The Minnesota Midshipmen

Five hockey-playing Minnesota natives are challenging themselves on and off the ice at the United States Naval Academy

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A first look at the Class of 1997

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 15:56

By Tom Lynn

For some of our 15-year-old Minnesota hockey players, this spring is the time when they will go from accomplished youth hockey players or local high school phenoms to true national prospects. The Reebok High Performance camps in April are the first step, and then a good number of those players will go on to the USA Hockey National Camp in Rochester. The best of those will play for Team USA in the Five Nations Cup in the Czech Republic in August (and there were five Minnesotans on that team last year). Also in the mix will be the National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp in March, a tryout for players to be invited to join USA Hockey’s NTDP program in Ann Arbor, Mich., for the next two years.

This week's cover: March 14, 2013

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 21 March 2013 14:33

Click the image above for a PDf of this week's edition of Let's Play Hockey.

Game coaching – Part 2

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 16:02

By John Russo
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

Note: This will be one of the articles (Chapter 8: “The Game”) in John Russo’s soon-to-be published new book “Best of Coaches’ Corner – 26 Years.” Watch for it in 2013.

This week we will continue through the remaining “unique and critical coaching situations.” Check last week’s Let’s Play Hockey Coaches Corner for situations 1 through 7.

The right and wrong way to train this offseason

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 15:55

By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS

Fifteen years ago, as an aspiring female hockey player, I thought I had found the secret when it came to off-ice training. No other player I knew was working as hard off the ice as I was and I knew that would give me a serious edge over the competition. I truly believe that my willingness to push myself to be the best player possible off the ice was what allowed me to take my game to the next level. But another consequence of my dedication off the ice was a career filled of injuries and frustration. Here’s what I did right and here’s what I did wrong...

24th annual Let’s Play Hockey Expo attracts record crowds

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 18:39

The 24th annual Let’s Play Hockey Expo attracted record crowds to the St. Paul RiverCentre on March 8-9, 2013. Over 40,000 fans got up close and personal with gear at over 350 booths from the top hockey manufacturers, including Bauer, Reebok/CCM, Easton and Warrior. Many booths featured cutting-edge product demonstrations, interactive games, giveaways, hourly door prize drawings and celebrity appearances. Plus, new to the Expo this year was a Minnesota Fighting Saints reunion and autograph party.

Let’s ref

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 15:46

By Chris Pryor

At some point your hockey playing days are going to end. Then what? This could be after high school, college or even pro for that matter. What do I do now?

Do I still want to be involved in the game? If so there might be another avenue to keep that fire burning – refereeing.