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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Accidentally On Purpose by Louise Waronek

June 1, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

A revealing look at the issues and controversies of grassroots level hockey, including everything from children developing life skills to the thrill of playing for the love of the game to high financial obligations, the dangers of hazing rituals, “crazy” hockey parents, and the sometimes too-strong desire for kids to play in the NHL.

It features one Saskatchewan hockey family’s experience, and the growth that the father undergoes as he learns from his mistakes from being a too-involved hockey parent to understanding that hockey is a game that should be enjoyed not pursued as a career by pre-teen children, a message that parents of all athletes can understand.

This fictional account is an interesting take on minor hockey and minor sports in general. Every parent is guilty, to some degree, of taking their child’s athletics too seriously. Some are involved way too much, others lapse in the heat of a big play. So most adults will likely find a little of themselves in this book. Hopefully just enough to remind them of what really is important in kids sports – that the kids are having fun, not that they make it to the big leagues.

Here is an in-depth interview with author Louise Waronek courtesy “Down From The Peak.”

To purchase your copy of Accidentally on Purpose, contact Louise Waronek by phone at (306) 584-9706 or by email at [email protected].

H is for Hockey: A NHL Alumni Alphabet

June 1, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

“Where was the first organized indoor hockey game played? When did the tradition of engraving winners’ names on the Stanley Cup start? Which six brothers collectively played in more than 5,000 NHL games? Answers to these questions and many more can be found in H Is for Hockey: A NHL Alumni Alphabet.

Formed in 1999, the National Hockey League Alumni Association is affectionately known as “Hockey’s Greatest Family” for good reason. Members of the NHL Alumni are considered hockey ambassadors, supporting the game and its history through many charitable causes and programs.

Written by one of the game’s foremost historians in Kevin Shea, this book pays tribute to them and the sport they love. Adding a personal touch are the memorable quotes sprinkled throughout the text. When 17-year-old Sidney Crosby was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005, he said, “This is amazing. It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifices. It’s unbelievable!””

Buy The Book: Amazon.caChaptersAmazon.com

Drills to Train for Shooting Accuracy

June 1, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

Post image for Drills to Train for Shooting Accuracy

Practicing your shot can get a bit old if you are shooting on a regular basis, so I made a video showing a few drills that will make shooting a bit more fun. These drills are meant to test your accuracy, and also give you a goal to try to beat. I have embedded the video below, and underneath the video I have summed up the drills and also have a link to a shot log that you can download and use.

Drills to Improve your Shooting Accuracy

Download – Download the shot log sheet to keep track of your best times and best accuracy for each day

Video Summary

  • Around the World Drill ( perfect)
    • The goal of this drill is to hit all four targets in four shots. If you miss one you need to start over until you go 4 for 4
  • Around the World
    • With this drill you see how many shots it takes you to hit all for targets, say it takes you 7 shots. Now that is your milestone and you goal is to hit all 4 targets in less shots.
  • Around the World (multiple)
    • With this drill you can hit each target 3 times, or 4, times or 5 times etc, or go “around the world” multiple times. See how many shots it hit all four targets 5 times, or see if you can go 8 for 8, or 12 for 12!
  • Time Trial
    • With the time trial you time how long it takes you to hit all four targets, then try to beat your time. You can use a time trial for any accuracy drill
  • Rocket Drill
    • Pick a target and try to hit it 10 times, shooting as HARD as you can

Improve your Shooting Accuracy

Here are some old videos I did with tips to improve your Shooting Accuracy
Shooting for the top corners

Tips for shooting low

Improve your slapshot accuracy

You can read more about improving your accuracy in my article on how to improve accuracy in hockey or how to improve slapshot accuracy

If you want an Ez Goal check out my EZ goal review

Bernie Parent: Unmasked

May 31, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

Philadelphia fans will definitely be interested in Unmasked: Bernie Parent and the Broad Street Bullies

Buy The Book: Amazon.caChaptersAmazon.com

In a city known as home to some of the sporting world’s biggest stars, few have ever shined as brightly as the Philadelphia Flyers’ Bernie Parent, and this autobiography shares how he became one of the most sensational goalies in NHL history.

The catchphrase “Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent” became ubiquitous in Philadelphia as Parent won two Vezina Trophies as the league’s top goaltender, two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP, and two Stanley Cup championships, but this work shows how his on-the-ice exploits were only a part of his amazing story.

After suffering a career-ending eye injury in 1979, Parent’s life took a turn for the worse, a time during which he battled alcoholism and watched his marriage end in divorce. In the end, however, facing the fears that had plagued him all his life led Parent to find solace and happiness once again.

In Unmasked, Parent traces his life and career from his days as a youngster learning to skate to his current role as a Flyers ambassador and public speaker.

Featuring rare photos from his personal archive and accompanying text from legendary Philadelphia sports columnist Stan Hochman, this life story gives Parent’s millions of fans a never-before-seen glimpse into the life of a hockey icon.

Hockey Hall of Fame: Book of Jerseys

May 31, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys is a celebration of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s collection of the best jerseys and sweaters worn by the premier players of the game.


Buy The Book: Amazon.caChaptersAmazon.com


The brand-new, never-before-seen photographs of each jersey are paired with in-game action images and player profiles detailing the significance of the jersey and the impact of the player on the league.

The selection of near 100 jerseys from star players ranges from the rare and seldom seen, like Hall of Famer Rod Langway’s high school championship jersey, to the most famous of garments, like Wayne Gretzky’s last-ever jersey.

Hockey fans will be thrilled with this collection and will enjoy the crests, patches, logos, colors, and designs — not to mention the game-worn wear-and-tear — of hockey’s most distinguishing feature. As an addition to the jerseys of hockey’s superstars, readers will be treated to a selection of some of the most unique and rare jerseys from around the hockey world, like Harbin China’s Heilongjiang Provincial Sport School jerseys, or the 1936–37 Cleveland Falcons sweater from the inaugural IAHL (now AHL) season.

A few of the players and jerseys featured are:
  • Ray Bourque: 2001 Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup
  • Mario Lemieux: 1987 Canada Cup
  • Frank Nighbor: 1921 Ottawa Senators Stanley Cup
  • Mark Messier: 1990 Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup
  • Valeri Kharlamov: 1980s CSKA Red Army
  • Doug Gilmour: 1993 Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Busher Jackson: 1940 New York Americans
  • Clint Benedict: 1931 Windsor Bulldogs
  • Bobby Hull: 1969 Chicago Black Hawks.
Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Jerseys is a fantastic examination of hockey’s most enduing symbol and is the only book on the subject.

Coach: The Pat Burns Story

May 31, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

Pat Burns was one of the great NHL coaches. He worked with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils, and seemed always to enjoy instant success. He capped his extraordinary career by coaching the New Jersey Devils to a Stanley Cup victory in 2003. Cancer–his third bout–finally claimed him in 2010, aged 58.

Rosie DiManno, who knew Burns well, has written a revealing, exhilarating and heartfelt account of his life: his childhood as a fatherless, solitary male surrounded by many women, his years as a police officer, his glorious coaching career and his long and characteristically valiant ending.

Coach: The Pat Burns Story is both the first major biography of Burns and one that, with its revelations, personal insights and riveting prose, is–like the man himself–sure to be both controversial and hard to beat. Rosie DiManno knew, liked and admired Burns, and in the writing of this book has interviewed many, many people from every stage of his life. She is not blind to his less endearing qualities, but seeks to explain them.

DiManno reveals a man of contradictions–gruff and crude, bullying and sentimental, and easily wounded. She shows, moreover, a man of hockey. The Burns who rode motorcycles, dressed like a cowboy, and sweet-talked the ladies was, says DiManno, a self-creation. His one indisputable, true talent was for coaching hockey. He was a pure coach.

DiManno tells a compelling story and helps us to understand a complex man, one who gave little of himself to the public and yet whose funeral was a spectacle. How did that happen? Who was Pat Burns? Rosie DiManno, who witnessed much of the story, has the answers.

Buy The Book – Amazon.caChaptersAmazon.com

Wearing The C by Ross Bernstein

May 31, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

Wearing the “C” insignia on the uniform-a badge of honor reserved for team captains-is professional hockey’s highest honor, and this study discusses how many of the NHL’s all-time greatest players were captains.

The exciting new book – Wearing the “C”: Leadership Secrets from Hockey’s Greatest Captains – an entertaining and enlightening blend of hockey stories and leadership lessons-reveals the secrets of hockey’s greatest captains by asking questions such as:

  • What does it take to lead a team to championship? 
  • What are the keys to overcoming unexpected adversity? 
  • How does a captain manage strong egos from diverse backgrounds into a unified, focused team? 

To get the inside story, author Ross Bernstein interviewed more than 100 of the all-time greatest captains, assistant captains, and head coaches, including Wayne Gretzky, Scotty Bowman, Phil Esposito, and Joe Sakic.

An ideal book for any hockey fan, this work recounts some of the greatest moments in NHL history.

Buy The Book – Amazon.caChaptersAmazon.com

J.R. Jeremy Roenick’s Autobiography

May 31, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

Jeremy Roenick, one of the premier hockey players of his generation and one of the greatest American stars the NHL has ever known, shares his life story in this frank and unflinching autobiography – J.R.

 Buy The Book – Amazon.ca – Chapters – Amazon.com

After making his debut as an 18-year-old with the Chicago Blackhawks, Roenick thrilled fans with his flashy style, take-no-prisoners approach, and jaw-dropping skills. A native of Boston, Roenick went on to play for four more franchises—including the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings—during his incredible 18-season career. By the time he was through, Roenick had racked up 513 goals—the second most of any American-born player—and 703 assists.

Now a tells-it-like-it-is commentator for NBC and the NHL, Roenick takes readers on a behind-the-scenes, warts-and-all tour through his illustrious career, both on and off the ice. Written with Kevin Allen.

Buy The Book – Amazon.caChaptersAmazon.com

Finding "Good Rink" – The key to scoring goals

May 29, 2012 Hockey Blogs No Comments

I often talk to my players about finding ‘Good Rink’.  I’m not talking about find a good place to play or a rink with a good surface.  I’m talking about those areas on the rink where you know pucks are going to end up or a rebound that the goalie kicks out.  This was something that I understood early on as a player and have always stressed to my players.

I grew up watching the Penguins of the 90’s and one play always stood out as one of my favorites of all time.  Game 1 against Chicago.  The game winner that Mario Lemieux scored.  Watch it here…

He scores this goal because he is a smart player.  He played this play through in his head before it ever happened (like good players do).  He knew exactly what was going to happen and found ‘Good Rink’ in order to bury the puck for the game winner.

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to take my players on a behind the scenes tour of the new Console Energy Center in Pittsburgh.  This video plays on one of the many screens downstairs and as my players were watching, one of them yelled ‘Coach, he found good rink!’  It was a proud coaching moment to see the players were actually getting it.

Plays like this define players and moments in the game.  Teach your kids to find ‘Good Rink’.