Last week, Moorhead native and long time NHLer (5th most games played all-time among Americans) Matt Cullen said he thinks not playing hockey actually helps better prepare players for the next season.

At first, this seems like a bold, and maybe even outlandish statement. Wouldn’t the best way to improve hockey skills be playing hockey?  Surprisingly, many of the finer points and important situations in hockey actually occur more frequently in other sports.

And Cullen is far from the only elite athlete who touts the benefits of playing a variety of sports and taking time off from hockey.

Amber Fryklund is Bemidji State women’s hockey team’s all-time leading scorer. Now an assistant coach for her alma mater, she helped guide the Beavers to a program-best 22 wins in 2015-16, and she is a big believer in children playing multiple sports.

“Kids who are involved in multiple sports tend to be the kids that have [more] athleticism,” Fryklund said. “Those traits that they gather from being a multi-sport athlete translate into hockey.”

She also emphasizes that ‘play’ is an important aspect in athletic development and finding passion for sports. A child doesn’t necessarily have to be in an organized league with coaches, referees and time clocks.

“Bottom line, it comes down to being a multi-sport athlete and it doesn’t mean you have to be in a structured setting,” Fryklund said.

Balling Out

Because their traditional sport seasons overlap, basketball fans and hockey fans position the games as an us-versus-them argument at the pro level. However, dribbling a basketball isn’t too far from cradling the puck.

“When I grew up, we didn’t have girls’ hockey. Basketball was actually a sport that I played,” Fryklund said. “I think those skills, like dribbling a basketball, directly relates on ice.”

“It’s the same concept of hockey players having soft hands. I think dribbling a basketball gives you those qualities and also being deceptive. It’s probably one of those things that you don’t think about, but I think it’s a great avenue, as much as I hate to say it,” she joked. “It’s a great example of not having to be a structured sport. You can go just about anywhere and play basketball. All you need is a hoop, a ball and some shoes.” 

Batter Up

The Minnesota Wild’s Zach Parise is a big Twins fan and Fryklund notes that there are a lot of similarities between the baseball swing and hockey shot.

“How the hand-eye coordination translates from other sports, like baseball and softball, to hockey is pretty self-explanatory,” Fryklund said. “The movements and using the core muscles, being able to make contact with a ball, those types of things directly translate to hockey and the shot.”

Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams said the hardest thing to do in baseball is to hit a round ball with a round bat, squarely. Well, the art of hitting can help a hockey player strike a flattened orb with a curved blade, accurately. After all, one of the few skills more self-rewarding than throwing sauce passes is being able to knock opponents’ sauce out of the air.

Fore!  

Have you ever read the player bios in an NHL program? When you get to the section listing favorite activities, 97 percent (all numbers approximate) of them list golf as a summertime hobby. 

Like a baseball swing, the golf swing uses similar muscle groups as shooting a hockey puck.

“Golf is a great one and there’s the mental aspect, which is great for hockey players, too,” Fryklund said.

Re-Lax

Although it might not be as popular in Minnesota as, say, the East Coast, lacrosse is gaining speed in the State of Hockey.

Using a lacrosse stick simulates many aspects crucial to puck-handling, including wrist rolls, forearm strength, hand-eye coordination and the concept of accepting and receiving passes.

Even if there’s not an organization near you, just having fun in the yard can be turned into a fertile training ground for offseason hockey development.

“I think lacrosse in the Twin Cities and other areas across the state has really taken off. It mimics hockey in the way that it is played,” Fryklund said. “Again, it doesn’t have to be structured. You can have a lacrosse stick and a ball and pass with your buddy in the yard.”

Anyone for Tennis?

Fryklund believes tennis is great for hockey because, while it works on hand and core elements, footwork and body control to get into position to strike the ball is a central tenant of the sport.

“Tennis is another game that translates,” Fryklund said. “The way that you swing a tennis racket and follow through.”

Like hockey, in tennis you’re not always going to be in perfect position and a comfortable athletic stance when you’re forced to make a shot.

While nothing takes the place of shooting pucks in the garage and stickhandling in the basement, there are active alternatives and games kids can play that can improve their puck skills without knowing it. So, parents, encourage your kids to get outside this summer and play different sports because gaining overall athletic ability will help them out next season when they return to the ice.