Hockey Game Sharpening Drills on Synthetic Ice

Synthetic ice is becoming extremely popular these days with all of the stay-at-home orders that have been announced all over the country. The great thing about this amazing flooring is that it can be installed virtually anywhere that has a hard flat surface. This means that you can turn your garage or basement, or even your driveway into a lifelike ice skating rink and enjoy all of the perks of a high-quality experience. Of course, you can do most of the same kinds of drills that you would on regular ice but we have put together a few of our own drills that you can practice on synthetic ice at home.

Shooting

If you don’t have one already, get a hockey shooting tarp. This makes practicing much more robust and gives that extra touch of finesse that players need to stay ahead of the game. Make sure you have enough pucks within reach to practice your shots unless you like to chase each one that you shoot. Take note of your target and shift your body into position. Aim carefully then use your skills to hit the target every time. If you miss your target, keep shooting at it until you hit it. Synthetic ice is built to be tough and ready to handle brutal practice sessions. A word of caution, though; the more you practice, the better you get so get ready to be in high demand if you keep it up.

Passing

With the help of a PassMaster passer and rebounder, get yourself set up on the surface that you created with your synthetic ice where your pucks are within reach. Aim your pucks at the PassMaster to get them to bounce straight back at you. Practice these passes from different angles and distances around your flooring. Practice the backhand pass and the forehand pass intermittently between each pass. Switch hands and sides so that you strengthen your weaker side.

Stickhandling

You will only need one puck for this exercise. Position yourself in the middle of your flooring where there is nothing in your way and you are far away from the edges. Place the puck on the synthetic ice just before you where you can tap it with your stick and your shoulders are squared in the middle. Start out slow and slap the puck to the right, then catch it with your stick. Pass it back to the left. Allow your arms to stretch out as far as they can from side to side with each pass back and forth. Right to left, then left to right again. When you do this you allow your muscles to stretch far out from each side so that you build your stickhandling skills, and stretch your muscles at the same time.

Skating

As long as you have a big enough area to skate on, you will be able to practice these moves. Keeping it simple slowly skate in a figure 8 shape on your flooring three times to the right, then switch it up and skate a figure 8 three times towards the right. Start out slow, then progressively speed yourself up to where it gets difficult and uncomfortable. Keep yourself in this mode for 3 minutes at a time then slow down again. Repeat this exercise 3 times.

Constant Practice

Staying in shape and continuing to practice every day is extremely beneficial for any hockey player. Although you should always allow room for rest so that you don’t overdo anything make sure you don’t rest too much. That’s how you get soft. Stay hard. Practice regularly.