Welcome to Hockey Player Development!

Training Facility located at: The Toledo Ice House     Strength & Conditioning Real Hockey Players Train Here!

Hockey Player Development Clinics: Register Online or Via Our Mail-In Form

IRON CROSS: Hockey Player Development version of the iron cross demonstrated here by Nick Parillo. This drill can be done using the same pattern with or without the puck. Also forward to backward and just backward with or without a puck can be administered using this same pattern. This drill is a great drill to quicken feet as well as concentrate on form. Staying low around turns with your stick always in front of you is essential in acceleration out of these turns. More bend with inside leg or (leg closes to pylon) translates into better extension out of turn and equals more acceleration throughout this drill.

Iain Duncan & Nick Parillo 8 Cone Warmup

"I trust Hockey Player Development training techniques with my son Adam."

Nicklas Lidstrom # 5 Captain Detroit Red Wings

"Nick and his staff at Hockey Player Development do a very good job training and working with the kids. They are committed hockey professionals who possess a solid grasp of the important teaching principles and develop a great rapport with their students. I like the environnment they create of hardwork, learning, competition and fun on and off the ice."

Dan MacKinnon
Director of Player Personnel
Pittsburgh Penguins

HPD Featured Clinic of the month: Overspeed Clinic runs eight consecutive weeks total throughout June and July. One hour of dryland precedes every practice. The Overspeed clinic is designed for elite players wanting to get an edge for the upcoming season. Proven NHL training methods will be used on ice. Mandatory workout program will be implemented for off clinic days.

Coaches have Hockey Player Development come and run your teams practice!! If your team is looking to get an edge this season we can help. The plan is simple....... Just Contact us with some ideas on what your team has been lacking this season, give us a day and time of your desired practice session. Hockey Player Developments experienced staff will set up and run a team practice on that day and time.

A Note From HPD (10/10/2011):

Shooting Tips by Player Development's former NHL player Iain Duncan

- Quickness of a shot's release plays a huge factor in goal scoring, and the 1 time shot is the epitome of quick release
- To take a 1 time shot, the player must first move feet to position the body for the shot
- This is done by opening up when on the off-wing side. Position the body so that puck approach is between the shooter's skates, ideally just inside the front foot
- Slide the bottom hand down the stick shaft and firm up the grip
- The player brings the stick blade back 12 to 24 inches
- Timing is the key to this shot: at the appropriate moment, the stick blade is brought down and forward making contact with the ice 3 to 6 inches behind the puck
- Rotate the hips and shoulder toward the target
- Use a push/pull action with the arms as you strike the puck and snap the wrists forward on contact
- Follow through with stick pointing at the intended target

A Note From Nick Parillo (3/12/2012):

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE OFTEN PONDERED WHY HOCKEY PLAYERS & GOALTENDERS IN PARTICULAR RISE ABOVE & MAKE IT TO THE NHL. WHY SO MANY END UP DRIVING THE ZAMBONI, SELLING VALUE MEALS AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, OR ETERNALLYREMINDING THE CUSTOMER,”YOU MUST PAY BEFORE YOU PUMP AFTER 11:00 PM, SIR.” (NOT THAT THOSE ARE BAD CAREER CHOICES!). FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA HERE ARE THE TOP 10 REASONS FOR SUCCESS:

 1. Want it more than your parents – You know who you are. Daddy hacks & whacks in the beer league. “I could’ve, should’ve, would’ve but…”

2. Ability to recognize & study successful peers

3. Willing to experiment

4. Able to handle praise & attention properly & with perspective

5. Hockey is a healthy full-time obsession

6. Able to work longer & harder than real or imagined peers. If you already work harder than anyone else you know does, you must recognize that there is probably someone you don’t know doing more than you. This is a powerful motivator.

7. Able to internalize confidence. Ask Brian Burke of the Vancouver Canucks if I was adept at this! Oh, you said internalize, not externalize. Show people how good you are don't tell them.             

8. Able to handle constructive criticism. If you are already that perfect why aren’t you in the NHL?

9. Continued practice on weaknesses. You must assess, recognize & accept weakness in certain areas. Develop & perfect weaknesses. Challenge weakness, don’t ignore It!.

10. Continued practice on skills already mastered. I always run into goalies that don’t need to work on a certain element of the game because they already have it down. All goaltenders in the NHL continue to work on basics like movement, rebound control & recoveries.

 99% OF CURRENT NHL PLAYERS NEVER MADE IT SOLELY ON THE TALENT THAT THEY WERE BORN WITH. THEY EXPERIENCED BENCHING, POLITICAL TEAM CUTS, LOST PARENTAL POPULARITY CONTESTS, BAD INJURIES, BAD TIMING, BAD TEAMMATES, BAD COACHES, LOSING SEASONS,AND A LITANY OF OTHER POTENTIAL CAREER STOPPERS. THEY ROSE ABOVE ALL DOUBTERS, THEY ROSE ABOVE JEALOUSY, AND THEY ROSE ABOVE COMMON & UNCOMMON EXCUSES FOR FAILURE. SIMPLY PUT, THEY SINGLE-HANDEDLY DID IT.

 “STRIVE TO DETERMINE EVERY POTENTIAL EXCUSE FOR FAILURE IN YOUR CURRENT SITUATION. SYSTEMATICALLY, AND WITH VIGOR, REFUSE & REFUTE EACH INSTANCE, DETERMINING THAT YOUR UPWARD PATH IS ENTIRELY SELF-DIRECTED NOT EXTERNALLY DETERMINED.”