Training Programs

Elite hockey success depends on great planning and great organization. Over the course of a season, these components are crucial in order to manage the stress that players endure due to injury and fatigue, extensive travel, constant practice and playing schedule.

You cannot train the same way in-season as you would during the off-season. Hockey training must be broken down through planned periodization, systematically dividing the year into phases that include the following:

• Preparatory (off-season)
• Competitive (games)
• Transition (post-season)

These three phases are further broken down into macro-cycles of 2 to 6 weeks and micro-cycles of weekly or daily lesson plans.

Off-ice training for hockey players must be developed with a thorough understanding of the game itself. Players can be hindered by their lack of understanding and knowledge of the physiology of hockey. This leads to overtraining, injury and a decrease in overall performance. Hockey is a sport that relies on anaerobic energy during play and an aerobic system for recovery between shifts and between periods.

Important factors to keep in mind for hockey players during training include:

• Flexibility
• Recovery (Aerobic)
• Lactic and Alactic Energy Systems (anaerobic)
• Strength (force production)
• SAQ (Speed – Agility – Quickness)
• Power (Force X Speed, developed by training the neuromuscular system)
• Proprioception (kinesthetic sense, balance and stabilization training)

Objectives

Fundamentally, a perfect training program for any hockey player has two major objectives:

• Reduce injury risk
• Increase performance  

Program Outline

The Crash Conditioning hockey training program consists of the following:

• Physiological assessment and evaluation
• Exercise technique (general strength and Olympic lifts)
• Energy system development specific to hockey (aerobic and anaerobic)
• Muscle endurance and recovery, hypertrophy, strength, power, flexibility and speed
• SAQ/Multi-directional movement
• Individual Specific Nutrition with Evolved Nutrition
• On-ice skill development with experienced coaches and instructors from the WHL, NCAA, and other professional hockey services
• On-ice drills incorporating improved performance skills through off-ice training
• Athlete Yoga for functional flexibility
• Goalie-specific Yoga
• Injury and Recovery Resources in-house
• Mental Strength and Preparation

We Deliver Results

“Research has shown that on-ice testing (i.e. skating times) can be improved through sport specific off-ice training, but not by summer league hockey alone” 
(Greer, Blatherwick, Serfass, & Picconatto, 1992)

It is off-ice training that has a greater influence on the physical performance of hockey players.

The development of an elite hockey training program for the off-season should:

• Focus on improving each of the fitness components (i.e. flexibility, strength, etc.)
• Include on-ice short interval and multi-directional directional skating
• Include technical skating along with puck and movement skills

Training Results

What does this mean for our athletes?

Our training programs are research-driven and specific to the sport of hockey. We facilitate every player’s training needs in order to best prepare them for a long career. Our success stories are testimonial to a proven system that offers great results.