Always Evolving
Whether it is the rules, the speed and strength of the players, or the equipment they wear, there is always something new being invented or improved. Hockey is an incredibly equipment-heavy sport so it should come as no surprise that these equipment companies are always evolving alongside the game. As new technologies develop, we can clearly notice new levels of greatness on the ice. Some of these advancements in training equipment have been well documented, but some, the general public probably isn’t even aware of. As we approach the new NHL season, let’s take a look at some of the newest advancements in hockey equipment and training technology.
Skating Treadmills
One of the cooler inventions that we have seen over the past few years, hockey treadmills are becoming an essential training tool for dryland training. These are exactly what they sound like: players can use ice skates on the surface which keeps rolling either forward or in reverse. Like a running treadmill, the skating treadmill can be used as a way of exercising, but it can also be used to improve skating technique or in the rehabilitation of an injury. Skating treadmills are also handy for new goaltenders who are practicing how to skate with all their equipment on.
Video Analysis
It seems like with every sport these days, players are spending just as much time in the video room as they are in the weight room. That is because the game has become a learning experience for players, and those that are eager to improve can get a front row seat to their own performances on video. It is also an excellent way to scout opposing teams to study their tendencies. Video analysis is handy in player development as well. Watching yourself can give you an idea of where you are lacking efficiency and technique on the ice, as well as how you react to situations and where you can make improvements.
Weighted Equipment
Weighted sticks and pucks are widely used to improve stickhandling skills and strengthen wrist muscles. They generally are not used for taking shots, but using weighted equipment is an excellent way of developing weaknesses like backhand passes. You can wear weighted equipment like wrist or ankle weights, which can help with mobility and quickness on the ice. The idea is similar to how baseball players use weighted bats when they are making practice swings on deck. Using weighted equipment helps build the muscles you need so that when you aren’t using a weighted stick, stickhandling and shooting will be that much easier!
Virtual Reality
Yes, virtual reality is already being utilized for athletes and now it is benefiting hockey player training as well. Teams like the New Jersey Devils are utilizing virtual reality in their training, particularly for players during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Oculus VR headsets, players are tasked with putting themselves right in the middle of scenarios like a 5 on 3 penalty kill. The players are then asked what their decision making would be given the situation, and coaches and trainers can replay the scenario as often as they want to provide the player with all different angles. It can also be used as a way to get injured players with a simulation of being back on the ice, which could be a revolutionary way to keep players in mentally in game shape.
Coach Tablets
The technology is infiltrating the benches as well. Like in the NFL and the NBA, NHL coaches are now allowed to hold tablets while on the bench. The tablets give players a play by play of their last shift, in case there is something that requires a teachable moment. Coaches themselves can watch replays from the bench and spot trends or weaknesses in the other team. Rather than having to draw these situations out on a whiteboard, coaches can now use visuals from within this actual game to teach their players lessons on the fly.
Dryland Stickhandling Products
For many reasons, some of which include ice expense, players are looking to have more training equipment at home. There are a myriad of stickhandling products on the market including the SuperDeker stickhandling tool and the HockeyShot mat. Both have similar ideas as they are improving stickhandling and general puck control with a weighted puck. The SuperDeker has several different play modes that will help you to stickhandle and build strength in the players’ arms and wrists.
Cognitive Programs
These days, it pays to be a cognitive player rather than one that just floats around the ice. There are several online cognitive programs that players can take to to improve hockey sense in a game scenario. These are strictly for raising player IQ in certain situations, and are very similar to what can be learned from the coach’s tablets and the video analysis room. One of these is the Hockey Intelligym which boasts over 2.6 million USA Hockey simulations, as well as over 30 years of development using an Isareli Air Force pilot training software. The power of technology has truly been able to change the way that players approach dryland training, and can have a lasting effect on their on-ice performance.
The Equipment
Perhaps the most important improvements for player performance has been the technology of the equipment. For decades we used the same types of equipment for hockey, and until recently, things never really changed. Now, equipment is lighter, more protective, and even has extra ventilation for airing out odors. A few years back composite shafts made of fiberglass rapidly replaced existing composite sticks and blades. Now, you would be hard pressed to find an NHL player that doesn’t use a composite stick due to its incredible shooting abilities.
