Off-ice Resources

One of the questions we hear most often at MAHA is: "If hockey ends in March, what sport should my child play in the off-season?"

We consulted USA Hockey. Their recommendation is to do whatever your child enjoys--whether it's soccer, baseball, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, biking, or simply running around outside with friends, different activities help young athletes develop new skills and use different muscle groups. Soccer and lacrosse teach players how to create space and read 2-on-1 plays. Baseball helps develop focus, patience, and other important mental skills. Gymnastics improves balance, flexibility, and body control. Every sport offers something valuable that can help young athletes become better hockey players in the long run. The best hockey players are often the best all-around athletes.

Sidney Crosby played baseball as a kid; Connor McDavid is an excellent soccer player; and did you know that Wayne Grentzky played lacrosse? And Aleksander Barkov not only plays a lot of pickleball, but he is the co-owner of a Major Pickleball team...we are not making this up! In fact, pickleball offers a lot of cross-over skills like agility, hand-eye coordination, quick reactions, and friendly competition. The pickleball courts next to MSC are free to use.

In addition to organized environments, USA Hockey offers age-appropriate dryland training modules. Some drills use an agility ladder (which you can cheaply obtain online), a shooting pad or plastic tiles, but most can be done in your driveway, basement, or backyard. It might even be fun to do them together as a family!

Have a great summer, stay active, and we'll see you at MSC before you know it!