Pros and Cons of Different Coaching Styles
Introduction For anyone who has played hockey at any level, you already know that each coach along the way has had a different philosophy. At the end of the day, the most important of the coach’s job is player development. The development of skills, knowledge of the...
5 NHL Records that Will Never Be Broken
In the spirit of Alexander Ovechkin trying his best to chase down the all-time goal scoring record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky, it’s time to take a look at other NHL records that have stood the test of time. When Gretzky retired, nobody would have suspected that his...
Caring for your Hockey Equipment
More than any other sport, hockey requires players and especially goalies to wear a lot of equipment. Most players are a good 20-30 pounds heavier when they are decked out in full gear, and goalies can be even heavier! It is a large part of why hockey is also such an...
Why Coaches Should Never Stop Learning
Whether you are a first-time peewee coach or a Jack Adams Trophy winner, hockey coaches should never stop trying to learn more about the game and their craft. There is so much more to coaching than drawing up X’s and O’s or choosing the best line combinations. It is a...
Origin of Popular Hockey Sayings
Who Said That? Communication is Key in Hockey, and because of this, hockey has developed some common sayings. There are phrases that only make sense in the context of a hockey game and sayings that, when you hear them, you instantly recognize it as a “hockey quote.”...
How Yoga Can Help Hockey Performance
You might not think of hockey players as the type to practice Yoga, but it can be very beneficial to improving on-ice performance. Many professional hockey players do yoga on a regular basis, often as a supplemental workout to their standard routine. Yoga has...
Famous NHL Player Feuds
Everyone loves a good rivalry. Whether it is between teams or players, the stakes are raised when a fierce rivalry hits the ice. Do these players hate each other? Sometimes. There are times where a rivalry can spill over into something more. But most of the time...
Role of a Hockey Scout
In the world of professional sports, scouts are one of the most important people in an organization. They are a fundamental part of talent evaluation for the future of the franchise, and they see more games and videos of players than anyone else in hockey. A hockey...
Women in Pro Hockey
It is a great divide that we are still trying to cross in our everyday world, let alone sports. The gender gap is a real social dilemma and whether it is about opportunities or the differences in how much men and women are paid, the fact is, in many ways our society...
Meet PRO Hockey Yoga Coach Des Di Santo
Des Di Santo has been a ground breaker in yoga for athletes for over 10 years. The former pro hockey player followed her passion of playing ice hockey to North America at age 18. Yoga was first introduced to her as part of cross training for hockey, while playing on...
NHL Players with Longevity
To have longevity in a league like the NHL, playing a game as physically tasking as hockey at the highest level, is truly a remarkable thing. Think about how sore you feel after a beer league hockey game or a game of shinny with your friends. Now imagine that 82 times...
Looking Back – What Players Say They Valued Most in Youth Hockey
It happens to all of us: before we know it we’ve left our youth behind and with each passing day move further away from it. Life comes at you fast, they say, and despite modern medicine and science, father time remains undefeated. So it’s only natural to look back and...
Hockey’s Strangest Rules
If you really think about it, hockey itself is a very strange game. It’s exhilarating and a joy to play, but when you really deconstruct the game, it is a little funny to think about. A bunch of players skating around and chasing a piece of rubber with bent sticks?...
Average Age of NHL Players By Team
Anyone surprised? This is why proper training at a young age is crucial if you've got your sights set on the NHL!
Making It To The NHL – Do You Have What It Takes?
As passionate hockey players, from the very first time we strap on skates and hit the ice, kids all across the country dream of one day making it to the NHL. It all seems so easy when you are young. All of our heroes in the NHL started playing in youth leagues just...
Diversity in Hockey
We can teach it, preach it, and believe it, but the unfortunate truth is that even in 2022, racism and bigotry still exist in our daily lives. The hockey community has always been a tight knit one, so when something tragic happens, we all feel it. If you saw the...
Mindset of Hockey Players vs Goalies
The mental side of hockey is one that does not get mentioned much by the media, but players are certainly becoming more candid about it. Being a professional athlete is often glamorized and any criticism of them is justified due to their million dollar paychecks. But...
Funniest NHL Moments Part 2
When we wrote about the funniest moments that have happened during an NHL game, we were overwhelmed with how many there were. That’s why, due to popular demand, we have Part Two of the Funniest NHL Moments caught on ice! As we approach the start of another NHL season,...
Hockey Training – How Much Is Too Much?
Out of all of the sports that young athletes can play, it is difficult to think of one that is more physically intensive on developing bodies than hockey. A high impact game that is traditionally hard on knees and hips, the topic of potential overtraining from a young...
NHL Salaries Over The Years
It will always be a point of contention, amongst fans, the media, and the players themselves: how much money professional athletes make to play a sport. How many fans would say, “I would play in the NHL for free!” Well, unfortunately for them that is not the only...
You Play Hockey Where?
Surprising Places Around The World You Can Find Hockey Have you ever wondered how much ice hockey is played around the world? We all know the hockey hotbeds of Canada, the United States, Scandinavia, and Russia, but what about regions where ice is not readily...
Funniest Moments in the NHL
When millions of dollars are involved and contracts and player livelihood is at stake, games are taken seriously. But occasionally, we get these brief glimpses of NHL players just being human and having fun, and even more rarely, we see them being downright silly on...
Off-Ice Training for Hockey Players
Every hockey player in the world has to deal with the same issues that athletes from other sports do not really need to worry about: off-ice training. The fact that hockey is played on ice poses problems for players who want to get in some training sessions outside of...
Siblings in the NHL
When growing up as children, your siblings become the very first teammates that you learn to play with and against. No competition is more fierce than a younger sibling trying to beat an older sibling in a game, no matter what the sport. The same can be said for...
What is the Role of a Hockey Team Video Coach
The game of hockey, and sports in general, have come a long way in a very short amount of time when it comes to technology and how it improves the chances of success for players. Almost every sport has teams that have positions in their front office for things such as...
Ex-NHL Players and What They Are Up To Now
When we watch our favorite players on the ice, they seem invincible, and it is difficult to even imagine them outside of the rink. But like many athletes, once their playing days are over NHL players must find a way to occupy their time in retirement. Some look to...
Learning from your Favorite NHL Player
We all have our favorite players that we look up to and admire, whether they play for your hometown team or maybe share the same position as you on the ice, much of our childhoods are spent being inspired by our on-ice heroes. It can be as simple as wearing their...
5 of the Best NHL Announcers
Do you ever wonder why watching a hockey game on television can be so exciting, even though you are nowhere near the action on the ice? Chances are you are getting sucked into the excitement due to the talents of one of the many play by play analysts that call NHL...
Technology Inside The Game
Like with so many other sports, coaches and players in today’s NHL have a lot more technology at their fingertips before, during, and after the games. It is not uncommon to see coaches re-playing video footage from earlier in the game to players between shifts on a...
Assistant Coach vs Associate Coach
While in most sports the head coach gets all of the acclaim as well as all of the criticism if things are not going well, it is his or her coaching staff that provides the support for the day to day operations of the team. In football, a coach has offensive and...
Behind the Scenes – Role of the Equipment Manager
When watching an NHL game, you usually don’t hear much about either team’s equipment manager. That’s because he’s not on the ice shooting the puck nor is he standing on the bench yelling orders or arguing with referees. The equipment manager is a behind-the-scenes...
Best Exercises for Hockey Players
We all know how fun and enjoyable ice hockey can be to play, but what most of us do not realize is how taxing it can be on our bodies, especially if you play at a high competitive level. Hockey requires a full spectrum of physical abilities which includes speed,...
10 of the Best NHL Hockey Enforcers of all Time
Fans of today’s NHL may not recognize a lot of the names on this list but that is just because the game has evolved so much. Once upon a time, NHL players had to have their heads on a swivel on the ice because they knew that if they took a run at one of the star...
10 Ways You Can Improve at Hockey
Every hockey player dreams of reaching the NHL and playing in the world’s largest stadiums. Everyone wants to be watched and cheered-on by millions of sports fans as they play their favorite game at the most elite level. The NHL dream is a huge reason why hockey...
5 of the Biggest Blunders in NHL History
Since its formation in 1917, the NHL has showcased to the world the peak of hockey talent and skill. Some of the most intelligent and experienced people manage million-dollar hockey franchises that draw massive fanbases from all over the world. Some of the most...
4 of the Best NHL Players Turned Coaches
There are currently 31 active NHL teams, and each has a roster of 23 players that participate in a season. That means that every year, the NHL features around 700 players. But the NHL doesn’t feature the same 700 players season after season. Some players retire and...
What NHL Players are doing during COVID shutdown
If you’re disappointed by the suspension of the NHL season due to the COVID crisis, imagine what the actual players are feeling. These are some of the fiercest competitors in the world, and their season was cut short just before the always-intense playoffs were set to...
Major Junior vs College Hockey
When it comes to securing a path to the NHL for young hockey players, the two main options are to either play in one of Canada’s Major Junior leagues or to go to college and play for a NCAA Division 1 team. Many excellent players have been developed into NHL stars in...
What is a Depth Chart and why is it Important?
Depth charts are utilized in all major sports, and they are extremely useful tools for coaches and players alike. In hockey, they help to set the lines and keep the coach on top of who’s performing and who isn’t. It is important to have a depth chart at all levels of...
The Rise of Hockey Academies
Hockey academies and boarding schools have been growing in popularity in recent years. These specialized institutions are designed to help talented young players reach their full potential and pave a path towards professional play. While they certainly provide access...
Treat Everyone as a Hockey Scout
It’s every player’s dream: to step off the ice after a dominant game and be approached by a hockey scout. The scout tells the player that they have incredible potential and offers them the opportunity to play at the next level of hockey. Any serious hockey player...
Fighting in Hockey
In the early days of hockey, and even into relatively recent history, fighting was seen as a badge of honor – a sort of accolade that some of the best fighters were proud to have. Think of the Broad Street Bullies of Philadelphia in the 1970s. Their enforcers set a...
Self Motivation for Hockey Players
All athletes have times when they feel completely defeated and unable to motivate themselves to go on. No matter how skilled or successful they are, the game can get the best of them and cause them to lose confidence. This is nothing new, but the best players know how...
Hockey Shooting Video Series #3
So excited to be on the ice this week with Bloom Media working on my Hockey Shooting Video Series #3 for HockeySkillsTraining.com. A great follow up and progression to Hockey Shooting Series 1 & 2! Some video titles will include: 'Hockey Shooting Tips when...
How Much Do NHLers Actually Get Paid?
One of the major allures of becoming a professional athlete is the sheer amount of money that you can make if you become a superstar. Yes, playing your favorite game for a living at the highest level imaginable is certainly a perk, but the draw of the money is...
The Decline of the Slap Shot in the NHL
Had an opportunity to chat with @SNJeffBlair & @richarddeitsch from FAN590 a few days ago, about the Decline of the Slap Shot in the NHL. Some interesting observations from everyone about where the slap shot has gone, why NHL players aren't using it as much and if...
Synthetic vs Real Ice Hockey Training
A major barrier for many hockey players is access to a proper facility for training. For some, especially those in warmer areas, synthetic ice has been a life saver. Synthetic ice can be used in regions with warm climates where maintaining a real ice rink would be...
Benefits of Hockey Video Analysis
Watching video has long been a part of preparation for athletes, but it has had increased emphasis placed on it in recent years. With more camera angles, better equipment, and easier access to recordings from across any league, there are far more opportunities for...
Skating – The Foundation of Hockey
If you watch any hockey game today, you may notice something interesting. When the players are on the ice, they only have control of the puck every so often. They get an opportunity to pass infrequently, and the same goes for taking a shot at the net. However, there’s...
5 Habits of Successful Hockey Players
Hockey is an incredibly fun game. Groups of kids play on frozen ponds in the winter, fathers play in beer leagues to let off some steam after work, and millions of fans gather every weekend to watch their favorite NHL team on television. But while hockey is fun, it’s...
Common Hockey Injuries
While hockey is fun, and usually a safe sport, it’s not totally free of injuries. Even with all the protective gear donned by hockey athletes, injuries can still happen to both amateurs and professionals.Some causes are obvious, though. With players...
Hockey Training Tip – Always have a Purpose on the Ice!
Always Have a Purpose on the Ice!It's not as simple as just showing up for practice or at your training session. As a player, have your own agenda!Know ahead of time what you plan on improving. Focus on something new or different you observe or notice on...
What Kind of Defenseman are You?
In hockey, there are five main positions that must be filled to make a successful hockey team. Every team needs a goalie, two defencemen, a left wing, a right wing, and a centre. In addition, all the players filling these positions must communicate and...
Stick Lie – Which one is right for you?
Your Stick Lie will have everything to do with your height and skating style, not to mention your posture and natural hand positions. Most common lies are numbered between 4-7. You may need to change your stick lie if you notice tape wear on the bottom of...
Women Referees in the NHL
Once a pipe dream that nobody would have thought possible, the idea of a woman referee in the NHL seems to be getting closer and closer to becoming a reality. Decades ago, the mere concept of a female referee would send not only the professional players...
Quick Release Shot Types
4 Types of Quick Release ShotsSilencer - It's the Original no-sound, sweeping motion, wrist shot release which is very effective when shooting from the perimeter.Snap Shot - A loaded stick blade, 8 - 24 inches off the ice, making a snapping sound when...
NHL Players Nationality Breakdown
Where do NHL players come from?Well, the NHL is based in North America, so it would be safe to assume that the players either come from Canada or the United States. But what about names like Radek Faksa (center for the Dallas Stars) or Alexander Ovechkin...
Hockey Training Tip – Shooting the Puck Bar Down
Shooting the Puck 'Bar Down', is often overratedBetter to Shoot Low - Making the Goalie Drop. More Rebounds are produced off the Goalie...than off the Glass!
Mental Health and Hockey
A mental disorder is an affliction recognized in behavioural or mental patterns which may cause stress or impair personal functioning. Mental disorders are often persistent, and many produce no visible signs to others. Some examples of mental health...
Hockey Training Tip – Pass to where the Player is Going
When passing the puck, aim to where the Player is Going!While this might seem obvious, some players pass to where the player currently is, instead of where they are heading.
The Evolution of the Curved Hockey Stick
Hockey has been around for almost two centuries now, providing a source of exercise and unmatched fun for all its participants. It’s played by children and adults alike, and the NHL is literally a billion-dollar industry, televising hockey games featuring...
Meet NHL Shooting & Scoring Coach Tim Turk
NHL Shooting Coach Tim Turk was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. Tim found his start in hockey by playing shinny on the Mississauga streets with his friends almost every day. Although Tim had a relatively late start in organized hockey at the age...
Hockey Training Tip – Look Before you Shoot
Look Before you Shoot Some players look down at the puck when shooting. I encourage players to feel the puck on the blade while keeping their eyes on the target. This may take time and repetition for some players to become comfortable and more consistent...
Meet Pro Stick Handling Coach Matt Korthuis
Matt Korthuis was born in 1981 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He grew up playing hockey in Saskatchewan and kickstarted his hockey career with two fantastic seasons in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) playing for the Estevan Bruins from 2000-2002. After...
NHL Teams That Have Come and Gone
The National Hockey League (NHL) was founded over 100 years ago, in 1917, in Montreal, Canada. Since then it’s been a premier source of entertainment for hockey fans not only in North America, but worldwide. Just in the last thirty years, the NHL has undergone one...
Hockey Training Tip – Stick Flex
Hockey Stick Flex -. This can make such a difference in a players' shot! Adding downward pressure naturally flexes your stick while adding power to your shot!
Choosing a Hockey Agent
If you are a hockey player that is looking to get drafted or seeking advice, you will want to secure a high-quality agent who has your best interests in mind. Yes, agents need to make money for themselves, but you don’t want somebody who is willing to...
Meet NHL Skating Coach Lucas Lawson
Early Years NHL skating coach Lucas Lawson was born on August 10th, 1979 in Braeside, Ontario. Lucas grew up loving the sport of hockey and played it any chance he got, but he really buckled down and began to take the sport seriously at the midget and junior levels of...
Hockey Training Tip – Power Position
Power Position. This is something I always reinforce to players during on-ice development sessions and in the online hockey training videos. Posture is key!
Meet NHL Mindfulness Training Coach Kris Beech
Kristopher Beech was born on February 5th, 1981 in Salmon Arm, British Colombia. Although, he grew up in the nearby town of Sicamous, British Colombia. And, you may have guessed, he grew up playing hockey. Kris obtained a diverse range of experience over the course of...
Top 8 NHL Arenas
Hockey arenas collect tickets, serve food and drinks, provide music, lighting, and prepare their ice surface for hours of intense hockey action. All this in consideration, which arena is the best? Which arena hosts the most entertaining, comfortable and enjoyable...
What Do NHL Players Do During Intermission?
Have you ever watched an NHL game on TV? Considering how popular and widespread the sport of hockey is, it would be a difficult feat to have avoided seeing one. You’ll know, then, that televised NHL games are edited to be as entertaining and intense as possible....
Hockey Game Day Preparation
When it comes to a hockey game, being prepared is key. Once game day rolls around, each player must be ready both physically, mentally, and emotionally in order to play their best. A lack of preparation can lead to slower reaction times, lackadaisical plays, and an...
Qualities of a Good Team Captain
Hockey is a physically intense sport that requires strength, athleticism, and quick reflexes. There’s also however, a strong psychological and mental aspect of hockey that can truly help set the good players apart from the greats. Being the captain of a hockey team...
5 NHL Memorable Moments
The National Hockey League (NHL) offers a rich and meaningful history dating back to its formation in 1917. Throughout the last 100 years, friends and family members bonded over astounding goals, record-breaking games, and world-class players striving to make hockey...
Concussions in Hockey
Hockey is fast-paced, highly physical sport, and with that comes several inherent dangers. Big collisions can result in bruises, cuts, missing teeth, and even broken bones. However, one of the most dangerous injuries that happens in hockey is the dreaded concussion. A...
How Meditation Can Help Athletes Improve their Game
Almost everyone has heard about meditation. Many however, may not know what it involves. Some may think that it’s very difficult, only done by the most elite or of spiritual minds. In truth, meditation is extraordinarily simple to perform. People may argue that they...
How Character Helps you Advance in Hockey
In sports, character qualities can be described in two aspects: personal character and performance character. These two kinds of character qualities work hand-in-hand for players and teams to attain winning results on and off the ice. Personal characteristics may...
Do’s and Don’ts when Communicating with Hockey Referees
Let’s face it, referees can sometimes frustrate us, and at times even cause some of us to lose control of our emotions. We may feel like they are unfair, calling for penalties that we don’t see and letting the other team get away with...
What Do NHL Players Do When They Retire?
Professional hockey is what almost every minor hockey player aspires to do as they learn the game and develop their skills. Many try, but only a few hard-working people get to play in the spotlight with millions of fans watching their every...
Minor Hockey Coach – Preparing for Next Season
Are you a new Minor Hockey Coach? Preparing for a new hockey season may not be as easy as you think. There are plenty of things that need to be taken care of before you can get to coaching, like preparing for practices, organizing your staff, and getting in touch with...
Tim Turk Hockey Tip – Keeping your Stick on the Ice
Keeping your Stick on the Ice insures you are ready at all times. You are always set up as a target to receive passes and allow better enhanced puck control. Once Simple way to remember this rule is by keeping an eye on the wear and tear of the tape on the bottom of...
To Coach or Not To Coach
Anyone who has ever been to or even watched a professional hockey game on television has some idea of how difficult coaching hockey is. The coach is responsible for managing the actions of many players and developing their skills and teamwork, all while competing...
Hockey Tryout Tips for Parents
Minor hockey tryouts are an intense, stressful time for all hockey players. They only get one shot to demonstrate their skills, impress the coaches, and accomplish a huge goal for the season – to make the team they’ve had their eye on. All the kids are striving to...
Minor Hockey Giving Back to your Community
While most of the audience at any minor hockey game are the parents and family of the players, some of the audience are just members of the local community who are interested in their area’s sporting events. And even if there isn’t much “community turnout” at any...
The Growing Popularity of Women’s Hockey
Striving for Gender Equality in Canadian Hockey If you look at any professional sport throughout the course of history, the competitions which have always been publicized and televised are the men’s games. Even today, men’s soccer, basketball, football, etc. are way...
At Home Hockey Habits
For professionals, playing hockey is more than just a full-time job, it’s a lifestyle. They very much live and breathe the game of hockey. Because of this, NHL-level players have developed all kinds of at home hockey habits in their everyday lives that help them...
Balancing Hockey with Academics
Sometimes it may seem that school gets in the way of the one thing you want to do for the rest your life – Hockey. This is the feeling that a passionate player may have when they think about school and the rink. This is not a competition! A smart and committed player...
Do’s and Don’ts at Hockey Practice
If you selected a handful of professional hockey players in the NHL today, they would have many skills in common: dedication, stamina, strength, fortitude, etc. However, one of the most interesting things they would have in common is that, when they were playing...
Is Your Hockey Team on a Losing Streak?
The feeling of dread of entering the locker room after your team loses yet another game, you look around the locker room and can see the somber look of all your players staring back you. Your players are all looking at you and even though they say nothing, the glum...
Avoiding Stress this Hockey Season
Ahhhh, the Season is here! Minor hockey might not hold the same prestige and pressure as the NHL but when you’re 10, it’s all consuming. As a parent, it’s natural to only want the best for your kids and when you see them putting everything into their hockey, it can be...
Hockey Shooting Wrist-Snap One Foot Jump Shot
WATCH VIDEO BELOW ↓ Technical Tips Essential to Improving your Shot! Video #19 in Tim Turk's Hockey Shooting Video Series #1
Offensive Tips for Hockey Players
Hockey is fast paced, aggressive and tough. Players need to be knowledgeable and aware of where they are the ice, their surroundings as well as be flexible to sudden changes. In order to succeed as a player, one must be able to hone their offensive skills. Below are...
Should Hockey Parents offer Advice?
Advice to Coaches....Over-involved parents For most coaches, teaching hockey to kids is fun, exciting...and rewarding! They love to see players on the ice picking up drills like a pro. It certainly takes time and patience for both the coach and the players to learn...
How Hockey Players Can Develop Mental Toughness
It’s important that hockey players acquire mental toughness. Mental toughness enables hockey players to perform at their best during games. Developing mental toughness, will also help players face other facets of their lives with confidence! Below, are some tips that...
Hockey Skills Training Podcast – Episode 5
Tim Turk talks with former NHL player Adam Bennett about his personal experiences, influences, favourite players and advice for young hockey players aspiring to be in the NHL.
Hockey Skills Training Podcast – Episode 4
NHL Defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes talks with his Shooting Coach Tim Turk & his Skating Coach Lucas Lawson about his development experiences and what to expect when playing at the NHL Level.
Hockey Skills Training Podcast – Episode 3
Shooting Coach Tim Turk & Skating Coach Lucas Lawson discuss the importance of stick flex and configuration, off-ice shooting practice, off-ice training with a purpose and how skating can improve your shot.
Hockey Skills Training Podcast – Episode 2
NHL Shooting Coach Tim Turk & Pro Stick Handling Coach Matt Korthuis discuss range of motion, head up vs head down, on-ice/off-ice training & over-handling the puck in relation to stick handling.
Hockey Skills Training Podcast – Episode 1
Excited to announce the release of our 1st Podcast!! Bear with us....we're still learning! Hope you enjoy! Tim Turk & Lucas Lawson from HockeySkillsTraining.com discuss the importance of position, posture, off-ice training and Bauer vs VH skates for hockey...