In the evolving world of sports performance, common practices often reign supreme until challenged by innovative, sometimes contrarian thoughts. At Hardbody Athlete, we subscribe to a philosophy that places significant value on specialized, on-ice training over traditional weight room sessions, especially for high-performance hockey players. This approach draws inspiration from the insights of Buddy Morris and is further exemplified by the training regimen of elite NHL player Nikita Kucherov.
Rethinking Off-Season Training
The typical off-season regimen for many athletes includes heavy doses of strength training, often at the expense of sport-specific skills. However, akin to a musician who must continually practice their instrument to perform flawlessly at a concert, hockey players need to hone their on-ice skills even during the off-season.
Nikita Kucherov, a top NHL player, illustrates this philosophy perfectly. He spends his summers not away from the rink, but on it, practicing the nuances of the game that make him one of the best. His routine includes mastering puck control, shooting from consistent positions, and understanding the physics of puck behavior on ice. This dedicated practice to “the little things” contributes significantly to his in-game performance, showcasing that excellence in hockey demands more than just physical strength; it requires relentless skill refinement.
The Developmental Gantt Chart
Our programming at Hardbody Athlete incorporates what we refer to as the Developmental Gantt chart. This tool guides us to prioritize on-ice training as athletes advance in their skill levels, gradually reducing the emphasis on weight room time. The rationale is simple: the more proficient an athlete becomes, the more they need to refine and perfect their specific sport skills in the context where they perform.
The Philosophy of Training Elite Athletes
Buddy Morris, a respected strength and conditioning coach, once explained that training elite athletes should not dramatically differ from training beginners in terms of the focus on general movements. However, for elite athletes, the primary sport activity becomes the most significant stressor and should be the focus of training efforts. This philosophy supports our approach—where the demand of playing hockey itself guides the training regimen, reverting other forms of physical conditioning to a more supportive, general role.
Practical Considerations for Elite Hockey Training
- Skill Over Strength: At higher levels, the focus shifts significantly towards skill acquisition and maintenance over gaining strength. This does not eliminate the need for physical training but emphasizes that its role becomes secondary to sport-specific skills.
- Time Management: Every hour an elite player spends in the weight room could be time spent on the ice, perfecting the skills directly related to their performance during games.
- Recovery and Adaptation: High-level athletes require intense stimuli to continue adapting, but this also means they need more recovery time. This recovery doesn’t always have to be physical; mental and tactical recovery and learning are equally vital, as seen in Kucherov’s mentally taxing on-ice sessions.
- Individual Needs Over Trends: While trends in training methods are informative, they should not distract from addressing the individual needs and goals of the athlete. For elite players, specificity in training—practicing the exact skills and scenarios they face in competition—is paramount.
Conclusion
Nikita Kucherov’s training strategy and Buddy Morris’s wisdom remind us that mastering hockey isn’t about preparing to play the game; it’s about playing the game itself as the primary form of preparation. At Hardbody Athlete, we encourage our athletes to spend more time on the ice as they progress, ensuring that every drill and session enhances their ability to perform when it counts. Common practice in training doesn’t always lead to the best outcomes—sometimes, the best practice is found in directly engaging with the sport itself.