Why You Can't Shoot a Cannon from a Canoe

All hockey players, no matter their age, gender and ability level, must be strong.

However, getting stronger doesn't guarantee that you are going to be a better player. In order to use their increased strength effectively, players must also develop increased stability. Trying to develop strength without stability is like trying to shoot a cannon from a canoe.

Cannons are extremely strong and powerful, while canoes are unstable and unsteady. It really doesn't matter how powerful the cannon is if it is being shot from a canoe with an unstable base of support. Even if the cannon were able to fire a shot from the canoe, the shot would be very inaccurate and would probably cause damage to the structural integrity of the boat. The strength of the cannon, while impressive, might actually sink the ship. In order for the cannon to use its full power, the canoe would need to be reinforced and stabilized.

Unfortunately, many young hockey players end up like “cannons in canoes”. They focus on becoming as strong and powerful as possible, without ever developing the stability needed to control that power. The problem is that many of the strength training programs being used by young players focus entirely on building the muscles that power hockey-specific movements, and completely neglect the stabilizing muscles that support these movements. Without properly reinforcing the body, players will lack the stability to adequately control their powerful movements and are much more prone to injury.

Let's look at the example of young player taking a slap-shot. In most cases, a player's slap-shot is their most powerful weapon. By starting from a strong base of support and transferring their weight effectively, a player should be able to deliver an accurate and powerful shot every time. However, if they lack adequate stability in their core, shoulders, hips and knees, they will not be able to transfer their power effectively, and the strength and accuracy of their shot will suffer.

In order for a young player to use the power of their “cannon” effectively, they must reinforce the structural integrity of their “canoe”. If a young player focuses solely on getting as strong as possible, without first developing a stable foundation, their new- found strength will be ineffective. Instead of making them better, this lack of stability can compromise their performance and predispose them to injury. By focusing on developing strength and stability simultaneously, young hockey players will maximize the effectiveness of their off-ice training and see a much bigger increase in their on-ice performance.