I know… it’s not really a “Drill or Skill,” but I had to post this!

We took our little boy (Tyler) skating for the first time this week. He’s 19 months old, so his feet are still pretty small. The only skates we could find that were small enough were the “bob” skates that have the two blades. At first he looked like Bambi out there… but then he learned to bend his knees… by the end he could take a few steps on his own before falling. The best part of all… after we finished, he wanted to go back on the ice for more! It was a proud moment for me

We got it all on tape – enjoy!

Technorati Tags: 19 Months, Bambi, ice skating, Knees, Proud Moment, Skates, toddler skating

Click Here for a printout of the Figure 8 Shooting and Deflection drill that you can bring to the rink with you.

Here’s a quick and effective hockey shooting drill that incorporates shots from the points, and deflections in front of the net. I like to run this drill from both ends so the forwards get plenty of chances to execute. Encourage your defensemen to fire low, hard shots on net that the forwards will be able to deflect. This is a great game simulation drill for everybody!

Technorati Tags: Defensemen, Figure 8, Forwards, Game Simulation, Great Game, hockey deflection drills, Hockey Drill, Hockey Shooting Drills

I am often asked questions about hockey equipment––like, what brand names are best? what size to get? how much to spend? I have found that there is no “one single answer” to these questions that is correct for everyone. Taste in hockey gear is a very personal thing… and varies from one player to the next. All I can do is tell people what I like, and hopefully that helps to give a good starting point. So––today I’m going to tell you how I purchase my skates… feel free to comment on anything you agree or disagree with!

There are many different types of skates out there… some cheap, some expensive; some stiff and difficult to break in, others soft and easy to break in, some wide, some narrow… you get the point.

I personally look for 3 things when I’m purchasing a skate:

1. Comfort: I hate breaking new skates in – so I like a skate that will break in quickly, and won’t kill my feet in the process. I remember crying on the ice as a young kid breaking in new skates at the beginning of the season… With the types of materials available in skates today, breaking in skates doesn’t need to be as painful as it was in the past!
2. Durability: The only thing worse than breaking in new skates is having to do it again in the same season! I’ve found that if you buy cheap, you usually buy twice… especially with hockey skates. The higher-end skates will typically last longer, and you’ll save money in the long run. NOTE: This advice could vary if you are buying skates for a youth hockey player. Kids often outgrow their skates before they wear them out… so you might not need to purchase at the highest end of the durability scale in that case.
3. PRO-SHOP: This is the most important step for me. Hockey skates are one piece of equipment I do not recommend buying online. Make sure you purchase your skates from a knowledgeable pro-shop that will help you to get the proper size and to purchase a skate that makes sense for the type of hockey you’ll be playing. A good pro-shop will usually have a skate oven to bake your skates for you. This will custom fit the boot to your foot and will help you break in your skates more easily.

Here’s a quick tip I use to get the “perfect fit” as I’m trying on skates:

I like the tips of my toes to just barely brush the front of the boot while I’m standing with my knees straight. Then, when I bend my knees to skating position, my toes pull back in the boot to the ideal spot. Sizing my skates this way usually puts my skate about 1 size smaller than my shoe size.

Also––don’t be afraid to ask for a wide boot. I have a wide foot, and using a wide boot makes a world of difference for my comfort level.

So… you might be wondering which skate fits my criteria… I personally like Graf. I’ve used Graf skates for about 12 years now and won’t use anything else. I have found them to be easy to break in, very durable, and extremely comfortable when I get them sized correctly and baked.

What skates have you had success with? Which ones have you disliked? Let me know!

Technorati Tags: 3 Things, Brand Names, Buying Hockey Skates, Buying Skates, Durability, Good Starting Point, Hockey Equipment, Hockey Gear, Hockey Player, Hockey Skates, Many Different Types, Money, Personal Thing, Youth Hockey

Click Here for a printout of the Wiseman Drill you can take to the rink with you.

The “Wiseman Drill,” named after one of my old coaches, is a great passing and timing drill (one of my favorites!). This drill incorporates many game simulation concepts such as one-touch passes, timing, support, offensive attack, and odd-man rushes. Furthermore, there are numerous variations and options you can work through with your team. So be creative, and have some fun with this one!

Technorati Tags: Game Simulation, Hockey Drills, hockey passing drills, hockey timing drills, Odd Man, Offensive Attack, One Of My Favorites, Simulation Concepts, Variations

Click Here for a printout of the Dot Drill off ice hockey drills Instructions.

The Dot Drill is one of the most effective off-ice hockey agility drills I’ve ever seen. This drill is easy and inexpensive to set up, and only takes about a minute of the athlete’s time each day – so there are no excuses not to do it!

Remember, the dots should be placed in a 2′ x 3′ rectangle, with one dot in the middle. Each dot should be about 5″ in diameter. You can spray paint the dots onto your garage or basement floor, or onto an old piece of carpet. You could also use something less permanent such as sidewalk chalk or tape.

I prefer the rubber dot drill mats because they have better grip and are more durable. If you decide to get one, make sure you pick up one of the thicker ones with the dots embedded in the mat itself – not just painted on.

CLICK PICTURE to order your own high-quality dot drill mat

Technorati Tags: Agility Drills, Athlete, Basement Floor, Carpet, Diameter, Dot, Dots, Embedded, Garage Floor, High Quality, Hockey Agility Drills, Hockey Drill, Hockey Drills, Ice Hockey Drills, Mat, Rectangle, Rubber Mats, Sidewalk Chalk, Spray Paint