HOCKEY, SPORT SPECIFIC CONDITIONING AND PERSONAL TRAINING SERVICES

My view of training for ice hockey

Throughout my hockey career I was always searching for a training program that would give me the results I needed. I was blessed with great hockey sense, soft hands and great vision on the ice. The things I lacked were explosive skating, superior strength and power and a strong anaerobic conditioning base. I had the ability to perform longer distance events but lacked the power, speed and anaerobic endurance that is so needed in hockey

My work ethic was very, very good. I would do anything to improve myself as a player. The problem was, the things that I was doing were doing very little to increase my on-ice performance. The programs I followed had hefty doses of long duration aerobic conditioning, isolation exercises like leg extensions, leg curls and bicep curls. Day after day I would head to the gym and perform what I thought to be a good hockey-conditioning program. Despite these rather useless training sessions I managed to get drafted to the Oshawa Generals in the first round. That same year I was the St. Louis Blues 2nd round selection. My talent was getting me by, although I would soon realize the decencies in strength and power would start to hold me back.

After playing on St. Louis' top farm team for three years I finally got the chance to play in the NHL. This is when I realized that my lack of first step quickness and power were going to cause me problems. Again I searched for ways to correct these deficiencies. Unfortunately I suffered a couple concussions and my time in St.Louis was cut short. I had to take a year off hockey and was even told that I should retire. These were very hard times; for it was the first time I couldn't play the game I loved. After four months of total rest I started to train again. While I was hurt I read every book I could get my hands on that involved training for hockey. I finally found some articles through the National Strength and Conditioning Association that were different. They emphasized strength and power over aerobic endurance.

I implemented Olympic lifting movements like the power clean and power snatch into my program. I started to do squats and Glute-ham raises instead of leg curls and leg extensions. Instead of doing long duration aerobic work on the bike, I started doing some high intensity interval training. I also emphasized core and lower back work, Plyometric training and speed and agility drills. When I returned to the ice, I couldn't believe the difference the training had made. Since I had been off the ice for a while, there was an adjustment period but once I got through this I felt great.

My first season back in Europe was a memorable one. My skating was now strength instead of a weakness. My power in the corners was great; driving to the net was now a big part of my game. Sometimes I wonder what my NHL career would have been like if I started this training when I was younger. Instead of dwelling on this, my new passion is to share this training with as many people as possible.

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