PREPARING FOR GAME TIME.
How critical is a pre-game warm up?
Depending on how you wish to start the game should play a major role in your warm-up.
I was never a big believer of a slow stretching approach to prepare for a game. I would observe many players who would sit and go through a static routine of touching toes and crossing legs. I never once did this and did not ever pull a muscle in 4 years of college hockey and 5 years of pro hockey. Basically if you want to start the game like a statue then go ahead and stretch like one. This type of stretching in my opinion is great...