One of the many differences between goalies and forwards/defensemen in hockey is that they rely more on short, powerful pushes to move around the crease, whereas skating is characterized by longer pushes. Traditional jump training has a lot of value in improving lower body power in players at all positions, but when this work is… Read more
Lateral and rotational jumps can help goalies improve the speed at which they get across the crease. One piece of feedback I’ve heard from goalies over the years is that after going through a training phase to improve speed/power, they OVER push, and end up past the position they need to be in. A couple… Read more
Goalies need to generate power in lateral and rotational patterns. The Lateral Bound with Rotational Rebound is an example of a jump progression that emphasizes both patterns along with body control through the transition. The goal is to cover as much ground as possible in each jump, while controlling the transition and the landing. We’ll… Read more
In viewing the game demands for hockey goalies, it’s apparent they do not need the same focus on anaerobic capacity that is often essential for forwards and defensemen to integrate into their training programs. This picture is adapted from the “Performance Profiling as a Platform for Program Design” presentation I gave at our Optimizing Adaptation… Read more
The goalie position has unique physical demands compared to forwards and defensemen that should factor into the training process. This image shows heart rate data (courtesy of @dmcconnell29) from a goalie in a game and a practice. Clearly there are differences in the conditioning demands in how goalies are being utilized in practices compared to… Read more
Kevin has rapidly established himself as a leader in the field of physical preparation and sports science for ice hockey. He is currently the Head Performance Coach for the Boston Bruins, where he oversees all aspects of designing and implementing the team’s performance training program, as well as monitoring the players’ performance, workload and recovery. Prior to Boston, Kevin spent 2 years as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Jose Sharks after serving as the Director of Performance at Endeavor Sports Performance in Pitman, NJ. He also spent 5 years as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with USA Hockey’s Women’s Olympic Hockey Team, and has been an invited speaker at conferences hosted by the NHL, NSCA, and USA Hockey.
“I’ve trained with Kevin/Endeavor since before my first year in the USHL. As a smaller guy, having the ability to create time and space has been crucial to my success. Kevin’s programs have helped me develop the speed and quickness I need to compete at the highest levels, and the conditioning to continue pushing the pace late in games. If you’re looking to fulfill your potential on the ice, Kevin is the guy to help you get there.”
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames, NHL