| If you hear one name over and over again | | | | a shot. Power skating training focuses on the |
| along with the term "power skating", it is | | | | two areas that will most affect your skating |
| most likely that of National Hockey League | | | | abilities, your edge control and your knee |
| defenceman Paul Coffey. Because Coffey was | | | | bend. |
| able to utilize his full speed and power when | | | | |
| he was on the ice, he became known as one of | | | | The knee bend is the most important focus in |
| the fastest defencemen to ever grace the ice | | | | any power skating training, as it is the bend |
| in the game of hockey. Coffey isn't the only | | | | of the knee that will determine all other |
| player to use his natural ability to its | | | | important skating factors. Most people |
| fullest advantage, however; names like Pavel | | | | realize this instinctively, but power skating |
| Bure, Teemu Selanne, and others will also be | | | | training will help players to really |
| associated with the Leagues' speediest | | | | understand how they can make sure to bend |
| skaters for some time to come. | | | | their knees as deeply as possible while |
| | | | concentrating on other facets of their game. |
| The key with these players is in part their | | | | |
| natural gifts in terms of athleticism, but in | | | | The second aspect of power skating training, |
| order to really achieve their pinnacle, they | | | | edge control, concentrates on having the |
| had to understand how to bring their natural | | | | player feel the edge of their skate almost as |
| skill into play. The way that they did so was | | | | if it were an extension of their body. Edge |
| to fully examine, probably always with the | | | | control means understanding how your ankles |
| help of others, their skating techniques and | | | | are working in relation to your knees and the |
| the way in which they could go from one speed | | | | rest of your leg that is putting the power |
| to the next. In essence, this was power | | | | into your skate. Again, angle is of the |
| skating, and today players wonder if the | | | | utmost importance, so power skating will |
| focus put on power skating will allow them to | | | | focus the individual player on getting the |
| improve their games. | | | | optimum edge on their skates. |
| | | | |
| The answer to that question is a most | | | | Power skating training is a must for any |
| definite yes. Adding that extra power to your | | | | hockey player wishing to take their game to |
| skating stride will mean that you have a lot | | | | the next level, just by improving their |
| more edge in terms of speed and control, not | | | | skating technique. |
| to mention the power that you can put behind | | | | |