Shoot First, Game Later – Why Firing Pucks in the Offseason Makes You a Winter Weapon
For hockey players, the offseason is either a secret weapon or a missed opportunity. While some hang up their skates for the summer, the smart ones are loading up the puck bucket and letting shots fly. Here’s why shooting pucks during the offseason is one of the best ways to elevate your game—and why your future self will thank you come winter.
Shooting pucks repeatedly reinforces muscle memory, allowing your body to perform the same motion effortlessly during a game. A study from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research confirms that repetitive movement patterns—like wrist shots or slap shots—create neuromuscular adaptations that result in more consistent performance.
✅ Fact: Practicing a skill 10,000 times can make it second nature. Wayne Gretzky didn’t just show up and snipe—he practiced relentlessly.
More shots = more strength. When you shoot regularly, especially with resistance (weighted pucks, resistance bands, or just volume), your shot velocity naturally increases.
✅ Stat: The average NHL shot is over 90 mph. A study by McGill University showed players who shot pucks 300 times a week improved their shot speed by up to 6-10% over a summer.
You don’t need ice time to become more accurate. Shooting at targets or small corners helps train your brain and body to hit the same spot consistently, even under pressure.
✅ Drill Tip: Set up five targets and track your hit percentage weekly—turn it into a game and compete against your own stats.
When you’ve fired 5,000 pucks in the offseason, a breakaway doesn’t feel intimidating—it feels familiar. That confidence shows when you’re calm, collected, and ready to pick corners under pressure.
✅ Bonus: Players who work on shooting in the offseason report feeling more confident taking shots in real games, according to a Hockey Canada athlete development survey.
The offseason can create rust—not just physically, but mentally. Shooting pucks daily keeps your brain wired into hockey mode, even if you’re not skating every day. It creates a rhythm, a routine, and keeps you connected to the game.
✅ Pro Insight: Many elite players aim to shoot 100–200 pucks a day, 5 days a week in the summer.
If you want to show up to tryouts and say, “I’ve been working,” don’t just hit the gym—hit the net. Shooting pucks during the offseason builds better hands, a better brain, and better goals.
So load up the net, toss on your favorite playlist, and get to work. Because when the season starts, your shot will do the talking—and the goalie will do the crying.
Check out this article for good at home hockey net options, https://followthepuck.com/2025/04/15/4-of-the-top-at-home-hockey-nets-for-players-to-improve-their-game-in-2025/
