge of giving up because I was not enjoying the training or my weekly game. It doesn't have to be like that for you. There is a simple technique that you can use before, during and after a game which can radically shake your game up for the better. Since using the technique this past season, I can easily say I've never enjoyed my hockey so much, scored so many goals, made so many tackles, enjoyed the training and the friendly banter after a game so...

While even people that have never watched hockey likely have heard of the Mighty Ducks, some teams are less known. While nearly every sports enthusiast in New York has probably heard of the Buffalo Sabres, it is probably not the first thing that comes to mind for many people when they think of New York. The team has proven itself over time though. Fans from inside and outside the state have returned season after season to watch. The players have made the most of their time as well. Many players have set themselves apart while playing for the Buffalo Sabres. Among the players that have worn the jersey over time some have left their mark on the team and on the community of the area. Many that have...

Girls hockey players MUST get stronger, faster and fitter this off-season if they want to take their game to the next level. If girls address these 3 key components in their hockey workouts this summer, they will be a better player once September rolls around. Hockey-specific strength training is the most fundamental component of off-season off-ice player development and must be built BEFORE speed and conditioning. Without a solid foundation of strength and stability in place, young female players will NOT be able to use their speed and fitness to their greatest extent and will NOT be able to perform at the highest level both on and off the ice. However, coaches and parents of young female players...

Plyometrics for hockey is something that is becoming more and more popular among elite players at the top levels of the game, but plyometrics workouts can be of huge benefit to every hockey player, at every level and every age. Used for decades by players in Europe and Russia, plyometrics focuses on developing explosive movement. Here are some fantastic plyometrics exercises you can do at home or in the gym to bring your on ice speed and power, and your game to the next level. Standing Squat Jumps Standing squat jumps are an incredibly simple, and amazingly effective exercise that will build your lower body strength as well as quicker feet and more power overall. To perform a standing squat jump...

Winning faceoffs is a necessary skill that all players need to learn. The more faceoffs a team wins the better they will be able to control the puck and create opportunities. Many coaches say that winning faceoffs is all about reflexes. Winning faceoffs requires a combination of reflexes and timing. Here are some tips to make you better at winning faceoffs. 1) Pull the puck back Many kids would like to put the puck past the other center, go around him and take a breakaway. If this works for you then you should do it, however, it is very easy for the other team to grab the puck and make a break of their own. If you find yourself giving the puck to the other team then you need to draw the puck back...

Many girls' hockey players dream of playing like the 'pros' they idolize. They spend hours practicing the same moves as Olympians and NHLers and wear their same numbers. If they are emulating their heros on the ice, should they try to do the same off the ice? If a young female hockey player wants to 'play like a pro', should she 'train like a pro' as well? A few years back, when I was fresh out of university and still relatively new to training young athletes, my answer to that question would have been 'NO'. Intuitively, it seemed like a bad idea to have girls doing the same workouts as elite players, as they lack the athletic experience and lifestyle patterns conducive to high-level training...

Be Brave The most important tip is to position your legs and body squarely in front of the shot. The puck should hit your shin pads straight on. If you're afraid of getting hit by the puck and turn to the side, you risk taking the puck off your ankle or the side of the leg where you have far less protection. Unless you are willing to face the shooter head on, you're better off getting out of the way altogether. The closer you are to the shooter, the less time the puck has to gather speed. Back away from the shot, and you risk screening your goalie. You also increase risk of taking the shot somewhere on your body besides your shin pads. Somewhere more painful. Remember, you're not the goalie. If you...

Speed training drills are something that every player should be focusing on, especially early teens. By twelve or thirteen, the learning curve that kids all share when they first start playing is all but gone, and on any given team the skill gap will have narrowed greatly. This means that at this age kids can't just depend on their natural talent alone anymore to ensure they make the team or stay at the top. Doing speed training drills to maximize on-ice speed is a necessity for players looking to differentiate themselves. Speed rules in hockey. It's what makes players dominant. So ignoring speed training at 12-14 would be a huge mistake. Here are the two main areas where players can work on their...

We have all been there, we have all been the new player on the team, or the youngest player in the league. You may look around the rink and see all of the older players getting ready to play hockey, and that's when you realize that you don't know what your doing. Here are some tips that will help you get a successful start on the ice and some things that you should do if you want to be productive in the games that you play. There are two things that every player wants to do when they are playing hockey for the first time. The first thing that most players want to try is goalie. The other thing that players want to do is score a lot of goals on a goalie. If you do not want to do one, then you will...