TABLE 3.

Representative on-ice activities and drills during the early, intermediate, late, and return-to-sport phases of the on-ice skating progression (supplemental video 1, on-ice drills). The drills are not meant to be all-encompassing but rather provide a framework for appropriate progression.

Early*	Intermediate	Late	Return-to-Sport
Sub-phase A: Forward skating: 25% effort with hockey turns (i.e., no crossovers) E.g., 8–10 × 60–90” skating with 20–30” rest (alternating direction each interval) Drills: none Duration: ≤20 minutes total (rests included) Sub-phase B: Forward skating: 50% effort with hockey turns Backwards skating: 25% effort Drills: Single, double, and alternating C-cuts (forward and backward); Half circles with crossovers at 25–50% effort Duration: 30 minutes total Sub-phase C: Forward skating: 75% effort Backwards skating and crossovers: 50% effort Drills: Full circles at 50–75% effort; 3 stride starts; Figure 8 drill; Incorporate puck-handling Duration: 30–45 minutes total Sub-phase D: Forward skating: 75–90% effort Backwards skating and crossovers: 50–75% effort Drills: 1 leg endurance drill; Increase effort with figure 8 drill, circles, etc. Duration: 30–60 minutes total	Transitions and form: Between blue-lines transitions—pivoting forward/backward Half ice→full ice transition drills Transition Circles—always facing one end of the ice Tight circles around cones/dots Use both inside/outside edges Forwards/backwards/pivoting Power: Power strides with pauses (forward and backward) Increase depth and power Resisted partner push drill Resisted partner pull drill Puck Skills: Incorporate puck-handling with drills as athlete progresses (e.g., circles, figure 8 drill, puck-handling around cones, etc.) Introduce submaximal wrist and snap shots (e.g., circles with shot at end)	Anaerobic training with direction changes: Between blue-line sprinting “Suicide” sprints Agilities: Crossovers with stops Crossovers with sprints and stops Iron cross drill Reaction drills Quick starts and stops Puck Skills: Passing Drills with Coach Break out routes Passing while skating forward/backward Shuttle passing Neutral zone regroup routes Shooting Drills with Coach Give and Go’s—corner, half-wall, blue line Catch and shoot Slap shots One-timers Blue line push/drag	Non-contact team drills (e.g., passing drills, dump-ins, shooting drills, etc.) Outnumbered situations: 3 vs. 1, 2 vs. 1, 3 vs. 2 Progress to 1 vs. 1 and corner drills Progress to full participation in team practice Progress to scrimmages Progress to games

^*The early phase should be completed on empty ice.