Physical Preparation for Ice Hockey

Book excerpt: This book was written for both hockey player and coach. Hockey has been a passion of mine since early childhood. I was born and raised in Canada and relocated to the United States in 1990. Hockey has been the fabric of our family tree. From youth hockey to having the opportunity to play at the minor professional level, I have enjoyed this great game and the life lessons it has instilled along the way. It was during my career in university where coaching became a passion. I loved the weight room, the preparation, and the process. It was, and still is, a place of solace for me—a classroom. My love for strength and conditioning was born in the sweaty confines of the Miami (OH) strength and conditioning facility located in Oxford, Ohio, and run by then strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple. Coach D instilled pride, work ethic, and belief in his athletes. Our two-thousand-square foot weight room was a place of preparation, competition, and embodied the team-first spirit. At that instant, I knew my calling was to serve as a coach. I owe much gratitude and appreciation to Coach D. He was a mentor to me! Thanks, Coach, your imprint has left an indelible mark.