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Why lacrosse?
Anyone serious about hockey should play lacrosse, too.
From Gretzky to Tavares, Shanahan to Stamkos, Canadian-born NHL players recommend playing lacrosse in the summer to improve hockey skills.
Hockey and lacrosse are very similar sports.
Hockey players excel in Lacrosse and, in turn, they become markedly better hockey players.
Both hockey and lacrosse are high tempo, physical team sports that have similar elements to the game. Both sports utilize 5 players and a goalie, three periods and strategy of developing odd-man situations to create scoring opportunities.
Comparatively, lacrosse is a much less expensive sport than hockey and uses much of the same protective upper body equipment.
Hockey players benefit from lacrosse by developing:
- develops stick handling creativity
- develops creativity in tight areas
- reading the play offensively
- develops strong, dynamic defensive tactics
- builds up strength and endurance
- helps prevent sport burn-out by playing a new, fast-paced sport
- increases hand-eye coordination
- teaches players to play with their head up and to be more aware of their surroundings
- reinforces the importance of quickness and agility around the net
- builds self esteem, respect, integrity and fairness
- teaches leadership skills
- learn to play both offensive and defensive positions and make a quick transition from defense to offence and vice versa
- scoring skills are honed by shooting at smaller targets and picking corners
- teaches the creativity of fakes, back passes and shots
- develop the use of both hands
Here is a list of NHL hockey players who benefited from playing lacrosse:
Connor McDavid
Brendan Shanahan Steven Stamkos
David Bolland Ryan Getzlaf
Brendan Smith Sean Monahan
Reilly Smith Darnell Nurse
Max Domi Ben Eager
Nick Paul Brett Ritchie
Connor Brown Ryan Strome
Wayne Gretzky Nick Ritchie
John Tavares Joe Nieuwendyk
Adam Oates Joe Sakic
Jonathan Toews Doug Gilmour
Matt Moulson Gary Roberts
Jordan Eberle Paul Coffey
Cody Hodgson Paul Kariya
Gordie Howe Rick Dudley
Bobby Orr Darren Pang
Jason York Shawn Simpson
Mark Stone Bob Probert
Cliff Ronning Adrian Aucoin
Jack Bionda Devin Shore
Jason Ward Dustin Brown
Gerry Cheevers John Barrett
Doug Favell Marc Savard
Lionel Conacher Matt Barnaby
John Ferguson Ron Meighen
Dave Andreychuk Seth Griffith
Kyle Quincey Dan Ellis
Kyle Turris Riley Nash
Mike Ridley Codi Ceci
Doug Evans John Maclean
Sam Gagne Brian Bellows
"One of the worst things to happen to the game, in my opinion, has been year-round hockey and, in particular, summer hockey. All it does for kids, as far as I can tell, is keep them out of sports they should be doing in the warmer weather. I could hardly wait to get my lacrosse stick out and start throwing the ball against the walls and working on our moves as we played the lacrosse equivalent to road hockey. All the good hockey players seemed to play lacrosse in those days and everyone of them learned something from the game to carry over to the other - things athletes can only learn by mixing up the games they play when they are young."
– Wayne Gretzky
"There is no question that lacrosse helped me become a better all round athlete but more important to me are the memories. Small town rinks, competing for my community, summer fun at tournaments, teammates and family. These are some of my fondest memories of my Mimico lacrosse days.
– Brendan Shanahan
"It’s lacrosse that helped teach me to spin off checks, take shots and protect the puck under pressure. My stick skills, the way to read the play quickly comes from lacrosse. The hand-eye coordination, is just one of the little things that helps you in hockey."
—John Tavares
"Lacrosse was a big thing for us growing up and it’s a sport that really helped me develop as a hockey player.”
- Dave Bolland
"Lacrosse is a great game that I enjoyed playing when I was growing up.”
- Paul Kariya
 
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