🏒 Your Pregame Guide Starts Here
Perform like the best by preparing like the best.
Success in hockey doesn’t just happen when the puck drops — it’s built in the hours leading up to the game.
The way you eat, hydrate, warm up, and focus will determine not only how you perform today, but how quickly you recover and prepare for tomorrow.
Short-term: the right habits give you steady energy, sharp focus, and the confidence to execute every shift.
Long-term: consistent preparation develops the routines and recovery habits that fuel progress all season.
If you’re a parent, these steps will help you set your young player up for success with the right meals, hydration, and mindset cues.
And if you’re a coach, use this guide as a framework to share with your team, helping players maximize performance while building sustainable habits.
This guide breaks down the complete game-day routine — from morning to post-game recovery — trusted by elite players at every level.
🌅 Morning Prep (Start of Day to ~4 Hours Before Game Time)
🥤 Hydration
16–20 oz room-temp water + pinch of salt immediately upon waking.
Optional: add electrolytes if sweating heavily during morning warm-up or skate.
🍳 Breakfast Options
Oatmeal + banana + almond butter
Scrambled eggs + whole-grain toast + berries
Greek yogurt + granola + blueberries
Smoothie (banana, peanut butter, protein powder)
Light option: toast + peanut butter + banana
🔋 Fuel Focus: A balanced mix of carbs for energy and protein to stabilize blood sugar, setting you up for steady energy all day.
🧠 Mindset
3 minutes of visualization: see yourself making confident plays
Cue word for the day: Fast / Calm / Sharp
Self-talk: “I’m ready.” “Let’s go.”
💡 Coach’s Tip: Start your day calm and confident — your body follows your mind.
⏱️ Pre-Game Routine (~3 Hours to 60 Minutes Before Puck Drop)
🚀 Want to Prep Like the Pros — for Free?
This exclusive guide breaks down exactly how top players get ready — from wake-up to warm-up to recovery.
🧠 Built for players, parents, and coaches who want an edge — and trusted by over 22,000 subscribers.
👇 Join The Playmaker Report (free) to unlock the full routine: