May 10, 2019 10:18 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
After nearly 30 years of being involved in the sport in every capacity I’m a firm believer that reflecting in a few key areas has brought some of the greatest rewards!
Living in the moment
Ride the highs and never let the lows bring you down! Celebrate the positive, filter the negative, and grow from the mistakes. Treat every opportunity like its game 7!
Embracing the process
The “process” is an ever-evolving journey of your development as an athlete setting out to accomplish goals. Your journey is always changing as goals, passions, and expectations should shift. If you ever think you’ve arrived, you’re in the wrong place.
Perspective & Gratitude
Your perspective is what truly makes everything so fulfilling. Be honest with yourself and fully understand where you’ve come, and where you want to go! Gratitude is a special experience never lose sight of how fortunate we are for our abilities, resources, and accomplishments.
We can’t wait for huge off-season of growth and gains!
April 21, 2019 1:20 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Just because you’re not on the ice as much as you would be in season doesn’t mean you can’t be putting in the work in other parts of your game! For all of our athletes not yet in a gym consistently or working with performance training specialists here’s some simple key factors to work into your home training regimen!
- SPEED
- Agility foot speed ladder
- Sprinting – focus on short bursts
- Agility cone drills – focused on aggressive, cutting patterns.
- Jump rope
- POWER
- Body weight pushups, squats
- Any type of jumping exercises
- Squat jumps, tuck jumps, single leg jumps, lateral jumping
- Single leg balance exercises
- Hill or Stair running
- Band resistance exercises.
- CONDITIONING
- Jogging for distance or time
- Rollerblading
- Burpees
- Join Mom at a spinning class!
- CORE STRENGTH
- Countless number of ab and core exercises.
Don’t worry about getting too hung up about “hockey specific” workouts. Focus on improving athleticism, with some added attention on speed and power. The main mission is to build a foundation, so when you’re throwing around weights in the years to come your body is prepared to make some serious gains!
Looking for some extra professional guidance? Let us know! We’ve got some awesome industry contacts!
April 11, 2019 12:34 am
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Often times you’ll hear the word “grit” get thrown around. It can vary in meaning based on the circumstances. But, what does it really mean? I like to think of it as:
GRIT
Made up of hustle, passion, and perseverance.
Grit encompasses a player’s ability to “find a way”. Grit can be physical, just as much as it can be mental. Some will say grit is a character trait ~ you either have it or you don’t… Sure, that can be true for some. However, I would also argue that grit is a skill, and like all skills, it can be learned, and improved upon over time. Regardless of how you choose to view someone’s grit, it’s essential. Not only in hockey, but in life!
Always be on the hustle. Never lose the passion. Persevere no matter what!
February 14, 2019 1:06 am
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Being a Swiss Army Knife – The ultimate compliment!Simply, this is a player’s ability to carry and excel at many skills. Sure, being very good at specific traits helps catch an early eye… However, the players that stand the test of time in their careers and ultimately “make it”,are the ones who have the capacity to bring many quality traits to the table at the same time that better their team. These (positive) shape shifting, utility players are ready and able to contribute however they’re called upon.
Swiss Army Knife Players are…
- Good at a number of skills. Versus only dominating one or two.
- Not hung up on what role they play on that team.
- Great teammates. Prioritizing how they can help the team.
- They can do a little bit of everything!
- Necessary on every successful roster.
Swiss Army Knife Player are NOT…
- Selfish
- Worried about their “role” or “place” on a team.
- Single skill focused.
Sure, every team can use a star… Never forget for every star on a team there’s 2-3 Swiss Army knife players that fly under the radar, that are an invaluable piece to that team’s success!
October 1, 2018 3:10 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
The “ZONE” also known as finding your rhythm or playing your “A” game. When you’re able to channel this mental edge and mindset you’re capable of taking your game to great heights! Here’s a few simple tips that will get you to the zone and help you to consistently elevate you game play!
- Pre-Game Mental Session
- Focus your concentration on what YOU need to do to be great! What are your strengths? How are you going to contribute to the team? What do you love about the game? Take 5-10minutes to get your mind prepared for a great game!
- Positive Self-Talk
- Throughout your pre-game routine, as well as throughout your games and practices remind yourself either through mental thoughts or actual verbal cues of positive self-talk. Hold on to the positive and forget about the negative and mistakes. You’re a great player – Remind yourself!
- Live in the present
- Don’t worry about past mistakes, or future challenges. Live in the moment and enjoy the ride as you’re living it!
Best of luck as you work to consistently find your “A” game and get in the zone this season!
March 14, 2018 5:36 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Consistency is KEY! Any player can go out and have a great game from time to time. However, a really special player can do it weekend after weekend throughout a season. Consistent performance will ultimately develop from a few critical foundational points.
- Preparation
- Practice habits, off-ice training, nutrition, focus level in the locker room, rest away from the rink, being a student of the game, and oh yea-Practice Habits!!!
- Mindset
- Set your mind to be successful. Change the channel on the negative, and harness the power of the positive thoughts! I’m a huge fan of positive self-talk: “You’re going to be great today, be the best version of yourself!”
- Confidence
- Trust your training! Confidence comes from within. Lock in the mindset and lean on your preparation and the confidence will surely follow!