How to win puck battles? Just wondering if it's a matter more of strength or skill. I'm in a league where I'm quite easily in the bottom 20% of the players skill-wise. But the reason I'm asking is because when I'm losing the battles, it often feels like an issue of strength. Yet, months at the gym have not really produced better results.

Are there things I can do off ice, alone, that would help with that? Maybe some specific drills or exercises at the gym? I tend to have good enough hockey sense to know where to be, but too often I miss out because I lose the battle. 