Skinny people unite!

[sitzlejd 0]

Do any of my fellow slender brethren ever have trouble with stability when battling in corners/in front of the net, etc. I'm 5' 9"ish, 165 lbs and a lot of times I feel like I'm super easy to knock down, push off my position, etc. Do you guys have any exercises or strategies that make you feel stronger on your feet (core stuff, balance perhaps) or is it just weight gain that is in order? Thanks.

[WhiskeyTango19 0]

A diet heavily based on Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds worked wonders for me!! I win a lot more battles in the corner and in front.

[QandA 0]

6'1, little less than 170, and I can win most battles by being strong on my skates and just a bit quicker and smarter. If it's strenght on strenght I'll lose to the bigger guys...

[DamnLocust 0]

work on strengthening your core, and on keeping your center of gravity low.

a teammate of mine is like 5'6, 145, and he's one of the best on the team (granted, it's beer league) when it comes to battling along the boards because he gets low and digs in. Doesn't hurt that he's a fast little bugger and usually gets to the puck first.

edit: this post is a perfect example of why I should read the entire original post before replying. Still, technique is a big part of winning those battles. watch your teammates who are good at winning the puck along the boards and see what makes it work.

[gxc999 7]

I'm 5'11, 145 (funnily enough, I still have a 38 inch chest and big shoulders) and getting back into shape for the upcoming inline season here...

I don't know, weight is especially relative. Beating people for pucks in a corner is as much about attitude as anything else. Having a bunch of flab isn't a great idea for skating.

I admit, my goal is to gain 15 lbs. I'm thin because I have a continuing stomach ailment, hard to gain weight when you can only eat 2 meals a day.

[sitzlejd 0]

A diet heavily based on Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds worked wonders for me!! I win a lot more battles in the corner and in front.

I guess I should've specified healthy weight gain, but then who expects a serious answer from the guy who has "Fist yourself!" in his sig :D

[tomh7 2]

I'm 5'11", 165lb and I find that by keeping a wider base and my hips low that I can move a lot of guys that are bigger than me. I have never been a physically strong person either.

[usahockey22 0]

Technique, strength, power, and size all come into play.

Technique- Good form and balance, being agile, solid, with a good base on your skates, keeping a low center of gravity.

Strength- Legs > Core > Upper Body in that order of importance

Power- The speed of your strength on demand...explosiveness and quickness in your movement.

Size- Probably the least important factor here, though a larger mass will of course be affected less than a smaller mass by physical contact...just like larger people will do more damage than smaller in checks (assuming the other factors are equal and size is the only difference).

Early in high school I was 6 feet tall and only 140 pounds, and I got knocked around pretty well in hockey until I decided to put it to an end. I gained about 55 pounds of mostly muscle in around 2 years, and increased my strength quite a bit in the process, so was 195 by my senior year and a lot stronger. There was a huge difference playing after that. Ever since then, I'm usually the one that's still standing after a collision, and it does make it noticeably easier to muscle your way to the puck in a corner. though of course those other factors are still more important.

[JR97 2]

5'6" ish and I weight about 125 right now. I was down to about 105 a few months ago. I found out I've got a hyper active thyroid. One of the symptoms is loss of strength and muscle mass. So suffice it to say, I'm a weakling. But I do ok in the corners when I'm there. I just try to out smart instead of out muscle. Like bait someone to move where I want them to etc.

[heatley015 0]

I am 5'10 and 130 pounds playing Midget AA hockey, but I am quick and strong on my skates so i get knocked around a little bit but not as much as you would think. Work on quick feet, quick moves along the boards to make it harder for your opponent to hit you. What level hockey are you playing? If you are playing in a high league then it might be best for you to gain some more weight.

[stick9 891]

Do any of my fellow slender brethren ever have trouble with stability when battling in corners/in front of the net, etc. I'm 5' 9"ish, 165 lbs and a lot of times I feel like I'm super easy to knock down, push off my position, etc. Do you guys have any exercises or strategies that make you feel stronger on your feet (core stuff, balance perhaps) or is it just weight gain that is in order? Thanks.

I hear ya brother - 5' 9" 150 lbs myself. A strong core and a low center of gravity help a lot, as do quick hands, but imo balance is key. Martial arts has really helped me strengthen my core and improve my balance. Which in turn helped me along the boards and it high traffic areas.

Anything you can do to improve your core strength and balance should help.

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

All you have to do to gain weight is get married. :D

[hunterphfr 12]

All you have to do to gain weight is get married. :D

I gained 135 lbs of dead weight after I got married. It would cost me way to much money to get rid of her too, so I'm stuck.

[cougarscaptain87 12]

im 6'2'' and 175lbs and did fine in the corners when i was playing competitvly, all you have to remember is what everyone else is saying, stay low but balanced and as wide as you can, but again stay balanced. take advantage of any leverage you can gain and you will beat out bigger guys more often then not if you are smarter then they are.

[topshelf11 0]

All you have to do to gain weight is get married. :D

I gained 135 lbs of dead weight after I got married. It would cost me way to much money to get rid of her too, so I'm stuck.

Why is divorce so expensive?

Because it's worth it! :D

[Jarick 5]

Do you skinny guys get hurt quite a bit? My roommate seems to get injured pretty easily.

[mack 44]

Maybe I got more of the annoying small injuries but nothing major compared to larger guys.

[cougarscaptain87 12]

ive broken 3 ribs, both colar bones, some fingers and a partially torn rotator cuff but none of them seem to have been from being skinny, just unlucky i guess

[ashtonhutch05 0]

I'm 6'1" 150 and I hold my own with the biggest players in my HS league okay. Don't really get into battles in the corner much, but I can check well for my size. As for the corner battles, everyone else already said everything so just take their advice. But really you should work on your balance, I think that's why I check good is I have fairly good balance, maybe that would help you a lot.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I'm 5'9" 155 pounds and i dont really have that problem seeing where as I have been wrestling since 7th grade through to college right now and I'm actually really strong for my size, but the only thing that i think will really help you out battling in the corners is strengthening your core: legs, back, abs, work on your bis and tris which can really help....i go in to corners and use my speed and combine it with my strength....also work on becoming more explosive cause that can really help too

[gxc999 7]

Maybe I got more of the annoying small injuries but nothing major compared to larger guys.

I think this is true because when you carry so much more weight around, it is far harder for your joints and muscles. This is especially true in a game like hockey w/ so much twisting and turning.

[sitzlejd 0]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll definitely focus on staying wide and low in those situations. The muscle building will obviously be a long process so hopefully this will help me a little bit in the meantime.

[Drewhunz 3]

As a smallish individual, I think the most important part of a corner scrum is keeping yourself aware of the flying elbow.

[nni 0]

even small guys can just widen their stance and hold their own. although being bigger helps. :)

[masterpeice_patrice 4]

im 5'9 195 lbs i am built from head to toe. guys in the sphl cant even knock me around im the one knocking a guy whos 6 and up around. work on your legs.