April 2025 Player Challenge

Welcome to Month 1 of the Summer Challenge! This month focuses on skating stance, leg strength, puck control, and explosive starts. Each drill has clear instructions for setup and execution. To earn credit, record one round of each drill—but for real progress, repeat the suggested number of sets. Train hard, stay consistent, and have fun!

📹 Record: 1 round of 60 seconds
🔥 Suggested Training: Do 2–3 sets with 30 seconds rest between
🎯 Focus: Leg strength, balance, posture, puck control

📋 How to Do It: Find a flat surface. Get into a deep hockey stance—knees bent, chest up, back flat. Stickhandle a ball or puck side-to-side in front of you. Keep your head up and maintain your stance.

📹 Record: 1 round of 30 seconds
🔥 Suggested Training: Repeat 2–3 rounds for max hand speed and control
🎯 Focus: Quick hands, puck feel, control under pressure

📋 How to Do It: Mark a 2’x2′ square on the ground with tape, cones, or chalk. Stickhandle rapidly within the box, keeping the puck or ball inside the area. Focus on speed without losing control.

📹 Record: 1 round of 10 steps each direction
🔥 Suggested Training: Complete 3–5 rounds with short rest between
🎯 Focus: Lateral agility, leg strength, skating stride

📋 How to Do It: In your hockey stance, step sideways using crossover steps—right over left for 10 steps, then reverse. Keep your knees bent and shoulders level. You can do this on shoes or rollerblades.

📹 Record: 1 set of 10 quick wrist shots
🔥 Suggested Training: Do 2–3 sets focusing on speed and accuracy
🎯 Focus: Shooting mechanics, release speed

📋 How to Do It: Set up 10 pucks or balls. Take quick wrist shots one after another. Focus on quick release, not power. Use a shooting pad, garage wall, or net if available.

📹 Record: 1 wall sit for 45 seconds
🔥 Suggested Training: Do 2–3 sets of 45 seconds with 30 seconds rest
🎯 Focus: Leg endurance, posture, core strength

📋 How to Do It: Find a wall and sit against it with your knees bent at 90°, like you’re sitting in a chair. Hold your stick across your lap or stickhandle while holding the position.

📹 Record: 1 full sprint down and back (10 yards each way)
🔥 Suggested Training: Repeat 3–5 sprints with rest in between
🎯 Focus: Explosiveness, quick stops, conditioning

📋 How to Do It: Mark a 10-yard distance using cones, tape, or chalk. Sprint from one end to the other, stop quickly, then return. Focus on quick starts and explosive stops.

📹 Record: 30 seconds on one leg
🔥 Suggested Training: Repeat on both legs, 2–3 sets per leg
🎯 Focus: Balance, core stability, puck control

📋 How to Do It: Stand on one leg in a hockey stance and stickhandle a puck or ball in front of you. Switch legs after each set. Try not to put your foot down or wobble.

📹 Record: 1 set of 30 seconds of stickhandling while jumping every 5 seconds
🔥 Suggested Training: Repeat 2–3 rounds while maintaining control
🎯 Focus: Coordination, agility, control under movement

📋 How to Do It: Stickhandle a puck or ball while standing in place. Every 5 seconds, do a small vertical jump and land in your stance. Continue stickhandling throughout.