Whether its being first to the puck, or catching the play, an efficient forward stride is necessary in all elements of a player's game. An efficient stride will allow the player to produce more power and speed using fewer strides. Each stride that the player takes is angled outward 23 degrees to the line of travel and the player pushes straight to the side with each stroke. This angle allows the player to produce a longer stride. The greater the angle the player pushes beyond 23 degree, the shorter the stroke become and therefore the less efficient the stride.

The player begins in the hockey stance. The player transfers their weight over to the right leg that will initiate the first push. The weight should be over the back third of the blade on the inside edge. As the player starts to push, the blade of the right skate is turned out on a 23 degree angle from the straight line of travel and the skate is always pushed 90 degrees to the blade. Pushing the skate directly against the ice and to the side of the blade ensure that it can produce maximal power without slipping back. If the blade were to slip back the blade is not being utilized efficiently, and power is lost.

The right leg begins to extend and the player begins transferring their centre of gravity to their left side. As the right leg come to full extension, the player's weight on the right blade begins to move from the back third to the toe where the extension is completed with the firing of the calf muscle. The player then lifts and retracts the extended right leg back over toward the left side of the line of travel. Bring the right leg over beside the left foot will allow the player to maximize the power they generate with each stroke.

Wide tracking happens when a player's skate stay shoulder width apart while skating. This causes a player to have a short stride so they need more strokes and more energy to skate the same distance. Before the player sets the retracting leg back down, the right skate moves back towards the right side enough to allow the right blade to glide onto the ice on the inside edge with the body weight on the back third of the skate. Allowing the skate to glide onto the ice is important in order to avoid friction. If the skates are pounding into the ice, the excess friction created will slow the player down and they will have to use more energy in each stride. No sound should be produced when the blade is place on the ice. Sound is only heard with the calf fires and the toes are pushed into the ice. While the right skate is gliding onto the ice, the centre of gravity is shifted back towards the right. The left leg begins to initiate the second push by extending the leg and the process is repeated.

The player should also remember to keep one hand on the stick while skating with or without the puck while skating in a straight line. As the player is skating up the ice, the player should keep their hockey stance body position to ensure the efficiency of their stride. Leaning forward or raising their height would manipulate their weight placement causing an inefficient stride with excess movement, wasted energy and less stability.