By Andy Ness
As I watch the Wild get yet another break away, it got me thinking about individuals with game-changing speed. Take for example a guy like Jason Zucker who has gotten a breakaway in just about every game this year. There are guys at all levels that are fast and then there are guys that have the type of speed that is on a completely different level. These guys have speed that will and can change a game at any point. I have been fortunate to be able to work with many kids, as well as about 80 percent of the Minnesota-born NHL skaters, and these types of skaters always stick out no matter what level they are at. I would like to break it down to three main components when looking at elite speed. The first and most obvious is just pure genetics. Guys that are explosive runners or explosive jumpers usually tend to be explosive skaters. This isn’t always a good rule to a skater, but it is somewhere to start. Fortunately though, skating comes into play. You can’t just put Usain Bolt on skates and expect him to be the fastest in the world because, again, you have to know how to skate well. The second is simply skating technique. I always like to follow behind skaters like Jason Zucker, Erik Haula, Ryan McDonagh or Blake Wheeler to see what their technique looks like, where they pull away, which way they push and how low they are able to get. This is key to make an already fast skater faster. Staying low and pushing out is the key to speed. Once the push goes back, the skater will lose their “grip” or “traction.” It’s like throwing gas out of the tank when you waste your pushes. I always stress knee bend and I love to film these types of skaters because it is always the same position with the knees. No matter what kind of skating style, the push on the extension is almost always carbon copies from skater to skater. They are able to keep their center of gravity low which will help provide a powerful push from the skater’s legs. Finally, there’s leg strength. I am not sure if people realize how strong and powerful skater’s legs are at the NHL level. You always have to have something to push with. You can go up and down the list of players, but one thing is certain, if you want to be an elite level hockey player – you better be willing to invest in some wide-legged jeans. Being on a strength-training program from college to the NHL is a must for every skater. Please remember that there is a difference between working out and training. The stronger and more powerful your legs are, the more powerful each and every push will be. The great thing is that no matter how fast you are, you can always work to get faster. You can see how fast the younger players in the NHL are now and how even the older skaters have to train harder than ever just to stay in the league. Derek Jeter once said that overspeed sprints kept him playing as long as he did. He said it was a “use it or lose it,” type of thing as you get older. Keep working and good luck! Andy Ness is the head skating and skill coach for the Minnesota Wild. He has also been an assistant skating instructor for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.
