Why Hockey Players Should Play Lacrosse

From Gretzky to Tavares, Shanahan to Stamkos, Canadian NHL’ers recommend playing lacrosse in the summer to have fun and improve hockey skills.
 
“It’s lacrosse that helped teach me to spin off checks, take shots and protect the puck under pressure. My stick skills, the way to read the play quickly comes from lacrosse. The hand-eye coordination, is just one of the little things that helps you in hockey.”
—John Tavares, two-time World Junior Hockey Champion
 
“I couldn’t wait for hockey season to end so I could pick up a lacrosse stick again.”
—Wayne Gretzky
 
Hockey and lacrosse complement each other as they are very similar sports.
 
Hockey and lacrosse are high tempo, physical team sports that have similar elements. Both utilize 5 players and a goalie, three periods and strategy of developing odd-man situations to create scoring opportunities. Hockey players excel in Lacrosse. And, in turn, they become markedly better hockey players. Lacrosse is a much less expensive sport than hockey and uses much of the same protective upper body equipment. Both all boys and all girls divisions are available in hockey and lacrosse.
 
Hockey players benefit from lacrosse by developing:
§  Stick handling creativity
§  Creativity in tight areas
§  Reading the play offensively
§  Strong, dynamic defensive tactics
§  Strength and endurance
§  Increased hand-eye coordination
§  Ability to play with their head up and to be more aware of their surroundings
§  Reinforcing quickness and agility around the net
§  Offensive and defensive transition skills as everyone plays both ways
§  Scoring skills shooting at small targets and picking corners
§  Creativity of fakes, back passes and shots
§  Ambidextrous use of both hands
 
Parents also love it as the season is short… only May and June …  leaving the summer wide open for family time, vacation and other activities, before the kids are back to the rink again in September.
 
A short list of players who benefited from lacrosse:
§  Wayne Gretzky
§  Steven Stamkos
§  John Tavares
§  Brendan Shanahan
§  Gary Roberts
§  Paul Kariya
§  Gordie Howe
§  Bobby Orr
§  Jason York
§  Joe Nieuwendyk
§  Joe Sakic
§  Doug Gilmour
§  Paul Coffey
§  Adam Oates
§  Jonathan Toews