Cross training can be extremely helpful as long as you don’t mix up the techniques. For me personally, I ran track and played hockey at the same time, and the track practice was good for my endurance and lower body strength. But I had to make sure I separated the two, because you use your legs in slightly different ways to run and skate. A better example of this is when people play golf and baseball, and they start to swing at a golf ball as if they were using a baseball bat. One great example of cross training for hockey is hockey and baseball. The hand eye training can be tremendously helpful. Hitting a baseball is harder than deflecting a hockey puck, so mastering batting would make you an excellent tipper. Being proficient in other sports in addition to hockey can definitely improve your all around game, working on aspects you maybe wouldn’t have otherwise.