Gladiator Elite Hockey Program

VERTICAL JUMP TESTING 📈

One of the key tests we use throughout the off-season is the Abalakov Jump — a vertical jump performed with an arm swing, allowing the athlete to move more naturally and explosively in a way that better represents an athletic movement.

But we’re looking at a lot more than just how high an athlete can jump.

Using our jump testing, some of the key metrics we analyze include:

⚡️ Jump Height — overall explosive output
⚡️ RSI — an indicator of explosiveness, speed qualities and fatigue/readiness
⚡️ Eccentric Braking — how effectively an athlete can absorb force and decelerate
⚡️ Rate of Force Development (RFD) — how quickly an athlete can produce force

Together, these numbers give us a much clearer picture of how an athlete produces force, absorbs force, decelerates and ultimately creates speed and power.

From there, we can tailor exercises, loading strategies and training phases around what each athlete actually needs.

Assess → Train → Test → Adjust → Repeat.

That process continues throughout the entire off-season. We don’t just test on Day 1 and forget about the numbers — we continue to test, train and reassess to make sure the work in the gym is producing the adaptations we’re looking for.

And this is where July and August get exciting.

After months of work, many of our athletes are now hitting new personal bests across their testing — the result of everything they’ve built since Day 1.

The numbers don’t lie. 📈

Test. Train. Re-Test. Perform.

The work you put in now is what shows up when the season starts.

The off-season isn’t just about getting tired—it’s about building the qualities that separate athletes when it matters most. Strength creates the foundation. From there, we develop explosive power, acceleration, top-end speed, change of direction, and the resilience to perform shift after shift.

When training is structured the right way, everything builds on itself. Stronger athletes become more powerful. More powerful athletes move faster. Faster athletes make more plays.

With camps and tryouts right around the corner, now is the time to make sure you’re prepared. Confidence on the ice comes from knowing you’ve already put in the work long before the puck drops.

Once the season begins, the goal changes. In-season training is all about maintaining the strength, power, speed, and durability you’ve built throughout the summer so you can perform at your best from Game 1 to the playoffs.

Stay tuned—our In-Season Hockey Performance Programs are launching soon. 👀🏒

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