From college to the NHL

By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor

If you’ve watched nearly any NCAA sporting event on television in the past several years, you’ve seen the ad. You may even be able to recite the tagline: “There are 380,000 NCAA student-athletes, and just about all of them will be going pro in something other than sports.”

It’s a noble campaign directed at educating the masses that most athletes in college will see their athletic careers come to an end at graduation.

In the world of NCAA hockey, the vast majority of players on the 59 Division I and 78 Division II/III men’s teams will not make the jump to the NHL, AHL, ECHL or any other of the various professional hockey leagues around the world. But for a select few, college hockey is merely a steppingstone to the bright lights of the National Hockey League.

Latest News

AAU announces 2014 National Mite & Squirt Championships

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 April 2013 17:12

AAU National Hockey Chair Keith Noll and Trevor Hartwig of the AAU National Staff hosted the inaugural AAU Ice Hockey meetings for Mites (7u-8u) and Squirts(9u-10u) at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn., on March 7-8. The AAU meetings coincided with the Let’s Play Hockey Expo and the Minnesota Boys’ State High School Hockey Tournament.

Time for quiet contemplation

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 15:07

By Kevin Hartzell
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

I continue to remain passionate about leadership. In the past year I have begun to put on leadership clinics for kids and young adults. It has never been more needed. We see occurrences of the lack of leadership almost daily on the news.

This winter we have some seen some of these occurrences within the Minnesota high school sports scene. Recently we have seen play out on the national news scene a more serious occurrence with an Ohio drinking party involving a bunch of young teens, including some of their local high school football team members and an intoxicated young teenage girl leading to a possible rape. There are studies that report that as many as one in four women are being sexually and/or physically assaulted. This should lead us all to asking the question as to why this is happening.

Stride recovery

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 15:05

By Diane Ness

Last summer we had the chance to meet up on the ice with one of the nation’s top speedskating coaches, Dave Cruikshank. You may have also seen Dave at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo at the Easton booth just a couple weeks ago. Every year we meet with Dave to discuss some different philosophies and techniques. Whether it’s speedskating or figure skating, there is so much to be learned in the world of skating if you look outside the box. Dave mentioned to us that speedskaters reach top speeds around 40 mph, more than twice as fast as hockey players, so there is a lot to be learned from this sport.

Here’s your shot

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 14:46

By Chris Pryor

With the offseason fast approaching, it’s time to think about “How or what can I improve?” This is a perfect time of year to work on the “holes” or weaknesses in your game.

In saying this, one component that you can improve upon is your shooting. Whatever the shot selection may be – backhand, wrist shot or slap shot – the same basic concept holds true that in order to improve your shot, you need to work at it and that means practice, practice and more practice. The more you do it, the better you will become.

Guide to using social media safely

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 14:43

By Aaron Paitich

The locker rooms aren’t the same as they used to be. Kids have always brought music into the room to get pumped up for practices and games. Today’s technology makes it just as easy to bring in smartphones and other devices that can include cameras, video capabilities and instant access to the internet and social media outlets.

That means extra precaution, supervision and education should be a priority.

Keeping the Mighty Ducks dream alive in the North Metro

Details: Last Updated on Friday, 15 March 2013 19:09

Do you remember "The Mighty Ducks" series of films? A major part of "D3: The Mighty Ducks" was filmed north of Minneapolis at Columbia Arena in Fridley. Unfortunately, this nostalgic piece of Minnesota history has fallen into disrepair. When Anoka County sold the ice arena to the Minnesota Youth Sports Association (MYSA) in 2005, the surrounding community anticipated a redevelopment of the Columbia Arena site. Upon further evaluation, the MYSA concluded that $2 million would be needed to update the facility. This financial goal was out of reach and the site has remained vacant since 2006.