Minnesota Legacy Hockey

The most frequently posed question is, “Why should I choose Minnesota Legacy Hockey over the other programs.” The simple fact is there is no easy way to address that question. A program must fit each athlete’s individual need. Assessment of character, work ethic, and passion to achieve are the important qualities we look for in potential Legacy athletes. Skills can be built, but true improvement that results in success will only be achieved when the individual athlete is willing to pay the price to become the best he or she can be.

There is no greater feeling than accomplishing a goal. Thousands of hours of hard work, dedication, evaluation, difficult choices and decisions along with second guessing is justified by meeting and exceeding the set goal. There is no defined guideline to achieve success and build a winner. Successful programs constantly evaluate, assess, and redefine goals to find ways to become better. We use the following guidelines and elements  to set our formula for success.

Skills are not built during games, they are demonstrated. Research indicates that elite hockey players control the puck approximately 70 seconds during a 60 minute game. Average players have less than 45 seconds of puck possession. Elite players average 13-18 minutes of skating time, while average players skate approximately 11 minutes.

Our practice to game ration is 6:1. By offering 80 plus practice hours devoted to individual skill development, our athletes are afforded thousands of minutes of skating and puck possession. The athletes become highly developed and skill level is significantly enhanced.

To become the best and reach full potential an athlete must have passion for the game and the will to train harder than the competition. Improvement can only be achieved through character strength and dedication. We emphasize a “Blue Collar” mentality. Our athletes do not have big egos. They have the responsibility to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Our mantra is best summarized in this statement:

“HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT FAILS TO WORK HARD”

Each athlete is held to the highest performance standard. Every skill is practiced at game level intensity. Anything less than all out effort is not acceptable. Each practice, exercise, set, and game shift must be competed with 100 percent effort. 30-60 minutes of each practice is devoted to intense skating skills and conditioning. This approach enhances our chances to become successful.

Each athlete is responsible to complete four weekly off ice hockey homework assignments. Each assignment, if performed correctly should be completed in approximately 30 minutes. These assignments are carefully explained, demonstrated and practiced. This element is designed to provide the athlete with thousands of repetitions needed to create muscle memory. When muscle memory is developed the athlete is capable to multi-tasking during game situations which ultimately frees the mind allowing the player to think two or three plays ahead of the competition.

In order to skate in a puck possession program, the athlete must have the individual skills to execute this system of play. Our program utilizes a Russian style of puck possession that requires each player to maintain puck control, create, demonstrate patience and finish the play.

We utilize our defensemen to control the flow of the game. They are taught to always face up ice to analyze the pressure. They have the puck skills to be patient and find the open man. When this does not occur, we do not chip and chase. Our defensemen move the puck to their partner in defensive support while the forwards cycle into open ice. We will not give up the puck. Our opponent’s must apply enough pressure to take it. We are relentless in puck pursuit, creating turnovers, hurried passes which frustrates and exhausts the opposition.

Hockey players utilize three energy systems in game situations. Most programs focus on one energy system during conditioning. Whether by lack of physiological knowledge or by ignoring each energy system, most athletes fatigue quicker if recovery efficiency is not enhanced. The accumulation of lactic acid leads to fatigue and decreased performance.

Our conditioning programs are carefully constructed to coordinate the three systems to meet performance demands. As our skaters become more efficient, they build a tolerance to lactic acid in the working muscles. This ultimately allows them to train and compete with greater intensity as workload will produce less lactic acid.

We are constantly researching, learning and expanding our hockey knowledge to promote on-going improvement. To demonstrate this element to our athletes, we never use the term “Hockey Drill.” We strongly believe that if each skater feels that he or she is completing a hockey drill…effort, execution and interest is compromised. Our athletes are constantly instructed to perform each skill set at game level performance. By holding the athlete to this level of accountability skill development will not be compromised.

Another critical element of skill development is repetition. This term was popularized in the mid 1970’s by the training methods and demonstrated skills of the Russian National Teams and European Hockey. Read any program flyer and you will see the word “Repetition” used multiple times. It has become an overused and cliché term.

Repetition is only as good as the coach’s hockey knowledge and ability to provide correct and constructive feedback to the athletes. Our coaches are well educated. They have been trained to breakdown all hockey skills into the smallest component in order to provide corrective instruction which is then reinforced by proper technical repetition to build the skill as a whole. Only when this is accomplished can the athlete progress toward more difficult skill building exercises.