Articles
One size does not always fit all
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- Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:17
By Diane Ness
One of the best things about hockey is that a hockey team can be made up of many different types of players. Whether you’re a bigger skater or a smaller skater, everyone can bring something different to the table.
As a skating coach, I look at the hockey player’s ability to skate and the different types of skating styles. For this reason, we can’t paint all skaters with the same brush. What we consider an “elite skater” may be different from one skater to the next.
The politics of girls’ hockey
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- Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:26
By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS
“Politics” of hockey are about to wreak havoc on all of us. Impending tryouts take all of our stress levels through the roof. We’re all worried that we might make the wrong choice, that what people are telling us is not the truth and that we won’t end up with the team we’d hoped for. The truth is we’re all in the same boat as players, parents and coaches.
As a coach, I want to create the best possible environment for our players and team to succeed next season and I’m putting in a lot of work to ensure that this is the reality. This is really no different than parents and players doing their homework about different teams and organizations to make sure they find the best “fit” possible for them.
Triple “A”
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- Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:05
By VJ Stanley
Triple A – Does that mean attitude, athleticism and academics? A recent conversation with some hockey players who were playing “Triple A” hockey at the Bantam level led me to this column.
The children were adamant about both their ability to get a Division I scholarship, and the proper path to take to receive the scholarship. They would continue to play at their current level, which included not playing for their high school team, missing days of school to go to different tournaments and playing as much as possible.
Accountability
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- Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:22
By Chris Pryor
We are always looking to blame someone when a player doesn’t get the ice time they would like or doesn’t make the team for which they are trying out. Or the job for which they interviewed.
Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but most of the time when you fail to achieve something it comes down to just one person, YOU. You are the one accountable. When we start to realize that you and only you are responsible for where you go in life, then and only then will we start to understand how this all works. You dictate where and what you accomplish. Not the coach, boss or even your parents.
Blocking shots
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- Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:02
By Derek Lambert
MN Puck Blog
Blocking shots may be the most under appreciated act in the game. Although noticed when players block shots, often times it isn't credited as being very important. It takes a lot of heart to go down and block a shot, and also is a great defensive play. There are multiple ways to block a shot, some are situational and some are more effective than others. To stand in front of a shot is a huge play that is rarely taught to players, but is more just a suggestion, an afterthought. Here are a few of my thoughts on blocking shots.
