It’s a Small World
The world of hockey is a small one given that, in Squirt through Midget, you play in age groups consisting of two birth years. You are always either a first-year or second-year—kind of like always being either a freshman or a senior in high school. But you only have to endure one freshman year in high school. And you only get to be a senior in high school once (one hopes). In hockey, however, you go through this cycle four or five times. And people remember from year to year, and team to team, how you handle it. Second-year players, ...
Embedding a Work Ethic
Think your kids are too busy with hockey and homework to help out around the house? Plenty of time for that later in life? A former NHL player shares how helping out around the house helped him succeed. Discipline and a sense of responsibility are vital to anything you do in life. Kids need responsibilities outside of hockey that will help them throughout their lives. There was not a day growing up that I didn’t have at least a half-hour of chores to do around my house. It wasn’t an option—whether it was stacking a cord of wood, cooking dinner, washing ...
12 Tips for Taking a Faceoff
Yanic Perreault made millions of dollars during a brilliant NHL career because he was one of the league’s premier faceoff guys. NHL GMs value these guys the way they value goal scorers—because the more faceoffs your team wins, the more puck possessions the team has, creating a winning environment. After you check out these 12 tips, see my entire faceoff story. Great knee bend. Grip the stick with one hand on top of the shaft and the other hand really low on the shaft for leverage. Watch the referee’s hand and try to bat the puck out of the air as he’s dropping ...
Wherefore Art Thou Puck?
Wherefore art though puck? If you’re thinking, “The puck is right there on the ice,” it’s time to brush up on your Shakespeare. The question is why is a puck called a puck? And the answer, possibly, brings us right back to the Bard. “While the origin of the object known as a puck is well documented, the origin of the word ‘puck’ is unknown. Some scholars believe that since the earliest players of organized hockey were university students, the flat disk was named after Puck, the mischievous Shakespearean character in A Midsummer Night’s Dream who appears and disappears seemingly at ...
Most Recent Articles
It’s a Small World
The world of hockey is a small one given that, in Squirt through Midget, you play in age groups consisting of two birth years. You are always either a...
Annual Meeting, Saturday, May 19, 2012
Make plans for the annual meeting in Rothschild this May. Discuss the 2+2 program, concussions, scholarships, directors, rule changes, hall of fame and...
Playing Consistent Hockey
I remember watching the movie The Boys On The Bus over and over again when I was a kid—almost as if it was a Disney movie. The movie is about the Edmonton...
Baseline Concussion Analysis
If you don’t know where the starting point is, how can you determine the end? Baseline concussion analysis is certainly the buzz in sports communities...
Embedding a Work Ethic
Think your kids are too busy with hockey and homework to help out around the house? Plenty of time for that later in life? A former NHL player shares...
12 Tips for Taking a Faceoff
Yanic Perreault made millions of dollars during a brilliant NHL career because he was one of the league’s premier faceoff guys. NHL GMs value these guys...
Wherefore Art Thou Puck?
Wherefore art though puck? If you’re thinking, “The puck is right there on the ice,” it’s time to brush up on your Shakespeare. The question is...
Beyond Getting My Bell Rung: A Career-Ending Concussion
Concussion in youth sports is an issue that hits close to my heart—for my own children and my campers—as I suffered a concussion that ended my NHL...
Featured
Education Reduces Stress for Parents and Athletes
Some parents unintentionally become a potent source of stress when they over-identify with their child’s sport performance. How might this happen? All...
Player Development
How to Excel in a Face-Off
The whistle blows and the puck is dropped. The fastest and most skilled player is about to win the hockey face-off. The following article provides great...
Coaching
Work Smarter, Not Harder, on Your Backyard Drills
Wayne Gretzky once said that he spent all day playing on the pond or backyard rink when he was a kid. I read this when I was younger and decided I needed...
Parenting
Balancing Hockey & Family Life
With any family it’s a challenge to find balance while engrossed in work, homework, activities and personal lives. Toss in hockey and it can be a true...
Equipment
Key Factors to Consider When Selecting Hockey Sticks
While a hockey stick might seem like a simple piece of equipment, there are many considerations when shopping for the right stick for your hockey player....
Nutrition and Health
Energy Drinks: Powerful Energy or a Can of Bull?
Energy drinks are hot – there are over 600 options on the market, with names like Red Bull, Monster, Adrenaline, and Full Throttle. They can be found...
Youth Hockey Training
Should Kids Really Lift Weights?
The commonly held belief that strength training for kids is dangerous to the growth plates is simply not accurate provided that appropriate guidelines...
Recently Written
It’s a Small WorldThe world of hockey is a small one given that, in Squirt through Midget, you play in age groups consisting of two birth years....
Annual Meeting, Saturday, May 19, 2012Make plans for the annual meeting in Rothschild this May. Discuss the 2+2 program, concussions, scholarships, directors,...
Playing Consistent HockeyI remember watching the movie The Boys On The Bus over and over again when I was a kid—almost as if it was a Disney movie....
