Ice Hockey is an Excellent Sports Training Routine

Few sports are as high-contact as ice hockey. As a very high-risk sport, ice hockey players train and strengthen their bodies to be more resilient and less susceptible to long-term injury during an ice hockey game. While many ice hockey players are only on the ice for a minute or two at a time during an ice hockey game, those short moments are why they do ice hockey training year-round. The tremendous output of explosive and aggressive energy, coupled with such intense concentration, requires the ice hockey player to submit to a rigorous ice hockey training routine. Generally the areas of main importance for an ice hockey player are their arms, back/core, and quadriceps. The efficiency and power of these muscles will determine much of how well an ice hockey player will perform during an ice hockey game. As far as calorie burning goes, an ice hockey player weighing 130lbs burns 472, 155lbs burns 563, and 190lbs burns 690 per hour. Since ice hockey burns so many calories and is such a good workout, you can improve your results with a lean and healthy diet. Your trainer or nutritionist can help guide you to an ideal diet.

The Importance of Leg Strength in Ice Hockey

The quadriceps are in the front and sides of your thigh and are the strongest and leanest muscles in the human body. All four muscles which make up the quadriceps attach to the knee cap and are why we can extend our legs to walk, run, jump, and squat. Hockey players depend on their quads to gain speed and stop when needed in an ice hockey game. Lunge squats are quite beneficial for ice hockey training honing in on the quads. With an Olympic sized barbell and the appropriate amount of weights, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and the bar held to the back of your shoulders. Slowly step one foot in front of you and with control, bend your knee to a 90 degree angle. In the same slow manner, stand up and repeat on the opposite side.

Strengthening Your Arms to Improve Your Game

Strong arms are crucial in an ice hockey game. They often help when making a sudden change in direction, and are in control of the ice hockey stick, and therefore the ice hockey puck. The force of a slap shot in an ice hockey game begins with the player's shoulder. With your trainer, grab some dumbbells and keeping your arms straight, lift them at your side to make your body a t-shape. The shoulder creates the momentum in the ice hockey stick, but the forearm, wrist, and hands control where the puck goes. To strengthen your forearms and wrists, see if your gym has a wrist roller. With the appropriate amount of weight attached to the wrist roller, wind the weight up from the ground. Be careful with how much weight you put on the roller; injury often results when athletes overestimate themselves.

The Back and Core Muscles' Role In Ice Hockey

A lack of back and core development creates a significant injury risk. An ice hockey player must have a strong core before he even steps out on the ice for an ice hockey game. Without proper ice hockey training, even just a quick movement you don't notice at the time can cause a tear or a slipped disk. The most effective exercise for the back is the superman. With an exercise ball, or without if you feel confident, get on all fours (use your feet to hold you up, not your knees). Slowly lift one leg simultaneously with the opposite arm, then slowly let them down and repeat. Have your trainer with you to inspect your form and keep you motivated. You will find this to be a challenging exercise, but you will reap the benefits from this section of ice hockey training.