Revving Up: The Importance of the Pre-Game Day Skate

The final skate before game day is one of the most important practices of the week. It's the culmination of everything you've worked on since your last game—a chance to refine details, solidify your systems, and, most importantly, leave the ice with confidence. It's not just about preparation; it's about energy and mindset.

Last summer, in addition to attending TCS Live, I had the opportunity to take part in a coaching clinic hosted by the staff at Michigan State University. One message that really stuck with me came from Head Coach Adam Nightingale and Head of Hockey Performance Will Morlock. They shared how the Spartans approach their weekly rhythm: starting the week with lighter, detail-focused practices and ramping up the intensity each day. By Thursday—the day before a typical college hockey weekend begins—they’re going full throttle. Compete drills, tracking, pace, and intensity. The goal? To have the body and mind peaking just in time for Friday night.

That approach made perfect sense to me. High school hockey in Michigan follows a similar weekly schedule: practice Monday through Thursday, games on Friday and Saturday. So, I asked myself: why wouldn’t we "rev" our team up too? Like many coaches, I used to worry about injuries or burnout late in the week. But the truth is, injuries can happen at any time, regardless of how light or hard a practice is. With good communication and awareness of your team’s energy levels, you can manage physical load and still bring intensity.

This past season, we redefined our pre-game day skates. Previously, they were lighter: a goalie warmup, some flow drills, one or two opponent-specific systems, and special teams. But we made a shift. Special teams work moved to Wednesdays, and Thursdays became about reinforcing our team identity—pace and compete.

From November to March, our Thursday skate followed a consistent plan: 50 minutes total, with the first 30 minutes locked in. We explained this to our team from the first scrimmage. By midseason, we were flying through these drills in 25 minutes or less, with crisp transitions and game-like tempo. Once the reps and intensity were where we wanted them, we moved on.

Here’s how we structured it: Practice plan above. 

1. Half-Ice Breakouts
   We started every Thursday with this. It got all five skaters moving, the goalie handling wraps, and with four lines, the reps were high. In just 4–5 minutes, everyone was engaged.

2. O-Zone Reset (Optional)
   A great transition from the breakout, focusing on puck movement and positioning in key offensive areas. In 6–8 minutes, everyone was getting quality touches.

3. 1v0 Continuous (Goalie Warmup)
   This drill provided goalies with long shots while keeping skaters moving. High tempo, lasting 5–6 minutes.

4. BSU Transition Drill
   Defensemen started at the blue line, getting multiple touches, going D-to-D, and joining the rush. Forwards worked on entries, often against a coach acting as a defender. This added a layer of game realism to the rush.

5. USA 1v1, 2v2
   A staple drill. Skaters covered the full sheet—tracking, battling, communicating, and playing through low 2v2 situations. It reinforced our compete level.

With these core four to five drills, we hit our benchmarks for pace, engagement, and preparation. The last 20 minutes of practice gave us the flexibility to add in opponent-specific elements. Two drills we leaned on to finish were:

• Dallas Touch-Up – Focused on controlled exits and communication.

• 3v3 Levels – A fast-paced drill that challenged awareness, structure, and compete. Always a high-energy way to wrap up.

In designing this practice model, efficiency was key. We wanted minimal setup, few puck placements, and a consistent structure. Once players learned the routine, everything flowed—like a knife through butter.