Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey. Peter W. Twist. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics, 1996. 256 pp., paper, $21.95. ISBN 0-87322-887-1. Subject Headings: Hockey-Training. Physical fitness. Grades 9 and up / Ages 14 and up. Review by Lorraine Douglas. ***1/2 /4

The author of this guide is the strength and conditioning coach of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. He holds a Master's degree in Physical Education in coaching and previously co-authored The Physiology of Ice Hockey - A Testing and Training Manual.

      Intended for professionals and recreational athletes and their coaches, this guide provides information on fitness basics and safety considerations, flexibility, aerobic and anaerobic drills, strength training, speed training, agility drills and nutrition. The benefits and instructions for each exercise are very clearly and concisely written. It is filled with clear schematic diagrams and black and white photos of players (mostly the Canucks) demonstrating exercises. The book also features boxes with statements on conditioning from greats like Gretzky, Chelios and Cherry with their photos. (And the book is so up-to-date Gretzky is named as playing for the Rangers!) Their thoughts are positive and encouraging and match the overall tone of the book.

      This guide is most useful to coaches but also contains information of great concern to teens - like how to eat on a long pregame trip, how to gain weight properly, and the value of other sports in increasing hockey skills. Two small criticisms are that the photo of Dave Babych demonstrating an exercise would have been better placed on the page with the instructions, and an index would have been handy for quick reference to the exercises.

      This information-packed and well-organized guide is highly recommended for public libraries.

Highly recommended.

Lorraine Douglas is Youth Services Coordinator for Winnipeg Public Library. She manages selection and programming for the Winnipeg Public Library and played hockey for a number of years.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © 1996 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364