Scoring goals is an unselfish, team-building contribution. As a former hook-and-hold defenseman who didn’t score goals, I’m about to let you in on Alex Ovechkin’s secret. Don’t believe pundits who point to special physical gifts that account for Ovi’s dominance as the most prolific scorer of our generation. The pundits are knowledgeable hockey folks, but […]
None of it should be slow Two U.S. Olympic Teams trained for more than six months prior to their respective Olympics: the 1980 men and the 2018 women. They did no slow conditioning – none – and both won gold medals. Both teams finished the game executing skills at the same fast pace as at […]
Winners of (almost) all recent major hockey tournaments played a more skillful, passing game This is just an opinion column. I’m not quoting hard data. I believe the winners of (almost) all recent major hockey tournaments played a more skillful, passing game compared to other contenders who tried to overcome superior skills with dump-chase-hit game […]
Like the one in the rulebook I don’t coach anymore. Never had children. And I attend most games with absolutely no interest in the outcome. So I’m not biased, I don’t yell instructions to players, or scream obscenities at referees. Not that this is a feather in my cap. I used to yell like an […]
Is it a gold medal? A state championship? A place on the varsity roster? The Team USA women prepared for the gold medal showdown with Canada – just as the Canadian women did – by planning a program that fit their goals, and following through every day for nearly four years. I wish I could […]
You’re not alone if you feel like a klutz cornering to the right. You’re not alone if you feel like a klutz (like me) cornering to the right. Did you ever wonder if you’re the only one who struggles more doing crossover corners to the right (clockwise)? Actually, you’re in the majority. Furthermore, sprinters feel […]
What does he do to attain super-fast top speeds? In his second NHL season last year, as a 20-year-old, Connor McDavid won the Art Ross Trophy (league’s highest scorer with totals of 30-70–100), the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP) and the Ted Lindsay Memorial Trophy (league’s most outstanding player, selected by the NHL Players). Is […]
Are the best teams the biggest in the NHL? Are the best teams the biggest in the NHL? In case you get into a friendly debate, some facts are helpful, so I recommend a recent article by James Mirtle in TheAthletic.com. Put the latest NHL standings next to the charts provided by Mirtle, and you’ll see […]
Beginners will form good skating habits early if they’ve rehearsed those habits off-ice. Beginners will form good skating habits early if they’ve rehearsed those habits off-ice. Is this called “strength training,” or is it simply confidence gained in an unfamiliar position? I wonder if there’s a difference. Strength training is much more than building big […]
The top priority for youngsters is to “train” core muscles to work in concert with the muscles that move limbs. The trend in adult fitness programs to isolate core muscles to build six-pack abs is precisely what children and adolescents should NOT do. Why? 1. Isolating muscles does NOT increase athleticism, which is the very […]
