When they have layers of pads and skates strapped to them on the ice, sometimes it’s easy to forget what incredible athletes hockey players often are.
It’s a different skill set than many other sports, as flat out sprint speed isn’t nearly as valuable – because it doesn’t always translate to skating speed. However, it still helps to remain in peak shape in hockey, there are just different muscles to train. One technique that many hockey players have taken to over the years is box jumping.
Box jumps are when you get a very tall box, and jump on it – it’s pretty simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Canadiens’ rookie Nikita Scherbak showed how to make it look easy on Monday, as he jumped onto a box that was basically his own height. Measured at 6’2”, that’s no easy feat.
He has some other impressive jumps from other NHL players this offseason to contend with though. Both Jakob Chychrun and Michael Grabner have pulled off crazy displays of hops, and Scherbak’s running start definitely makes it slightly less impressive than the others’. Still, Montreal Canadiens fans should be excited to see that their 2014 first overall pick has been putting in work before what could be a breakout season for the young winger.
Check out other impressive workouts from other NHLers this offseason here.
