News

Heroes among us

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 February 2013 16:28

By Toni Gillen
USA Disabled Hockey Director - Minnesota District

The banter in the locker room of the Vadnais Heights Sports Complex is fast and furious. Jokes are being shared back and forth and a good amount of trash talk is taking place about the last game. The players are lacing up their skates and stepping out onto the ice for practice. It sounds like a run-of-the-mill day at the rink, but this isn’t your average team. Taking the ice is the Minnesota Warriors, a team of heroes.

Expect victory: A leadership model for winning hockey games

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 February 2013 16:19

By Dr. Rob Barnhill

All athletic organizations are comprised of human beings. These are individuals that bring varying degrees of talent, enthusiasm and commitment to the team. A challenge for coaches and managers is to create a culture of motivation and evaluation that promotes, supports, encourages, and rewards victory.

The objective of this model is to gradually move team members along a continuum from the basic want for success to development of a work ethic and finally a sincere expectation of victory. When I speak of victory, I refer to excellence in all areas of team function to encompass coaches, managers, players and parents. The foundation and framework of this leadership model can be applied to any organization, but this article will focus on challenges for hockey teams.

Herb Brooks Award celebrates its 10th anniversary

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

The Herb Brooks Award, the most prestigious award presented to a Minnesota high school hockey player for all-around leadership and character values, will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Minnesota State High School League Girls’ State Tournament on Feb. 23, and the MSHSL Boys’ Tournament on March 9.

The Herb Brooks award is given to the most qualified hockey player in the state tournament who strongly represents the values, characteristics and traits that defined Herb Brooks. This prestigious award commemorates the enduring influence Herb Brooks has on the sport of hockey in Minnesota and throughout the world.

Beyond the power turns: Developing hockey IQ through core concepts

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 February 2013 16:09

By Jonathan Lindahl

Coaches generally agree that at the Squirt/10U level, skill development should comprise, at a minimum, 60-70 percent of overall focus. Promoting strong competency in the areas of skating, puckhandling, passing and shooting is certainly critical for establishing the solid foundation necessary for continued developmental progression. The question, though, we should be asking in parallel is, “What does that other 30-40 percent look like?” How we answer that is critical to how effective we then are in leveraging that base of skills.

Minnesota Made celebrates 20 years of developing young athletes

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 February 2013 15:57

This summer marks the 20th anniversary of Minnesota Made Hockey. What began as a one-week clinic soon grew to include more as athletes and parents looking for training options filled clinic spaces. Before long, the Breakfast Club early morning stickhandling provided year-round training and summer clinics became a growing trend for the hockey players of Minnesota.