Back to Basics

Hello Everyone,
 
I hope you are all doing well and happy to be back on the ice, in some form or another. I have had a chance to skate now with many athletes (socially distanced of course) and let me tell you I am so grateful to see all the smiling faces!
 
I wanted to take the time to talk about one of the main fundamentals of skating: stance. Proper hockey position is the building block for every other hockey skill. It can give you twice the power on every stride; better passing accuracy and even a harder shot. When we teach a proper hockey stance we want to see:
 
*Knees bent at 90 degrees.
 
*On Flatts, feet roughly shoulder width apart, chin in a straight line with your knee and toe. 
 
*Hips are low; butt is out and shoulders back. 
 
*Eyes up
 
You want to have a solid stance so you can get a full extension stride. On every stride we want to see you push at a 45 degree angle to a straight leg and finish with a toe flick. You are only able to get full extensions strides and proper toe flick if you are nice and low and have a solid hockey stance. 
 
I know I am constantly saying ‘bend your knees’ and ‘get lower’ but it really is the most important part of skating. Staying low with help you have better balance and lower your center of gravity therefore making you a stronger more efficient skater.