The skating skills on display during the highest levels of competition in hockey are a breath of fresh air. We saw it in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, and you likely sw it with your own team down the stretch and into theplayoffs. Faster players and faster teams will see more success in the postseason. One way to demonstrate that speed is off the rush, or entering the zone. 

The first choice for most coaches is to keep the puck when you're entering the zone. Don't dump it in if you don't have to (although sometimes you do, but that's another post). Players who are confident on their edges will inevitably feel more confident with the puck on their stick. 

This practice plan steals skills from Daniel Broberg's course 7 Steps From Basic Skills to Smooth Power. In it, Broberg slows players down to feel the full glide on their inside and outside edges. For Broberg, it all starts with the posture and the balance, which leads to smooth power. Try these progressions in your next practice and watch for improved zone entries when the games get serious. 

You can see the entire course here.