Here at Global, we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very
special time of year when we all get to hang up the skates to be with our
family and friends.
As the Holiday Season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year
and on those who have helped to shape our business in a most significant way.
Global is family owned and operated business with 20 years of providing the
best Hockey Showcases for young players. The year-end brings no greater
pleasure then the opportunity to express to you season's greetings and best
wishes. May your holidays and New Year’s be filled with joy, prosperity and
good health.
Best wishes and season greetings
From
The Staff from Global Sports Scouting Services Inc.
Global staff members and our educational advisor will be at the Richmond
International Midget Hockey Tournament, please if you have questions about
Global or N.C.A.A. policies this is a great chance to have them answered.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
2011 Global College Coaches
Global is pleased to announce the College Coaches that we will participating at the 2011 Showcases and Clinics. We will continually update the list throughout the year so check back often-Coaches subject to change.
Chicago Showcase and Clinic
Walt Kyle Head Coach Northern Michigan University- CCHA-Div 1
Mike Gibbons Assistant Coach St. Cloud State University- WCHA- Div 1
Kyle Wallack Assistant Coach Yale University - ECAC- Div 1
David Peters Assistant Coach Dartmouth University- ECAC- Div 1
Ryan Hardy Assistant Coach Williams College - NESCAC-DIV 111
Rob Facca Assistant Coach Western Michigan University-CCHA- Div 1
Burnaby Showcase and Clinic
Walt Kyle Head Coach Northern Michigan University CCHA-Div 1
Mike Gibbons Assistant Coach St. Cloud State University - WCHA-Div 1
Rob Facca Assistant Coach Western Michigan University- CCHA-Div 1
Dan Muse Assistant Coach Yale University- ECAC-Div 1
David Peters Assistant Coach Dartmouth University - ECAC-Div 1
Lance West Assistant Coach University of Alaska - CCHA-Div 1
Len Quesnelle Assistant Coach University of Mass. -Hockey East- Div 1
Brian Hills Associate Coach R.I.T. Rochester Insitute of Technology- Div 1
Las Vegas Showcase and Clinic
Walt Kyle Head Coach Northern Michigan University- CCHA-Div 1
Bob Motzko Head Coach St. Cloud State University - WCHA-Div 1
Tom Serratore Head Coach Bemidji State University - WCHA-Div 1
Guy Gadowsky Head Coach Princeton University- ECAC-Div 1
Kyle Wallack Assistant Coach Yale University- ECAC-Div 1
Len Quesnelle Assistant Coach University of Mass. - Hockey East-Div 1
Lance West Assistant Coach University of Alaska- CCHA-Div 1
Mike Gibbons Assistant Coach St. Cloud State University -WCHA-Div 1
Mike Corbett Assistant Coach U.S. Air Force Academy-Atlantic Hockey-Div 1
Joe Dumais Assistant Coach University of Connecticut- Atlantic Hockey-Div 1
Rob Facca Assistant Coach University of Western Michigan-CCHA-Div 1
Ryan Hardy Assistant Coach Williams College - NESCAC -Div 111
Peter Ward U.S. Team Development Program
Chicago Showcase and Clinic
Walt Kyle Head Coach Northern Michigan University- CCHA-Div 1
Mike Gibbons Assistant Coach St. Cloud State University- WCHA- Div 1
Kyle Wallack Assistant Coach Yale University - ECAC- Div 1
David Peters Assistant Coach Dartmouth University- ECAC- Div 1
Ryan Hardy Assistant Coach Williams College - NESCAC-DIV 111
Rob Facca Assistant Coach Western Michigan University-CCHA- Div 1
Burnaby Showcase and Clinic
Walt Kyle Head Coach Northern Michigan University CCHA-Div 1
Mike Gibbons Assistant Coach St. Cloud State University - WCHA-Div 1
Rob Facca Assistant Coach Western Michigan University- CCHA-Div 1
Dan Muse Assistant Coach Yale University- ECAC-Div 1
David Peters Assistant Coach Dartmouth University - ECAC-Div 1
Lance West Assistant Coach University of Alaska - CCHA-Div 1
Len Quesnelle Assistant Coach University of Mass. -Hockey East- Div 1
Brian Hills Associate Coach R.I.T. Rochester Insitute of Technology- Div 1
Las Vegas Showcase and Clinic
Walt Kyle Head Coach Northern Michigan University- CCHA-Div 1
Bob Motzko Head Coach St. Cloud State University - WCHA-Div 1
Tom Serratore Head Coach Bemidji State University - WCHA-Div 1
Guy Gadowsky Head Coach Princeton University- ECAC-Div 1
Kyle Wallack Assistant Coach Yale University- ECAC-Div 1
Len Quesnelle Assistant Coach University of Mass. - Hockey East-Div 1
Lance West Assistant Coach University of Alaska- CCHA-Div 1
Mike Gibbons Assistant Coach St. Cloud State University -WCHA-Div 1
Mike Corbett Assistant Coach U.S. Air Force Academy-Atlantic Hockey-Div 1
Joe Dumais Assistant Coach University of Connecticut- Atlantic Hockey-Div 1
Rob Facca Assistant Coach University of Western Michigan-CCHA-Div 1
Ryan Hardy Assistant Coach Williams College - NESCAC -Div 111
Peter Ward U.S. Team Development Program
Monday, October 18, 2010
IMPORTANT excerpts from the NEW BOOK-Goaltenders are not TARGETS – written by Vic LeMIRE & Brent Bradford
Part of Globals mission as a company is to provide valuable information to hockey parents and players. Many of you attended our Showcases to be scouted, but one of our main goals is to make sure you have valuable information that can be used to help achieve your goals. This blog post focuses on keeping hockey fun for both the player and parent. Enjoy,and please read carefully!!!
IMPORTANT excerpts from the NEW BOOK
written by Vic LeMIRE & Brent Bradford
(Goaltenders are not TARGETS – Book 3)
[Due out summer of 2011]
Chapter 3 - The DREADED RIDE HOME!
With a combined 60 years of experiences of coaching, mentoring, and guiding hockey players, we have developed a very unique and valuable perspective of the special love and care that brings out the “best” in a hockey player! Unfortunately, during that same time span, we have also witnessed some of the most dreadful and unbearable parenting practices imaginable brought onto hard working hockey players.
WHICH ARE YOU? There are added pressures brought into a Hockey Parent/Child relationship. The pressures being described are NOT part of a family’s everyday growth pattern. Would you know what these pressures are? We hope to raise awareness and to create solutions for many parents/guardians who make terrible mistakes that cause psychological damage to your children. To be very truthful and blunt, some parents/guardians take all the FUN out of playing hockey for their kids!
Firstly, I give you the “location” … a PRISON, A place with locks and a straight jacket of seatbelts to ensure containment, virtually no method of escape. Yes, it’s the “Family Car”!!!
Young hockey players obtain their first taste of the terror usually on the way to their hockey game or practice in the Family Car. These players are exposed to many forceful commands and unreasonable demands right out of their own driveway before they have even stepped onto the ice!
Comments like:
a) “You better not be late on the ice for practice!” says one father…(This occurs even though the father arrived home late to pick his young hockey player up!)
b) “Remember, I am paying all this money for you to play hockey…so I better see you work extra hard out there!”
c) “You make sure that you do what I tell you in this game. Never mind what the coach says!”
These are just a few of the regular commands that are forced into the minds and hearts of young hockey players. There are many more abusive, one-way conversations that take place in this situation. Parents/Guardians have, what amounts to, a truly CAPTIVE AUDIENCE in the Family Car. Unfortunately, parents/guardians seem to take complete advantage of the situation!
Coming to the game after a hard day at work or at home, the Parent/Guardian release their frustrations with yelling and screaming in the stands. This is PARENTITIS. It is these same adults that cannot wait to get their young hockey player into the car to GRILL him/her all over again! (Hockey sounds so FUN to this point - doesn’t it!)
a) “Why is that other kid playing on YOUR line? He’s terrible!”
b) “You came off the ice after only 30 seconds … Why don’t you stay out there longer?”
c) “That coach of yours just really does not know how to coach properly!”
Tips for Parents/Guardians:
You are rightly justified to try to help your children develop the hockey skills necessary to compete successfully at high levels. You are also expected and qualified to keep the learning atmosphere completely healthy and enjoyable. It is sooooo much simpler to teach someone with honey than with vinegar. It is true; each child requires feedback and support (both educational and emotional...not to mention financial support is needed at all times!)
The EDUCATIONAL feedback of playing hockey is most often best left to hockey coaches. It is quite proper and beneficial for Coaches and Parents/Guardians to meet several times per season to discuss exactly what the projected teaching plan will be for a young hockey player.
•Make this a “Joint” effort!
•Develop a PERSONAL TEACHING PROGRAM designed by you and your coaches whereby you both agree to monitor, encourage, and reward each and every accomplishment that is completed successfully by your young hockey player.
•Have various attainable goals set ahead of time with realistic chances of success.
•Do not expect to see your child become the fastest skater after only a few practices!
Set up performance goals for each practice that will enhance a child’s skills by using BABY STEPS! This will produce such delight of accomplishment to the plyer that he/she just cannot wait to get out onto the ice again for the next practice. Honestly…this method WORKS for all hockey players from Little Squirts to NHL Professionals.
Now that you are in the car with your young child, it is most important to speak heavily of all their great improvements they recently accomplished! If necessary, WAIT until several hours have passed to bring up ANY problems or ideas about something that he/she should strive to improve on or to correct!
YES...areas of concern must be addressed. However, timing and tactical presentation can make all the difference in the world as to how your child receives your important information!
AN IMPORTANT POINT TO CONSIDER:
Have you ever noticed how EXCITED a player reacts when he/she observes a freeze frame snap-shot of him/herself in game action? It is never threatening...only breathtaking to see the gracefulness and special effort that is frozen in time…NO MISTAKES HERE…only great efforts and super memories!
A video tape, on the other hand, can illustrate a plethora of mistakes on almost every shift during a game - if that is what you want to point out, it can be easily done. Using the rewind button with slow motion just adds to the degradation of the moment! The proper way to TEACH at home using video tapes of a player’s performance, is to select at least four segments of GREAT PERFORMANCES to discuss before even trying to examine one segment of mistakes!
REMEMBER: Honey ATTRACTS MORE THAN Vinegar!
EMOTIONAL feedback is either (1) the glue that produces a lifetime of great memories and incredible FUN for your child’s life OR (2) the pain that causes them to RUN AWAY from the great sport of hockey turning them to areas of negativity, e.g., crime, immorality etc...!
Do you realise that it is impossible for someone to break into a neighbour’s home or to do drugs with a neighbour’s family members if he/she is ON THE ICE having FUN playing hockey!
Note to Parents/Guardians:
Here is a taste of reality we hope each hockey family seriously considers!
•How important is hockey in your family’s life – Really?
•Was it necessary to swear at your child because you were angry?
•Why throw a hockey stick across the dressing room because a mistake was made on the ice?
•Is your child’s respect important to you at all?
Children will do the math when they grow up. It will be done! They will ask themselves, How can any parent/guardian think that the most effective strategy in keeping hockey FUN is to swear and throw a disgraceful temper tantrum in the face of eight-, ten-, twelve-, and fifteen-year olds? Is it a power issue? Is it a bully situation? Is it because a parent/guardian could never perform as effectively as his/her child? Is this the way to deal with a child’s mistake? Are some parents/guardians living vicariously through their children?
The power a parent/guardian probably believes he/she has when swearing intensely at a young athlete WILL turn against them in a hurry. These types of situations will ALWAYS be remembered! A parent/guardian may think they will always have a child’s respect, as they grow older; chances are they WILL NOT have the respect from that child!
REMEMBER: Make sure your young hockey players know how pleased you are with their efforts. Explain to them that all the hard work they are doing will result in positive outcomes. The cold drink you provide them after a game is sooooo very refreshing to them! It is the same with any other refreshment you provide them. Tell them about all their GREAT efforts they displayed; they will become so hungry for more compliments and positive conversations – what a teachable moment you have the ability to create – reveal to your child the true reason for
playing hockey.
Parents, if you cannot provide a calm and positive atmosphere for your child when traveling to or from a hockey game, GET someone else to drive them to games and practices! Hockey players should be so very happy to jump into a car and explain to you how much FUN the game was...and to THANK YOU for driving them to the game!
Questions To Ponder:
•When was the last time your child thanked you for helping them play hockey?
•Has your child ever asked you not to attend any more games due to your embarrassing profanity in a sports environment surrounded by children?
•When was the last time you went outside and practiced alongside your child and gave him/her a high-five?
We pray this chapter hits home with those who really need to hear it! Have FUN and truly enjoy each other through the wonderful hockey years! They will go by fast...and you will WISH them back!
That is a
Bradford’s Goal Academy
and Coach Vic LeMire Guarantee!
IMPORTANT excerpts from the NEW BOOK
written by Vic LeMIRE & Brent Bradford
(Goaltenders are not TARGETS – Book 3)
[Due out summer of 2011]
Chapter 3 - The DREADED RIDE HOME!
With a combined 60 years of experiences of coaching, mentoring, and guiding hockey players, we have developed a very unique and valuable perspective of the special love and care that brings out the “best” in a hockey player! Unfortunately, during that same time span, we have also witnessed some of the most dreadful and unbearable parenting practices imaginable brought onto hard working hockey players.
WHICH ARE YOU? There are added pressures brought into a Hockey Parent/Child relationship. The pressures being described are NOT part of a family’s everyday growth pattern. Would you know what these pressures are? We hope to raise awareness and to create solutions for many parents/guardians who make terrible mistakes that cause psychological damage to your children. To be very truthful and blunt, some parents/guardians take all the FUN out of playing hockey for their kids!
Firstly, I give you the “location” … a PRISON, A place with locks and a straight jacket of seatbelts to ensure containment, virtually no method of escape. Yes, it’s the “Family Car”!!!
Young hockey players obtain their first taste of the terror usually on the way to their hockey game or practice in the Family Car. These players are exposed to many forceful commands and unreasonable demands right out of their own driveway before they have even stepped onto the ice!
Comments like:
a) “You better not be late on the ice for practice!” says one father…(This occurs even though the father arrived home late to pick his young hockey player up!)
b) “Remember, I am paying all this money for you to play hockey…so I better see you work extra hard out there!”
c) “You make sure that you do what I tell you in this game. Never mind what the coach says!”
These are just a few of the regular commands that are forced into the minds and hearts of young hockey players. There are many more abusive, one-way conversations that take place in this situation. Parents/Guardians have, what amounts to, a truly CAPTIVE AUDIENCE in the Family Car. Unfortunately, parents/guardians seem to take complete advantage of the situation!
Coming to the game after a hard day at work or at home, the Parent/Guardian release their frustrations with yelling and screaming in the stands. This is PARENTITIS. It is these same adults that cannot wait to get their young hockey player into the car to GRILL him/her all over again! (Hockey sounds so FUN to this point - doesn’t it!)
a) “Why is that other kid playing on YOUR line? He’s terrible!”
b) “You came off the ice after only 30 seconds … Why don’t you stay out there longer?”
c) “That coach of yours just really does not know how to coach properly!”
Tips for Parents/Guardians:
You are rightly justified to try to help your children develop the hockey skills necessary to compete successfully at high levels. You are also expected and qualified to keep the learning atmosphere completely healthy and enjoyable. It is sooooo much simpler to teach someone with honey than with vinegar. It is true; each child requires feedback and support (both educational and emotional...not to mention financial support is needed at all times!)
The EDUCATIONAL feedback of playing hockey is most often best left to hockey coaches. It is quite proper and beneficial for Coaches and Parents/Guardians to meet several times per season to discuss exactly what the projected teaching plan will be for a young hockey player.
•Make this a “Joint” effort!
•Develop a PERSONAL TEACHING PROGRAM designed by you and your coaches whereby you both agree to monitor, encourage, and reward each and every accomplishment that is completed successfully by your young hockey player.
•Have various attainable goals set ahead of time with realistic chances of success.
•Do not expect to see your child become the fastest skater after only a few practices!
Set up performance goals for each practice that will enhance a child’s skills by using BABY STEPS! This will produce such delight of accomplishment to the plyer that he/she just cannot wait to get out onto the ice again for the next practice. Honestly…this method WORKS for all hockey players from Little Squirts to NHL Professionals.
Now that you are in the car with your young child, it is most important to speak heavily of all their great improvements they recently accomplished! If necessary, WAIT until several hours have passed to bring up ANY problems or ideas about something that he/she should strive to improve on or to correct!
YES...areas of concern must be addressed. However, timing and tactical presentation can make all the difference in the world as to how your child receives your important information!
AN IMPORTANT POINT TO CONSIDER:
Have you ever noticed how EXCITED a player reacts when he/she observes a freeze frame snap-shot of him/herself in game action? It is never threatening...only breathtaking to see the gracefulness and special effort that is frozen in time…NO MISTAKES HERE…only great efforts and super memories!
A video tape, on the other hand, can illustrate a plethora of mistakes on almost every shift during a game - if that is what you want to point out, it can be easily done. Using the rewind button with slow motion just adds to the degradation of the moment! The proper way to TEACH at home using video tapes of a player’s performance, is to select at least four segments of GREAT PERFORMANCES to discuss before even trying to examine one segment of mistakes!
REMEMBER: Honey ATTRACTS MORE THAN Vinegar!
EMOTIONAL feedback is either (1) the glue that produces a lifetime of great memories and incredible FUN for your child’s life OR (2) the pain that causes them to RUN AWAY from the great sport of hockey turning them to areas of negativity, e.g., crime, immorality etc...!
Do you realise that it is impossible for someone to break into a neighbour’s home or to do drugs with a neighbour’s family members if he/she is ON THE ICE having FUN playing hockey!
Note to Parents/Guardians:
Here is a taste of reality we hope each hockey family seriously considers!
•How important is hockey in your family’s life – Really?
•Was it necessary to swear at your child because you were angry?
•Why throw a hockey stick across the dressing room because a mistake was made on the ice?
•Is your child’s respect important to you at all?
Children will do the math when they grow up. It will be done! They will ask themselves, How can any parent/guardian think that the most effective strategy in keeping hockey FUN is to swear and throw a disgraceful temper tantrum in the face of eight-, ten-, twelve-, and fifteen-year olds? Is it a power issue? Is it a bully situation? Is it because a parent/guardian could never perform as effectively as his/her child? Is this the way to deal with a child’s mistake? Are some parents/guardians living vicariously through their children?
The power a parent/guardian probably believes he/she has when swearing intensely at a young athlete WILL turn against them in a hurry. These types of situations will ALWAYS be remembered! A parent/guardian may think they will always have a child’s respect, as they grow older; chances are they WILL NOT have the respect from that child!
REMEMBER: Make sure your young hockey players know how pleased you are with their efforts. Explain to them that all the hard work they are doing will result in positive outcomes. The cold drink you provide them after a game is sooooo very refreshing to them! It is the same with any other refreshment you provide them. Tell them about all their GREAT efforts they displayed; they will become so hungry for more compliments and positive conversations – what a teachable moment you have the ability to create – reveal to your child the true reason for
playing hockey.
Parents, if you cannot provide a calm and positive atmosphere for your child when traveling to or from a hockey game, GET someone else to drive them to games and practices! Hockey players should be so very happy to jump into a car and explain to you how much FUN the game was...and to THANK YOU for driving them to the game!
Questions To Ponder:
•When was the last time your child thanked you for helping them play hockey?
•Has your child ever asked you not to attend any more games due to your embarrassing profanity in a sports environment surrounded by children?
•When was the last time you went outside and practiced alongside your child and gave him/her a high-five?
We pray this chapter hits home with those who really need to hear it! Have FUN and truly enjoy each other through the wonderful hockey years! They will go by fast...and you will WISH them back!
That is a
Bradford’s Goal Academy
and Coach Vic LeMire Guarantee!
Friday, October 1, 2010
2011 Global Hockey Showcases and Clinics
Global Sports Hockey Showcases and Clinics
Registration is now open for Burnaby and Las Vegas Showcases and Clinics.
2011 marks Global 20th Anniversary of being a family owned and operated business. Global and The Henderson family are proud to be an interregnal member of the hockey community and wishes everybody all the best this hockey season.
Registration is open for all positions. Goalies are recommended to register right away
For more information check below or visit our website
6th Annual
Global Las Vegas Hockey Showcase & Clinic
Las Vegas NevadaSponsored by The Las Vegas Ice Center
$485.00(US)
Dates:
Group 1- June 20-23 2011 (Monday-Thursday)
Group 2-June 26-29 2011 (Sunday- Wednesday)
Format- 3 Practices & 4 games (Practices conducted by NCAA coaches& Jr Coaches) plus mini seminars hosted by the scouts & coaches
Groups:
1. Div 1- 1999-1998 Div 2- 1997-1996 Div 3-1995
2. 1994 and older
20th Annual
2011 Global Invitational Hockey Showcase & Clinic
Burnaby B.C.
Burnaby 8 Rinks
Sponsored by Dueck GM
$345.00
Date: May-12-15
Format- 1 Practices & 4 Games. Practices will be conducted by N.C.A.A. Coaches & Junior Coaches & a series of mini seminar- There will be 2 additional goalie instructional sessions for goalies.
Divisions
1. 1997-1996
2. 1995 & older
Registration is now open for Burnaby and Las Vegas Showcases and Clinics.
2011 marks Global 20th Anniversary of being a family owned and operated business. Global and The Henderson family are proud to be an interregnal member of the hockey community and wishes everybody all the best this hockey season.
Registration is open for all positions. Goalies are recommended to register right away
For more information check below or visit our website
6th Annual
Global Las Vegas Hockey Showcase & Clinic
Las Vegas NevadaSponsored by The Las Vegas Ice Center
$485.00(US)
Dates:
Group 1- June 20-23 2011 (Monday-Thursday)
Group 2-June 26-29 2011 (Sunday- Wednesday)
Format- 3 Practices & 4 games (Practices conducted by NCAA coaches& Jr Coaches) plus mini seminars hosted by the scouts & coaches
Groups:
1. Div 1- 1999-1998 Div 2- 1997-1996 Div 3-1995
2. 1994 and older
20th Annual
2011 Global Invitational Hockey Showcase & Clinic
Burnaby B.C.
Burnaby 8 Rinks
Sponsored by Dueck GM
$345.00
Date: May-12-15
Format- 1 Practices & 4 Games. Practices will be conducted by N.C.A.A. Coaches & Junior Coaches & a series of mini seminar- There will be 2 additional goalie instructional sessions for goalies.
Divisions
1. 1997-1996
2. 1995 & older
Friday, August 6, 2010
Global would like to thank Fred Dobransky
Global would like to thank Fred Dobransky-Director of Western Scouting for his continued support over the years of the Global organization. His commitment to the sport makes Fred a true friend to the game and to all the players and parents Fred meets throughout the year. Global is proud to have Mr. Dobransky as a key member of the organization.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Choosing your Off-Season Conditioning Program-by Peter Twist of Twist Conditioning Inc.
Global would like to thank Peter Twist and Twist Conditioning staff for its continued support of the Global Showcases and Clinics.
With the popularity of sport conditioning these days, there are many places parents can access “hockey conditioning” so to ensure the best results, programs should be carefully evaluated. Program cost and frequency are important considerations, but pay close attention to who is coaching (credentials, references, previous success) along with what hockey specific attributes the program develops (fast feet, core conditioning, strength, balance, agility) to fully understand your investment. Recognize that sport conditioning is not the same as generic fitness provided at your local fitness club. Only educated sport conditioning coaches truly develop hockey specific physical traits that support playing at the next level.
Hockey skills like skating, shooting, bodychecking and one-on-one maneuvers all require a specific set of athletic abilities and physical tools. Without a program to develop the physical attributes hockey skills, strategies and tactics draw upon, every player will eventually hit a ceiling of ability. Summer by summer, players who strive to improve can transform their game.
What is the best way to get there? Remember there are no universal rules, but there are some things for you to keep in mind when choosing the best option for a son or daughter. Spring hockey can be a very good caliber, providing a good on-ice experience. Game time is invaluable to refine hockey pace and tempo, positioning, play off the puck, vision, patience, decision making and other variables which help develop “hockey sense”. Too much time on the ice, year-round, can lead to mental and emotional burnout, overuse skating injuries, and a bad habit of rehearsing the same weaknesses.
The general trend for all sports is early specialization. But this limits development as an athlete - and the best athletes are the ones who rise to the top. I highly recommend players participate in varied sports like lacrosse and soccer that help develop youngsters as athletes, producing a smart and skillful body capable of much more than repeating skating and shooting movement patterns.
I prefer to split the off-season to first build whole body strength, muscle growth, aerobic conditioning, body control, flexibility, core strength, single leg balance and deceleration training. Week by week, at precisely the right time, we introduce higher speed lifts, rotary power, foot quickness drills, plyometrics, speed and agility training, anaerobic sprint intervals, acceleration and multi directional reaction drills combined with similar development on the ice to create the best possible results.
This approach ensures that players bring a new body, new physical skills and fresh enthusiasm to their fall hockey. I wish all players nothing but success as they strive to reach a new level of competiveness.
Peter Twist, 11 year NHL Conditioning Coach, is President of Twist Conditioning Inc that provides franchised Sport Conditioning Centres, Smart Muscle™ Hockey training products and home study coach education. www.twistconditioning.com
With the popularity of sport conditioning these days, there are many places parents can access “hockey conditioning” so to ensure the best results, programs should be carefully evaluated. Program cost and frequency are important considerations, but pay close attention to who is coaching (credentials, references, previous success) along with what hockey specific attributes the program develops (fast feet, core conditioning, strength, balance, agility) to fully understand your investment. Recognize that sport conditioning is not the same as generic fitness provided at your local fitness club. Only educated sport conditioning coaches truly develop hockey specific physical traits that support playing at the next level.
Hockey skills like skating, shooting, bodychecking and one-on-one maneuvers all require a specific set of athletic abilities and physical tools. Without a program to develop the physical attributes hockey skills, strategies and tactics draw upon, every player will eventually hit a ceiling of ability. Summer by summer, players who strive to improve can transform their game.
What is the best way to get there? Remember there are no universal rules, but there are some things for you to keep in mind when choosing the best option for a son or daughter. Spring hockey can be a very good caliber, providing a good on-ice experience. Game time is invaluable to refine hockey pace and tempo, positioning, play off the puck, vision, patience, decision making and other variables which help develop “hockey sense”. Too much time on the ice, year-round, can lead to mental and emotional burnout, overuse skating injuries, and a bad habit of rehearsing the same weaknesses.
The general trend for all sports is early specialization. But this limits development as an athlete - and the best athletes are the ones who rise to the top. I highly recommend players participate in varied sports like lacrosse and soccer that help develop youngsters as athletes, producing a smart and skillful body capable of much more than repeating skating and shooting movement patterns.
I prefer to split the off-season to first build whole body strength, muscle growth, aerobic conditioning, body control, flexibility, core strength, single leg balance and deceleration training. Week by week, at precisely the right time, we introduce higher speed lifts, rotary power, foot quickness drills, plyometrics, speed and agility training, anaerobic sprint intervals, acceleration and multi directional reaction drills combined with similar development on the ice to create the best possible results.
This approach ensures that players bring a new body, new physical skills and fresh enthusiasm to their fall hockey. I wish all players nothing but success as they strive to reach a new level of competiveness.
Peter Twist, 11 year NHL Conditioning Coach, is President of Twist Conditioning Inc that provides franchised Sport Conditioning Centres, Smart Muscle™ Hockey training products and home study coach education. www.twistconditioning.com
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Global Burnaby Scout List
Global would like to thank all the Parents, Players, Coaches and Scouts that participated in the 2010 Burnaby Showcase and Clinic.
Global would also like to thank, Mr. and Mrs. Seabrook, Cliff Ronning, Garth Butcher and Lisa Northrup for all being guest speakers at this years Global Burnaby Seminars.
Click here to see 2010 Global Burnaby Showcase and Clinic Coaches/Scouts Participation list. (PDF)
Global would also like to thank, Mr. and Mrs. Seabrook, Cliff Ronning, Garth Butcher and Lisa Northrup for all being guest speakers at this years Global Burnaby Seminars.
Click here to see 2010 Global Burnaby Showcase and Clinic Coaches/Scouts Participation list. (PDF)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Rookie season ends with Keystone Cup title
Global would like to congratulate past alumni and Global coach Jakob Reichert and Troy Mick on their Keystone Cup title. Troy will be attending both Global Las Vegas and Global Burnaby Hockey Showcases and Clinic.
By Gary Ahuja - Langley Times
Published: May 04, 2010 3:00 PM
Updated: May 04, 2010 3:43 PM
Troy Mick likened it to a man playing among boys.
That was his description of power forward Jakob Reichert’s game in the second half of the season as the 16-year-old adjusted to his first season of junior B hockey.
“He is a power forward to the fullest,” said Mick, the head coach of the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
The team just capped off a magical season, winning the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League title, the Cyclone Taylor Cup (provincial champions), and most recently, the Keystone Cup (western Canadian champions).
Reichert has played himself onto the radar of a handful of junior A teams, who have expressed keen interest in signing the 6-foot-2, 232-pound forward.
“Right now, he is letting his play do the talking,” Mick said.
Mick hit the jackpot with Reichert in Las Vegas, where the player was attending a Global Hockey Showcase event over the summer.
“I loved everything I saw with him,” the coach said.
“When I first saw him in Langley, he was running guys over, he was so much bigger.
“And he has such good hands for a big boy.”
Allowed to carry two 1993-born hockey players, Mick extended one of those invitations to Reichert, who played AAA midget hockey for the Langley Minor Hockey Association.
And while Reichert did have options to play closer to home, he jumped at the chance to play for Mick.
“The coach is very well known for how he develops players,” he explained about the decision.
When the season began, success did not come instantaneously to Reichert.
“I started the year as a grinder kind of guy, getting pucks deep and playing hard at both ends,” he said of his initial role.
As the season progressed, so did his job, and as Reichert worked his way up, and even found himself with power play time on the second unit.
Reichert wound up with modest numbers, scoring seven times and setting up seven others in 47 regular season games. But he ratcheted up his play in the post-season, nearly matching his regular season output with six goals and six assists in 22 games.
“He has been under the radar, but as we went into the playoffs, more and more teams were taking notice of him,” Mick said.
“The second half of the year, he was really a man amongst boys on the wall,” he added.
“And his play down low was just so good; he is going to be a really good player and I think the best is yet to come.”
Reichert combines a big body, which is difficult for opposing defencemen to bump off the puck, and soft hands, which give him a goal scorer’s touch around the net.
Reichert never imagined he would return home this spring with a slew of championships to show for his efforts.
“It has been a pretty unbelievable year,” he marveled. “It was such a good year and a great way to end, but it was still sad to see it end.
“It was just so fun, I didn’t really want to leave.”
Mick fully expects Reichert, who turns 17 in September, to graduate to the next level, either with one of several junior A clubs which have expressed interest in signing him, or in the Western Hockey League with the Chilliwack Bruins, the team he attended training camp with last summer. He is currently on the Bruins’ protected player list.
The key will be to work out through the spring and summer and improve his skating and foot speed.
“At this stage, he just has to let his play do the talking,” Mick said.
“He has come a long way from the beginning of the year and that is what you want to see, the hard work and the development.
“He has been an absolute pleasure to teach and I would love 20 of him as a player.”
By Gary Ahuja - Langley Times
Published: May 04, 2010 3:00 PM
Updated: May 04, 2010 3:43 PM
Troy Mick likened it to a man playing among boys.
That was his description of power forward Jakob Reichert’s game in the second half of the season as the 16-year-old adjusted to his first season of junior B hockey.
“He is a power forward to the fullest,” said Mick, the head coach of the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
The team just capped off a magical season, winning the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League title, the Cyclone Taylor Cup (provincial champions), and most recently, the Keystone Cup (western Canadian champions).
Reichert has played himself onto the radar of a handful of junior A teams, who have expressed keen interest in signing the 6-foot-2, 232-pound forward.
“Right now, he is letting his play do the talking,” Mick said.
Mick hit the jackpot with Reichert in Las Vegas, where the player was attending a Global Hockey Showcase event over the summer.
“I loved everything I saw with him,” the coach said.
“When I first saw him in Langley, he was running guys over, he was so much bigger.
“And he has such good hands for a big boy.”
Allowed to carry two 1993-born hockey players, Mick extended one of those invitations to Reichert, who played AAA midget hockey for the Langley Minor Hockey Association.
And while Reichert did have options to play closer to home, he jumped at the chance to play for Mick.
“The coach is very well known for how he develops players,” he explained about the decision.
When the season began, success did not come instantaneously to Reichert.
“I started the year as a grinder kind of guy, getting pucks deep and playing hard at both ends,” he said of his initial role.
As the season progressed, so did his job, and as Reichert worked his way up, and even found himself with power play time on the second unit.
Reichert wound up with modest numbers, scoring seven times and setting up seven others in 47 regular season games. But he ratcheted up his play in the post-season, nearly matching his regular season output with six goals and six assists in 22 games.
“He has been under the radar, but as we went into the playoffs, more and more teams were taking notice of him,” Mick said.
“The second half of the year, he was really a man amongst boys on the wall,” he added.
“And his play down low was just so good; he is going to be a really good player and I think the best is yet to come.”
Reichert combines a big body, which is difficult for opposing defencemen to bump off the puck, and soft hands, which give him a goal scorer’s touch around the net.
Reichert never imagined he would return home this spring with a slew of championships to show for his efforts.
“It has been a pretty unbelievable year,” he marveled. “It was such a good year and a great way to end, but it was still sad to see it end.
“It was just so fun, I didn’t really want to leave.”
Mick fully expects Reichert, who turns 17 in September, to graduate to the next level, either with one of several junior A clubs which have expressed interest in signing him, or in the Western Hockey League with the Chilliwack Bruins, the team he attended training camp with last summer. He is currently on the Bruins’ protected player list.
The key will be to work out through the spring and summer and improve his skating and foot speed.
“At this stage, he just has to let his play do the talking,” Mick said.
“He has come a long way from the beginning of the year and that is what you want to see, the hard work and the development.
“He has been an absolute pleasure to teach and I would love 20 of him as a player.”
Thursday, April 29, 2010
There is life after not being drafted
If you want to go the CHL Route and not drafted look at the bright side, you can go wherever you want. If you are good enough and want to play in the CHL and not drafted, you get to choose the Team with tradition, best coaching, and who is best suited to your type of play. There is nothing better than gaining control of where you are going to play. Unfortunately the players drafted don’t have choices in the CHL (you go where you are drafted). So to you undrafted players who want to play in the CHL, either get a lot better or search out other opportunities, but most of all look at where you can improve. This is not a race- it is a journey! A wise honest hockey scout told me once that he is more wrong than right and if all the scouts were really honest they tell you the same thing.
Hockey players are like all the people in the universe (they grow and mature at their own pace). Hockey scouts evaluate what they see now and what they forecast a player might be like in a few years. Take hockey out of equation, wouldn’t it be hard to forecast what a person going to be like in two or three years. Well hockey isn’t any different, it's really hard to forecast. Some players never make it past training camp and some undrafted kids make the NHL. Go figure! Some players try to take short cuts and try to speed up their development- let me be the first and not the last to tell you-There is no short cuts in hockey!
Roy Henderson
President
Global Sports Scouting Services Inc.
Hockey players are like all the people in the universe (they grow and mature at their own pace). Hockey scouts evaluate what they see now and what they forecast a player might be like in a few years. Take hockey out of equation, wouldn’t it be hard to forecast what a person going to be like in two or three years. Well hockey isn’t any different, it's really hard to forecast. Some players never make it past training camp and some undrafted kids make the NHL. Go figure! Some players try to take short cuts and try to speed up their development- let me be the first and not the last to tell you-There is no short cuts in hockey!
Roy Henderson
President
Global Sports Scouting Services Inc.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Hockey Parents Attitude Test- By Vic Lemire
Vic Lemire is one of the top goaltending coaches around, here is a test that he created to judge whether you need professional help or whether your outstanding example of great parenthood.
Hockey Parents Attitude Test- By Vic Lemire
Select the BOX which best applies to YOUR display of Emotional Response when presented with the following scenarios …
You will be awarded REWARD POINTS that you total up using the score sheet at the end of this article.
1) Your child has just scored a Goal … What is your response?
a) You jump to your feet and scream out very loud. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!
b) You aren’t even in the rink.
c) You are somewhere else in the rink standing Alone and you just maintain a quite smile and look to signal your child!
d) You begin to start a chant that the other Team’s Goalie is a “sieve”!
e) You stay in your seat and clap your hands!
f) You are sooooo excited that you messed your pants and are “bolting” to the rest room!
g) You immediately look over at the parents of the kid who made that great pass to your child for him to score and you salute them with a great big compliment …. Nice Pass!!!
2) Your Team has just been scored on … What was your reaction?
a) You give out a Big “moan” and look over at your friends with a
disgusted look!
b) You lean over and tell your fellow Parents that your Team’s Goalie
shouldn’t be playing on this Team!
c) You stare down at the Coaches for putting out the weakest Players at
a time like this!
d) You get up out of your seat and walk out into the lobby or outside
for a smoke!
e) You give out a large cheer to the bench “Let’s get it back, boys”!
f) You are standing away from all the LOUD Parents and you drop your head and look away!
g) You get on your cell phone and are looking for another Team for your child to play for! Hey … Maybe we can send him 3,000 miles away to play for that select Team!
3) Your child is Flying down the ice with the puck and “Timmy” the MOOSE Johnson comes skating across the ice and absolutely “levels” your child with the hardest HIT of the century … What is Your reaction ?
a) You jump up out of your seat and start screaming at the Ref for a Major penalty!
b) You jump out of your seat and fly down to the boards to check on your childs’ health.
c) On the way back up to your seat .. You are screaming at the opposition Parents to “Watch OUT” Things are going to get tough now!
d) You see your child get up slowly and head to the bench and go down there to talk with him.
e) Your standing in the corner of the rink and You yell over the boards …”Get UP”!
f) You are beginning to prepare exactly what to say to your child after the game. Wow was that a great hit! He caught you hard and I’m so thankful you are OK, but I’m so impressed with you that you got back up and wanted to continue playing even though you were still hurting. That shows courage and you came out the next shift going even harder! That was Great!
g) On the ride home you tell him “Son .. ya gotta keep your head up especially when that MOOSE Johnson is on the ice.”
4) A Player on the other Team makes a “move “ on one of your Defencemen and goes around him to score a goal … What do you do?
a) You know that this kid is a weak Defenseman so you go over to the
Parents and suggest that together your Son and theirs get some
Individual Instruction over the season!
b) You WAIT ‘till the next practice to do what it says in “a” above!
c) You wait for the coach in the hallway after the game to tell him he made a HUGE mistake putting that Defenseman out there with the other Teams’ best Player on the ice!
d) You keep your mouth shut all the way home because it was Your Son who got beat badly One on One!
e) You find Three positive things to tell your Son on the way home in the car! Later that day or the next you review those great plays and introduce what he needs to improve on so that he doesn’t get beat like that again!
f) You are running the score clock and you dropped your coffee all over yourself and you missed the whole play!
g) You are the Team Manager and you meet with the Coach after the game and discuss how and when and if we can bring in a Defenseman Coach for a few practices minimum to work with our defensemen!
5) The score is TIED in the championship game of the State Tournament and the other Team scores a winning Goal in overtime that was clearly offside … What is your reaction?
a) You race down to the boards and shout at the linesman for missing
that offside call.
b) You stand up and join the scream that the Goal was offsides!
c) You form a line of angry parents who are just waiting for the refs to leave the ice!
d) You Stand up and give BOTH Teams a great big applause!
e) You take all the kids out for a big meal and drinks at Chuckie Cheese after the game
f) You missed the whole thing because there was a football game on TV!
g) You go down to the bench and give great big hugs to all the Players on your Team congratulating them for another GREAT season!
Here’s how you SCORE your answers:
The HIGHER You score ..the more in control of your emotions you are AND THE MORE YOUR Child will enjoy playing !
Good Luck!
Question
#1 a-10, b-0, c-10, d-0, e-10, f-8, g-15
#2 a-0, b-0, c-0, d-5, e-10, f-8, g-0
#3 a-0, b-10, c-0, d-8, e-0, f-10, g-0
#4 a-7, b-10, c-0, d-0, e-10, f-10, g-10
#5 a-0, b-5, c-0, d-10, e-15, f-0, g-15
Score 0 to 20 - GET PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY
Score 21 to 30 - BRING DUCT TAPE TO THE GAME TO COVER YOUR MOUTH
Score 31 to 40 - YOU’RE GIVING YOUR CHILD REASON TO QUIT PLAYING
Score 41 to 50 - YOU ARE WELL UNDER CONTROL – KEEP ENJOYING THE GAME
Score 51 or above - OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF GREAT PARENTHOOD
Hockey Parents Attitude Test- By Vic Lemire
Select the BOX which best applies to YOUR display of Emotional Response when presented with the following scenarios …
You will be awarded REWARD POINTS that you total up using the score sheet at the end of this article.
1) Your child has just scored a Goal … What is your response?
a) You jump to your feet and scream out very loud. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!
b) You aren’t even in the rink.
c) You are somewhere else in the rink standing Alone and you just maintain a quite smile and look to signal your child!
d) You begin to start a chant that the other Team’s Goalie is a “sieve”!
e) You stay in your seat and clap your hands!
f) You are sooooo excited that you messed your pants and are “bolting” to the rest room!
g) You immediately look over at the parents of the kid who made that great pass to your child for him to score and you salute them with a great big compliment …. Nice Pass!!!
2) Your Team has just been scored on … What was your reaction?
a) You give out a Big “moan” and look over at your friends with a
disgusted look!
b) You lean over and tell your fellow Parents that your Team’s Goalie
shouldn’t be playing on this Team!
c) You stare down at the Coaches for putting out the weakest Players at
a time like this!
d) You get up out of your seat and walk out into the lobby or outside
for a smoke!
e) You give out a large cheer to the bench “Let’s get it back, boys”!
f) You are standing away from all the LOUD Parents and you drop your head and look away!
g) You get on your cell phone and are looking for another Team for your child to play for! Hey … Maybe we can send him 3,000 miles away to play for that select Team!
3) Your child is Flying down the ice with the puck and “Timmy” the MOOSE Johnson comes skating across the ice and absolutely “levels” your child with the hardest HIT of the century … What is Your reaction ?
a) You jump up out of your seat and start screaming at the Ref for a Major penalty!
b) You jump out of your seat and fly down to the boards to check on your childs’ health.
c) On the way back up to your seat .. You are screaming at the opposition Parents to “Watch OUT” Things are going to get tough now!
d) You see your child get up slowly and head to the bench and go down there to talk with him.
e) Your standing in the corner of the rink and You yell over the boards …”Get UP”!
f) You are beginning to prepare exactly what to say to your child after the game. Wow was that a great hit! He caught you hard and I’m so thankful you are OK, but I’m so impressed with you that you got back up and wanted to continue playing even though you were still hurting. That shows courage and you came out the next shift going even harder! That was Great!
g) On the ride home you tell him “Son .. ya gotta keep your head up especially when that MOOSE Johnson is on the ice.”
4) A Player on the other Team makes a “move “ on one of your Defencemen and goes around him to score a goal … What do you do?
a) You know that this kid is a weak Defenseman so you go over to the
Parents and suggest that together your Son and theirs get some
Individual Instruction over the season!
b) You WAIT ‘till the next practice to do what it says in “a” above!
c) You wait for the coach in the hallway after the game to tell him he made a HUGE mistake putting that Defenseman out there with the other Teams’ best Player on the ice!
d) You keep your mouth shut all the way home because it was Your Son who got beat badly One on One!
e) You find Three positive things to tell your Son on the way home in the car! Later that day or the next you review those great plays and introduce what he needs to improve on so that he doesn’t get beat like that again!
f) You are running the score clock and you dropped your coffee all over yourself and you missed the whole play!
g) You are the Team Manager and you meet with the Coach after the game and discuss how and when and if we can bring in a Defenseman Coach for a few practices minimum to work with our defensemen!
5) The score is TIED in the championship game of the State Tournament and the other Team scores a winning Goal in overtime that was clearly offside … What is your reaction?
a) You race down to the boards and shout at the linesman for missing
that offside call.
b) You stand up and join the scream that the Goal was offsides!
c) You form a line of angry parents who are just waiting for the refs to leave the ice!
d) You Stand up and give BOTH Teams a great big applause!
e) You take all the kids out for a big meal and drinks at Chuckie Cheese after the game
f) You missed the whole thing because there was a football game on TV!
g) You go down to the bench and give great big hugs to all the Players on your Team congratulating them for another GREAT season!
Here’s how you SCORE your answers:
The HIGHER You score ..the more in control of your emotions you are AND THE MORE YOUR Child will enjoy playing !
Good Luck!
Question
#1 a-10, b-0, c-10, d-0, e-10, f-8, g-15
#2 a-0, b-0, c-0, d-5, e-10, f-8, g-0
#3 a-0, b-10, c-0, d-8, e-0, f-10, g-0
#4 a-7, b-10, c-0, d-0, e-10, f-10, g-10
#5 a-0, b-5, c-0, d-10, e-15, f-0, g-15
Score 0 to 20 - GET PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY
Score 21 to 30 - BRING DUCT TAPE TO THE GAME TO COVER YOUR MOUTH
Score 31 to 40 - YOU’RE GIVING YOUR CHILD REASON TO QUIT PLAYING
Score 41 to 50 - YOU ARE WELL UNDER CONTROL – KEEP ENJOYING THE GAME
Score 51 or above - OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF GREAT PARENTHOOD
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Former Global Prospect/Alumni Ethan Cox Honored for Charity Work with Hockey Humanitarian Award
Global Would like to congratulate former Global Prospect/Alumni for being awarded the 15th annual BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award.
DETROIT (April 9) — Colgate forward Ethan Cox won the 15th annual BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented at center ice of Ford Field’s ephemeral rink on Friday. Established to acknowledge extraordinarily conscientious NCAA hockey players, the award considers all divisions and genders.
The senior co-captain was honored for his outstanding charity work in the greater Hamilton, N.Y., area, where he saw a need … and a calling. Raised in a socially conscious atmosphere, Cox knows the value of helping those less fortunate.
“I believe that this award is more a reflection of the parents than of the [recipient] ,” he said in his acceptance speech. “My parents were both teachers and they instilled in me the notion of giving back ever since my brother and I were children. They told me to always be thankful and the best way to express that is to give back to those less fortunate than I am,” he said in the lead-up to the presentation.
Colgate's Ethan Cox accepts the Hockey Humanitarian Award from Chuck Long at the Frozen Four in Detroit (photo: Jim Rosvold).
The product of Richmond, B.C., orchestrated not only an annual holiday food drive — the 2009 edition of which brought in over a half ton of non-perishable food items — but also Colgate’s “Facing Off Against Cancer,” a sponsorship fundraiser that raised $25,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS) in 2008 alone.
But that’s not all. Cox successfully encouraged the football team, as well as the campus as a whole, to get tested for possible bone-marrow donation. He helped the women’s soccer team raise money for the cancer treatment of one of its players as well as the ACS. He organized holiday toy drives every year of his collegiate career. He has generated over $14,000 in cash and donated items for various local and national charities, above and beyond those already mentioned.
“There is such a need,” Cox said. “The number of families under the poverty line in Madison County [N.Y.] is very high. It’s an amazing feeling to see such a big response. Without our fans, these events wouldn’t be possible.
“Community service is about more than financial concerns. It’s about connecting with a community, and becoming a part of the community. … It’s about leaving it better than it was when you found it.”
DETROIT (April 9) — Colgate forward Ethan Cox won the 15th annual BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented at center ice of Ford Field’s ephemeral rink on Friday. Established to acknowledge extraordinarily conscientious NCAA hockey players, the award considers all divisions and genders.
The senior co-captain was honored for his outstanding charity work in the greater Hamilton, N.Y., area, where he saw a need … and a calling. Raised in a socially conscious atmosphere, Cox knows the value of helping those less fortunate.
“I believe that this award is more a reflection of the parents than of the [recipient] ,” he said in his acceptance speech. “My parents were both teachers and they instilled in me the notion of giving back ever since my brother and I were children. They told me to always be thankful and the best way to express that is to give back to those less fortunate than I am,” he said in the lead-up to the presentation.
Colgate's Ethan Cox accepts the Hockey Humanitarian Award from Chuck Long at the Frozen Four in Detroit (photo: Jim Rosvold).
The product of Richmond, B.C., orchestrated not only an annual holiday food drive — the 2009 edition of which brought in over a half ton of non-perishable food items — but also Colgate’s “Facing Off Against Cancer,” a sponsorship fundraiser that raised $25,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS) in 2008 alone.
But that’s not all. Cox successfully encouraged the football team, as well as the campus as a whole, to get tested for possible bone-marrow donation. He helped the women’s soccer team raise money for the cancer treatment of one of its players as well as the ACS. He organized holiday toy drives every year of his collegiate career. He has generated over $14,000 in cash and donated items for various local and national charities, above and beyond those already mentioned.
“There is such a need,” Cox said. “The number of families under the poverty line in Madison County [N.Y.] is very high. It’s an amazing feeling to see such a big response. Without our fans, these events wouldn’t be possible.
“Community service is about more than financial concerns. It’s about connecting with a community, and becoming a part of the community. … It’s about leaving it better than it was when you found it.”
Saturday, April 3, 2010
I’ve got some roots in the college game now
A very interesting article Bob McKenzie (TSN commentator) wrote about his son and his family's experiences playing NCAA Hockey.
by Bob McKenzie/Special to CHN
Bob McKenzie is a long-time well-renowned hockey writer, author and commentator for TSN in Canada. His son, Mike, just finished a four-year college hockey playing career at St. Lawrence. (In 2009, he wrote the book "Hockey Dad: True Confessions of a (Crazy) Hockey Parent") In that time, Bob could be regularly seen at most of Mike's games. With his son's college career over, Bob McKenzie shared his thoughts on the ride (printed with permission).
I would just like to take a moment to thank everyone in the U.S. college game I’ve come in contact with over the last four years and express how much I have enjoyed my four years as the parent of a student-athlete at St. Lawrence University. For as involved as I am in hockey, the truth is until my son Mike went to SLU, my exposure to the college game was extremely limited. Who’s kidding who, it was almost non-existent.
It has been a wonderful four-year ride for him and our family and I am going to miss it very much.
I had heard all sorts of things about the college game before I got there — how the stickwork was terrible because the players wears full facial protection, or how there was no respect because the players couldn’t fight, or how there was no hitting or whatever.
But after four years of not missing too many of my son’s games, home or away, I discovered the hockey was terrific. I didn’t see the stickwork I was warned about; and on the lack of respect issue, I think we’ve seen that it exists in all levels of hockey, even where fighting is permitted. The hockey I saw over the four years, for the most part, was fast and exciting and physical. I loved that there were very few scrums after the whistles and the action went up and down the ice with breathtaking speed; and games were usually complete in a just a shade over two hours.
I generally don’t get too engaged in the whole college vs. major junior debate because they are, for me, apples and oranges for the most part. Both have their inherent strengths and weakness. The vast majority of high-end kids now end up in major junior and that's fine. The CHL is a terrific league with a lot of high-end talent, but it’s a league for 16- to 20-year olds. College hockey is a league for 18- to 25-year olds. And it's still a great development league as well. It was an easy decision for my son. He probably wasn’t physically mature enough even at age 18 to play major junior, though he did have the opportunity and offer to do so. So he rolled the dice on getting a scholarship and was fortunate enough to get one solitary scholarship offer to attend SLU. (Thank you [SLU assistant coaches] Chris Wells and Bob Prier.)
My son was a 20-year-old freshman and I know sometimes that's a debated issue, and I’m obviously biased. But I don’t think college hockey would be any better off if it were limited to true freshmen right out of high school. Not everyone is ready at 18, for the college experience in general and college hockey in particular. I’m not afraid to say my son couldn’t have competed at this level any sooner than age 20, but he still went on to have a pretty good college career both individually — at least they tell me 49 goals and 100-plus career points is a worthy achievement — and team wise (one regular season championship and an NCAA tournament appearance as a freshman, three trips to Albany in the ECAC tournament) too. As I said, I’m baised, but I believe the 20-year old freshman can offer a lot to the college game.
The truth was, when my son first started, I wasn’t even sure he could play at this level. I remember walking out of Schneider Arena at PC in his first ever road game, after he was directly responsible for giving up the winning goal, and thinking he may never get back into the lineup. But that first year ended up being something special. My son’s large freshmen class performed well and had the honor of playing with three great and special senior Saints – Drew Bagnall, Kyle Rank and Max Taylor – who epitomized what class and character and leadership and being great student-athletes were all about.
There were all sorts of highlights too numerous to mention that year, but the win over Boston University in the Dartmouth tournament – my son scored the GWG on a penalty shot in OT on John Curry and I was back at TSN watching it on TV because of WJC commitments, one of only two games I missed in his freshman year – and the come-from-behind win over Dartmouth in the ECAC consolation game in Albany – he scored two third-period goals, including the GWG – in a victory that put SLU in the NCAAs, were probably as good as it gets. My fears of him not being able to play at this level were gone, but the great thing about his college career was that every game was a challenge. There were never any easy nights. The ECAC is nothing if not competitive.
I could go on and on about so many specific instances – good and bad (and pretty much everything in my kid’s sophomore year was bad, can you say jinx?) – but when it’s all said and done it will, for me anyway, be about the people and places I got to see.
Trust me when I tell you the only way I was getting to an Ivy League school was to watch my son play there. I love so many of the rinks and venues in the ECAC. There’s nothing quite like Lynah Rink for the whole college experience and Cornell is always a force to be reckoned with there. I absolutely love the unique architecture of the Whale at Yale and Hobey Baker Rink at Princeton. It was always a special night going into Bright Arena, where SLU supporters inevitably outnumbered Harvard fans. Thompson Arena in Hanover is warm and inviting and as good a place to watch a game as anywhere, and Dartmouth is a beautiful campus. To be able to walk around the campuses of Colgate or Princeton or Yale was special. I was able to see a Big Red Freakout for myself at RPI, and I loved going into the hostile environment of [Clarkson's] Cheel Arena and nothing quite matches up to the animosity or intensity of Clarkson-SLU. I have come to love Providence, a hidden gem of a city, and my geographical knowledge of New England and the northeastern U.S. has never been better. But thank God for GPS, especially in Boston, where you learn the hard lesson that the Tobin Bridge is not on I-95 but I-93.
I was like a little kid for those special out-of-conference games in buildings I grew up hearing about – Yost Arena in Michigan and Munn Arena at Michigan State – and I had my other favorites too. The Whittemore Center at New Hampshire (although I liked how some of the kids called it Lake Whittemore because it’s so huge an ice surface), the Gut in Burlington, Vt., a great old style barn, and Agganis at BU, the nicest new-style college rink I was in.
I came in contact with so many great people, far too numerous to mention. But to make the friends we did in Canton, especially the Phalons, and to spend as much time roaming the road with other SLU parents, especially my running mate Jeremiah Cunningham, well, it doesn’t get any better than that. The SLU fans are a special breed themselves, supportive and passionate and it was a pleasure to get to know [them].
Ditto for the fellas, as they like to call themselves, Mike’s roomies in the suite (Flanny, Patty, Weaves, Jeremiah, Teese and D Kells) and all the good kids, past and present, who put on the scarlet and brown in the cozy confines of Appleton Arena and everyone involved with the SLU hockey program, from Joe [Marsh] and all the coaches to the behind the scenes staff to the Friends of St. Lawrence boosters who do such a wonderful job of looking after our kids like they’re their own.
I got to meet so many other great parents of opposing players – Mario-Valery Trabucco’s dad, Sean McMonagle’s dad and grandfather, Mike Backman (father of Sean), Bill Gillam (father of Josh), amongst many others – and my college text buddies, Don McIntyre, whose son David starred at Colgate; Dan Whitney, whose son Sean is at Cornell; and Tom Giffin, whose son Charlie also played at SLU. And the many media guys, Dan and Max at the WDT, Ken Schott in Schenectady, Brian Sullivan, Gladdy, Adam [Wodon] and so many others. And thanks to USCHO, INCH and CHN for providing tremendous coverage for the college game.
It was always fun to scoreboard watch and see how my son’s former St. Mike’s Buzzer junior teammates – Brayden Irwin in Vermont, Brendan Smith in Wisconsin, Kevin Schmidt in Bowling Green, Andrew Cogliano in Michigan, John Scrymgeour and Freddie Cassiani at Lake Superior State, Michael Forgione and Andrew Rygiel at Geneseo, amongst others – or how the local Whitby kids (Scott Freeman and Louke Oakley at Clarkson, Dan Nicholls at Cornell) were making out in their college careers.
There were so many good times. Some tough ones, too, because hockey and life at this level isn’t always easy or fun, but on balance it was just such a wonderful experience.
I was disappointed that SLU lost three times in the ECAC semifinal and never won an ECAC title, but on the bright side, Mike’s college career did not come to an end losing to Clarkson at Appleton in the first round of the playoffs and that was less than two minutes away from being reality. That GWG goal puck, Mike’s last at Appleton, will be a valued memento.
I don't think there's any question my son is a better player now than when he started at SLU and he's most certainly a better, more mature young man. And in a short time, he's going to have a degree and perhaps an opportunity to keep the playing the game for a bit yet, at what level or where, we will see in due course. I am not sure it gets any better than that as a parent.
I hope none of this comes across as self serving. I’m feeling a little sentimental about the end of a phase in our family’s life and when I get like that, I tend to write about it … occupational hazard, I guess. And I really did want to thank everyone. It’s been a terrific ride and just a wonderful four years. So thanks to everyone. I’ve got some roots in the college game now, and while I won’t have the direct involvement of being a parent of a player, I won’t be going cold turkey, that’s for sure.
So all the best to everyone, enjoy the games and thanks
Bob McKenzie
by Bob McKenzie/Special to CHN
Bob McKenzie is a long-time well-renowned hockey writer, author and commentator for TSN in Canada. His son, Mike, just finished a four-year college hockey playing career at St. Lawrence. (In 2009, he wrote the book "Hockey Dad: True Confessions of a (Crazy) Hockey Parent") In that time, Bob could be regularly seen at most of Mike's games. With his son's college career over, Bob McKenzie shared his thoughts on the ride (printed with permission).
I would just like to take a moment to thank everyone in the U.S. college game I’ve come in contact with over the last four years and express how much I have enjoyed my four years as the parent of a student-athlete at St. Lawrence University. For as involved as I am in hockey, the truth is until my son Mike went to SLU, my exposure to the college game was extremely limited. Who’s kidding who, it was almost non-existent.
It has been a wonderful four-year ride for him and our family and I am going to miss it very much.
I had heard all sorts of things about the college game before I got there — how the stickwork was terrible because the players wears full facial protection, or how there was no respect because the players couldn’t fight, or how there was no hitting or whatever.
But after four years of not missing too many of my son’s games, home or away, I discovered the hockey was terrific. I didn’t see the stickwork I was warned about; and on the lack of respect issue, I think we’ve seen that it exists in all levels of hockey, even where fighting is permitted. The hockey I saw over the four years, for the most part, was fast and exciting and physical. I loved that there were very few scrums after the whistles and the action went up and down the ice with breathtaking speed; and games were usually complete in a just a shade over two hours.
I generally don’t get too engaged in the whole college vs. major junior debate because they are, for me, apples and oranges for the most part. Both have their inherent strengths and weakness. The vast majority of high-end kids now end up in major junior and that's fine. The CHL is a terrific league with a lot of high-end talent, but it’s a league for 16- to 20-year olds. College hockey is a league for 18- to 25-year olds. And it's still a great development league as well. It was an easy decision for my son. He probably wasn’t physically mature enough even at age 18 to play major junior, though he did have the opportunity and offer to do so. So he rolled the dice on getting a scholarship and was fortunate enough to get one solitary scholarship offer to attend SLU. (Thank you [SLU assistant coaches] Chris Wells and Bob Prier.)
My son was a 20-year-old freshman and I know sometimes that's a debated issue, and I’m obviously biased. But I don’t think college hockey would be any better off if it were limited to true freshmen right out of high school. Not everyone is ready at 18, for the college experience in general and college hockey in particular. I’m not afraid to say my son couldn’t have competed at this level any sooner than age 20, but he still went on to have a pretty good college career both individually — at least they tell me 49 goals and 100-plus career points is a worthy achievement — and team wise (one regular season championship and an NCAA tournament appearance as a freshman, three trips to Albany in the ECAC tournament) too. As I said, I’m baised, but I believe the 20-year old freshman can offer a lot to the college game.
The truth was, when my son first started, I wasn’t even sure he could play at this level. I remember walking out of Schneider Arena at PC in his first ever road game, after he was directly responsible for giving up the winning goal, and thinking he may never get back into the lineup. But that first year ended up being something special. My son’s large freshmen class performed well and had the honor of playing with three great and special senior Saints – Drew Bagnall, Kyle Rank and Max Taylor – who epitomized what class and character and leadership and being great student-athletes were all about.
There were all sorts of highlights too numerous to mention that year, but the win over Boston University in the Dartmouth tournament – my son scored the GWG on a penalty shot in OT on John Curry and I was back at TSN watching it on TV because of WJC commitments, one of only two games I missed in his freshman year – and the come-from-behind win over Dartmouth in the ECAC consolation game in Albany – he scored two third-period goals, including the GWG – in a victory that put SLU in the NCAAs, were probably as good as it gets. My fears of him not being able to play at this level were gone, but the great thing about his college career was that every game was a challenge. There were never any easy nights. The ECAC is nothing if not competitive.
I could go on and on about so many specific instances – good and bad (and pretty much everything in my kid’s sophomore year was bad, can you say jinx?) – but when it’s all said and done it will, for me anyway, be about the people and places I got to see.
Trust me when I tell you the only way I was getting to an Ivy League school was to watch my son play there. I love so many of the rinks and venues in the ECAC. There’s nothing quite like Lynah Rink for the whole college experience and Cornell is always a force to be reckoned with there. I absolutely love the unique architecture of the Whale at Yale and Hobey Baker Rink at Princeton. It was always a special night going into Bright Arena, where SLU supporters inevitably outnumbered Harvard fans. Thompson Arena in Hanover is warm and inviting and as good a place to watch a game as anywhere, and Dartmouth is a beautiful campus. To be able to walk around the campuses of Colgate or Princeton or Yale was special. I was able to see a Big Red Freakout for myself at RPI, and I loved going into the hostile environment of [Clarkson's] Cheel Arena and nothing quite matches up to the animosity or intensity of Clarkson-SLU. I have come to love Providence, a hidden gem of a city, and my geographical knowledge of New England and the northeastern U.S. has never been better. But thank God for GPS, especially in Boston, where you learn the hard lesson that the Tobin Bridge is not on I-95 but I-93.
I was like a little kid for those special out-of-conference games in buildings I grew up hearing about – Yost Arena in Michigan and Munn Arena at Michigan State – and I had my other favorites too. The Whittemore Center at New Hampshire (although I liked how some of the kids called it Lake Whittemore because it’s so huge an ice surface), the Gut in Burlington, Vt., a great old style barn, and Agganis at BU, the nicest new-style college rink I was in.
I came in contact with so many great people, far too numerous to mention. But to make the friends we did in Canton, especially the Phalons, and to spend as much time roaming the road with other SLU parents, especially my running mate Jeremiah Cunningham, well, it doesn’t get any better than that. The SLU fans are a special breed themselves, supportive and passionate and it was a pleasure to get to know [them].
Ditto for the fellas, as they like to call themselves, Mike’s roomies in the suite (Flanny, Patty, Weaves, Jeremiah, Teese and D Kells) and all the good kids, past and present, who put on the scarlet and brown in the cozy confines of Appleton Arena and everyone involved with the SLU hockey program, from Joe [Marsh] and all the coaches to the behind the scenes staff to the Friends of St. Lawrence boosters who do such a wonderful job of looking after our kids like they’re their own.
I got to meet so many other great parents of opposing players – Mario-Valery Trabucco’s dad, Sean McMonagle’s dad and grandfather, Mike Backman (father of Sean), Bill Gillam (father of Josh), amongst many others – and my college text buddies, Don McIntyre, whose son David starred at Colgate; Dan Whitney, whose son Sean is at Cornell; and Tom Giffin, whose son Charlie also played at SLU. And the many media guys, Dan and Max at the WDT, Ken Schott in Schenectady, Brian Sullivan, Gladdy, Adam [Wodon] and so many others. And thanks to USCHO, INCH and CHN for providing tremendous coverage for the college game.
It was always fun to scoreboard watch and see how my son’s former St. Mike’s Buzzer junior teammates – Brayden Irwin in Vermont, Brendan Smith in Wisconsin, Kevin Schmidt in Bowling Green, Andrew Cogliano in Michigan, John Scrymgeour and Freddie Cassiani at Lake Superior State, Michael Forgione and Andrew Rygiel at Geneseo, amongst others – or how the local Whitby kids (Scott Freeman and Louke Oakley at Clarkson, Dan Nicholls at Cornell) were making out in their college careers.
There were so many good times. Some tough ones, too, because hockey and life at this level isn’t always easy or fun, but on balance it was just such a wonderful experience.
I was disappointed that SLU lost three times in the ECAC semifinal and never won an ECAC title, but on the bright side, Mike’s college career did not come to an end losing to Clarkson at Appleton in the first round of the playoffs and that was less than two minutes away from being reality. That GWG goal puck, Mike’s last at Appleton, will be a valued memento.
I don't think there's any question my son is a better player now than when he started at SLU and he's most certainly a better, more mature young man. And in a short time, he's going to have a degree and perhaps an opportunity to keep the playing the game for a bit yet, at what level or where, we will see in due course. I am not sure it gets any better than that as a parent.
I hope none of this comes across as self serving. I’m feeling a little sentimental about the end of a phase in our family’s life and when I get like that, I tend to write about it … occupational hazard, I guess. And I really did want to thank everyone. It’s been a terrific ride and just a wonderful four years. So thanks to everyone. I’ve got some roots in the college game now, and while I won’t have the direct involvement of being a parent of a player, I won’t be going cold turkey, that’s for sure.
So all the best to everyone, enjoy the games and thanks
Bob McKenzie
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Two NCAA rules that every hockey player should know
Parents and athletes should know these rules. Ross Beebe is Global’s NCAA advisor. If you are unsure about any of the NCAA rules, please ask.
This year we have also noticed that student athletes may not always be taking the correct courses in High school. Ask Ross for the 16 core courses required for NCAA. Don’t be caught being ineligible because of lack of the necessary courses.
Ross can be contacted by email at rosco.2000@shaw.ca
Rule # 1
NCAA RULE – 12.3 – USE OF AGENTS
An individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport. Further, an agency contract not specifically limited in writing to a sport or particular sports shall be deemed applicable to all sports, and the individual shall be ineligible to participate in any sport.
12.3.1.1 – Representation for Future Negotiations. An individual shall be ineligible as per above if he or she enters into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport.
Rule #2
CHL (professional) RULE - 12.2.1
A student athlete remains eligible in a sport even though prior to enrollment in a collegiate institution, the student may have tried out with a CHL team or received not more than one expense paid visit from the team provided such a visit did not exceed 48 hours and any payment or compensation in connection with the visit was not in excel of actual and necessary expenses. A self-financed tryout may be for any length of time. An individual who enters into an agreement (oral or written) to participate in professional athletics shall not be permitted to compete in intercollegiate athletics.
Athletes that compete at the major junior level (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) are no longer considered amateur athletes but rather "professional" athletes. Any degree of competition at the major junior level will make you ineligible for NCAA Hockey.
This year we have also noticed that student athletes may not always be taking the correct courses in High school. Ask Ross for the 16 core courses required for NCAA. Don’t be caught being ineligible because of lack of the necessary courses.
Ross can be contacted by email at rosco.2000@shaw.ca
Rule # 1
NCAA RULE – 12.3 – USE OF AGENTS
An individual shall be ineligible for participation in an intercollegiate sport if he or she ever has agreed (orally or in writing) to be represented by an agent for the purpose of marketing his or her athletics ability or reputation in that sport. Further, an agency contract not specifically limited in writing to a sport or particular sports shall be deemed applicable to all sports, and the individual shall be ineligible to participate in any sport.
12.3.1.1 – Representation for Future Negotiations. An individual shall be ineligible as per above if he or she enters into a verbal or written agreement with an agent for representation in future professional sports negotiations that are to take place after the individual has completed his or her eligibility in that sport.
Rule #2
CHL (professional) RULE - 12.2.1
A student athlete remains eligible in a sport even though prior to enrollment in a collegiate institution, the student may have tried out with a CHL team or received not more than one expense paid visit from the team provided such a visit did not exceed 48 hours and any payment or compensation in connection with the visit was not in excel of actual and necessary expenses. A self-financed tryout may be for any length of time. An individual who enters into an agreement (oral or written) to participate in professional athletics shall not be permitted to compete in intercollegiate athletics.
Athletes that compete at the major junior level (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) are no longer considered amateur athletes but rather "professional" athletes. Any degree of competition at the major junior level will make you ineligible for NCAA Hockey.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Should my son play other sports over spring hockey?
There are two theories on this issue. Theory #1 says to play hockey and continue to develop hockey skills on a yearly basis. Theory #2 says not to play spring hockey and play other sports to develop athleticism. People often ask us, should we be playing other sports or just focus on hockey?
In our opinion there is no problem with playing other sports during the spring and summer months. It might be beneficial to take some time off of hockey to reduce the chances of being burnt out. Some sports even help encourage athleticism and might even help develop faster reactions and skills. It’s recommend while playing other sports you work on at least one aspect of your game such as skating. You might even find that your chances of getting a scholarship increase as scouts are looking for athleticism and other sports do provide that. Playing sports whether hockey or other sports require conditioning, it might be wise to spend more time and money on conditioning.
In our opinion there is no problem with playing other sports during the spring and summer months. It might be beneficial to take some time off of hockey to reduce the chances of being burnt out. Some sports even help encourage athleticism and might even help develop faster reactions and skills. It’s recommend while playing other sports you work on at least one aspect of your game such as skating. You might even find that your chances of getting a scholarship increase as scouts are looking for athleticism and other sports do provide that. Playing sports whether hockey or other sports require conditioning, it might be wise to spend more time and money on conditioning.
Monday, March 22, 2010
How has hockey changed- from a scout’s point of view.
With all the changes in hockey has the game really changed? From a scout`s point of view, yes the game has changed, It has changed the way we do our jobs. The following list was scale on how we use to indentify players in order of what we were looking for:
1. Size
2. Character
3. Skills
4. Speed
5. Smarts
The following list is how we now indentify players in order of what we are looking for:
1. Speed
2. Smarts
3. Skills
4. Character
5. Size
From the two lists the major change is speed. You have to have speed now to play without speed your chances of playing a higher level is very limited. Everybody puts an emphasis on playing spring hockey, if you want to play a higher level we recommend to invest that money into a good power skating instructor. Even if you think you’re a good skater chances are you still need power skating, there is a reason even pros still go to power skating. Size is just not important as it use to be, teams can’t afford to have players that aren`t smart and quick. Look at the N.H.L or the A.H.L there is not a lot of players that can’t skate and that don’t have good skills. Back in the day, teams would be filled with big character players, it’s just not the case anymore, players, coaches and scouts have to adapt to these changes or they will be left behind.
1. Size
2. Character
3. Skills
4. Speed
5. Smarts
The following list is how we now indentify players in order of what we are looking for:
1. Speed
2. Smarts
3. Skills
4. Character
5. Size
From the two lists the major change is speed. You have to have speed now to play without speed your chances of playing a higher level is very limited. Everybody puts an emphasis on playing spring hockey, if you want to play a higher level we recommend to invest that money into a good power skating instructor. Even if you think you’re a good skater chances are you still need power skating, there is a reason even pros still go to power skating. Size is just not important as it use to be, teams can’t afford to have players that aren`t smart and quick. Look at the N.H.L or the A.H.L there is not a lot of players that can’t skate and that don’t have good skills. Back in the day, teams would be filled with big character players, it’s just not the case anymore, players, coaches and scouts have to adapt to these changes or they will be left behind.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Canada vs. USA Olympic hockey and how the Americans are catching up to the Canadians.
Welcome to our new blog. If you have any questions please fill out the form next to this post. Our first topic is Canada vs. USA Olympic hockey and how the Americans are catching up to the Canadians. Most of people we have talked from Canada where shocked by the American performance at the Olympics, however we weren’t. Several years ago, Hockey great Grant Stanbrook retired recruiter for the University of Maine (recruited Dustin Penner and Paul Kayria) talked at one of our seminars about how not to fear Europeans taking hockey opportunities away from Canadians but to fear the Americans. Today, Mr. Stanbrooks remarks are truer than ever. Why are the Americans catching Canadians in Hockey? Well here is what we have come with:
Americans are spending more money on hockey development and really building great programs
Americans are paying for good coaching in minor hockey, where as in Canada most coaches are not paid and most likely are a parent of a player on the team. Most coaches in the U.S. come with some type of professional/Jr. hockey background and have more experience and focus on development rather than just winning. Most ex-pro hockey players know what it takes to get to the next level having done it. They have through their careers built a good hockey network of people in the business which can be influential when needing information and opportunities. This in no way is a knock on the hard working volunteer /dad who has to sacrifice time and money to help kids, however not everything can be learned out of a book or taking coaching levels. Granted, not all ex-pro players make good coaches but it would be safe to say more ex-pro/Jr hockey players make better coaches than the others. The most common complaint from parents is the quality of coaches and lack of being to able to promote the player to the next level.
Americans are listening to knowledgeable people in hockey, where as in Canada hockey parents are making decisions without researching other options. One thing we have notice is that Americans are doing research before making hockey decisions and this is one of reason for creating this Blog.
Americans are spending more money on hockey development and really building great programs
Americans are paying for good coaching in minor hockey, where as in Canada most coaches are not paid and most likely are a parent of a player on the team. Most coaches in the U.S. come with some type of professional/Jr. hockey background and have more experience and focus on development rather than just winning. Most ex-pro hockey players know what it takes to get to the next level having done it. They have through their careers built a good hockey network of people in the business which can be influential when needing information and opportunities. This in no way is a knock on the hard working volunteer /dad who has to sacrifice time and money to help kids, however not everything can be learned out of a book or taking coaching levels. Granted, not all ex-pro players make good coaches but it would be safe to say more ex-pro/Jr hockey players make better coaches than the others. The most common complaint from parents is the quality of coaches and lack of being to able to promote the player to the next level.
Americans are listening to knowledgeable people in hockey, where as in Canada hockey parents are making decisions without researching other options. One thing we have notice is that Americans are doing research before making hockey decisions and this is one of reason for creating this Blog.
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