Strength Training Benefits For Hockey Players

We’ve reached a point
in time where training for hockey off the ice is a must if you’re
looking to go places in your hockey career. Sure there’s the odd
exception to the rule, where a phenom comes along once every 10 or 15
years that just seems to have the natural ability and skills that were
meant for big time hockey. But if you have any fantasies about playing
big-time hockey, I wouldn’t count on yourself being that exception.

That doesn’t mean that you should give up all hope though. There’s
plenty of big-time hockey to go around, besides the NHL, and putting in
the hard work off the ice will improve your chances drastically of
achieving your dream. Off ice training is where your focus needs to be
because the benefits of strength training for hockey are numerous.

We’ve all seen the kid that seems to skate faster than the rest of the
group growing up. He has a huge advantage over the rest of the pack
because his speed gets him to places on the ice faster than everyone
else. But as time goes on, the pack starts to catch up. Kids mature at
different paces. And once these kids reach a certain age, like around 10
to 13 years old depending on their physical maturity, strength training
can take the kids that were trailing a bit and make them into the
faster kids on the ice.

If you think that being fast is only about
being lucky enough to have been born with it, you’re only partially
right. Some guys are just born faster than others, but speed is one of
those things that can be improved with training. You see, the greater
the amount of force you can put into the ground, the faster you’ll be.
So in order to get faster, you need to improve your strength.

I’ll
be the first to admit that running short sprints is a great way to get
faster, but that will only take you so far. When you increase your
strength, the ceiling for how fast you can get all of sudden gets
higher. Doing sprints as well as strength training together then becomes
a killer combo.

Increasing lower body strength with strength
training has other benefits as well. If you’ve ever gone into the corner
to fight for the puck and are always the one that ends up on the ice,
you’re probably lacking the strength in your lower body to keep yourself
upright while an opponent is trying to move you. Becoming stronger in
the lower body suddenly helps you become the player that does the
knocking around in the corner.

The other half of your body, the
upper half, also needs to get stronger too if you have visions of high
level hockey. Just like how lower body strength helps you in the
corners, upper body strength. What’s even better than being able to move
guys around is the ability to rifle the puck by goaltenders. That is
what wins games right? Although lower body strength plays a huge part in
shot power, you also need a strong core and upper body to really blast
the puck.

The benefits of strength training for hockey keep adding
up when you really think about it. I’ve seen players’ confidence sore
once they start adding muscle and strength to their frames. Mindset is
huge when it comes to hockey in particular because of the physical
nature of the game. So the next time you think you’re doing enough to
become a great player, hopefully you haven’t left out strength training
off the ice from your development program.

===================================================================================
Conor Doherty, PTS, is an athletic trainer in Dryden, Ontario, who
specializes in sports performance. The majority of his clients are
hockey players. Conor has a well-rounded background in the training
field with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree as well as being a
certified trainer with Canadian Fitness Professionals. Learn more about
his training methods and programs at http://starfactoryfitness.com

Goal Celebrations: Please make it stop

I’ve been coaching and watching a lot of youth hockey lately and it’s
killing me to watch these kids celebrate.  It’s a TEAM game.   For the
love of all things that are right in this world, please celebrate with
your team and don’t make a spectacle of yourself.  It’s not cute, it’s
not cool.  Congratulate the guy who sent you the puck and move on.  It’s
not about you.  This weekend I watched a kid after scoring his umpteenth goal, try to flip his stick over and and shoot it while on one foot and face plant directly into the ice.  My first thought was, well, never mind on that.  I was stunned at the amount of people watching that thought it was great.

Please don’t teach your kids to be show-offs or promote this stuff. I understand the game is supposed to be fun but to me it’s an attitude thing.  I know I’m talking about youth hockey but it drives me nuts.  Teach your kids to show respect.  Respect for their opponents, their teammates, coaches and the most importantly the game.

Look, I know there is a time and place for a celebrations.  Still they should be TEAM celebrations.  Be part of the team, not an individual. Below is my visual guide to Good and Bad goal celebrations.

Good…

Bad…

Good…

Bad…

Good…

Bad…

Good…

PLEASE.  I Beg you. PLEASE, don’t ever do this on my rink. Ever.

Real Bad…

Good…

Real Bad…
(See note on last Real Bad)

Please comment and let me know your thoughts on this one.  I’d love to hear what you think.

Team Leadership

I’ve had the pleasure of coaching some really good teams that were pretty talented over the last few years but each has fallen short for various reasons.  This year was puzzling to me as I struggled to wrap my head around the team I saw winning games week in and week out.  Now you may say, why struggle if they are winning games?   Well, I saw a team that lacked leadership.  A team without a player who took control.  Even at a young level, the coach can’t control everything.  The team needs a player or two that are in charge on the deck, in the locker room and even at practice.

It wasn’t until recently that I read this article, that I realized this happens at all levels.
http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/1078828-85/penguins-stanley-team-crosby-cup-flyers-michalek-offseason-letang-malkin

“They aren’t as young anymore, and they have lost three consecutive Stanley Cup playoff series.
What went wrong? And where do they go from here?
Leadership
When the young Penguins surged into the playoffs in 2007 and won the
Stanley Cup two years later, they did so under the guidance of respected
veterans.
Billy Guerin didn’t wear the “C,” but he always pointed captain Sidney Crosby in the right direction.
Sergei Gonchar didn’t tell Evgeni Malkin how to play hockey, but he
was the superstar’s mentor and a calming influence on young players such
as Kris Letang.
There were others, too. Leaders such as Hal Gill and Gary Roberts
took pressure off Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Jordan Staal while passing
along untold wisdom.
When Gonchar departed via free agency in 2010, management made it clear the team now belonged to its youthful stars.
They haven’t won a playoff series since.”

As I approach Evaluations for my team, one of the new criteria I’ll be looking for is ‘Leadership’.  How does the player handle himself around his teammates.  Does he have control and the respect of the other players to lead them through good times and bad.

I think back to a player that I had 2 seasons ago.  Kyle was the vocal leader on the team. He knew when to fire up the players or pull them aside after the coaches were done talking and let them know what needed to be done.  He led, they followed.  He was a true leader and the other players knew it.  I’m hoping to find that player this season.  I see one in the making, so it will be interesting to see how he handles it this coming year.

At Forward with Ulf Dahlen

At forward with Ulf Dahlen
By Rob Keast

When Ulf Dahlen goes into the corner for a loose puck, he always seems to come out with it. Considered one of the top puck-protection men in the league, Dahlen says the main reason for his success is that he is comfortable playing the puck with his skates.

“If a guy’s grabbing my stick,” he explains, “I use my feet.”

Dahlen says when he is in the corner protecting or retrieving a puck, a defenseman will often come in and try to take his stick out of the play.

“They want to work on my stick,” he says. “But if they go work on your feet, you’re going to go down and they might get a penalty.”

Dahlen says it’s hard for a defenseman to legally check a skate, whereas a stick is fairly simple for a defenseman to neutralize.

Also, going to the corner often means taking a hit, which is something else Dahlen feels he can use to his advantage. After a player throws a hit, it takes him a moment to regroup. Dahlen uses that split second to get better control of the puck or make a pass.

If you know a hit is coming, Dahlen advises, don’t leave the boards.

“You try to be close to the boards,” he says. “That makes it easier to be hit.”

Why? Because you are much more likely to stay on your feet if the boards are right there, propping you up.

At 6’3” and 200 pounds, Dahlen is no small guy in the corner. But even he knows you can’t prepare yourself for every bone-cruncher.

“Well, there is no good way to take a hit,” he says with a laugh.

Once he’s taken the hit and won the puck with his feet, Dahlen’s next task is either to make a pass or drive to the net.

“Don’t throw the puck blindly,” he instructs, sounding like a coach in the making, because nine times out of 10 a blind pass will be intercepted. But driving to the net often opens up another player.

“If no one else comes to you (after winning the puck along the boards), take it to the net. Then, if someone else comes to you (as you are driving), he is leaving your teammate open.”

So Dahlen says he always has his head up when driving to the net, looking to draw a defenseman and pass off the puck. If no one takes him, Dahlen is left to shoot it himself.

“Don’t be afraid to shoot if no one comes to you,” he says. “And, sometimes you take the good shot, but you know you’re going to get hit after.”

He said it’s to his advantage to take that hit, because it usually means his teammate is now open for the rebound. Remember the old cliché about “taking one for the team?” Well, Dahlen says it really works.

A hot commodity

It’s this kind of heady, selfless play that has made Dahlen, a right wing who has played all three forward positions during his career, a hot commodity since being drafted in the first round, seventh overall, by the New York Rangers in 1985. Dahlen has played for three different teams during his eight-year career, but not because his teams didn’t want him. On the contrary, he’s the type of player every GM wants—a gifted offensive player with a good head for defense. In short, Dahlen is the complete package.

After New York traded him to Minnesota (for Mike Gartner) late in the 1990 season, Dahlen was a key element in the then-North Stars 1991 run to the Stanley Cup Finals. And when he arrived in San Jose a late-season deal in 1994, he keyed the Sharks unlikely upset of the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings. It should also be noted that the Stars never seem to have recovered from his departure.

Dahlen says defensemen often give up their position to attack the puck along the boards. While going for the puck that is often in Dahlen’s skates, defenders sometimes don’t stay between the puck and the net. For those situations, Dahlen tries to be ready to drive straight to the net if he can get away with the puck.

Dahlen urges forwards not to rely on their sticks too much. Because sticks are so easy to tie up, he feels you have to be able to work the puck, and protect it, with your body and skates.

San Jose counts on Dahlen for board work and puck protection not only during even strength, but also on the power play—where he has scored 19 goals over the past two seasons. He says the nice thing about the man advantage is that once he wins the puck, he already knows a teammate is open. It’s just a matter of finding him.

The open man could be anywhere in the offensive zone, he adds, so don’t just look in one place—like in front of the net—for him. Of course, the more familiar you are with your power-play unit, the more likely you are to know instinctively where your teammates are stationed.

Dahlen says one of the things he always does in the corner is buy time, letting the rest of his team gain the zone and set up. This delaying is even more important on the power play, so he urges players not to feel rushed in the corner.

And again, if a defenseman wants to put the body on you during the power play, it’s to your advantage. A four-on-three is better than a five on four, and if someone leaves the penalty-killing formation to hit you, that’s what you’re left with.

“The perfect thing is to get someone to hit you,” says Dahlen.

— Rob Keast

This first appeared in the 01/1996 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Larry Murphy: To the Hall of Fame Quietly

Larry Murphy: To the hall of fame quietly
By Sam Laskaris

This first appeared in the 01/1996 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®

©BBS

Murphy’s Law—you know, “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong”—certainly doesn’t apply to Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Larry Murphy. Since breaking into the National Hockey League with the Los Angeles Kings in 1980, Murphy, who was born in Scarborough, a city just east of Toronto, has been one of the most competent and dependable defensemen around. … Continue Reading

Ulf Samuelsson: It’s all about winning

Ulf Samuelsson: It’s all about winning
By Stan Fischler
Nov 6, 2001, 20:24

If a vote were taken today for the title of “Most Hated NHL Player,” Ulf Samuelsson would be one of the top three finalists, if not the actual winner. The 31-year-old Swede has terrorized NHL opponents for a decade by employing an assortment of hooks, elbows, and spears—among other delicacies—to stop his foes. That he has succeeded is evident in many ways. Ulfie also happens to be one of the leagues premiere all-around backliners. And, for another thing, he is one of the NHL’s highest-paid defensemen. Some might say that it is all in the genes. But Ulfie is not so sure.

“It just kind of happened,” Samuelsson says. “You know, when I started, I was nine years old. But maybe I was already a little bit more competitive (than other kids).”

A native of Fagersta, Sweden (Pop. 10,000), he grew up with the equally feisty Tomas Sandstrom.

“Ulf was always a tough player,” says Christer Rockstrom, the New York Rangers Swedish-based scout. “When I saw him as a junior in Fagersta, he played the same style. He was fearless. He was hitting and running people. You could see the instinct. He wasn’t as mean as he was today. He also wasn’t as good. He wasn’t as controlled.”

When Swedish players first came to the NHL, they were considered “soft” by North American standards, but Samuelsson changed that.

“He’s the type of guy you hate to play against but you love to have on your team,” admits Rangers captain Mark Messier. “We’ve crossed paths a few times in my career.

“One thing I think gets overlooked because of Ulf’s reputation is the fact that he has very good skills. He’s a good all around hockey player.”

Ulfie has been around long enough to have heard the charges that he is downright filthy on the ice. He dismisses them with a straight face and counters that hockey is a rough game, and he happens to play it physically.

“I’ve never tried to put a player out for the season,” he says. “But it wouldn’t bother me if I put a player out for a game.”

How much Samuelsson, at his advanced age, will help the Rangers this year is debatable, although there is no doubt in coach Colin Campbell’s mind that he has got a winner.

“I know what I can do best, and I’ll find a way to do that here,” Samuelsson vows. “I like to play against the other team’s best line, and hopefully, I’ll get to earn that spot on this team.”

In an interview at Madison Square Garden, Samuelsson examined his game and the NHL.

What makes Ulf Samuelsson, the player one of your former Penguins teammates described as the best all-around defenseman in hockey, tick?

I love to compete. I think that desire to compete day after day, night after night whether we are in first place or last place says a lot about my game. I may not have as many natural skills as some of the other defensemen in the league, but I try to make up for that with my big desire to win. It drives me.”

How many sticks do you go through in an average game and how many during a season?

Today it was two. Sometimes it’s more, sometimes it’s less. As far as the season goes, gosh, I don’t know, maybe two or three times 84 games. I also give away a lot of sticks to fans and charities.

Taping of one’s stick is essentially a personal science. How do tape your sticks?

I just use a small strip of tape (holds up two fingers about seven inches apart). No big deal. Some guys load their sticks with tape but I don’t.

What do you go through to make your sticks game-ready?

Well, that depends on how they come. Wood sticks are not as consistent as aluminum sticks. With wood ones, you have to sometimes put a lot of work into them. (But) most of the time you have to just tape them up and go.

So do you have a preference, wood or aluminum?

I like wood.

You are one of the most intense players in the game today. How do stay within the fine line of rational play and going completely off the deep end?

Well, you must always try to stay mentally calm. Often it is difficult—especially after getting a stick across the face. But I try to set a game plan for myself and stick to it. I try not to let anyone get me off my game plan. If someone is able to get me off my plan then I wind up hurting my team if I get too excited and lose it.

I just called your style “intense.” Others say you’re downright dirty. How do you address that?

Sometimes I’m dirty. But sometimes this is a dirty game. I try to keep the lumber down because that is usually a penalty and that will hurt the team. There is a fine line you have to stay within.

What do you consider to have been your best season personally? That does not have to necessarily include the Penguins championship seasons.

I had some good seasons in Hartford, but it is impossible to judge one’s career without looking at the overall picture—which must include how the team did. Like I said, I had some good years in Hartford, but the bottom line is we were not a very good team.

In Pittsburgh it was the opposite. We were a great team and the two championships proved it. The old cliché that “if the team does well you will do well” is such a true statement. If you personally get two goals a game for the whole season and your team gives up six a game and you lose each game six to two and finish in last place, is that a good season? Some may say yes and some will say no. I say no. The only thing that drives me is the desire to win each and every game I play. Winning is the only thing I can judge by.

How about those Penguins championships in 1991 and 1992?

Those were the best years of my life so far. Hopefully we can make another couple of runs here (in New York).

How will the newly instituted obstruction rules affect your punishing style of play?

I don’t believe it will have too much effect on my style personally, because that is not really my angle towards the game. I kind of hit and run a little more. But it will affect everyone to some extent in the beginning, until they can get used to it.

What three elements do you feel are essential for a young hockey player to be able to grow and eventually hope to become a top-rated defenseman like yourself?

Well, without a doubt he must have the talent to be able to play at this level. Not many have that God-given talent. He must also possess a tremendous amount of patience to be able to learn. It is not easy to become a good defensemen in this league. He must also have a fire inside of him.

What do you mean by a fire inside him?

A fire to win. A fire to contribute to your team any way you can. Go out and get the job done on the ice, on the bench, in the dressing room, at practice, on the road. It all comes down to winning.

What are your thoughts on the trade that brought you to New York?

Oh I was excited. I knew I was going somewhere, and to be able to come to one of the biggest cities in the world and to a team with such a history dating back to the Original Six is definitely exciting and I am proud to be a part of it.

What did you do with your Penguins Stanley Cup rings?

I still have them. I don’t wear any jewelry. I don’t even wear my wedding band. It has to be a very special occasion for me to put them on. 

You are now living up by suburban Rye, NY. How is life in Rye compared to living in Hartford or Pittsburgh?

I like the Rye area. It is a nice area from what I have seen so far. Living in Hartford was also nice. (But) as far as I’m concerned, Pittsburgh has too many red necks.

This first appeared in the 08/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

At Forward with Bob Corkum

At forward with Bob Corkum
By Bob Cunningham
Nov 6, 2001, 19:52

©BBS

Like many of his teammates on The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, center Bob Corkum puts a high priority on the mental aspect of the game. And, Corkum points out, the principle applies to all levels of hockey.

“The biggest thing, I believe, is to be mentally prepared for each and every game, and to work as hard as you can,” says Corkum, who paced The Mighty Ducks in scoring for most of the 1993-94 campaign before injuring a leg with less than a month remaining in the regular season. “You don’t want to get too high when things are going well or too low when they’re not. You want to maintain an even keel.”

Corkum believes the best way to prepare for a game is by establishing a routine that provides the right mixture of relaxation, nutrition and mental focusing.

For Corkum, the routine includes breakfast at Denny’s before the morning skate, then some time to himself to gather his thoughts and “really begin thinking about who we’re playing and what I need to accomplish.”

When things are going particularly well, superstition can also play a part. For instance, Corkum admitted to ordering a breakfast of oatmeal with wheat toast on game day during one particular winning streak.

“You go with whatever’s working,” he says.

It’s A Ritual

A pregame meal in the early afternoon is followed by a brief nap. When he awakes, he begins his ritual of mentally visualizing that evening’s developments. Well before the opening faceoff, Corkum visualizes how he wants the game to go.

“I’ve learned that it’s a healthy approach to the game,” he notes.

Corkum’s game-day routine is a gradual build-up of intensity, peaking just prior to his first shift. But Corkum’s preparation wasn’t always this focused.

“When I was with Buffalo, I knew that I was only going to get a half-dozen to maybe a dozen shifts per game,” he recalls. “I was prepared for limited ice time so I went in with the mentality that I had to show them what I could do when I was out there. I wanted to show that I deserved more ice time than I was getting.”

In Anaheim, however, Corkum became an integral part of the team and changed his pre-game approach accordingly.

“I start thinking pretty early in the day about who I am going up against that night, who our line with be matched up against,” he says. “I know that I’m going to be on the ice a lot, sometimes on power plays or killing penalties. So I know I have to be ready for whatever develops.”

Corkum notes that not all players are willing, able or even need to prepare as thoroughly as he does. He just sticks with what works for him.

“It’s usually the most talented guys that don’t see the need for focusing so far in advance. They can’t turn it on and off like a light switch, although there are some guys that can almost do exactly that,” he said. “They say, ‘why waste a whole day thinking about a three-hour hockey game?’ But I can’t think that way. It may work for them, but not for me.”

Trying Too Hard?

Corkum did point out, however, that there is such a thing as being too prepared for a game.

“When we went back to Buffalo, I was really eager to show them what I could do now that I was getting the chance to play regularly,” he explained. “We had arrived in Buffalo from Pittsburgh and we had two days before the game.

“I was so eager to play that when the game came, I played I think my worst game of the year for the first two periods. I was too keyed up.”

That goes back to Corkum’s advice about maintaining a steady emotional state, and not getting too caught up in individual successes or failures.

“I sure got into it that time,” he said.

Corkum notes that there are two primary ingredients to success playing at center, and oddly enough neither has anything to do with scoring goals.

“The first thing is faceoffs, especially in your own zone. You have to be able to control the puck and get it to your defensemen so that they can clear the zone,” he said.

“The other most important thing about playing center, I think, has to do with down-low play and in the corners, working with your own defensemen. If you don’t do that successfully, it usually results in a goal (for the opposition) or, at the least, a quality scoring chance.

“A center’s job is to do whatever is needed to help win games. If that means defense, he’d better be ready to play defense. When the scoring chances come, he needs to take advantage of them.”

In other words, he needs to be ready. Period.

Bob Cunningham is a Southern California-based freelance writer who contributes to several sports publications throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This first appeared in the 08/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Ron Francis: Unsung MVP

Ron Francis: Unsung MVP
By Stan Fischler
Nov 6, 2001, 19:33

©BBS

If the NHL had an award called “The Unsung Most Valuable Player,” a sure winner would be Pittsburgh’s handsome, unassuming center Ron Francis.

Overshadowed by the incomparable Mario Lemieux, Francis nevertheless has been an integral aspect of the Penguins renaissance.

Who could forget how the native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario stepped into the breach after Lemieux’s hand injury in 1992 to help defeat the favored Rangers in the Patrick Division Finals. Francis not only re-established himself as the league’s premier defensive center, but also contributed mightily offensively. His 65-foot goal against Mike Richter in Game Four turned the tide in that series.

Not surprisingly, Francis starred in the Penguins’ second Stanley Cup Championship, against Chicago. “With all due respect to Mario,” says Blackhawks star Jeremy Roenick, “Ronnie was as valuable to that team as anyone.”

Scott Bowman, who coached Francis for two years, considers Ron the perfect alter ego on a star-studded team.

“Whenever I put Francis in a critical situation,” Bowman recalls, “he delivered.”

At age 31, Francis is at the pinnacle of his 13-year career. Even more astonishing is the fact that the Whalers dealt him in one of the dumbest trades since the invention of artificial ice — Francis, Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings for Zarley Zalapski, John Cullen and Jeff Parker. Ironically, the man who made the deal for Hartford, Eddie Johnston, is now coaching Francis in Pittsburgh, and says, “I couldn’t be happier with him.”

In an interview with Hockey Player, Francis discussed his hockey and his life.

What impact did your father have on your hockey development?

He was very influential. He was the one who went outside and made the rink in the backyard. On cold nights he flooded it and made sure it was ready for us to skate on the next day. He took a lot of interest in us playing and used to sit down with us and explain the game. He was a very big part of my growth.

How has the NHL changed from the time you entered the league and now?

The game has gotten a lot faster. With the new high-tech blades the way they are you can turn sharper then ever before which means the speed is quicker. The guys have gotten a lot bigger. There’s more size and speed then when I broke in. The game is always going to change over time so you just have to adjust. Now it’s better because of the speed. Not to take anything away from the old guys, they played the game very well in their day.

What is the biggest controversial issue or problem facing the NHL right now?

We have to take away some of the clutching and grabbing so we can allow the stars in league to play the game the way they can. You want guys like Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Pavel Bure — all these guys — you want them to be able to perform to the best of their abilities. You don’t want them to be bugged and held or hooked to the point where they get injuries and can’t play.

Where do you stand on fighting?

Fighting is a tough issue. If you wipe out fighting and still keep the stick work and the dirty stuff down, then I think there would be a lot more people for it. Until you figure out a way to do that, you need fighting in the game to make sure the players stay honest.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you go through?

There’s a certain routine I like to go through but if that’s broken it doesn’t bother me.

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

Basically I ride the bike and do weight training. Usually four or five days a week just to keep the legs in shape.

What is the biggest goal that you’ve scored in your career?

There have been a few of them that have been pretty big, that stand out. One that I look at is the Cup-clinching goal against Chicago in 1992. I scored the sixth goal, which was the game winner. It turned out to be a big one. Then there is the long shot against the Rangers which kind of turned that series around and the one in overtime of the same game. Anytime you score a goal though it’s a big goal.

You were in Hartford for a while. You were the most popular player there. How difficult was it for you when you were traded from Hartford to Pittsburgh?

It was difficult in the sense that I played in Hartford for so long and knew so many people there. I was leaving a lot of good friends behind, that part was tough. Hockey-wise it wasn’t tough. Actually it worked out pretty well. Three months later I was skating around with the Stanley Cup. So that wasn’t that tough for me. It was somewhat of an adjustment playing behind Mario, but I wasn’t stupid. I didn’t expect to take his job so that adjustment came very easy.

How does your role in the lineup change when Mario is playing and when he isn’t playing?

The biggest thing is when he’s not in the lineup we have to find a couple of goals some place else. Everybody has to pick it up a little and certainly I feel that I am one of those players. I’m not going to be able to replace him by myself, but I can try to do my best to help change the other players’ and change my game somewhat, maybe take a few more chances on the offensive part of the game.

What advice do you give young kids who want to play hockey?

The best advice I give kids is if you want to play the game, have fun at it. Enjoy it, but make sure you work hard at it also, and don’t take it for granted.

Some parents put a lot of pressure on their kids when they play. Did yours?

My parents were never like that. They brought me to my games, they told me to have fun at it, and that’s all they expected. Certainly some individuals are more high-strung than others but you have to remember it’s only a game, and it’s kids who are playing it. The main idea is to have fun, so let’s not get too carried away with it. Let’s realize what it is.

How hard is it for you to not be able to play? Is it difficult to watch your teammates play without you?

It’s tough. Fortunately I haven’t done it too much. Anyone who has gotten to this level has got that competitiveness in him and they want to play. When you’re not competing, it’s tough to sit back and watch. l

Stan Fischler writes regularly for several major sporting publications.

This first appeared in the 08/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Dave Taylor: The King at 17

Dave Taylor: The King at 17
By Bob Cunningham
Nov 6, 2001, 07:23

©BBS

It’s a cliche to say that Dave Taylor has seen it all in his 17 years with the Los Angeles Kings. But cliches become cliches because they’re unavoidably accurate. Taylor has experienced a myriad of emotions, a plethora of prospects and a whole bunch of teammates in his time. He has enjoyed a career, from a team standpoint, that has included rewarding achievements as well as decimating shortcomings. He is a constant in a constantly revolving door that is modern-day professional sports.

The Kings have hired and fired 11 head coaches during Taylor’s tenure. But at long last, Taylor’s playing days are winding down. His latest setback, a frustrating concussion that is certainly not the first of his career but is hopefully the last, has him concerned and thinking more about life after hockey than ever.

In his time, he has played alongside two of the greatest ever to lace up the skates — Wayne Gretzky and Marcel Dionne. Gretzky is the main man of today but it was Dionne who took a young Taylor under his wing in 1977 and helped mold him into one of the steadiest performers of our generation. The Triple Crown Line — which featured Taylor, Dionne and Charlie Simmer — brought pride and pleasure to Los Angeles hockey fans during years of otherwise mediocre teams who never could get past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs — when they got there at all.

As Taylor reflects back on his enduring run of years in uniform, he remembers his relationship with Dionne, the many players and coaches come and gone, the seasons of disappointment as the Kings usually finished closer to the bottom than the top and, finally, the franchise’s incredible trek to last season’s Stanley Cup Finals, where the ultimate prize could have been theirs had it not been for the brilliant goaltending of Montreal’s Patrick Roy.

It has been a career to remember. Four all-star game nominations, including an honorary one this past year. His 17-year stint is one that may reach 18, 19, perhaps 20. And it will be completed entirely within one organization. And although his time to date has not resulted in any championships, it’s doubtful that Taylor would trade places with anyone.

Your career has been remarkable not only for your longevity but for your productivity and consistency for 17 years. What’s your secret to staying in such great shape year after year?

I think it’s been a matter, every year, of learning new training methods, and the fact they have gotten better and better. I spend a lot more time now on the exercise bike than I did earlier in my career. I came into the league a lot smaller than I am now. Hockey has changed, also. Guys used to go to camp to get in shape. Now, trainers send out training programs for players to follow during the off-season. They have tests to make sure you’re where you should be physically. The natural progression of conditioning in general has helped me out. And there’s more competition now. I’ve had injuries — surgery on my knee, my wrist a couple of times, dislocated my shoulder, concussions — rehab is so important. And (team) doctors are not releasing players before they’re fully recovered. That’s very important.

What niche do you believed you’ve carved as a player?

I was always taught to play both ends of the rink. Earlier in my career, I was looked to more for offense. The Triple Crown Line with Marcel, myself and Charlie Simmer scored a lot of goals, a lot of points. Got a lot of time on the power play. As time went on, I came to realize that I wasn’t as good as maybe I used to be. I became more of a third or fourth line player. My roles have changed often over the years. Mainly, I still want to play effectively at both ends of the ice whenever I’m out there.

You played in your first all-star game in eight years this past January. Describe your experience.

It’s always fun to play in an all-star game. You meet all the top players, get to know the guys. And the game is less intense. It’s a lot of fun for the players. Well, it’s hard on the goaltender’s but it’s a great showcase for the league. And with the skating competition and the shootout, it’s an interesting event. This one was special, not only because it was my first since 1988 but because it was at Madison Square Garden and on national television. And it was a good game. The NHL is trying to sell itself a lot more.

You’ve been fortunate to play with two of the game’s greatest ever in Gretzky and Dionne. In fact, Dionne was kind of your mentor. Tell us about your years playing with him.

Marcel was the biggest influence on my career as a pro. I was fortunate to be placed on the line with him midway through my first season, because we ended up being linemates for nine years. He was a superstar, the best in the game I believe when I came in ‘77. Small but powerful. He could do anything. He had no weaknesses. Playing with him, and learning from him, obviously helped my career.

Who’s the greatest player you’ve ever seen in the league during your career? How ‘bout the best goalie?

It’s hard to say because times change. The New York Islanders had a great team and Bryan Trottier was an outstanding player, maybe even the best all-around player ever. Wayne Gretzky is Wayne Gretzky. He put up numbers during Edmonton’s run that were unheard of. When 100 points in a season was considered excellent, he scored 200… with 92 goals that one year. Those are staggering numbers. It was once thought that Gordie Howe’s scoring records would last forever.

As a defenseman, Ray Bourque is outstanding. He’s a great offensive player but he’s just as good defensively. Paul Coffey, he can skate like no one else. He can really move. As for a goaltender, there was Grant Fuhr. When the game was on the line you couldn’t get it by him. You might get him for a couple early in the game, but when you were trying to get that one that would put the game away… no way. He’s a money goalie.

In your time, you’ve seen literally hundreds of players come and go In L.A. Why do you think there’s so much turnover, and that players like you playing so long for the same organization are so rare?

I don’t think there’s any one thing you can put your finger on. Very few have stayed a long time. One problem is that the Kings have not had a lot of great teams and so there’s a lot of turnover. I’ve had 11 head coaches in 17 years. Every year and a half, there is a new philosophy to get adjusted to. It’s hard to get any cohesiveness that way. The last few years, there’s been more stability in the organization and we’ve been more successful as a result. The main thing is that you have to be willing to show up every night, whether you’re battling for first place or fourth place.

As you near the end of your playing career, do you look forward to a “second career” in coaching or management, or do you wish you could freeze time and just play forever?

I realize that I don’t have a lot of playing days left. My first choice would be to stay with the Kings, in management. I’ve been with the Kings 17 years and they’ve been very good to me. I would consider the coaching end but I prefer management, on the hockey end of the operations. I hope to have a few different choices I can pursue. I also realize there will be a certain amount of training. I’ll have a lot to learn.

If you were a coach, what traits would you most seek out in a player? Which would you avoid?

Obviously, you need a lot of different players on your team. Those who can score, those who can play good defense, those who can bang… you can’t have all player’s that are one-dimensional. Personally, I like guys that are mentally tough. Guys that are willing to go to battle one-on-one against somebody that’s maybe a little bigger and come away with the puck. Forwards who are knocked to the ice a couple of times but get back up and go to the net anyway. Luc Robitaille… he scores his goals but the main thing is that he always goes to the net even though he’s getting hit, cross-checked. I like players that do what it takes to gain success.

Speaking of absorbing punishment, you’ve taken your share of hard knocks. Right now, you’re battling another concussion that’s had you out of action more than two months. Is that kind of injury more scary than, say, a twisted ankle or another part of the body that can be easily rehabilitated?

I have a lot of concerns with this right now. Last year, I got hit and my helmet flew off and my head hit the ice. I had a severe concussion and missed 18 games. It was diagnosed as a bruised brain stem. But the doctors said it would heal completely. At Montreal, I was (knocked down again) and the same symptoms — vertigo, headaches — returned. This year, I was elbowed on the chin. I think it’s had a kind of cumulative effect. My tests have been normal, so the doctors still say it should heal. Now I think back to when I was younger and I probably had concussions and went back out there anyway. This has been very frustrating. Anytime I try to exercise, it seems to get worse. It’s not an encouraging thing, but all I can do is try to let it heal.

In a career with so many personal highlights, last season had to be the crowning one for you with the Kings making the Cup Finals for the first time. After you had won Game I against Montreal, what were you and your teammates thinking, so close to where you had never ventured before?

After going into Toronto and winning Game 7 (of the Campbell Conference finals), we only had two days to get ready. But we had done everything we wanted to do at that point. We had a lot of guys on the team that had been there before, with Edmonton. There was a lot of fun and excitement, just three games away from the Stanley Cup. But we knew that one game was just one game and that we had to get ready for the next. Three consecutive overtime games — a hair’s difference between winning and losing. Patrick Roy was great. Every player thinks back after going through that and remembers missed opportunities, “What if the puck had gone in rather than hitting the post?”

From riches to rags, the 1993-94 Kings have struggled from Day 1 this season. The $64,000 question is: Why?

I’m like everyone else. I’m searching for answers. I think we miss Cory Millen. Along with Tony Granato and Mike Donnelly, he gave us that extra dimension of speed. They put a lot of fear into the other team’s defense. Another thing is that some players are not having the seasons that they did last year. Last year, we seemed to like adversity. We excelled when we were backed up. This year’s not like that. We’re a lot different. It’s very frustrating. All we can do is continue to battle for a play-off spot.

Most fans agree that head coaches get too much credit when things go well, and too much blame when they don’t. Is it fair for Barry Melrose to be on the hotseat, as it were?

He’s the same coach he was last year, but he doesn’t quite have the same players. Most of them, but not all of them. He has the same philosophy, but not the same on-ice product. He runs his practices the same, prepares the same. Who knows? It’s a combination of things, I suppose. I know some are saying that he’s not good at motivation, but it seemed to work for us last year.

You and your wife are admired throughout the league and this region of the country for how active you are toward charitable functions. Describe why you go to such great lengths.

We do it because we can. The first time we got involved is when we were approached by Alan Thicke, the actor. His son had been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. So we wanted to come up with something to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and we ended singing this song and putting it to music. One side had me and the rest of the Triple Crown Line and the other had Phil Esposito and some New York Rangers. The record ended up selling more than 100,000 copies and making $80,000. It was a real beginning for us. My wife was a volunteer for JDF for a number of years. Since Gretzky arrived, hockey’s popularity in Southern California has grown and that’s increased the opportunity. Our “Tip-A-King” event, in which the whole team goes and shakes hands and signs autographs, raises about $250,000 annually.

Okay, a final thought. When your playing days do finally come to an end, how you would like to be remembered?

First of all, I’d like that people remembered me. I’d like to be remembered as a player who showed up every night and gave his best effort. I wasn’t great at anything, but I didn’t have any real weaknesses. A player that worked hard all the time, played to win, and earned his money.

Bob Cunningham is a Southern California-based freelance writer who contributes to several sports publications throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This first appeared in the 05/1994 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®

Robitaille: Lucky AND Good

Robitaille: Lucky AND good
By Alex Carswell
Nov 6, 2001, 06:47

©BBS

Luc Robitaille cuts a dashing figure both on and off the ice. With his killer smile and killer shot, the 29-year-old left winger has become one of the most popular and feared snipers in the NHL. A star since his first season with the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec League in 1984, he shared Junior hockey’s Player of the Year award with Sylvain Coté in 1986. Lucky, as he is known around the rink, then stepped into the Los Angeles Kings lineup and skated off with the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 1987. His arrival in LA helped launch the long-suffering team’s rise to respectability, and his 45 goals would soon prove a merely average total by the standards he would set for himself. In 1992/93, as the Kings were marching to the Stanley Cup finals, Robitaille set the single-season record for goals by a left wing, with 63. But just a year later, the flashy forward found himself the scapegoat for a Kings team that failed even to make the playoffs, and was traded to Pittsburgh for Rick Tocchet.

If the July ‘94 trade fazed Robitaille, it didn’t show on the scoresheet. In the Lockout-shortened 1995 season, the perennial all-star notched 23 goals (second on the team) and added 19 assists while playing at a +10 rating. And in a touch of sweet revenge, his Penguins made the playoffs while LA missed the postseason for the second straight year. This season promises to be another great one for Robitaille, who shares some thoughts on his past and future career.

You were once considered the typical LA King. You were flashy, high-scoring, and played roller hockey at the beach. How have you adjusted to life in a more blue-collar town like Pittsburgh?

Well, I still play roller hockey, except I don’t play near the beach! But there are a few guys I play with. The practice rink that the Penguins just built has a roller rink. I’ve played there once and I’m going to go a lot more. It’s not like outdoors at the beach, but I’m still able to play. And I play with a few buddies of mine on the street down in front of my house.

The trade was the first of your career. How do you handle something like that?

It all depends on how it happens, I guess. I kind of knew it was coming, so we had time to get ready for it. My wife (Stacia) and I kept talking about it every day, but any time you change your whole lifestyle and you pick up and go from one place to another it’s always a big adjustment. And it was a big adjustment.

It was a little bit harder because we didn’t start playing (again) until January. I wish we could have started playing a lot earlier, but it was just one of those situations, with the Lockout. But all in all, when we got here people treated us so well, and it was such a good team, and somehow—I don’t know why—it seems like the fans in Pittsburgh have always treated me really well, even when I came here with the Kings. I remember in 1991, at the All-Star game, the people treated me really well.

There were some pointed words exchanged when you left LA. How’s the situation between you and the Kings now?

There is no situation between me and the Kings. I’m playing with Pittsburgh, and once you change teams there’s nothing left (behind you). I still have some friends (on the Kings) and I talk to them, but that’s about it. It’s the same as when I was with the Kings; I’d look at other teams and I couldn’t care less what happened to them. All I care about now is my team winning, and that’s what professional sports is all about. If you start caring about other teams, you might as well not be in this league.

You had surgery for a partially-fractured ankle in June of 1994. When did you get injured?

At the end of January I ran into the boards in a game against Anaheim. We were leading 5-1 as I recall, and I ran into the boards and missed the next game.

You came back immediately, though, and played more than half the season hurt. People don’t think of you as an “ironman,” but you are.

Yeah, I’ve only missed eight or 10 games in my career, and I think only three to injuries. There were a couple of suspensions, but we won’t talk about those!

Given that you sold out for the team and played hurt, do you resent being tagged as a “soft” player by Barry Melrose?

I think I said it when I left: I played hurt for the guy, I did everything he wanted me to do, and I think I got traded for other reasons. But that’s not even worth talking about to me. It’s in the past.

But no matter how you play, if you don’t miss a lot of games that means you’ve been playing hurt. I think I’ve been lucky enough that I haven’t had any major injuries in my career, but that one year I wish…well, I certainly wish it would have been worth it to play hurt that year.

It’s an unwritten rule that pros have to play with injuries. But what about kids and other recreational players who think that playing hurt is a badge of honor?

If you’re a recreational player, as soon as you have an injury you should take care of it right away, even if it’s a minor one. Because if you hurt or pull something on, say, one leg, you start pushing with the other one—and most of the time you’ll end up hurting yourself even more.

As professional athletes we do play with injuries, but there comes a time when even we have to say “enough is enough.” And there are times I wish I had done that, because you end up playing injured and your game goes down quite a bit, and people start questioning the way you’re playing. But most of the time when you play injured, nobody knows about it.

But if you’re playing recreational hockey—if you’re not getting paid, and you’re not scared of losing a job on your team—if you have an injury, it’s not worth taking any risks (on the ice). You’ve got to take care of the injury first.

Your goal scoring overshadows other aspects of your game. But your plus/minus rating has always been on the positive side of the ledger. What’s the key to playing good defense?

In order to be a good player—on offense or defense—you have to take time to read the game. A lot of people go out there and they play. But then they don’t watch what’s happening, for example, when they’re on the bench. Or they’ll watch what’s happening but won’t think about it.

If you’re on the bench, and you see a guy make a mistake—maybe he got caught on a bad angle or something—you can learn so much about the angles you should take on certain players or the way you should play certain guys. That’s what it’s about: the game is knowing what the other player is going to do. And if you can know what he’s going to do by watching him, you’ve got a big advantage when you play against him.

If you go out there the next time and play the right position on that guy, the right angles—because you’ve been studying—most of the time you’ll end up winning the battle one-on-one.

What can a recreational player take from this approach to apply his or her own game?

It’s all about keeping your head in the game. When you’re on the bench, try and concentrate on what’s going on out there, and I think you’ll learn a lot about positioning.

When people go to NHL games, they watch the puck, and they’re amazed what a player will do with it. But what they forget to do is watch guys behind the play—what they’re doing to get open. They need to ask “How is this guy always open?” Or “Why does it seem like this guy’s stopping everybody?” If people take the time to watch a little bit what’s going on behind the play, they’ll learn a lot about playing the right angles.

Let’s go back to 1984. Even though that was a very strong draft year (with Mario Lemieux, Kirk Muller, Gary Roberts, Kevin Hatcher, Jeff Brown and many other stars coming out), were you disappointed to go 171st overall?

Not at all. Even though from about the second round on I kept hoping the next team up would take me, when I heard my name I said to myself “Now I’ve got a chance.” That’s all I cared about. For sure if you get picked in the first round you’re happy, but I feel if you get drafted, or if you get invited by a team, that means you have a chance; somebody’s going to look at you. So you just do whatever you can after that.

It took me two (training) camps—the third camp, I made it—and (for) every camp I was in the top shape I could have been in. I was ready to go, and every year I believed I could have made the team. I didn’t—maybe because they didn’t look at me, or because they didn’t feel I was ready—but every time I went in with the idea of making the team, and made sure I was the one who worked the hardest. I’m not saying I was the best player, but I know one thing; I was the one who worked the hardest.

You’ve excelled at every level of the game. In each of your two “worst” NHL seasons (not including the Lockout) you scored 44 goals. How do you stay consistent and keep your performance level high?

Again, the main thing is hard work. You might go through slumps, have droughts—you might get benched, and the coach might be hard on you—but if you never give up, you always keep working hard and you believe in yourself—that’s really a key, believing in yourself—something good is almost always going to happen for you. Suddenly you’ll start getting a few breaks where the puck hits you in the head and goes in. Then people will say “Why are you so lucky?” And you’ll say “I’ve been there for the last two months and none have gone in. Haven’t you noticed?”

You’ve always been renowned for your great shot. Is that something that came naturally?

Funny enough, when I was in Junior I was never seen as a goal scorer—I was a playmaker. I learned to shoot my last year in Junior. My center, Guy Rouleau, scored 92 goals and he kind of taught me how to shoot. We’d work on it every day. “Let it go quick, let it go quick,” he’d say. But my last year in Junior I got like 125 assists—I scored 68 goals, but I had a lot more assists—and when I came to LA they wanted me to put the puck in the net. I had no problem with that, I just wanted to make the NHL. If they had asked me to play goalie, I would have! So I started practicing my shot even more and worked on getting open from then on.

That line in Junior hockey had a great impact on your career. Your center taught you to shoot. What about your right wing?

That was Pat Brisson—my agent.

How critical are good linemates to an individual player’s success?

As long as he’s got some hockey sense, is willing to make a good pass or go to the corner or the net, I’ve always felt that any player who’s willing to work hard—to give 100%—will give you a good line. If you play with a player who’s not working hard, it doesn’t matter how much talent he has, it’s not going to help you.

You’ve had some great linemates over the years. Tell us about them.

When I started I was lucky: I played with Marcel Dionne. For me, that was great because I grew up (in Montréal) knowing all about him. Then (the Kings) traded Marcel, and my second year they made a line of me and Jimmy Carson and Dave Taylor. Jimmy’s a great player—he can certainly score goals, he’s proved that—and Dave Taylor, nobody works as hard as him. I mean, he always had the talent. But to go in the corner, to go in front of the net—it’s an incredible thrill that I had the chance to play with him throughout the years. We used to joke that every time I needed a contract I’d go play with him, because he’d help me a lot! And he certainly has helped me a lot because he’s a great player, and he did a lot of the dirty work that people don’t see sometimes.

Then (after Carson was traded) I played with Bernie Nicholls. A lot of people put a knock on Bernie, but the year I played with him he scored 70 goals. He was incredible! He’s one of those players that, even if he doesn’t look fast, always has his head up and works really hard and really reads the game well. That was his biggest quality—the way he reads the game. And of all the centers I’ve had, he saw me on the ice like nobody else.

Last season you played with Ron Francis and Jaromir Jagr. This year you’ll probably add Mario Lemieux to your list of all-star centers. How does that sound?

That should really be fun. In the last four or five years Mario has been the most dominant player in the league, so him coming back is going to be a great thrill for the fans. But it’s going to be fun to have an opportunity to play with him. I’m looking forward to it, that’s for sure.

How do you feel about the trade that sent Kevin Stevens to Boston?

They said (last year) that they were going to make a lot of changes, and I think Kevin, in a way, wanted to go. We knew either him or I maybe would go because, as much as we liked each other, it was tough—we both wanted to play. So he maybe forced the trade to Boston a little bit, because that’s where he’s from, and the owner was great enough to help him get there. And for what Kevin’s done for this team, and what he’s accomplished here, he certainly deserves that. He’s going to get to finish his career in Boston, and he couldn’t be happier with that.

What about the Penguins? What do you need to contend for the 1996 Stanley Cup?

It’s no secret we need a couple of defensemen. We’ve let Larry Murphy and Kjell Samuelsson go, and now Ulf Samuelsson is a free agent with a right to match—so they’ll have to match. We’ve got a lot of good players up front—Mario, Francis, Jagr—and we’ve got two great goaltenders, but we definitely need at least two defensemen who can take a lot of pressure off our younger defensemen.

Not only do you play the game you love, you’re also trying to sell it. Tell us about your chain of rinks, Iceoplex and Rollerplex.

Well, we manage the new one in Pittsburgh, but we don’t own it. We’ve got the one in North Hills (in Los Angeles) and one in Fremont (CA), and we’re building rinks in Fresno (CA), Tucson (AZ) and Dallas (TX). And we try and run it better than just a rink. That’s the mistake most people make; they try and run a rink like a rink. We try and run it like an entertainment center where people can come and have fun while they learn the game.

This (business) is what I know—I grew up playing hockey and I’ve seen all the worst rinks and I’ve seen some nice ones. And we try to be the best—a place where people will have fun and will want to learn hockey and get out there on the ice. It’s a great game, and if you go out there and have fun, you’re going to want to play again. That’s what it’s all about.

This first appeared in the 10/1995 issue of Hockey Player Magazine®
© Copyright 1991-2001 Hockey Player® and Hockey Player Magazine®