The foundation of skating is evident in basically every hockey player you see at the highest levels of the game. A rung below that, in college and junior hockey, it's still obvious.
Wait, even younger players than that who compete at their respective levels will have a basic understanding and ability to use the fundamentals.
That's why Victor Kraatz created Building the Foundation of Skating, a course for coaches and players to hone what they know while improving on what they don't. Some of the most validating examples of a solid foundation come from players you might not initially suspect.
Jackson Lacombe is a young defenceman plying his trade with the Anaheim Ducks. He recently accompanied Team USA to Italy and has a gold medal to show for it, but at first glance you might be wondering why. He helped lead the Ducks back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, and when you put him under the isolation cam, it's obvious why. He is a master on his edges, particularly when he's skating backwards. Watch how quickly he pivots from forwards to backwards, even if it doesn't look all that dynamic. It's the foundation of his skating that lets him do all the other things he's great at.
Lacombe is one of the game's ultimate efficient skaters. He closes on the puck carrier quickly, he moves laterally, and he's almost faster with the puck than without it.
Add Weighted Gloves to your Off Ice stickhandling routine. I have found that using these with the athletes I train improves their grip and forearm strength, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination. Unlike weighted sticks or weighted pucks, the gloves are light weight enough to not disrupt a players shooting mechanics or posture, and are great ways to make off ice stickhandling more challenging. Try some of these drills:
Eyes Up in front of the TV or Youtube
Changing patterns for dribbling (as seen in video)
Dekes with cones
Partner Stickhandling drills with some active resistance by partner
Check out video for ideas and hope this helps your summer training.
By Andrew Trimble
To purchase Andrew’s Hockey Coaching book follow this link here- Hockey Planner Book
Want to improve your puck control, play with your head up, passing timing, and ability to finish? This high-tempo station or small area drill combines figure 8 passing, quick hands, and a deke into a shot on goal. Players are forced to: Control the puck in tight spaces Keep their head up while moving Transition from passing to attacking quickly Execute a deke and finish with confidence This is a perfect drill for developing game-realistic skill execution that translates directly to scoring chances. Add this to your next practice to build better puck handlers and more dangerous offensive players.
3 lines at each end of the ice. Pucks start in the middle line.
On whistle group of 3 break the puck out, advancing it up the ice towards the other end. Once they reach the far blue line, puck carrier will pass to one of the 3 lines waiting at the far end.
Group of 3 will regroup the puck, collecting a pass from the far end line, and then attack the goal they started from.
Once they clear the zone, the next group of 3 will go, alternating ends each time.
Passing, skating, zone entry, communication and much more are worked on in this drill.
See below video for drill in action.
By Andrew Trimble
Andrew is the GM/ Co- Owner of the New England Wolves- www.ne-wolveshockey.com
Favorite Game for 6U or Learn to Play or Learn to Skate….Play this Game in One Zone with a Coach (or Player) as the Wolf.
His back will be turned towards the boards (hiding his sight) as players are up at the blueline and call out in unison “What time is it Mr Wolf?”, as they slowly skate towards the end boards. The Wolf responds with a made up time as he turns his face to the skaters. When the Wolf responds with LUNCH TIME, a game of tag ensues
Screenshot
By Andrew Trimble
Andrew is the GM/ Co- Owner of the New England Wolves- www.ne-wolveshockey.com and Scoring Concepts- www.scoringconcepts.com
Simple set up- Stick or obstacle about 16 inches away from the shooters feet, with pucks positioned on the other side of the stick or obstacle across from the players body.
Player will handle the puck near their feet and then pull the puck away from their body, around the stick and shoot the puck on the same side of their body.
This simple drill develops balance while shooting, works on a players ability to change the angle of their release, and forces the player to snap the puck towards their target.
Excellent yet simple shooting drill for players to try at home or in quiet time at the rink.
By Andrew Trimble
Andrew is the GM/ Co- Owner of the New England Wolves- www.ne-wolveshockey.com He is also the Owner of Scoring Concepts- www.scoringconcepts.com
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