Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey [Paperback]

Peter Twist (Author), Pavel Bure (Author, Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1997

A complete conditioning manual for ice hockey players, with tips on improving strength, speed, agility and endurance. Contains 24 stretches for flexibility and 8 on-ice activities for aerobic and anaerobic training. Sample practice sessions are also provided.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Peter Twist is an outstanding strength and conditioning coach for hockey players, as he has shown with the Canucks. Our players and coaches believe his program is the best. Whether you're in junior hockey or the pros. Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey is your guide to better conditioning and better performance on the ice."

Glen Hanlon Assistant Coach, Vancouver Canucks

"Peter's dedication to and knowledge of player conditioning is evident in Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey. If you want to be your best, learn and use the exercises, workouts, and programs he prescribes."

Mike Peca Center, Buffalo Sabres

"What I liked most about this book is the philosophical approach to conditioning, which is backed up by well-documented examples."

Ron Mason Head Hockey Coach Michigan State University

"For players who want to make it to the NHL, this book is a must. Peter's conditioning plan will maximize your physical potential and help get you back on the ice after an injury."

Cliff Ronning Center, Phoenix Coyotes

About the Author

Peter W. Twist, one of the foremost conditioning experts in North America, has coached hundreds of hockey players at all levels—from high school to the professional ranks. Twist is strength and conditioning coach for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. He also has instructed hundreds of national, international, and professional athletes in a variety of other sports, including football, soccer, tennis, and basketball.

Twist, who earned his MPE degree in coaching science from the University of British Columbia, is president of the Professional and Collegiate Hockey Conditioning Coaches Association. He has lectured extensively on conditioning topics at academic conferences, hockey seminars, and sports banquets.

Coauthor of The Physiology of Ice Hockey—A Testing and Training Manual, Twist has helped train such world-class athletes as NHL stars Trevor Linden and Pavel Bure and NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon. Twist also has helped numerous over-30 athletes to become quicker and more agile and to extend their careers. A passionate teacher, Twist lectures to university undergraduate and graduate classes, academic conference audiences, and sport-camp participants. He is the author of numerous articles on player development and conditioning.

Twist is also regional director for the British Columbia branch of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a member of the National Institute of Speed, Agility and Quickness.

As a varsity hockey player Twist was winner of the Best Defenseman Award at the University of British Columbia and McMaster University. In his leisure time, he enjoys swimming, cycling, and mountain hiking with his wife, Julie, and their dog, Rico.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers; 1 edition (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873228871
• ISBN-13: 978-0873228879
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Hockey
  • #60 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hockey

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great in general but not aimed at me, June 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey (Paperback)

I loved this book and found a lot of useful training information in it, it was very comprehensive. However, this book is geared toward a coach or a very serious player, I am a rec player who gets to play one hour a week with no practice time on the ice at all, and I am lucky to squeeze three hour workouts a week into my busy schedule. I don't have time for aerobic conditioning 2-3 times a week, lifting wieghts, doing speed drills, etc, etc, plus taking rest days, not to mention actually practicing skating and really playing hockey! I would love to quit my job and condition for hockey all day, but it isn't likely to happen. That said, I was able to use the information in the book to develop my own workout program within my time constraints, to get the most benefit from what time I do have.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PETER TWIST'S BOOK IS A HIT!, January 14, 2000

By 

Justin Brooks (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey (Paperback)

I found this book to be very helpful by assisting me in developing a trianing program that would allow me to achieve my best as an athlete. This book breaks everything down so it is easier to figure out the types of drills an excercises you need to do to improve what it is you want. He shows you drills on how to improve your speed, balance, power, agility and endurance. I recommend this book to any hockey player who needs a little guidance towards getting in shape.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Myriad of Exercises, July 10, 2002

By 

Russell Diederich (Littleton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey (Paperback)

Peter Twist says it right in the beginning, there is nothing quite like hockey. That makes it really tough to get in shape to play. Even if you're already in great shape, you're game could improve dramatically if you got into hockey shape. That is exactly what Twist tries to do.

The book is organized in such a way that the later chapters build upon the previous chapters. He begins by talking about energy and how we burn fuels different ways when playing hockey. Then he goes into stretching and strength training. If you have ever spent any time around a gym, you'll already know how to perform these movements. The payoff for this book is the plyometric. These are techniques used to help improve your agility and explosive movements. Let's face it, the team that can consistently get to the puck first usually wins. These exercises will provide you with a quick jump giving you an extra step over your opponent and the puck.

Twist writes simply, and his instructions are easy to follow. He uses photos generously when trying to explain complex movements. Both on-ice and off-ice exercises are provided so you don't have to be at the rink or have precious ice time to get into shape.