The path to professional hockey starts with the fundamentals

We all know that practice makes perfect, but do you think that the stars of the NHL made it to where they are by practicing those fancy between the legs passes? No, they worked day in and day out to perfect the fundamentals of the game. Acceleration, the mechanics of a wrist shot, transitions, puck management - these are the tools of the trade, and they are the foundation of a successful career in hockey.

There are many different routes taken to professional hockey, but some of the most successful players are deeply rooted in the fundamentals of the game. From the technical aspects of a shot to the use of their hockey IQ, a lot of these skills have been learned at hockey camps when those players were young and eager to learn. Okanagan Hockey offers hockey training camps in Kelowna, Penticton, Edmonton and Calgary that focus on the key aspects of the game and the basic fundamentals that each player on the ice should possess.

“It’s great when you start out young, but the game has changed a lot as to what we offer kids,” explained Blake Wesley, Manager of Camp Operations at Okanagan Hockey. “There are a lot more position specific programs that are offered to kids. Whether it’s goalie specific, defencemen specific, for the forwards its shooting, scoring and there's a lot of attention to the details about the game when you break the game down into their positions. That’s one way I think that you can promote long term development of the athlete, it doesn’t matter where and when they start.”

According to Wesley, the fundamentals include not only skating, shooting and puck management skills, but also character traits, such as motivation and passion.

Starting with the fundamentals, here are three tips to train like a pro.

Be confident, passionate and motivated

Excelling at most anything in life requires a high level of motivation, and the same goes for excelling at hockey. Okanagan Hockey camps teach kids not only the fundamental skills required on the ice, but also the character traits that it takes to make it big.

“It’s all dependent on their attitude I think,” added Wesley. “On their character, their commitment to have an internal leadership and what their goals are. In order for them to improve every day they have to be committed and have that knowledge and passion for it.”

Wesley also noted that the camps help kids to build confidence on and off the ice.

Focus on strong, solid skating

Arguably the most important fundamental skill to master is skating. Without a good stride, acceleration, balance and overall ability to get from place to place on the ice faster and stronger than your opponents, the other fundamental skills won’t have much impact. Stance, posture, balance and all of the other mechanics of skating are the building blocks that a skilled hockey player must stand on.

Train consistently: What’s an off-season?

If you want to make it to the show, you have to put in the work. Consistent training, even when the hockey season has concluded and your friends are at the beach, is key to development.

“The players that are achieving professional status now have a great game sense and understanding,” said Wesley. “Their physical development and their fundamental skill set development are all consistent with their level of motivation to get to that level. They train almost 10-12 months of the year and that's what separates the good guys from the average guys.”

Focusing on the skills specific to your position are incredibly important as well. Luckily, Okanagan Hockey offers camps specific to each position and skill, including goalie development, skating, speed, battle and compete, defence, shooting and scoring camps and more.

Begin with mastering the fundamental skills of the game, and once you have those skills locked down, then you can start making fancy plays like Crosby!

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