GearGeek – NHL Equipment Database

GearGeek is the world’s first online NHL equipment database.See what every active NHL player is using on the ice right now – sticks, gloves, pants, skates and helmets. You can sort by brands, teams, positions, stat leaders and more.GearGeek is free to …

4 Corners – D vs. O

Drill:1. Place O in each corner with a puck2. D starts in front of net and skates toward one of the O3. When he stops and transitions, the O drives the net and they play 1 on 1 until a score, puck freeze or D clears the puck4. D then picks another O an…

What evaluators look for during try-outs

I’ve been asked a lot over the years what I look for in a player during evaluations.  After watching my son during various AA & AAA Ice try-outs, I’ve been thinking more about this topic and wanted to share a bit of what I look for and some ot…

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Behind the Net Forechecking Drill

August 20, 2013 Drills, Hockey Blogs No Comments

This is a nice drill to help your defensemen develop good habits against a hard forecheck. The defenseman must shoulder check when he is skating to make sure he knows where the forecheck is coming from and which side of the net to exit to make the pass. Try to make sure the defenseman skates to about the hash marks before making the outlet pass so they get used to coming around the net with the puck. Also make sure you work on having them stay close to the post so the forechecker can’t squeeze in between them and the post.

Behind The Net Forecheck 2 on 1

 

 

 

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Hockey Dad Plays Field Hockey Daughter in Annual Parent Game

August 16, 2013 Coaches, General 2 Comments

To understand a sport you need to play it, even if it’s against your own kid.

I watch her play, rain or shine.  I want to know how good she and her teammates are, and I’m curious as to how I match up.  Kate is unaware that I secretly practice.  The annual parent—daughter field hockey game is an unusual way to bond, but family bragging rights are at stake.

My wife and I are field hockey parents and carry on my family’s hockey tradition.  We chauffeur kids who cannot drive, lug gear, pace the sideline, and occasionally work the snack bar.  Five year olds with pigtails receive discounts if they’re short on change.  Teenage boys wearing pants below the butt don’t.  My folks, former ice hockey parents, did the same things years ago except they chaperoned boys and skates instead of girls and cleats.

Field hockey parents coordinate family schedules, pre-plan driving routes, and haul life preserving sustenance such as food, water, and Gatorade®.  We listen to One Direction, Adele, and Maroon 5.   We overhear scuttlebutt about fashion, homework, and relationships.  The girls actually communicate without Facebook.

The game is dynamic and fast.  Players change directions on the fly, pursue the ball, and hope to establish control.  Field hockey is similar to ice hockey, the sport my brother Kirk and I played, except it has eleven players instead of six, turf instead of ice, a ball instead of a puck, and players wear skirts instead of pants.  Otherwise they are exactly the same.  Kirk and I loved checking opponents.  High school girls typically don’t have this killer instinct.  Kate is tough, but too nice.  Politeness works when passing dessert but not when passing a field hockey ball.

Before the season started I bought Kate a stick, cleats, shin guards, eyewear, and a mouth guard.  She also needed black spandex to wear beneath the skirt.  Where do dads find spandex underwear?  I haven’t worn spandex since that one college party.

The spandex quest reminded me of my dad’s creativity before Kirk’s first hockey game.  My brother was six.  His coach inspected the players for cups, a plastic guard that protects the privates, even miniature sets.  Dad ran to the car, found a can of WD-40®, removed the plastic cap, and returned.  He wadded toilet paper inside the cap and shoved it in Kirk’s underwear, ingenious.

I overcame the spandex hunt and watched Kate’s team.  They muffed passes and ran a step behind their competition.  How hard is it to pass?  Just hit the ball.  I debriefed with Kate after one game while her teammates listened.  They issued a challenge.

“Coach Deanna scheduled us to play the parents.  See what it’s really like.”

I couldn’t ignore a provocation from the mouths of babes.  “You’re on.  I’ll score up to 12 goals.”

Game day came and the parents met with Coach Deanna for a pre-game speech.  Several of us had just arrived from work.  One dad wore jeans.  We’d play two 10 minute halves.  She encouraged us to pass the ball downfield and shoot at the goal.  She also warned the girls not to hack their parents.  “We need them at next week’s fundraiser.”

The parent team included 40-year-old-ish moms and dads.  I duct-taped my love handles and strapped on knee braces. The moms cinched their sweatpants.  After a minute of play we encountered problems.  We couldn’t direct the ball, assuming we even hit it.  We whiffed like beginner golfers and potholed more turf than backhoe operators.  I assumed that my ice hockey experience gave me an advantage but I overlooked one critical rule: in field hockey players only shoot right-handed.  I’m a leftie.

We huffed across the field, north and south, east and west, hunched over our sticks.  Seven minutes later we begged for half-time.  The girls hadn’t broken a sweat. The game was scoreless but the parents needed a break.  And an oxygen bar with a masseuse.

The second half resumed with a refreshed parent team.  We scrambled, whiffed, and tripped.  Thus far we were outshot 97 to 3.  Our 0-0 tie lasted until a sophomore scored in the final seconds.

I kept my promise of scoring up to 12 goals.  I scored none.  Unfortunately today, the older I get, the better I was.  One of Kate’s teammates soothed my ego while I unpeeled duct-tape.

“Hey, Kate’s dad… you did okay.”

Team sports mature the soul and teach critical life skills, like discernment.  I’m relieved Kate discerned not to use her killer instinct on me.  I would have otherwise made her walk home.

Hockey, whether played on a field or rink, is a great game.  It doesn’t matter that Kate can’t skate or whether I can shoot right.  What matters is that I’m spending quality time with my kid.

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Eric Miller is a field hockey dad and old-guy hockey player who skates with the Hamilton City Hockey Club near Chico, CA.  Read more of his articles at www.etcguy.com.  Or send him a note at [email protected]

IHD Newsletter – August 2013

August 16, 2013 Hockey Blogs No Comments

This month’s newsletter has been sent.  You can read the August 2013 Newsletter here.

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Past Newsletters

IHD Newsletter – August 2013

August 16, 2013 Hockey Blogs No Comments

This month’s newsletter has been sent.  You can read the August 2013 Newsletter here.

Related articles:
Newsletter sign-up
Past Newsletters

2 on 1 – Full Rink

Drill:

  1. 2 Forwards start at each blue line
  2. 1 D starts on the goal line at the wall
  3. Place a puck behind the net
  4. On the whistle, the 2 forwards skate down toward the circles and curl up the rink looking back
  5. The D retrieves the puck and hits one of the 2 F with a breakout pass
  6. The F skate up their side of the ice trying to score on a 2 -1 
  7. The D skates hard to the Blue line (on the opposite side of the rink) and then gets in good D position to defend the 2 F coming up ice
Focus:
  1. F need to focus on first helping out the D and setting up in a ‘break-out’ mode
  2. F should also  work on good passing and puck movement to score
  3. F should read the play and know when to shoot or pass in the Offensive zone
  4. D should focus on a good outlet pass to start the play
  5. D hustles to get in a good Defensive position
  6. D should work on gap control
  7. D should also work on closing the lane and allowing the Goalie to take the shooter 
Notes:

Goalies can be used in this as well.  Allow them to come behind the net and move the puck.

Related Drills:
2 on 1 defensive gap control 
2 on 1 pass to d half rink 

2 on 1 – Full Rink

Drill:

  1. 2 Forwards start at each blue line
  2. 1 D starts on the goal line at the wall
  3. Place a puck behind the net
  4. On the whistle, the 2 forwards skate down toward the circles and curl up the rink looking back
  5. The D retrieves the puck and hits one of the 2 F with a breakout pass
  6. The F skate up their side of the ice trying to score on a 2 -1 
  7. The D skates hard to the Blue line (on the opposite side of the rink) and then gets in good D position to defend the 2 F coming up ice
Focus:
  1. F need to focus on first helping out the D and setting up in a ‘break-out’ mode
  2. F should also  work on good passing and puck movement to score
  3. F should read the play and know when to shoot or pass in the Offensive zone
  4. D should focus on a good outlet pass to start the play
  5. D hustles to get in a good Defensive position
  6. D should work on gap control
  7. D should also work on closing the lane and allowing the Goalie to take the shooter 
Notes:

Goalies can be used in this as well.  Allow them to come behind the net and move the puck.

Related Drills:
2 on 1 defensive gap control 
2 on 1 pass to d half rink 

A Day with Tony Horacek at Midget National Camp

August 11, 2013 Drills, Hockey Blogs No Comments

I posted about this before but just in case you don’t remember, my organization has former NHL player Tony Horacek coaching our 16 National program. Tony invited me out to skate with his team yesterday to help with day 2 of his summer camp. I took the opportunity with excitement because I really like watching how other coaches do things and with my summer camp starting next Friday I figured it would give me some ideas on things to add to my program. I’ve watched Tony run practice in the past and admired how up-tempo the skates are and how he handles the team. I wish I could have attended all three days of his camp but with mine coming up next weekend I didn’t have the free time this week to commit. Here is a breakdown of his day 2 camp schedule.

The players started with some basic stretching and skating exercises up and down the ice just to get everyone ready to go at an up-tempo.

We then switched to some simple passing drills, but even though the drill is simple it reinforces the basic skills that all players need to be fundamentally sound on.

Three Short Ice Passing/Skating Drills

Next up were a few simple Neutral Zone passing drills all run at high tempo. Again these are simple drills that we have all run at times but the emphasis was on making and receiving good passes while skating hard. All shots were to be taken from the top of the circles.

3 Neutral Zone Passing Drills

The team then transitioned into a continuous 2 on 0 drill that emphasized the importance of backside support and coming underneath for a pass while the player without the puck skates hard to the front of the net for rebounds.

Continuous 2 on 0

Next up were two drills that worked on gap control for the defensemen. The first drill also emphasized that the forwards have to bust down the outside lane to get around the defense.

1 on 1 Full Ice

2 on 1 Full Ice

The next drill worked on breakouts and using different options off the breakout and finishing up with screen shots from the points. The drill runs from both ends of the ice and has everyone moving. (I have to admit that I did to Tony what I hate my players doing to me…….I skated away from the board before he was done describing the drill because I thought I knew what he wanted and because of that I screwed up the first two or three rotations…….UGH!!!!)

5 on 0 BO with Screen/Deflection Drill

Last up was a conditioning drill that worked on some small area 2 on 0 as well. I can tell you that at the end of this drill all the players were exhausted.

2 on 2 with Backcheck

The session ended with all the players stretching around the center circle and then off to the gym for an hour of core work.  I really had a great time skating with Tony and his team and I appreciate that he offered me the opportunity. As I said, I wish I could have done more so I would have more to pass along to all of you but above is a good practice plan that any of you can run with your teams. Tony did spend some time during the skate working on some defensive scheme concepts which I didn’t include but I think the above is a good practice with lots of hard skating.

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1 on 1 Battles – Backchecking & Beat your Man

August 7, 2013 Defense, Hockey Blogs No Comments
Drill:
This drill runs 2 separate drills on each half of the rink.
Left side is a 1 on 1 battle (defense strong)

  1. Defense starts at the Blue line and Offense starts about 5 steps inside the blueline
  2. On whistle, O is using speed and body position to beat the D
  3. D skates backwards and tries to contain making sure to push outside and turn forward at the correct time.
Focus:
  1. D must focus on Good body position
  2. Forcing the O to the wall
  3. Making a good transition at the correct time
  4. O should focus on using speed to beat the D
  5. O should also control the speed of the play

Right side is a 1 on 1 battle (offense strong)

  1. Offense starts at the Blue line and Defense starts about 5 steps inside the blueline
  2. On whistle, O is using speed and body position to beat the D
  3. D must backcheck and try to chase down the forward with the puck.

Focus:
  1. O should focus on speed with the puck so as not to get caught from behind
  2. D needs to backcheck hard and get to the stick side of the O so he can ‘pop’ the stick and gain control of the play
Notes:
Goalies typically will get more work on the O strong side.

Related Drills:
Half-rink Backcheck
Breakaway to 2 on 1 drill

Inline / Rollerblading Drills for Hockey Players

August 4, 2013 Hockey Blogs No Comments

rollerblading drills for hockey players

A big complaint among hockey players in the more remote areas is that there is no place to skate over the summer months. This was certainly a problem for me growing up. I grew up in a small farm town and every arena within 100 kilometers took the ice out from March – September. So what does a die-hard hockey fanatic do when there is no ice?… Rollerblades!

The only problem with rollerblades is the slight difference from ice skates. The movements are not quite the same – the biggest differences being in stopping and turning – and it is possible to develop bad skating habits if you are rollerblading.

Do I recommend rollerblading to hockey players?

Absolutely, especially for the less experienced skaters. Yes you could develop a few bad habits, but if you’re having trouble with skating on ice I believe rollerblading will help you develop a better feel for being on skates.

bure-rollerblading

How rollerblading helps ice hockey players

  • Improves balance
  • Improves single leg control and agility
  • Help players develop a better sense of movement (more confidence on skates)
  • Can help develop leg power (and better control and balance usually results in more power)

How rollerblading may hurt ice hockey players

  • Rollerblades don’t have edges like hockey skates do
  • Rollerblades do not slide during stopping and turning like hockey skates do
  • It is easy to stand too straight on blades and not get a good full stride, rollerblading for long distances might shorten a hockey players stride

(pictured to the right is my favourite player growing up in rollerblades, although it’s probably one of the cheesiest hockey cards of all time)

Rollerblade drills to help hockey players

Below is a video with 3 skating drills you can do on roller blades that will help you with your skating on the ice.

Covered in this video

  • Inside edges 
    • You will learn an exercise that will work on your agility, balance, single leg power, and help you become more comfortable on your skates
  • Transitions from forwards to backwards and backwards to forwards
    • You will learn the foot work involved in transitions. I teach you how to transition without losing speed
  • Leg Power
    • The last exercise will help generate leg power and it is a good workout on and off the ice. I got the last exercise from Jim Vitale from Vital Hockey while helping out at his hockey camp.

Good places to find Deals on Inline Skates

Looking for a good pair of inline skates? – Check out this page on Amazon or Hockey Monkey’s Inline skate page

If you enjoyed this drill and would like more tips on improving your hockey skills you can subscribe to our email newsletter and join us on Facebook. 

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St. Norbert’s 1×1 Warm-up Drill

August 3, 2013 Drills, Hockey Blogs No Comments

Here’s another drill from the coaches at St. Norbert’s. This drill can be used at any time during a practice session but I like it as an early practice warm-up type of drill. Give it a try.

1on1 – 3 Passes

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