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How to Lace Hockey Skates for Comfort, Performance, and Support

Lacing your hockey skates might seem like a simple step before hitting the ice—but the way you lace your skates can make a huge difference in how you perform and how comfortable you feel. Proper lacing affects: Fit and support Foot stability Ankle mobility Injury prevention Whether you’re a beginner, a goalie, or a seasoned player, learning the right way to lace your hockey skates ensures you stay confident, secure, and pain-free during every shift. Let’s break it down! 1. Why Lacing Your Skates Correctly Matters Think of your laces like the tuning knobs on a guitar. Too loose? You lose control. Too tight? You risk numbness, cramps, or even long-term foot issues. Good lacing helps you: Lock your heel in place to prevent slipping Support your ankles without restricting motion Avoid lace bite (pain across the top of your foot) Skate more efficiently with better energy transfer 2. Basic Method: Traditional Criss-Cross Lacing This is the most common and beginner-friendly method used by players at all levels. ✅ Step-by-Step: Start at the bottom eyelets: Thread the lace evenly through both bottom holes. Criss-cross the laces: Pull each lace across the boot and insert it from the outside in (over-under…

Hockey Equipment

Do Hockey Skates Need to Be Broken In? How to Do It the Right Way

Got a brand new pair of hockey skates? Excited to hit the ice? Hold up—before you dive into a full game or intense practice, there’s something crucial you need to know: Yes, hockey skates need to be broken in. Just like a new pair of shoes or boots, hockey skates require a break-in period to mold to your feet and feel comfortable. Without it, you risk blisters, foot pain, poor performance, and even long-term injuries. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why breaking in hockey skates is necessary, how to do it properly, and what mistakes to avoid—so you can skate in comfort and confidence. 1. Why Do Hockey Skates Need to Be Broken In? Hockey skates are built with stiff, durable materials like carbon fiber, reinforced plastic, and thick padding for maximum protection and performance. But those materials don’t flex easily right out of the box. Breaking in skates allows: The boot to mold to your foot shape The padding to compress around pressure points A tighter, more responsive fit for performance Prevention of blisters and hotspots Without breaking them in, new skates can feel painfully tight, especially around the ankles, toes, and arches. A proper break-in process…

Hockey Equipment

Do Hockey Skates Run Big or Small? The Ultimate Fit Guide

If you're buying your first pair of hockey skates—or even upgrading to a new model—you might be surprised to hear that hockey skates don’t fit like regular shoes. In fact, one of the most common questions people ask is: “Do hockey skates run big or small?” Short answer? Hockey skates typically run smaller than your regular shoe size, but there’s more to the story. Skate fit depends on brand, model, foot shape, and even skill level. In this guide, we’ll break down how hockey skates fit, how sizing works, and how to make sure you get the right pair the first time. 1. Do Hockey Skates Run Big or Small? They Usually Run Small—But Not Always Most hockey skates are 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than your regular shoe size. For example, if you wear a men's size 10 in sneakers, you’ll likely wear a size 8.5 or 9 in hockey skates. But here's where it gets tricky: Different brands (like Bauer, CCM, and TRUE) have different sizing systems. Some skates are made with a narrow or wide fit in mind. Performance-level skates may have a snugger fit for better control and responsiveness. Bottom line: Hockey skates generally run smaller…

Hockey Training

Maximizing Your Off-Season: The Ultimate Hockey Player’s Training Plan

If you're serious about how to get better at hockey, your off-season is just as important as your in-season. It’s the perfect time to focus on building strength, refining skills, and developing the mental toughness necessary to take your game to the next level. While the regular season often keeps you in a routine of practices and games, the off-season offers you the freedom to hone in on specific areas of your game that need improvement. Whether you're looking to increase your speed on the ice, improve your stickhandling, or get in peak physical shape, the off-season is when you can lay the groundwork for success in the months ahead. In this post, we’ll outline the ultimate training plan for hockey players—one that targets the essential components of hockey performance: strength, endurance, agility, and skill. 1. Conditioning: Building a Solid Aerobic Base The off-season is the ideal time to focus on your conditioning. Hockey requires a combination of high-intensity bursts and endurance, so improving both your aerobic and anaerobic fitness will pay off during the season. Interval Training: Incorporate HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts that simulate the on-ice action. These workouts should include short bursts of intense exercise followed by…

Hockey Shooting

The Evolution of the One-Timer: How to Perfect the Shot

The one-timer is one of the most explosive and effective shots in modern hockey. It’s a quick, often unstoppable weapon that has become a staple on power plays and in high-pressure scoring situations. From Ovechkin’s left-circle rockets to Stamkos’s deadly releases, the one-timer has evolved into an art form—and if you want to level up your shooting game, it’s a skill worth mastering. Here’s how the one-timer has evolved, and how you can learn to execute it with power, precision, and consistency. What is a One-Timer? A one-timer is a shot taken directly off a pass without stopping or settling the puck first. Instead of controlling the puck before shooting, you swing through the puck in one fluid motion—catching the goalie off guard and giving defenders no time to react. It’s all about timing, technique, and trust in your setup. If you want to become a hockey shooting pro you have to master this shot. The Evolution: From Rare to Required In earlier eras of hockey, the one-timer was rarely used—often seen as risky or inconsistent. But as the pace of the game increased and offensive systems became more structured, the one-timer emerged as a deadly scoring tool, especially on…

Hockey Shooting

How to Pick Your Spot: A Guide to Reading the Goalie

A great shot isn’t just about speed or technique—it’s about knowing where to shoot. The best goal scorers in hockey don’t just rip pucks and hope for the best. They scan the goalie, find an opening, and pick their spot with precision. Whether you're on a breakaway, coming down the wing, or teeing one up in the slot, reading the goalie is a crucial skill that can turn chances into goals. This post will help you learn how to shoot hockey pucks like a pro. Let's dive in. 1. Watch the Goalie’s Positioning Before you shoot, take a quick look at where the goalie is in the crease. Too deep in the net? Look to go high or use a quick shot to beat them before they react. Aggressive and out far? A deke or a quick low shot can catch them overcommitted. Sliding across? Aim against the grain—where they just came from—to exploit momentum. Reading their depth gives you immediate clues about which parts of the net are most vulnerable. 2. Look for the “Holes” (aka Openings) Goalies aim to cover all 5 "holes." Your job is to find out which one is open: Glove Side High (Top Left…

Hockey Shooting

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Taking a Shot on Goal

You’ve got the puck, space opens up, and the net is in sight—it’s a prime scoring opportunity. But then, the shot misses wide, gets blocked, or goes right into the goalie’s chest. Sound familiar? Even experienced players make small mistakes that can kill scoring chances. That's why it's very important to work on your hockey shooting technique. If you want to become a more consistent and dangerous shooter, start by avoiding these five common shot-on-goal mistakes: 1. Telegraphing Your Shot One of the biggest giveaways for goalies is a predictable shooter. If you stare at the corner you're aiming for, wind up too long, or have the same release every time, goalies will read you like a book. Fix it: Keep your eyes scanning, disguise your release, and mix up your shot types (wrist shot, snap shot, backhand, etc.). Learn to shoot without looking directly at your target—your body language and release should keep the goalie guessing. 2. Shooting Without a Purpose Taking a shot just for the sake of shooting can waste a good opportunity. If you’re not picking a target, using a screen, or creating a rebound, your shot becomes easy to stop. Fix it: Every shot should…

Hockey Shooting

The Science of the Slap Shot: Power vs. Precision

The slap shot is one of the most iconic and feared shots in hockey. It combines raw power with finesse and is often the shot that gets the crowd on their feet. But when it comes to executing the perfect slap shot, there’s a delicate balance between power and precision. Understanding the mechanics behind this shot can help you harness both and use them to your advantage. 1. Power: The Key to the Slap Shot At its core, the slap shot is about generating as much power as possible. The key to this power lies in your body mechanics. Here’s how it works: Wind-up: A proper wind-up is essential for building up force. Start by pulling the stick behind you in a wide arc. The further back you can pull, the more energy you’ll be able to generate when you swing forward. Keep your knees bent and your body low for better torque. Hip Rotation: The power of a slap shot comes from your legs and core. As you begin the motion, rotate your hips and torso into the shot. This rotation transfers the power from your lower body through your stick and into the puck. The more explosively you…

Hockey Shooting

Mastering the Wrist Shot: Tips for Accuracy and Speed

Ever wondered what is a wrist shot in hockey? The wrist shot is one of the most versatile and effective shots in hockey. Whether you're a forward looking to pick a corner or a defenseman aiming for a quick release from the point, mastering the wrist shot can elevate your game to the next level. But how can you improve both its speed and accuracy? Here are some key tips to help you perfect this essential shot: 1. Focus on Hand Placement Your grip and hand placement on the stick are crucial for controlling the shot. Start by placing your top hand (the hand closest to the blade) about 6 to 8 inches from the blade, and keep your bottom hand on the end of the stick. This positioning allows you to get a solid, controlled shot with more power and precision. 2. Use Your Wrists Unlike a slap shot, where you rely heavily on your body for power, the wrist shot’s power comes from the snap of your wrists. As you shoot, you want to snap your wrists down and follow through, creating both speed and spin on the puck. Think of it as “whipping” the puck off your…