you also need down time. A lot of NHL players don’t even touch the ice until August. This is common among all athletes. You need time away just as much as you need time on the ice. & idk why people insist on comparing the average person to an NHL players life, it’s not the same thing. Not even close and an athletes life is not comparable to a normal persons life. Both types of people make sacrifices and schedules that are conducive to their individual lives. So your point is moot. Good for you if you work 8hours a day. It’s not comparable to an athlete, completely different life styles. LOL only people who have actually been an athlete in life will understand really
The most important things, if you are training hard, is nutrition, sleep and adequate rest between exercising specific body parts. You would not exercise your chest every day of the week, it would have the opposite effect of gaining strength. So to your point, rest is essential to maxing out gains. Many NHLers take of a month or so off, then they get right back to the gym, not like the old days where they would drink and smoke all summer, a buddy of mine whos dad was part of the Habs Org, told us stories of how Guy LaFleur use to smoke in the locker-room between periods, it's not your grand pa's hockey player any more...
I realize this is a Ritchie thread but the other guy that people seem to want to talk about in this thread has a ridiculous off season training regimen, they aired it on SNET last year. Strength and conditioning coaches check in multiple times every summer to see progress and adjust the program, they have checks with team doctors/ nutritionists through the summer and I would think if you are investing $11 mil in a player, the team would have more focus on that players health and condition than a guy who is making league min.