Anyone serious about hockey should play lacrosse, too!

Anyone serious about hockey should play lacrosse, too!

From Gretzky to Tavares, Shanahan to Stamkos, Canadian-born NHLers recommend playing lacrosse in the summer to improve hockey skills.

Hockey and lacrosse are very similar sports.

Both hockey and lacrosse are high tempo, physical team sports that have similar elements to the game. Both sports utilize 5 players and a goalie, three periods and strategy of developing odd-man situations to create scoring opportunities. Hockey players excel in Lacrosse. And, in turn, they become markedly better hockey players.

Comparatively, lacrosse is a much less expensive sport than hockey and uses much of the same protective upper body equipment.

Hockey players benefit from lacrosse by developing:

develops stick handling creativity
develops creativity in tight areas
reading the play offensively
develops strong, dynamic defensive tactics
builds up strength and endurance
helps prevent sport burn-out by playing a new, fast-paced sport
increases hand-eye coordination
teaches players to play with their head up and to be more aware of their surroundings
reinforces the importance of quickness and agility around the net
builds self esteem, respect, integrity and fairness
teaches leadership skills
learn to play both offensive and defensive positions and make a quick transition from defense to offence and vice versa
scoring skills are honed by shooting at smaller targets and picking corners
teaches the creativity of fakes, back passes and shots
develop the use of both hands

Want to know more? http://aquidneckcannons.com

Check out this article highlighting Mimico’s Dave Bolland and young John Tavares!

“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

Here is a short list of famous hockey players who benefited from playing lacrosse:
Brendan Shanahan (Mimico Lacrosse)
David Bolland (Mimico Lacrosse)
Brendan Smith (Mimico Lacrosse)
Reilly Smith (Mimico Lacrosse)
Wayne Gretzky
Steven Stamkos
John Tavares
Gordie Howe
Bobby Orr
Jason York
Joe Nieuwendyk
Joe Sakic
Doug Gilmour
Paul Coffey
Gary Roberts
Paul Kariya
Kyle Turris
Adam Oates
Jonathan Toews
Cody Hodgson

(taken from www.mimicolacrosse.com-http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3a88a1641c270f1e2d5c66fb5&id=b7a13de...)