Chris Pryor
A pro scout on the state of Minnesota
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 13 December 2012 17:56
By Chris Pryor
Sometimes we do not realize the uniqueness of a situation until you’ve been away from it for a period of time. Minnesota is unlike any other state in the country. It has its rich history of both high school and college hockey. On any given weekend during the months of December through February, you have the option of supporting your local high school team plus any one of the five WCHA teams in the state, along with a variety of Division III schools.
I had the luxury a couple weeks ago to watch my alma mater Hill-Murray play Eagan in the afternoon and the Nebraska-Omaha/ Gopher game at night. Let’s put the game themselves aside for a moment.
A pro scout on when to put the whistle away
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 06 December 2012 18:43
By Chris Pryor
Coaching. We all need it and it is vital to a player's development, BUT when is it too much? When do we put the whistle away and let the players just play?
Coaching is very important at every level. Good coaching can enhance a player’s skills where vice versa, bad coaching can stunt their growth.
Bundle up!
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 November 2012 17:45
By Chris Pryor
What is Minnesota known for (good or bad depending how you look at it)? Climate. You get outside the state lines and the first question you hear is, “How do you deal with that weather?”
We all have grown up in the cold. It’s part of the culture that separates us from other states. As a young hockey player growing up, you would start to get the “itch” right around the first frost of the year with the anticipation of that first freeze. I can remember coming home from school, dropping the books on the table and running to grab your stick and skates to get outside before the rinks became too crowded.
A pro scout on physicality
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 29 November 2012 17:20
By Chris Pryor
Hockey has always been unique in that it incorporates skill with physical confrontation. When a player has the puck, the opposition can use physical force to get possession of the puck. The reason for a body check is to separate the player from the puck.
If we are to watch hockey, there is a trend that has occurred: Forget the puck and just try to run the opponent through the boards. The more fierce the hit, the better. Intimidation is and always will be a constant, BUT within the rules of the game.
A pro scout on nutrition
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 15 November 2012 17:48
By Chris Pryor
Whether you’re a young hockey player, baseball player or student, what you eat plays a vital role in not only how you feel daily, but how your body develops. We are constantly looking for ways to make ourselves better. We spend 12 months a year training and working on our game from a physical standpoint which is very commendable, BUT what we put in our body every day goes by the wayside a lot of the time.
