In addition to all of the on and off-ice training, everyday each player will spend 1 hour either stickhandling or shooting off-ice. The focus in stickhandling is on quickness and using split vision. The coach in charge ensures that there are no players just going through the motions. A variety of methods are used in the gym incorporating smart balls, golf balls, tennis balls, stickhandling with 3 balls at a time for quickness. Weighted metal sticks and weighted stick blades are used periodically to strengthen and quicken the player's wrists.

The classes in the gym involve the use of plastic pucks to work on saucer passes forehand and backhand. Players will use bosu balls while stickhandling for balance and agility. Numbered cones are used in some of the dynamic stickhandling so players learn to move their feet and stickhandling while reading the ice at the same time.


Six NHL nets are set up in our shooting area with one shooting area that has radar for measuring shot speed. Players work on every type of shot varying the focus each round on either accuracy, quickness of release, or hardness of shot. For players requiring additional work, we have a shooting area set up inside the arena which contains a cage where we can video tape the shot and go over the shooting technique with the player in slow motion.


The skills class is also the time when players work on more simulated skating. Every skating movement on the ice can be simulated off the ice. In fact, a player cannot rely on only improving his/her skating technique just during their ice time. If they want to see significant changes in their skating, some of the work on skating technique needs to be done off-ice.