Skate work out

Question
Hi!
Last summer I learned to do most of the basic moves such as crossovers,heel stops,pivots(at slow speed).
Now that it is nice out I want to start a regular skating/workout routine.Besides just striding,what else can I do that would help my technique and fitness?
Also,My next goal is to play roller hockey.I can already use a hockey stick from playing street hockey.What can I do on my blades to get ready for the rink? Thanks!

Answer
For the hockey part, I'm not the person to ask.  But for skating/workout part and agility/flexibility, I have some good suggestions.  
First.. for the workout... you don't have to go hard out all the time.  Try to put some real time into each workout.  Get such that an hour on wheels moving is easy.  (combination of rolling and doing some skills work).  Depending on where you live, get a buddy to skate through neighborhoods, or through cities.  I live outside Wash DC and skate downtown dc.  Very quickly you find when and where you can do it.  FInd some trails that are paved, or best "rails to trails" which are wider than typical bike trails.  

Skating with someone is conversational, and you don't notice the time you've been on wheels.  (BE SURE YOU CARRY ENOUGH WATER UNTIL YOU FIGURE WHERE YOU CAN GET WATER ON YOUR TRAVELS!)

Some skills improvements....  Go to sports store or a soccer place and buy some of the small cones.. (generally about 6 inches or so high... ) Get some chalk, and a rope that you mark in 1 foot intervals.  

Find a place where you can put down cones in a line (at least 10!) without getting run over.  Place them at 4or 5 foot intervals (use your rope to keep spacing consistent) when you start and then start moving them together at closer intervals as you get good at the drills. Best skaters can do this in really short intervals...

First, just start weaving with both feet between the cones (pass first cone on right, second on left, third on right and keep going).  as you get better you'll find you can gain speed even turning because you start to push outward for the turns and it helps keep your momentum and later can even gain you momentum.  WHen you start you may want to give your self a running start to give you some momentum to work with.  

Next, as you start to get that going, start trying (without the cones) to cross your right skate (gliding)in front of your left skate and hold that as long as you can (both feet on ground, yes it stretches muscles).  TRY BOTH LEGS EACH TIME otherwise you'll get so you can do it only one way.  TRY TO INCREASE THE SPACE BETWEEN YOUR SKATES ... the idea, being at some point you could pass a cone inbetween your crossed skates..  It's hard, but once you get it, you can do cone drills where you put cone between your legs uncrossed, and then next cone between your skates crossed, and back and forth.. it's called "crazy legs" and looks so cool when you get it going, and when you go fast, really wild!

If you set up cones near any skaters, you'll usually draw a crowd who will want to work your cones and can give you pointers.

There are also other drills for "side surfing" ... where you skate sideways.  with one skate pointing one way and the other the other way   (if you know ballet, or know someone who know's ballet... tell them you want "second position".  It takes a while for guys to get this.. girls can do it easier... but good guy skaters do it for increasing their agility.  To skate this way, you start skating "normal" and then take your trailing skate and rotate it (on your toe) until it's trailing with the heel leading.  (heel to heel, but not close together... you have to bend your nees and your body is now facing sideways, and you are leading with your side.  Try these moves without skates before you start skates.  Some of my buddies and I would be at work and just standing around talking, and have our legs out in this sort of position ... the more you try it (out of skates) the more ready you will be to try in skates... then as you do it in skates, you take it to cones and do weaving and then
"counter weaving'
All of these will increase your skills, agility and build flexibility and muscles that will do you well when you start hockey.  

Please feel free to contact me again if you have any questions! or if you don't understand the maneuvers, I'll try to explain better.  
Have a great time!
Paula