A hockey net on an ice rink, with a puck in front of the net and a person on skates holding a stick, but you can only see the person's legs and the stick.

Developing Skills: Targeting a Specific Skill

Hockey is considered the national sport of Canada. Perhaps, it is because Canada’s climate is cold for many months of the year, and since large bodies of water freeze over in winter, Canadians have taken to the sport of skating, hockey, and other ice games.

Since the hockey season was cut short this year, many people are missing their workouts on the ice. Although we are now heading into the warmer summer months, Canadians who love the game of hockey will train throughout the year. Some people will play field hockey, others stay fit by doing dryland training.

For those who just want to have some fun. Try these hockey challenges and games described below.

Pool Noodle Hockey or BroomBall “hockey”

To practice your stickhandling or your shooting skills

Materials: any small ball, a pool noodle (more than one if you are playing with others), or a broom, or a hockey stick/mini stick, and objects (like cones) to set up a metre or so apart to act as a net or obstacles to weave around

  • You can practice your stickhandling by moving the ball around obstacles, or play “keep away” with someone at home, by stickhandling the ball while the other person tries to push the ball away from you.
  • You can practice your shots trying to shoot the ball through the two cones using your pool noodle, a broom, or an old hockey stick (Be sure you are outdoors or in an open space where nothing will get broken.).
  • You can also do these challenges sitting down and using a mini hockey stick, even a spatula or wooden spoon could work. Try to score from various angles and distances.

For the more serious hockey player, who is missing being on the ice and wants to keep up their strength and skills, there are some links below for you to keep yourself in shape for the upcoming hockey season.