Changing Landscape Of The Nhl
By Mark Wright, Thu Dec 8th

Changing Landscape of the NHL

The changing face of the NHL is very prominent as the firstregular season play begins for the 2005-2006 season. Big namedplayers have left big named teams for the previously has-beendoorstops of the NHL. It is amazing that sports like baseballhave not seen the light, and it is unfortunate that hockey hadto learn this lesson the very hard way.

We now have players like Paul Kariya playing in a market wherethere are only 1.2 million people. For Kariya, though, it is agreat move. Nashville has some talent on its team, and embeddedcoach, and a decent place to live. Money is going to go a lotfarther in Nashville than it did in the extremely pricey Anaheimor even Colorado. On top of that if Kariya has a few good years,then he has a golden ticket for the rest of his life inNashville. He will be a celebrity way past the end of hisplaying days and will likely never have to pick up a check thereever again.

It is amazing the spending spree teams went on that previouslywould not spend an extra nickel to buy new uniforms. Teams likethe recently bankrupt Pittsburgh Penguins, hanging by a stringEdmonton Oilers and the previously mentioned NashvillePredators, are just a few who have had the flexibility to makemoves. On the opposite side of the puck you have the establisheddominant teams like Detroit, Colorado, New Jersey and New Yorkwho are facing a significant crisis due to previous signings.

The bottom line is the players cut of the pie droppedsignificantly, some 25% in some estimates. However, the resultis going to be better for the league, the teams and ultimatelythe players. Having more teams capable of competing for moreplayers, even with the caps in place is going to be good for theleague. Baseball should take note.

Written by Mark Wright © 2005 Mark Wright - Dalstars.com

About the author:Please visit Dalstars.com for more hockey and Dallas StarsInformation.

The 4 Fundamentals Of Top Ice Hockey Skating
By Jon Weaver, Thu Dec 8th

In ice hockey, skating can make or break you. Here are the 4fundamentals to becoming a top performing ice hockey skater,plus 4 extra techniques to push you right over the edge!

1. A solid, well-balanced stance is basic to any degree of speedyou want to attain. If you will work on your starts, stops, andturns as described, you will be well on your way to goodbalance.

2. In striding, you have better balance if you skate with yourfeet about shoulder width apart. If your feet are too closetogether, you are more easily knocked off-balance in the heavygoing of a game.

3. The faster you skate, the more you should bend forward fromthe waist. The comparison here is to the body-lean of a sprinterdoing the 100-yard dash and the striding form of a two-miler.During the course of a hockey game, you will be both a sprinterand a strider as the play dictates. But when you really want todig fast, with or without the puck, you should lean well into it.

4. For straight-ahead speed, your power comes from the thrustyou get when the knee of the digging foot straightens. To getmaximum thrust, the knee of the leg coming forward should bewell bent. Be sure you carry this knee forward ahead of thefoot. Then when you place your foot on the ice, you get fullmuscle power when the knee straightens.

Top athletes, especially outstanding track stars, recognize theimportance of leg power and do something about it. They use aprinciple of training known as over-load.
And you can use yourown form of it, too. Here are some methods of over- loading:

1. Drive yourself all out as long as you are on the ice duringscrimmage. Do not just coast around the rink on skates; theywill do most of the work for you if you let them.

2. Skate in short, hard bursts, gradually building up the numberof lengths of ice you can do successively.

3. Get a buddy to let you push him up and down the ice. You areover-loading by the amount he weighs.

4. In testing yourself at top speed, keep up a continual refrainin your mind: “I can go faster yet!” Be sure to warm up wellbefore any all-out test.

If you study these 4 fundamentals and over-load with the 4techniques above, you will improve your skating skillsdramatically. And that in turn will improve your overall icehockey performance.

About the author:FREE ice hockey training can be found at Sir Jon Weaver’sinformation web site. Discover the secrets to performing at thetop of your game, with a focus on beginners. It’s FREE! Clickhere: http://www.HockeyForBeginners.com