Better Athletes Make Better Hockey Players

Better Athletes Make Better Hockey Players
By Drew Herron, 05/02/23, 12:30PM CDT

Multi-sport hockey players have long intrigued NHL and college scouts. USA Hockey, Minnesota Hockey, and high school coaches have loudly encouraged it, believing diversification can lead to a better athlete, a better person, and then a better hockey player.

“NHL and college coaches want those guys that are overall athletes, not just hockey players, but athletes,” says Jay Hardwick, Warroad boys’ varsity hockey and golf coach. “As an athlete, when you get thrown into different situations that you haven’t experienced hockey-wise, it forces you to grow and learn to adapt a little better.”

Some recent studies report that only between 10-15 percent of NCAA and NHL players specialized in the sport before the age of 12. Most didn’t specialize until they were 15.

Participating in multiple sports allows young and developing athletes to learn a variety of motor skills and forces their bodies to respond to different kinds of challenges, both physically and in terms of critical thinking. Hand-eye coordination, development of different muscle groups and range of movement improve. It also leads to kinesthetic diversity and the prevention of overuse, decreasing the risk of injury. That can be important for young and developing bodies.

Moreover, athleticism and different skill development carry over to the ice rather quickly.

“It all translates,” says Ricky Saintey, head boys’ hockey and soccer coach at Rosemount High School. “The footwork, the hand-eye coordination and the mindset are improved along with the agility and explosiveness. Those things are super beneficial to the overall athleticism of anybody.”