Many fans are amazed to learn that NHL hockey players are just as busy off of the ice as they are on it. Some of the activities that NHL players are involved with are possible because they are members of the National Hockey League Players' Association. The NHL players are assisted in their activities by the NHL Players' Association too, which is always considered very helpful.



When NHL players are off the ice, they get to meet hockey players of the past through the NHL Alumni Association. What better way to refine the skills of playing the sometimes brutal game of hockey than to spend as much time talking to people that made a career out of the sport and have many tips to offer on how to handle various situations that crop up during an NHL game.

Some of the activities that NHL players enjoy the most are the award ceremonies that they get to attend and these awards are possible because they are awarded by the National Hockey League Players Association. These precision goal blockers and hard hitting skaters are awarded for achieving many things. When they reach the 1,000 career game mark, someone in the background is planning an award ceremony.

There are other awards that are included in the activities that are sponsored by the National Hockey League Players Association. NHL players get recognized for such things as when they reach the 600 assist mark. When they have earned more than 1,000 points in their career, you can bet that there is an engraver in town that is busily preparing a trophy for that career mark perhaps many weeks ahead of schedule.

Goaltenders appreciate being recognized for the tough job that they do for their NHL team and after 500 games, the awards they are presented are certainly earned. Perhaps the NHL has an angle to keep players motivated because the awards do not stop there. There are significant milestones such as 25 shutouts that motivate NHL players to win their games with no doubt in anyone's mind.

Some of the activities for NHL Players off the ice might hinder their ability to be on the ice under contract with the NHL. Every sport has a mandatory performance enhancing substances program and NHL players are tasked with unannounced drug testing several times a year. NHL players do not mind this sort of activity because it makes sure that everybody on the ice is in the best physical condition for every game with any type of enhancements that could affect their health.