Training Camp

While most of us are now in the full swing in the early portion of the season, professional teams are getting their prospect and training camps going for the upcoming season. Back in the day, training camp was for players to get back into shape after a long summer. 50 years ago, the season was shorter, the playoffs were shorter, and players still may have needed to have alternative forms of income to help fuel their dreams. With how elite players treat and train their body’s nowadays, there really is no off season, just a season that is spent more away from the rink rather than in one.

Social media is flooded with the players doing crazy exercises as the shift in fitness has gotten players away from Olympic lifting and more into bodyweight, resistance, and other “non-traditional” lifting techniques. What typically isn’t posted is what teams are doing on the ice to get players ready for the season. What you would see if you were privy to NHL training camp would likely be very similar to what you would see in skills development camps across the country.

No player is too good to continue to hone in on the basics. Many NHL players do similar individual skills drills that amateur players do, the difference is adding difficult nuances, and the effort and level of attention to detail. Edgework, acceleration, and agility are almost always broken all the way back to the basics and built back up over time. The best of the best will do something until they get it right over and over, not just do 10 reps. Professionals are typically perfectionists of their craft.

There is a beauty to watching a professional’s product of their labor. That also applies to youth players as well. We would love to see what your player has learned over the summer during their respective warmups at one of our boys’ or girls’ hockey tournaments in Michigan. Check out our Facebook or our website for our upcoming tournaments, and there is a TON!