Why hockey players should hang up the skates and play box lacrosse this summer
Brendan Shanahan with the Paperweight Mountaineers (Can you spot NHL stars Connor Brown and Nick Paul?)
Hockey players looking to improve their skills during the summer months often turn to a variety of training options, such as camps, clinics, and off-ice training. However, one option that is often overlooked is playing box lacrosse in the summer. Box lacrosse is a fast-paced, physical sport that can provide a number of benefits for hockey players looking to improve their skills and stay active during the off-season.
Here are some reasons why hockey players should consider hanging up the skates and playing box lacrosse this summer:
Develop Stick Skills: Box lacrosse requires players to handle a smaller, heavier ball with a stick that has a pocket and looks a lot different than a hockey stick. This can help develop a player's stick skills, which can translate to improved stickhandling, passing, and shooting in hockey.
Improve Footwork and Agility: Box lacrosse is played on a smaller surface than field lacrosse, which requires players to be quick and agile in tight spaces. This can help hockey players improve their footwork, acceleration, and lateral movement, which are all important skills on the ice.
“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
Build Strength and Endurance: Box lacrosse is a physically demanding sport that requires players to constantly move and engage in physical contact with other players. This can help build strength, endurance, and conditioning, which are all important for hockey players.
“I think a lot of kids should put down their hockey sticks and play lacrosse during the summer time. That was the one thing that got me a lot better at hand-eye coordination… and it toughens you up.
Whenever my AAA season was done I would put my hockey gear in the basement and I wouldn’t pick it up until August or September when lacrosse season was over. It was all lacrosse until next hockey season.”
— Dave Bolland
Encourage Creativity: Box lacrosse is a game of constant movement and improvisation, which encourages players to think creatively and make split-second decisions. This can help hockey players develop their creativity and adaptability on the ice.
Provides a Fun and Social Environment: Playing box lacrosse in the summer can provide a fun and social environment for hockey players to stay active and engaged during the off-season. It also provides an opportunity to meet and interact with a diverse group of players, which can help build confidence and social skills.
"There is no question that lacrosse helped me become a better all round athlete but more important to me are the memories. Small town rinks, competing for my community, summer fun at tournaments, teammates and family. These are some of my fondest memories of my Mimico Lacrosse days."
— Brendan Shanahan
By incorporating box lacrosse into their summer training regimen, hockey players can stay active and engaged while improving their skills for the upcoming hockey season. Our Learn-to-Play and Local League programs are a great starting point for young children who are just getting into the sport of lacrosse but it's never too late to get into Rep lacrosse, especially for hockey players.
So why not give lacrosse a try and see if box lacrosse is the right sport for your multi-sport athlete!
We are actively recruiting athletes to join our local league and rep box programs so if you know a hockey player looking to improve their hockey skills and try something new this summer, be sure to send them this link!
