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M A R C H 2 0 2 1 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 25 Fresh Air. We all need a little more vitamin D, especially in the winter. Soak up some sun and fill those lungs with that crisp Minnesotan air. Hockey IQ. Unstructured outdoor puck makes you a smarter hockey player. It forces you to make quick decisions and solve problems while developing spatial and situational awareness. Score More. Playing outside gives you a great opportunity to work on your shot, but do so with a purpose. Have fun sniping but don't develop bad habits. Spend a lot of time in front of the net—where most goals are scored. Get Social. Mix it up. Play with new people of different ages if you can. It's good to challenge yourself against the older kids and have fun with the youngsters as well. Develop Those Dangles. Try that toe- drag, around-the-world, spin-o-rama and any other moves you can think of. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Step out of your comfort zone. Skate, Skate, Skate. Outdoor hockey will help you become more comfortable with your edges, transitions, stops and starts. Skating is the foundation for every hockey player and even NHLers still work on skating every day. Get Saucy. Get experimental in your passing and playmaking. Depending on your ice sheet, use saucer passes to find the open player. If you have boards, use those to beat your opponent with indirect passes. Puck Control. Outdoor ice isn't always going to be pristine. In fact, it's usually not. A little snow, wet spots and some cracks in the ice force you to really cradle and take care of the puck. Slower conditions also means you have to make firm, crisp passes. Honor. Playing outdoors helps keep our passion and culture alive and well. It pays tribute to the legends who laid the groundwork before us and the countless volunteers who give us the opportunities to play and love the game. Have Fun! In the end, it's all about the love of the game. That's why we "play!" 10 REASONS TO PLAY OUTDOOR HOCKEY THIS WINTER Darby Hendrickson, Minnesota Wild Assistant Coach, Richfield "I think playing outside is such a healthy environment. Even though I'm in coaching, I realize that it is healthy when coaches and parents aren't there. I think it is important to have a good balance of skill training and coaching indoors. But there should be time for kids to be with their friends outside." OTSEGO PLYMOUTH LONSDALE