Welcome Rich Thaw to the Athletic Performance Podcast. He is the owner of Empower Fitness and Sports Training in Montreal, Quebec. Rich has an impressive track record working with athletes at every level, from youth to professional, including the NHL's Montreal Canadiens.

In this episode, Rich shares his pragmatic approach to developing speed, power, and strength in hockey athletes. We take a deep dive into the nuances of speed, exploring the differences in sprinting progression on ice versus ground.  Rich breaks down the force and velocity characteristics that define elite speed and discusses the unique nature of the hockey stride.

We also tackle the injury challenges specific to hockey, like groin pulls, and how Rich is proactively vaccinating his athletes against these common issues.

Plus, we get into the unique conditioning demands of hockey and how Rich prepares  his athletes to perform at their peak on the ice.

This conversation was incredibly insightful, helping me appreciate both the similarities and differences in hockey athletes.

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You can follow Rich on instagram at @coach_richthaw.

Follow us at @coachryanpatrick for updates and more speed training insights.