Picture it; stepping out onto the ice with your skates gleaming and your arms raised above your head in a classic hockey pose. The crowd is roaring, the music is blaring, and you’re feeling that rush of adrenaline that comes with competition. You’ve worked hard for this moment. You’ve trained for this moment. Now, finally, it’s here. You’re playing in the NHL. It’s the dream of every hockey player. Well, as great as it may seem, that moment is gone. Now, you have to live your life. There are contracts to negotiate and deals to make. There are injuries to deal with and milestones to hit. You may be thinking to yourself, “Now what do I do to get a hockey butt?”
If you’re looking to improve your game, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll run down the top 25 tips that will help you get a “hockey butt.”
Table of Contents
Get In Shape
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve played the game for several years or have only just started. Every NHL player goes through some type of conditioning camp to prepare for the regular season. Follow the drills below and you’ll be ready to play in no time. You won’t believe how much your body will thank you for this routine.
Eat Right
The right kind of food will help you get the most out of your body the same way the right exercise will help you get the most out of your muscles. The Toronto Star’s Jeff Luhnow recommends that you eat plenty of vegetables and fruits to maintain a healthy digestion system. He also suggests you get a good night’s sleep and reduce your stress levels as much as you can. These three things will help you get the most out of your body and allow you to achieve your maximum potential as a hockey player.
Reduce Your Stress
The stress levels of an NHL player are definitely not the same as those of a regular person. Between practicing for games and meetings, traveling for away games, and negotiating new contracts, there is a lot that goes into an NHL player’s week. Whether you’re playing for fun or professionally, reducing your stress will help you get the most out of yourself.
One way to reduce your stress is by getting enough sleep. It’s no secret that NHL players often work long hours, so they need their sleep to handle all the responsibilities of their day-to-day life. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night, and you’ll be well on your way to a healthier, more relaxed attitude. Then there’s the yoga and meditation that can also help reduce your stress levels. If these things sound like a foreign language to you, then all you need is a reliable schedule and some good old-fashioned determination. When things start to feel a little chaotic, take a step back and focus on what you’re trying to achieve. Then, when you come back to the present moment, you’ll realize that things are starting to fall into place and that you’re progressing as planned.
Practice Hard
While there is no set schedule for NHL players to practice, they usually have sessions three or four days a week. These days vary from player to player, but it tends to be either dry skating or work on individual skills like shooting or passing. The important thing is that you work hard every day and don’t get too far removed from what you’re trying to achieve. The more you practice, the better you’ll be able to perform under pressure and make the correct decision when necessary. If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to practice, then the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea should provide you with ample reason to hit the ice.
Watch Film
While the majority of NHL players don’t watch film often, those that do say that it makes a huge difference in their game. When they do watch film, they tend to focus on the little things that they could improve on. For example, one of the best ways to shoot the puck is by using your glove as a guide while aiming at the net. This is something that most players do not do because they think it’s too difficult to aim with only one hand. They tend to focus on the big things like increasing their speed or their shot power and ignore the little things like using their glove as a guide. The good thing about watching film is that it allows you to identify your weaknesses and work hard to fix them. Once you identify the areas that you need to improve on, you can find the right tools to help you do so.
Take Care Of Your Equipment
The equipment that you use represents a lot of money, so it’s important that you take proper care of it. When you arrive at the rink, make sure that your skates are sharpened and that your stick is in good condition. Also, make sure that your helmet is safe and secure. The last thing you want to do is be fiddling with your helmet during a game because it fell off during a hit. Your equipment will be your biggest investment, so it’s important that you take care of it properly.
Do Research
Before you start practicing your hockey moves, it’s important that you know how to properly execute them. To make sure that you do this correctly, you should do some research on the web or from books. There are dozens of different moves that you could have with the puck, and if you don’t know how to do them correctly, you could end up hurting yourself or the person you’re playing with. The key is to make sure that you’ve got them down before you start practicing. If you haven’t got them down yet, then find a partner and practice together. This way, you’ll be sure that you’ve both got them down and can work through any problems that might arise. If you do a lot of research and take your time, you’ll be able to master the complex moves that are required to succeed in hockey. There are also endless drills that you can do to make sure that you’re working on the proper form for your moves. Don’t be afraid to spend some time doing research either. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to play.
Play In The Right Equipment
You’ll need to decide what type of gear you’ll use for the game based on the surface that you’re playing on. If you’re playing on ice, then you’ll need to decide between regular skates or inline skates. Regular skates are what most people are familiar with, but inline skates offer a number of advantages. First, they’re lighter. This makes it easier to move around on the ice. Second, they have a narrower profile, which gives you better maneuverability. Third, they allow for more speed. While there are disadvantages to both types of skates, you should consider what type of game you’ll be playing and the conditions (i.e. dry, wet, or icy) before making your decision. If there is a option, even if it’s just for practice, then choose inline skates. Your equipment choices will depend on what position you play, so make sure that you’ve got the right pair of skates for the position that you occupy.
Learn To Use Your Leg Advantage
An obvious advantage that you have over the other players is your legs. You can use them to propel yourself in the right direction, which can help you gain an advantage over your opponent. When you’ve got the puck, use your legs to move faster than the other players and keep the puck away from them. A simple way to do this is by using a quick burst of speed and then kicking one of the players in the chest or shin. This will force them to either chase you or try to keep up, thereby opening up more space for you to maneuver around them. This is just one of the many ways in which your legs can help you out on the ice. Instead of seeing your legs as an obstacle, think of them as a blessing and leverage them to your advantage.