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

Increasing speed

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 15:26

By Diane Ness

After a great weekend of watching high school hockey, I was able to look at film of a couple of these skaters from the summer. The attributes always seem to be the same while examining a skater with excellent speed.

In the photos you will notice Dylan Malmquist and Connor Hurley from the Edina High School team. These photos were taken as a screen shot from videos. We took videos of each skater at full speed durning a summer practice. The skaters that were able to stay low throughout the sprint seemed to be the fastest skaters. I may sound like a broken record but this is the first step to increasing speed.

Composure keys goalie success in playoffs

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 15:20

By Justin Johnson
USA Hockey’s Minnesota District Associate Goalie Coach-in-Chief

Playoffs are here and with them come a great amount of anticipation, excitement and pressure. Great events, like playoff hockey, always seem to come with emotional swings, momentum shifts and defining moments. For goalies, being prepared and at your best in pressure performances like these – hinges on your ability to manage difficult emotions throughout the game.

Lineup announced for 2013 Schwan Cup

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 15:03

Newly crowned boys’ Minnesota State High School hockey champions Edina (AA) and St. Thomas Academy (A) will headline the field for the 13th annual Schwan Cup high school hockey tournament, to be played Dec. 26-28, 2013. The 32 teams are divided into four divisions, with the Gold Division playing at Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and other divisions playing at the Schwan Super Rink, on the campus of the National Sports Center in Blaine. All divisions will play their championship games at Ridder Arena on Dec. 28.

To run a short bench or not

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 14:58

By Teri Balow
Waconia 12U B Hockey

To run a short bench or not?

My answer is 100 percent no. Here is the story.

My husband has been the head coach for the last five years – two years as a 10U B head coach and the last two as the 12U B head coach.

This is the first year that our association has won the chance to go to Regions, with the opportunity to go to State. Our team consisted of 13 girls, five last-year 12U B, one Goalie (first-year 12U B) and seven first-year skaters. One of these skaters just took up skating and hockey this year.

MHCA announces Coach of the Year Award winners

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 14:54

The Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association has named its 2013 section coach of the year recipients along with the John Mariucci Award winners as the state coach of the year.

The Mariucci Award winner for Class AA is Mike Randolph of Duluth East. It is the first Mariucci Award for Randolph, who took his team to the state tournament for the 14th time in the past 23 years. The Greyhounds have made six appearances in the championship game during his tenure while winning titles in 1995 and 1998.

The Class A head coach of the year is Duluth Denfeld’s Kevin Smalley, who also won the award in 2010. This season, Smalley led the Hunters to a 19-9-0 record and the Section 7A title game, finishing the regular season ranked ninth in the Associated Press Class A poll.

The Hockey Doc: Intensity of pregame practices

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 March 2013 14:48

By Dr. Rob LaPrade
http://drrobertlaprademd.com

Question: What is the suggested type of practice a day before a game? Would it be wise for a coach to do a full skate practice or dryland practice the day before a playoff game?

Answer: This is a very good question. Unfortunately, there is no one correct answer for all age groups due to the different physical requirements, length of games, and amount of contact involved.