Tag: Maria Mountain

This Week at Hockey Strength and Conditioning

Content was booming this week at Hockey Strength and Conditioning! Check out what you’ve missed:

Article: Neck Strengthening for Hockey from Sean Skahan
I really like Sean’s philosophy on how neck training can manifest in the form of exercises you may not suspect. In addition to the videos he includes, there is a lot of other great information in this article pertaining to concussions and the process of returning players to the ice. Great read.

Article: Producing Elite U.S. Players Starts at Bottom from John Buccigross
FINALLY! Someone with a huge audience (other than the HockeySC.com team) discusses what true hockey development is all about. It’s been interesting to see how hockey has developed in the U.S. over the last 15 years. USA Hockey is taking a lot of great steps to improve their development model. The impression I get is that Canada, believe it or not, is starting to recognize that they’re headed down the wrong path and will start to make similar changes in the somewhat near future. File this under the “Must Read” category.

Article: The Disconnect of the Culture from Jim Reeves
Another brilliant article on the importance of developing athletes first, hockey players second if the goal is to pursue elite level competition. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, we had two stud goalies train with us this summer at Endeavor that were also very competitive baseball players. Baseball-characterized by short bursts of high velocity power generation and reactivity. Goaltending-characterized by short bursts of high velocity lateral movements and reactivity. Coincidence?

Article: From the Ground Up from Dan John
Dan John is a legend in strength and conditioning. I’m really looking forward to hearing his presentation(s) at the MBSC Winter Seminar this year. When in doubt, return to basics. This article serves as a reminder that a simple, well- and consistently executed program is better than a haphazardly performed complex program.

Program: In-Season Lifts: Core Movements, Strength Movements and Complexes from Mike Potenza
Mike put together a great exercise library, divided by movement pattern/emphasis, that he uses to train the Sharks in-season. Similar to Dan John’s article, this provides some insight into what you NEED to perform if you’re extremely limited on time, as most in-season players are.

As always, the forum had a few great discussions this week. I particularly liked Maria Mountain’s response to the “Career Guidance” thread so check that out the next time you sign in.

Click the link below for more information about Hockey Strength and Conditioning! I look forward to speaking with you on the inside!

To your continued success,

Kevin Neeld

P.S. Remember that today is your LAST CHANCE to get my Ultimate Hockey Development Coaching Program for free! Check out this post for details: Rapid Response Goalie Training

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Goalie Training Interview with Maria Mountain

Last week I presented a special offer for you. If you pick a copy of Maria Mountain’s Rapid Response Goalie Training Program, I’ll throw in FREE copies of:

  • My Ultimate Hockey Development Coaching Program
  • My Breakaway Hockey Speed eBook and all the videos
  • Kim McCullough’s Mental Performance Training Package

In case you missed the post, you can check it out here for more details: Rapid Response Goalie Training

On Friday, I wrapped up a lift that included a Front Squat PR:

and had an opportunity to talk to Maria on the phone for a bit to catch up with her about her experience at Stuart McGill’s 16-hour weekend seminar and about her new Rapid Response Goalie Training Program.

Take 20 minutes to listen to the interview by either clicking the play button on the player below or downloading the raw MP3 file. Amongst other things, we talk about:

  1. A few of the big take homes from the McGill seminar and how they’ve changed aspects of Maria’s training
  2. Common training mistakes that goalies are making
  3. What the Rapid Response Goalie Training Program is all about, including if it’s for you and what makes it different from previous programs of hers

Hockey Training Interview with Maria Mountain

To your success,

Kevin Neeld

Please enter your first name and email below to sign up for my FREE Athletic Development and Hockey Training Newsletter!

Rapid Response Goalie Training

Ahhh, Thanksgiving is near. In addition to being a time to pursue morbid obesity, Thanksgiving is also a time to think of all the things we have to be thankful for…and to go shopping for great deals. In reference to the latter, I have something special for you. Read on…

Tomorrow, I will eat you.

I recently had an opportunity to read through Maria Mountain’s new Rapid Response Goalie Training program. I was planning on doing a tele-interview with Maria for today, but I’ve been sick for the last week and didn’t have much of a voice. Hopefully I can steal some time from her over the next few days and get something up on Monday.

Hockey training for goalies can mean a lot of different things to different people. Unfortunately, most of the goalie training I see is complete garbage. It over emphasizes unstable surface and flexibility training and completely overlooks strength and power training.

Great flexibility…but I bet she’s a terrible goalie (and a definite surgery candidate!)

Maria’s program is a breath of fresh air. From a training perspective, Maria really “gets it”. She understands the requirements of the goaltending position and is an expert in preparing players for these demands. She recognizes the need for strength and power training for goalies, and seamlessly integrates these things into a comprehensive development program. The power of Maria’s program comes from it’s ease of use. She put together a 78-page manual outlining exactly why and how (and how not!) goalies should be training, and walks you step by step through her goalie training system. Rapid Response Goalie Training also comes with a ready-to-use goalie training program, including videos of all the exercises that can be loaded onto iphones (for the technologically savvy) and forms for you to document progress along the way. And because no training program is complete without nutrition recommendations, she even included an easy-to-understand 26-page nutrition report as a bonus.

In short, Maria’s Rapid Response Goalie Training program is clear, comprehensive, and effective. It’s the perfect solution for goalies that don’t have access to a ton of equipment or a strength and conditioning coach. As an added incentive for the goalies (as well as goalie parents and coaches that train goalies), and because I know you like free stuff, if you buy Maria’s program before next Friday (December 3rd), I’ll send you a download link for my entire Ultimate Hockey Development Coaching Program for free.  This includes two great bonuses: Breakaway Hockey Speed and Kim McCullough’s Mental Performance Package.

To take advantage of this limited time offer, click the image or go to the link below. After you order your copy of Rapid Response Goalie Training, come back to this page and click here to send me an email to let me know you’ve ordered it so I can get your additional bonuses to you right away.

Rapid Response Goalie Training

For those of you that I don’t get emails from by tomorrow, I hope you and your families have a great Thanksgiving!

To your success,

Kevin Neeld

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Random Thoughts Continued

Picking right up where we left off on Monday:

18. These are two interesting abstracts on outcomes of manual therapy in chronic groin pain populations. I think every athlete should get manual therapy work performed on a regular basis, especially once they reach their Junior and Senior years of high school. If you’re in the mid-Atlantic area and need a recommendation, shoot me an email. I have a handful of professionals that I think are top-notch.

Abstract 1: A Manual Therapy Technique for Chronic Adductor-Related Groin Pain in Athletes: A Case Series

Abstract 2: Manual or Exercise Therapy for Long-Standing Adductor-Related Groin Pain: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial.

19. I recently started taking girth measurements of a few of our clients at Endeavor to better track their progress. While measuring the arm circumference, one of my clients said “You better call the vet, because these puppies are sick!” as he flexed. I’ll probably never forget that!

20. I recently had somewhat of a revelation that I needed to find more “balance” in my life. For the last several years, balance meant balancing various parts of work with other parts of work (e.g writing, article reading, DVD watching, coaching, etc.). I say “somewhat of a revelation” because my mom and Chris Boyko have collectively been politely reminding me of this for the last 15 years of my life (originally with hockey, now with strength and conditioning). This Summer I spent most of my weekdays training for 10+ hours; then I’d spend a good chunk of my weekend getting all my writing done.  When the Summer ended, I was ready for a slow time, which to me meant:

  • Writing a comprehensive hockey training book
  • Taking the Postural Restoration Institute’s Myokinetic Restoration Course
  • Taking the Precision Nutrition Certification Exam
  • Developing and implementing a Nutrition Coaching Program at Endeavor
  • Going through Mark Joyner’s Simpleology 101 Course (and reading the accompanying book)
  • Two other HUGE projects for Endeavor that I can’t even talk about yet because their still in their infancy

Not exactly a healthy break in the action. Over the last month, I’ve actively planned time away from anything training related and tried to spend more time doing things I enjoy, despite not having professional benefits.

21. This is the first time I’ve publically mentioned the book that I wrote. I’m more excited about this than I have been about any other project I’ve ever worked on. I’m still not sure if it will get picked up by a publisher or if I’ll self-publish it, but I whole-heartedly believe it will be a game-changer when it comes out.

22. They say behind every good man is a good (or better) woman. Frankly, I don’t know where I’d be without Emily, but I know I wouldn’t be as happy or have as much fun.

From our cruise a couple years ago. (first time I left North America)

I probably don’t thank her enough. I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have a best friend that is supportive when I need her to be, and that drags me away from textbooks when she knows I need her to. As much as I respect her, it’s still embarrassing when she beats me in bowling.

Over the line! Mark it zero dude.

23. Over the last couple years there has been a rapid increase in the number of websites dedicated to hockey development information. The two best FREE resources out there are Kim McCullough’s Total Female Hockey Club (incredible information for MALE hockey players too!) and Maria Mountain’s Hockey Training Pro. The best slightly-less-free resource is Hockey Strength and Conditioning.  If you’re involved in hockey in anyway, check out all three of these resources on a regular basis.

24. Spike…For when coffee feels like Nyquil

25. One of my dreams has always been to get invited to speak on hockey training in Europe. A couple weeks ago I received an email asking if I’d be interested in speaking in Denmark. I don’t know if it’ll work out or not, but I’m pretty psyched about the opportunity.

26. Stephen Covey once said, “We judge others by their behaviors. We judge ourselves by our intentions.” Think about the implications this has regarding our perceptions of EVERY behavior that goes on around us and how our own actions may be perceived by others. This may be the single most profound thing I’ve ever heard.

27. On a similar note, Michael Boyle summed up sports nutrition by paraphrasing someone: “Eat food. Mostly plants and animals. Not too much.” I urge everyone reading this to analyze their diet in that light and see how close they are. Most will find that there is less food, and more “food products” than there should be.

28. This is my new favorite stretch. Great way to improve full-body rotation range of motion.

Brettzel 2.0

29. You make everything I do possible. I’ve politely asked for people to forward my posts/newsletters that they’ve liked to other people. Because of these forwards, I’ve been introduced to a handful of NHL Strength and Conditioning Coaches, a couple of the higher-ups in USA Hockey, and countless other people that are equally important to me. When I started writing online, I made a promise to myself to always put out quality information that will truly benefit the people reading it. Regardless of what I write, it doesn’t matter if no one sees it. Because of your help, quality information is reaching more people. Thank you!

To your continued success,

Kevin Neeld

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This Week at Hockey Strength and Conditioning

Check out what you missed this week at Hockey Strength and Conditioning!

Program/Article: Late Off-Season Workout from Maria Mountain
Maria’s program was from early August when her players weren’t skating on a daily basis yet. As such, the goals of the problem were improving max strength and metabolic conditioning through circuit training.

Program: Lower Back Re-Conditioning-Phase 2 from Sean Skahan
This program demonstrates how Sean reintegrates a player with a recent history of low back problems back to health. It’s always interesting to see how the best of the best put together their programs. Seeing programs from Coach Skahan, Coach Potenza and Coach Boyle is one of the coolest parts about the site.

Video: Multi-Planar Hip Mobility and Activation Exercises from me
These are three videos a few of my favorite hip mobility and activation exercises. The intro to this article also briefly describes how a single conversation with Nick Tumminello led me to rewriting all of my warm-ups!

Click the link below for more information about Hockey Strength and Conditioning!

To your continued success,

Kevin Neeld

P.S. This is the last day to get Eric Cressey’s Show and Go training program for $50 off! The discount ends at midnight. Head over to the site and check out what he has to offer. You’ll be glad you did! Show and Go: High Performance Training to Look, Feel, and Move Better

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