See below for a quick video outlining the influence of the stretch reflex and stretch shortening cycle in skating. Major Take-Away: The stretch reflex should primarily be trained in positions of deep hip and knee bend, with less focus on the more upright posture, short contact time exercises applicable to top speed sprinting OFF the… Read more
One of the key skating characteristics of elite hockey players is that they adopt a low skating position. From an off-ice training perspective, hockey players should first demonstrate that they have the mobility and low position strength and endurance to get into and hold these types of positions. Once this has been achieved, it can be helpful… Read more
In a previous post, I discussed two strategies to improve hip abduction range of motion as a means of allowing hockey players to increase stride length from a deeper skating position. A key point of emphasis from that post is that range of motion is more likely to be integrated into dynamic patterns if strength/stability are… Read more
One of the things I’ve heard coaches mention frequently over the years is that a player “doesn’t move well laterally.” There are some key physical contributors to transitional patterns (e.g. range of motion, eccentric strength & rate of force development, effective use of range-specific stretch-reflex/stretch-shortening cycle), but skating technique and body control are also essential to… Read more
Last week I shared some research highlighting differences between acceleration and steady state skating, and between elite and sub-elite skaters through these two skating phases. In response to those posts, I was asked if I had any favorite exercises to improve acceleration and top-end speed. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I typically approach the training process… 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.
“Kevin provides a unique blend of knowledge and practical application that produces both exceptional educational content for his respective audience, and tangible athletic results for his training populations.”
Anthony Donskov, Founder, Donskov Strength & Conditioning, Inc.