So you just got to the NHL, or are close to doing so. Congrats! You are going to play a vital part in some of the league’s most historic seasons. But you may be wondering what NHL players eat between periods. Fear not, hockey dietitian Kim Jarvis has you covered. In this article, we will discuss the nutrient-rich foods which are high in calories and fat but also have substantial amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins. Additionally, we will dive into the different dietary restrictions which NHL players have to follow.
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Puck Life: Pre-Game Planning
Hockey players need to be in good shape both mentally and physically to be able to play at the highest level. Since the game is mentally and physically demanding, pre-game meal planning can help improve your performance on the ice and minimize the effects of fatigue. There are certain foods which are excellent for hockey players, especially before a big game. Let’s take a look at what some of the greatest hockey players in history have eaten and how you can incorporate their eating habits into your own training.
Johan Franzen
Johan Franzen is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Detroit redwings in the National Hockey League. In 2016, he had 70 points in 76 games which was good for ninth in the NHL scoring race. So it would be safe to assume that his diet was paying off. When healthy, Franzen is a force to be reckoned with. He is a great skater who handles the puck well. He also has excellent stickhandling skills. His agility and quickness make him a threat to score every time he touches the puck. He also has phenomenal vision and passing skills. He uses those abilities to set up goal scores for teammates. However, he has also had his share of injuries. In November 2011, he had surgery on his ACL and MCL which forced him to miss 20 games. He also missed significant time in the 2014-15 NHL season due to a hip injury. But other than those injuries, he has been a rock-solid player who has managed to stay healthy throughout his career. So it’s no mystery as to why he has been able to amass such a large number of points over the course of his career. It is always a good idea to eat foods which are high in fiber as it helps maintain healthy digestive tracts and promotes regular bowel movements. One of Franzen’s favorite foods is beets which he often eats during the season in order to get his hands on a few vegetables. These are rich in antioxidants which fight and prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules which can lead to cell damage and premature aging.
Alex Ovechkin
Alex Ovechkin is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League. He is one of the greatest goal scorers of all time. In 2015-16, Ovechkin had 57 goals and 41 assists for 98 total points in 62 games. That was good for 13th in the NHL scoring race. The following year, he had 71 goals and 45 assists for 126 points in 75 games. That was still good for 17th in the NHL scoring race. Of course, he had another great season in 2018-19 where he scored 86 goals and added 54 assists for 140 total points in 82 games. Not only did he lead the league in goals, but he also led the NHL in shots on goal with 426. This makes Alex Ovechkin the epitome of a classic goal scorer. What better way to put the puck in the net than by hitting it as hard as you can. Unfortunately, Ovechkin has also had his share of injuries. He broke his tibia in five different places during a game in January 2018. But other than those injuries, he has been a durable player who has managed to stay healthy throughout his career. So it’s no mystery as to why he has been able to amass such a large number of points over the course of his career. It is always a good idea to eat foods which are high in fiber as it helps maintain healthy digestive tracts and promotes regular bowel movements. One of Ovechkin’s favorite foods are blackberries which he often eats during the season in order to get his hands on a few fruits. These fruits are high in antioxidants which fight and prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules which can lead to cell damage and premature aging. Ovechkin also likes to eat eggs during the season which are rich in protein. These are ideal for muscle growth and repair as well as encouraging fast and steady muscle growth. And last but not least, Ovechkin has a soft spot in his heart for root vegetables, especially carrots, which he often eats between periods in order to get his daily dose of vitamin A.
Drake
Drake is a professional ice hockey player who plays for the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League. He had a very good season in 2018-19 where he scored 48 goals and added 44 assists for 92 total points in 68 games. That was good for ninth in the NHL scoring race. So it would be safe to assume that his diet was paying off. When healthy, Drake is a powerful force to be reckoned with. He is a great skater who handles the puck well. He also has excellent stickhandling skills. His agility and quickness make him a threat to score every time he touches the puck. He also has phenomenal vision and passing skills. He uses those abilities to set up goal scores for teammates. Unfortunately, he has also had his share of injuries. In February 2019, he had surgery on his ankle which forced him to miss eight games. He also had to have micro-surgery on his hip in October 2018 which again caused him to miss eight games. Other than those injuries, he has been a durable player who has managed to stay healthy throughout his career. So it’s no mystery as to why he has been able to amass such a large number of points over the course of his career. It is always a good idea to eat foods which are high in fiber as it helps maintain healthy digestive tracts and promotes regular bowel movements. One of Drake’s favorite foods is eggs which he often eats during the season in order to get his daily dose of vitamin A. These are ideal for muscle growth and repair as well as encouraging fast and steady muscle growth. Other than that, Drake likes to eat avocados which are rich in nutrients and antioxidants which fight and prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules which can lead to cell damage and premature aging.
Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos is a professional ice hockey player who plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League. He had a very good season in 2019-20 where he scored 48 goals and added 24 assists for 72 total points in 76 games. That was good for tenth in the NHL scoring race. Other than his goal-scoring, Stamkos is an excellent playmaker. He has fantastic vision and passing skills. He is very creative and intelligent with the puck. He uses his hands and feet effectively to navigate through opponents’ defenses and create opportunities for himself and his teammates. His coaches, players, and fans have all praised his game-breaking abilities. He also has a very good understanding of the game. When healthy, Stamkos is a force to be reckoned with. When he shows up to play, there is no questioning his talent or desire to score. He is also a terrific leader and has a very good sense of what his teammates need. The best part of Stamkos’ game is his competitiveness. He wants to prove that he is the best at what he does and doesn’t mind sacrificing his body for the puck. Even when injured, he has always been a reliable goal scorer. It’s safe to assume that his diet is paying off. When asked about his diet prior to the start of the 2019-20 NHL season, Stamkos revealed that he started off the year with a plant-based diet but that he eventually went back to his usual routine. This is likely due to the fact that the new season is approaching and hockey players need to start preparing for their season. After all, the team which puts in the most effort wins, plain and simple. When he does return to his plant-based diet, he makes sure to incorporate lots of fruit and vegetables into his diet as well as whole grains. One of his favorite foods is avocados which he often eats during the season in order to get his daily dose of vitamins. These are rich in nutrients and antioxidants which fight and prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules which can lead to cell damage and premature aging.