August Training Challenge: Learn from Hockey's Biggest Names Before the Season Begins

Summer is flying by, which means it's time to start shifting your training toward the habits and decisions that make a difference once the season starts.

This month's Hockey Life Training Pack brings together some of hockey's biggest creators, coaches, and development experts into one collection of Training Plans designed to help you head into tryouts and opening weekend feeling confident, sharp, and ready to play.

Train as either a goalie or player alongside popular hockey personalities like Pavel Barber, Nasher, Maria Mountain, Eli Wilson, Dave Stathos, Boston University, Boston College, Elev802, and more, working on the core skills they teach every day.

Complete all 7 August Training Plan to unlock your exclusive August Hockey Life Badge Jersey, be entered to win free months of NHL Sense Arena, and show you've conquered this month's challenge!

[READ AUGUST CONTEST RULES AND RESTRICTIONS]

[DOWNLOAD AUGUST PLAYER CHECKLIST]

[DOWNLOAD AUGUST GOALIE CHECKLIST]

Why August Training Matters

There's still time to improve before the season starts, but the focus changes a little this time of year.

Instead of simply getting more reps, August is about sharpening the details that separate good players from confident players once games begin. It's also the time to start to prepare your body and mind to hit the ice ready, not rusty. Focus areas include:

• Faster decisions under pressure
• Better vision and awareness
• Stronger scanning habits
• Reading the play earlier
• Cleaner puck touches
• Building consistency before tryouts

Think of this month as your bridge between offseason training and game mode.

Player Training Pack

This month's player plans combine stickhandling, Hockey IQ, scanning, offensive reads, and game awareness from some of the most respected names in hockey development.

Pavel Barber Dangle Sense (DanglePro)

One of Pavel Barber's signature DanglePro experiences focuses on more than flashy hands. You'll build quick puck control while keeping your head up, reacting to changing situations, and anticipating what's coming next. You'll also receive guidance from Pavel himself as you work through these core stickhandling and awareness skills.

Focus:

• Heads-up stickhandling
• Faster hands
• Anticipation
• Puck control under pressure

Player Tracking Training Plan

Elite players constantly process multiple moving players at once. This plan improves your ability to track several objects simultaneously so you can find passing lanes, recognize threats, and make better decisions with less hesitation.

Focus:

• Hockey vision
• Peripheral awareness
• Multi-object tracking
• Faster processing

Elev802 Offensive Skills

Created by Swaggy P and Money Mitch from Elev802, this plan puts you into realistic offensive situations around the slot where quick reads matter. With these immersive VR drills, you'll practice identifying opportunities, reacting to defenders, and making confident offensive decisions in tight spaces.

Focus:

• Offensive reads
• Slot awareness
• Decision making
• Quick reactions

Pavel Barber Flow 5 (DanglePro)

Ready for another quick hands challenge? This advanced DanglePro course combines multiple stickhandling movements with scanning and anticipation to develop smoother, more confident puck handling.

Focus:

• Advanced puck control
• Hand speed
• Vision
• Anticipation

Gretzky's Office

Some of hockey's best scoring chances start below the goal line. With guidance from former NHL Pro Andrew Alberts, this Training Plan teaches you how to recognize passing opportunities, identify defenders' positioning, and create plays from one of the game's most dangerous areas.

Focus:

• Offensive awareness
• Playmaking
• Reading defenders
• Timing

Boston University Scoring Area Skills

The space around the net changes quickly. This BU Training Plan helps you improve your scanning, timing, and reads while making decisions in high-pressure scoring areas.

Focus:

• Net-front awareness
• Timing
• Scanning
• Quick decisions

Boston College D-Zone Reads

Great breakouts begin before you touch the puck. Boston College's defensive zone plan develops shoulder checking, scanning, and reading forecheck pressure so you can make smarter breakout decisions.

Focus:

• Shoulder checks
• Defensive awareness
• Breakout decisions
• Reading pressure

Goalie Training Pack

In this new curated collection, goalies can train with top hockey creators, elite goalie coaches, and performance experts to sharpen reactions, improve reads, and prepare for game speed before the season begins.

Nasher Roller Trick Shots (Game Flow)

Nasher's creative shot selection keeps you guessing with a variety of releases, angles, and surprising roller shots. It's a fun way to sharpen reactions while staying engaged by trying to focus on some unexpected shots.

Focus:

• Reaction time
• Tracking unusual shots
• Staying patient
• Recovery

Little Caesars Game Flow

Face real shooters from the Little Caesars U16 program in continuous game situations that challenge your positioning, reads, and consistency.

Focus:

• Game speed focus
• Stamina and fatigue
• Positioning
• Shot tracking
• Rebound control

Pavel Barber Dangle Sense (DanglePro)

Goalies handle the puck more than ever. This DanglePro experience builds better puck handling skills while improving anticipation and hand-eye coordination. Use your goalie stick to improve your on-ice confidence. 

Focus:

• Goalie puck handling
• Hand speed
• Vision
• Anticipation

Complex 360 Video Warm-Up

A perfect pre-session routine that combines video and avatar shooters to wake up your eyes before diving into more demanding drills.

Focus:

• Visual tracking
• Reactions
• Warm-up
• Vision

Maria Mountain 8-Day Training Plan

As fatigue sets in, good habits become even more important. Exercise physiologist Maria Mountain's program focuses on maintaining strong movement patterns and efficient mechanics throughout long practices and games.

Focus:

• Movement efficiency
• Consistency
• Conditioning
• Strong habits

Eli Wilson Training Plan

One of hockey's most respected goalie coaches helps you improve one of the game's most important skills: reading the release before the shot arrives. Learning to identify shooting cues earlier gives you valuable extra milliseconds to react.

Focus:

• Release reads
• Visual cues
• Anticipation
• Save timing

Dave Stathos Training Plan

Goaltending is about reading the entire play, not just the puck. Dave Stathos' plan helps you recognize developing plays earlier so you can arrive square, set, and ready before the shot happens.

Focus:

• Reading the game
• Anticipation
• Positioning
• Hockey IQ

Complete the August Challenge

Finish every Training Plan in the August Hockey Life Training Pack before the month ends to earn your exclusive August Hockey Life Badge Jersey. More importantly, you'll head into the final weeks before the season with stronger habits, quicker decisions, and the confidence that comes from training alongside some of hockey's best coaches and creators.