Achieving acceleration in your start is essential, because that determines how quickly you gain speed. You want your initial three or four steps to be aggressive pushes against the ice, with good extension coming from your legs. I don’t want to see choppy strides at the start, because the fewer steps the better. One thing I always tell my guys is try to feel the sensation of cutting ice, because the guy who shaves the most ice is the guy who moves the fastest.

Mike Boyle is the Co-founder of Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, whose clientele includes NHL stars Chris Drury and Brendan Shanahan

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