player tips

A friend in Minnesota, the Great State of Hockey, loves fishing during the summer months. While early season fish are abundant, when the calendar turns to mid-July and August – the dog days of summer – fishing slows down. But these are the summer months when he gets the most excited!

Why? Because it’s the time of year when skill wins.

Many fisherman during these months don’t put in the time to try new presentations to catch fish. They are sort of stuck in the same old way of doing things, and the result is very few fish finding their way into the frying pan. However, if time is invested in skill development and in this case, exploring new ways to catch fish, the results speak for themselves.

For hockey players, this fish story is no different than the hockey season. There will be the ‘grind’, when you are physically and mentally tired. You have already played a lot of games and you still have a lot to go, plus playoffs!

The question is, what are you doing now, during the off-season, to prepare for the grind, or the dog days of the season. Are you preparing yourself so that when the team needs you most, you can answer the call and score that big goal.

Players who prepare now, trying new moves, perfecting their stride, shooting pucks on a regular basis, they are the players who will outperform the opponents during the season. It takes dedication and commitment during the off-season to not just hit the ice this fall in great shape, but perhaps more importantly, to carry your team through the tough stretches of the season.

Work hard this summer, train with a purpose and you will be ready for the mid-season grind when, like many fishermen, many hockey players go through a slump. Train hard and be ready to take advantage of the opportunity, because when everyone else slows down, the best players speed up.

Good luck and we look forward to seeing you at the rink soon!

Click here for a full list of our remaining summer hockey schools.