Table of Contents

Foreword by Pat Quinn

Fitness&Preparation

Good players are good skaters, and good skaters are strong and flexible. In this chapter, young players learn the essential exercises, warm-ups, stretching techniques and fitness routines they need to be the very best at the game of hockey.

Skating for Power&Speed

Skating is the most important skill in hockey. Quickness, agility and speed make other skills even more deadly. This chapter shows young players how to skate from a solid base, with power, body positioning, edge control and explosive starts.

Goal Scoring Secrets

Stickhandling, deking, passing, receiving and shooting – these are the basics every goal scorer must have. This chapter reveals how to study the goalie, work on shots and what the pros do to shoot fast, low and on the net – every time.

Playing Better Defense

The basic premise is this: every player on the ice who doesn’t have the puck is a defender. This chapter teaches young defense players checking skills, the importance of positioning and angling, how to read and react, and about the mid-ice lane and the danger zone – and much more.

Shutout Goaltending

Goalies can win games almost by themselves – and lose them, too. Which means goalies have be tough and dependable. Breakaways, rebounds, three-on-ones, shootarounds and faceoffs – this chapter gives young goalies the inside track on how to stay cool, no matter how tough it gets.

Special Teams

Hockey players learn how to make a difference on the power play and penalty-killing units by protecting the puck or checking, skating hard both ways and preventing goals as well as scoring them. The offensive zone, dumping the puck, reading and reacting, power-play faceoffs: here’s what every young hockey player needs to be on-ice at key moments.