🏒 Unlock Explosive Speed: Master Starts & Stops in Hockey

Every hockey player knows speed is critical.

But it’s not just how fast you can skate.

It’s how quickly you can get to top speed and how efficiently you can stop.

Let’s break down what most players are doing wrong, and how explosive starts and stops can become your competitive edge.

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First Stride: Go Big or Go Home

Old-school thinking says to take a few short, choppy strides to get moving.

But that’s outdated.

The modern method?

Make your first stride as long and powerful as your fastest stride.

Think about Olympic sprinters: do they take baby steps out of the blocks? No chance.

That same principle applies on the ice.

The fastest players reach top speed in just a few strides by using powerful technique right from the start.

Whether you’re starting from a dead stop or a slow glide, your goal is the same:

Maximize that first stride.

Explosive Stops: Not Just Slowing Down

Most players "stop" by dragging their skates over 8–12 feet in a curved path.

That’s not a stop. It’s a slowdown.

At Pro Performance Hockey, we teach explosive stops: short, violent, and straight.

A fast, sharp stop gets you back into the play immediately and gives you more control in tight situations.

The goal is quick redirection, not a graceful deceleration.

If your stops are long and arcing, you’re leaving time and space on the table.

The 60/40 Rule: Balance is Everything

During tight turns and stops, elite players use a 60/40 weight distribution:

• 60% of their weight on the outside edge of the trailing skate

• 40% on the inside edge

This edge control allows for violent stops and tight turns, but it’s only possible if you've mastered your outside edges.

It’s one of the most under-trained areas in youth hockey, and we did a lesson on it a few weeks ago. Please read this once you’re done with this lesson:

The Takeaway

Speed isn't just about straight-line sprints.

It's about how quickly you can start, stop, and change direction.

Explosive starts give you separation. Explosive stops get you back into the play.

Together, they create a more developed player.

And as always: Do the common thing uncommonly well.

When you’re ready to elevate your game, here’s how I can help you:

1. Elite private training to provide the 1 on 1 attention you deserve.

2. Spring 2025 clinics for offseason skill development.

3. Summer Camp 2025 to prepare for the upcoming season.

See you on the ice,

Coach Scott Rutherford
(716) 912-4465