5 Ways To Improve At Denver University Hockey Camp

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The thrill of lacing up your skates and hitting the ice at the University of Denver Hockey Camp! As a young hockey player, you're about to embark on an incredible journey of skill-building, teamwork, and camaraderie. To make the most of this experience, here are five ways to improve your game and take your hockey skills to the next level.

Mastering the Fundamentals

Before you can start working on advanced skills, you need to make sure you have a solid foundation in the basics. This includes skating, passing, shooting, and stickhandling. Focus on proper technique and practice these skills until they become second nature.

• Skating: Work on your agility, speed, and endurance. Practice crossovers, turns, and stopping.
• Passing: Focus on accurate and strong passing. Practice passing with both your forehand and backhand.
• Shooting: Develop a quick and accurate shot. Practice shooting with both your forehand and backhand.
• Stickhandling: Practice stickhandling with both your forehand and backhand. Focus on keeping your head up and staying relaxed.

Breaking Down the Fundamentals

To take your fundamentals to the next level, break down each skill into smaller components. For example:

• Skating: Focus on proper edge work, knee bend, and weight distribution.
• Passing: Practice passing with different types of passes, such as saucer passes and slap passes.
• Shooting: Focus on proper shooting technique, including grip, stance, and follow-through.
• Stickhandling: Practice stickhandling with different types of moves, such as toe drags and puck flips.

Developing Your Game Sense

Game sense is the ability to read the game and make smart decisions on the ice. To develop your game sense, focus on the following:

• Watch the game: Observe how players move on the ice, how they create scoring opportunities, and how they defend.
• Play with players who are better than you: Playing with more experienced players will help you learn new skills and develop your game sense.
• Practice decision-making: Practice making quick decisions on the ice, such as whether to pass or shoot.

Reading the Game

To develop your game sense, you need to be able to read the game. This means anticipating what will happen next and making smart decisions based on that anticipation. Here are some tips for reading the game:

• Watch the puck: Keep an eye on the puck at all times and anticipate where it will go next.
• Watch the players: Observe the movements and body language of the players on the ice. This will help you anticipate what they will do next.
• Anticipate the play: Use your knowledge of the game to anticipate what will happen next. For example, if you see a player carrying the puck into the zone, you can anticipate that they will pass to a teammate.

Building Your Strength and Conditioning

To be a successful hockey player, you need to have a strong and conditioned body. This means focusing on exercises that improve your strength, power, and endurance. Here are some tips for building your strength and conditioning:

• Focus on lower body strength: Hockey players need strong legs to skate and jump. Focus on exercises like squats, lunges, and deadlifts.
• Incorporate plyometrics: Plyometric exercises, such as jump squats and box jumps, will help improve your power and explosiveness.
• Improve your core strength: A strong core will help you maintain good posture and stability on the ice. Focus on exercises like planks and Russian twists.

Creating a Strength and Conditioning Plan

To build your strength and conditioning, you need to create a plan that is tailored to your needs and goals. Here are some tips for creating a plan:

• Assess your strengths and weaknesses: Identify areas where you need to improve and focus on exercises that will help you build those skills.
• Set specific goals: Set specific goals for what you want to achieve and create a plan that will help you get there.
• Incorporate variety: Incorporate a variety of exercises into your plan to keep things interesting and prevent plateaus.

Mental Preparation and Focus

To be a successful hockey player, you need to have a strong mental game. This means focusing on mental preparation and staying focused under pressure. Here are some tips for mental preparation and focus:

• Practice visualization: Visualize yourself playing well and achieving your goals. This will help you stay focused and motivated.
• Develop a pre-game routine: Develop a pre-game routine that helps you get focused and ready to play.
• Stay positive: Stay positive and focused, even when things aren't going your way.

Developing a Pre-Game Routine

To develop a pre-game routine, start by identifying what works best for you. Here are some tips:

• Experiment with different routines: Try out different routines to see what works best for you.
• Incorporate visualization: Incorporate visualization into your routine to help you stay focused and motivated.
• Stay consistent: Stick to your routine and make adjustments as needed.

Conclusion

Attending the University of Denver Hockey Camp is an incredible opportunity to improve your hockey skills and take your game to the next level. By focusing on the fundamentals, developing your game sense, building your strength and conditioning, and practicing mental preparation and focus, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful hockey player.