Vanguard Hockey International

HC Ajoie - National League Switzerland

Working on glide, body mechanics, body discipline, loading legs, weight transfers, quick release.

Speed isn’t just about moving your feet faster. Glide, body mechanics, leg loading and disciplined weight transfer create efficiency, control and power through every movement. When the body arrives in the right position, the hands and shot can work faster, allowing for a quicker release with less wasted motion. Train the mechanics that make skill translate at game speed.

Huge thank you to HC Ajoie, Coach Peltonen, Coach Nummelin, Coach Tilkanen, and Mr. Vauclair for this opportunity. Thank you to all the players for being so receptive. I enjoyed every moment of working with this group.

Edited by the one and only MS Films

Mikko Rantanen - Dallas Stars
2022 Stanley Cup Champion — Colorado Avalanche
2026 Olympic Bronze Medal — Finland
2016 IIHF World Championship Silver Medal — Finland
2016 IIHF World Junior Champion — Finland, Captain
2× NHL All-Star — 2019, 2023
NHL Second All-Star Team — 2021
2× 100+ Point NHL Seasons
55-Goal Season — 2022–23
300+ Career NHL Goals

Mikko is a great example of what happens when skill has purpose. He uses his size, edges and puck control to create space, attack pressure and make plays instead of just making moves. At the highest level, it’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the right things better.

was too hard to score on all week in Tampere so needed a bit of a confidence boost 😂

Creativity is key. Creativity isn’t coached by giving players every answer. It’s built by creating environments where they have to read, react, experiment, and solve problems on their own.

Give players tools, then give them the freedom to use them.

Thats what this drill is about. Giving a blueprint and stepping away, no wrong answers.

Overcoaching and constant restrictions create players who wait for instructions instead of solving problems. When every decision has a predetermined “right” answer, creativity disappears and instinct goes with it.

Teach principles. Don’t program players.

Joona Luoto -
HV71 2025-26
Multiple time Liiga Champion
NHL - Winnipeg / Columbus
NL - Bern

Solid rep of the bad pass drill. Receiving “bad pass” in stride, drive into the event zone, wheel out with speed into the shooting funnel. This drill is meant to be ramped up to negate predictability, increase creativity, and mimic a common situation.

Tag a guy who only dishes bad passes, tag another who can handle them like this.

Did it go in? 🤷

Huge thank you to BAUER Hockey for outfitting the new co owner and partner of Vanguard Hockey Finland Niclas Lucenius.

Winning habits are built long before winning moments. Demand more from your training. Demand more from your equipment. Proud to be Powered by Bauer.