The US men’s hockey team advanced to the gold medal game, with a 6-1 win over Finland Friday. All six goals were scored in the first period. (Feb. 26)

Increase skating endurance for ice hockey matches by working out on and off the ice. Skate longer in ice hockey with the tips in this free video on hockey basics from an experienced ice hockey player. Expert: Tim McKeig Contact: www.uncwhockey.com Bio: Tim McKeig has been playing ice hockey since high school. He played in multiple clubs and now plays for the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks, where he majors in communications. Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC

In ice hockey, it’s very important to know how to skate backwards. Learn how to play ice hockey with this free video lesson. Expert: Ben Lorey Bio: Ben Lorey has been playing the game of hockey for 25 years. He has experience in both ice and roller hockey. Lorey not only enjoys playing hockey, but he coaches as well. Filmmaker: Travis Waack

When attempting to score on a breakaway goal in hockey, keep up speed so the goalie does not get a chance to set up. Score breakaway goals in ice hockey with this free video on hockey basics from an experienced ice hockey player. Expert: Tim mckeig Contact: www.uncwhockey.com Bio: Tim mckeig has been playing ice hockey since high school. He played in multiple clubs and now plays for the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks, where he majors in communications. Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC

Keep legs shoulder-width apart when handling a puck in ice hockey. Handle the ice hockey puck like a pro with the tips in this free video on hockey basics from an experienced ice hockey player. Expert: Tim mckeig Contact: www.uncwhockey.com Bio: Tim mckeig has been playing ice hockey since high school. He played in multiple clubs and now plays for the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks, where he majors in communications. Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC

Slow & Steady Does NOT Win the Race

The game of hockey is characterized by short, explosive, high-intensity efforts interspersed with periods of complete rest.  The best hockey players in the world are the ones who are strong, fast, agile and powerful – not those who can run at 10 miles in the fastest time.  Hockey is simply not an endurance sport.  In fact, the best players on the ice tend to be the ones who perform poorly on off-ice tests of endurance.  

The challenge is that players feel as though they are becoming more fit for hockey by focusing on increasing their endurance in the off-season.  Players who go for long slow distance runs over the summer will definitely develop their endurance, but this enhancement will come at the expense of their ability to perform at the highest intensity level consistently throughout the game.

Do You Want to  Be “Fit” or “Fast”?

Ultimately, on the issue of proper conditioning for hockey, it comes down to choosing between being aerobically ‘fit’ or being strong, fast and powerful.  Players must make a trade-off when it comes to conditioning.  They can either possess a high level of endurance or game-breaking speed and quickness.  It is physiologically impossible to develop both of these qualities to their highest extent in athletes.  

Elite hockey players are speed and power athletes and must train to enhance those qualities.  Players must develop their ability to perform repeated high-intensity intervals and maintain their ‘jump’ and explosiveness throughout an entire game, instead of focusing on their ability to go for long distances at a moderate pace.

In the majority of cases, young players are simply unaware that the endurance training they are devoting so much time and energy to is actually detrimental to their overall performance on the ice. 

Bottom line:  When young players focus on doing long slow distance training instead of high-intensity interval-based training, they are quite often training themselves OUT of hockey shape and are making themselves SLOW.