Trained by an award-winning figure skating coach, Aleksander Barkov worked on his mobility. In addition, he accepted a wallbars challenge versus a 14-year-old gymnast.
She doesn't coach only figure skaters, but recently many Finnish ice hockey players have profited from her knowledge. Minnesota Wild's Mikael Granlund is probably the most well-known example of her work.
Last summer Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov trained his skating with Arrateig. She tells the young center has found his skating position and centre of gravity. Skating looks easier, and Barkov adds that he feels his skating is now more economic letting him practice longer.
During the interview both Barkov and his coach touted the experience, Sasha calling the training "just perfect".
Where cooperation between figure skating and ice hockey coaches is more established in North America, the phenomenon isn't so familiar in Finland. Instead, the Finns have usually persisted with their sport-specific doctrines.
The dogmatic and narrow-minded atmosphere is fortunately breaking down, giving room for wider cooperation.
Finding optimal skating position and the centre of gravity with a distinguished skating coach
Kaisa Arrateig has coached Rockettes, a Helsinki-based synchronized skating team, for two decades. Under her command the team has won three World Championships and numerous Finnish Championships as well.She doesn't coach only figure skaters, but recently many Finnish ice hockey players have profited from her knowledge. Minnesota Wild's Mikael Granlund is probably the most well-known example of her work.
Last summer Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov trained his skating with Arrateig. She tells the young center has found his skating position and centre of gravity. Skating looks easier, and Barkov adds that he feels his skating is now more economic letting him practice longer.
Watch the story from a Finnish newscast by MTV3. The site and the video are unfortunately in Finnish, but at least You'll catch the feeling and have Your eyes on "Sasha" Skating with Kaisa Arrateig!
During the interview both Barkov and his coach touted the experience, Sasha calling the training "just perfect".
Barkov is arguably the NHL's most well-rounded centre
In his thoughtful article on NHL's top-23 centres Andrew Berkshire used every noteworthy bit of statistics to determine the best centres of the NHL. The ranking puts Barkov surprisingly high, 4th just after Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. As Berkshire puts it:
"Barkov has some standout skills, but what pushes him to such lofty heights is that he’s just really good at… everything. Scoring, playmaking, defending, skating the puck up the ice, finding teammates in transition, recovering loose pucks, he does it all well."
The article posted on Sportsnet.ca is one I'd suggest everyone interested in the NHL to read, but it has obviously it's flaws too. While hyping Barkov Berkshire doesn't mention Sasha's problems with skating, which is the most limiting attribute in his game. Barkov is already an above average skater, but there's still a lot of room for improvement.
Barkov has recognized the trend of smaller, faster and more agile players forcing their way to the NHL. On the MTV3 interview Barkov says that he needs to keep up with the development of the game and become a better skater.
Barkov has recognized the trend of smaller, faster and more agile players forcing their way to the NHL. On the MTV3 interview Barkov says that he needs to keep up with the development of the game and become a better skater.
Where cooperation between figure skating and ice hockey coaches is more established in North America, the phenomenon isn't so familiar in Finland. Instead, the Finns have usually persisted with their sport-specific doctrines.
The dogmatic and narrow-minded atmosphere is fortunately breaking down, giving room for wider cooperation.
Barkov and 14-year old gymnast Iida-Maria Vänni in a wallbars challenge
Iida-Maria Vänni and Aleksander Barkov faced each other in this rather extreme challenge. It seems Barkov has still some work to do with his flexibility? At least if he aims to be a successful gymnast.
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