A quick start in hockey could mean the difference between being chased with the puck or chasing the player that got to the puck first. Regardless of a player's position, if they are in front of the net and the puck is shot into the corner, it is important they get to the puck first.

The quick start to forward stride needs to be simple, fast, and effective. The form is the same as the forward stride. The long powerful efficient stride will get you ahead of your opponent faster with less effort than the traditional V or crossover quick starts. The V start requires the player to use more energy because they first have to bring their skates together and produce a series of short abrupt strides before initiating the forward stride. If the player simply eliminates these movements, they will save energy and time.

The crossover start is used if the player needs to move laterally. Often times, players will jump up through the crossover causing their energy to drive them upwards rather than in the direction they want to skate. Instead, it is more efficient to open the hip towards the direction they hope to travel and push off with the opposite skate. Simplifying the quick start eliminates movements that require extra energy to get into the forward stride. This will allow a player to move forward faster and get to the puck before their opponent even breaks into their forward stride.