If you were 5'9"

[lancerplayer 0]

If you were 5'9" 165lbs and trying to play the best hockey you can...what would you focus more on: speed, strength, or size? My goal is to make the step from Prep hockey to Jr. A and need to know what most coaches will look at when looking at a player this size. I would like to create a program in the off season focused on all 3, but put the main focus on 1 or 2 that will help me move on to the next level.

[_HSB_b345t 0]

Speed and "scrapiness".. two words: Theo Fleury

[RadioGaGa 162]

Try to learn how not to get hit. Corey Locke is that size, and he has survived in the AHL because he hardly ever takes a big hit.

Speed and agility.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Speed and explosiveness, being able to obtain a high speed quickly, then kick it into 5th gear to beat that defense man or avoid that hit. Also being that small you should work very hard on improving puck handling.

[lee92 2]

i'm near your height, and from my experience, build size and strength. speed will come with getting stronger. you're always going to have to battle for pucks in the corner, and fight it out in front of the net. without weight and strength, you'll get tossed around like a rag doll. you can't dodge hits your whole life, and it's good to be prepared to crash and bang when you have to.

[-brady2 0]

Speed and "scrapiness".. two words: Theo Fleury

Yeah, try to get strong on you're feet and battle hard all around the ice, maintaning a high level of conditioning so you can go hard all the time. Atleast you are fairly heavy for your size which helps.

[Thockey17 1]

Vision.

[Chadd 916]

Obviously speed is number one, that comes from quick feet or strong legs. After that, I would say lean upper body strength and size or bulk should be the least of your concerns as bulk can slow you down.

[bbruins8 0]

Speed and stickhandling combined with grit/ability to get under opponent's skin and draw numerous penalties...see Brad Marchand.

[Chadd 916]

Speed and stickhandling combined with grit/ability to get under opponent's skin and draw numerous penalties...see Brad Marchand.

If you can skate and score, you don't have to do that.

[masterpeice_patrice 4]

the most important thing is your legs if you can build them to be tree trunks starting from your calfs to your quads and hamstrings to gluets.. you will blow past anyone with speed and agility. i am 5'9 and i have to work extra hard off the ice just to keep the legs strong and quick.

puck handling.. find a spot where a golf ball can roll as fast and stick handle as much as you can in a day. i spend almost 6 hours a day stickhandling till my hands blister. remember to keep your head up. this helps your vision/imagination.

when you are 5'9 u must understand that taking a huge hit can have a toll on your body. there are times you have to get away from hits especially when your opponent is 6'5 230 lbs. try spin as quick to avoid damaging hits.

if you go out there and start throwing hits everyone they will only come back to do the same to you. so be smart hockey is mostly about skills theese days try to show your composure and consistancy and make things happen.

take no shit from anyone and if you are provoked show them why you are jr. a material but make sure u dont pass your limit and loose your mind. stay focused.

being 5'9 is great!!

[DarkStar50 679]

Just watch Martin St. Louis every chance you get.

[Ti-girl 0]

Check out Tyler Ennis on www.tigershockey.com

He's smaller than you and is probably going to go in the first round of the NHL draft.

[Jake 0]

Lower body strength.

[Spreedizzle 1]

Lower body strength.

Absolutely. Use your height to your advantage by having a lower center of gravity, and build immense strength and stability in your lower body and core. Just look at how difficult, despite his size, it is to knock Gomez/St. Louis off of his feet and the puck.

[gxc999 7]

Think of it like being an NFL RB, Jones-Drew is like 5'6 or so. Staying down, real down, close to the ice/ground makes it very hard for bigger people to lay a good shoulder shot on you.

[Nutella 0]

I don't get this whole issue with height and hockey. I'm 5'10" and I've never really had any issues. Sure, there are those huge beasts, but that's NHL. I'd say speed, like everyone else. Dodging hits would be important if you're against some giant cement head.

[cj190 0]

A couple of guys I used to play against, both in the NHL now, are 5 '9 and 5 '7 respectively. The commonality is that they are both almost 200 pounds. I'm not saying its a must, but if you want to move up, I would think about gaining some weight in muscle mass. And do it slowly and with hard work. You are going need to eat a lot often. A great book for that is called "From scrawny to Brawny" You can find it one Barnes and Noble.com. I know the names funny but its a great book.

[Chadd 916]

A couple of guys I used to play against, both in the NHL now, are 5 '9 and 5 '7 respectively. The commonality is that they are both almost 200 pounds. I'm not saying its a must, but if you want to move up, I would think about gaining some weight in muscle mass. And do it slowly and with hard work. You are going need to eat a lot often. A great book for that is called "From scrawny to Brawny" You can find it one Barnes and Noble.com. I know the names funny but its a great book.

The original poster is playing prep and looking to get into junior hockey, being 200lbs at that age and height would cause problems as he ages and naturally adds some size.

[bbruins8 0]

Speed and stickhandling combined with grit/ability to get under opponent's skin and draw numerous penalties...see Brad Marchand.

If you can skate and score, you don't have to do that.

Sure you do...he is asking what coaches look for...well coaches look for well rounded players for competitive teams. Brad Marchand, for example, can skate and score, and he has that ability to draw penalties, and as a result of that increase the team's scoring...maybe we have different outlooks on hockey, but I'd rather have the guy that can skate and score and play with that grit/intensity than the guy that is a one dimensional player who only knows how to skate and score. One dimensional players get a lot of criticism at all levels of hockey.

[cj190 0]

Chadd, I agree. What I mean is, its something to think about, and should be done slowly, so that by the time he gets to be 20 or so, he may be there.

[epstud74 24]

Strength and skating ability. Gain lower body strength and the ability to skate in and out of situations..The ability to skate yourselve into an advantageous scoring position etc.

[cj190 0]

By the way, how old are you exactly. Chadd's concern is certainly valid, but once you reach a certain age, for example 18 or so, I dont believe that gaining weight, if done correctly/safely/slowly, will cause problems. I played ice in college and now play PIHA pro and can say that added weight, as long as its the correct kind of weight, namely muscle, can be extremely helpful (Im your height and maxed out at 190, anything beyond that I found was not helpful). Also, core strengthening becomes very important.

[Langenbrunner15 0]

Just watch Martin St. Louis every chance you get.

But he's got no balls, now Gionta...that's who to watch

[Jason Harris 31]

This wasn't one of the options you had listed, but I'd concentrate on your passing. I only coach at a beginner's level in hockey and soccer, but I tell all the kids, "If you can learn how to make the players around you look better, a coach will always find a spot on a team for you."