Michigan Hockey michiganhockeyonline.com V.21:I.4 | September 20, 2010 FIRST CLASS
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LCAHL Fall Face-Off Meeting Sunday, September 26, 2010 MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit Parking at this location is free for LCAHL teams
This is not a scheduling meeting. This meeting is designed to allow teams to complete their registration process, obtain league materials, network with league representatives, other teams and vendors, and to present our team management with educational opportunities. It promises to be a full day and it is important to have the number in attendance correct to insure we have sufficient league materials and enough space to accommodate everyone. If you need to change your team’s status as to attendance, please let LCAHL know in advance so we can make adjustments.
PRESENTATIONS USA Hockey ADM Overview and Q&A presented by Bob Mancini “Sports Injuries and what you can do to prevent them” presented by the Detroit Medical Center “What’s new in Pointstreak” introducing some exciting new features that are available to all LCAHL teams this season “New Manager Training and Orientation” session designed to help new and, even, experienced managers get ‘up-to-speed’ for the season There will be a House Summit meeting led by Gordon Lietz and Liz Koons and open to Association representatives to discuss ways to enhance our House Program. Association representatives interested in participating in this ‘Summit’ please RSVP to PW B Director Liz Koons at (734) 626-6133 Attendees will be entered in drawings to win Red Wings tickets and other prizes such as USA Hockey gear and First Aid Kits that have been donated by our vendors. Vendors will be available onsite to discuss fundraising ideas, information and other products of interest to teams. We will have a team networking area where teams can gather with other teams in their age classification to set up scrimmages or just tell war stories.
TEAMS WILL MEET AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES:
10 AM All House Teams 12 PM Girls Travel, Midget A, AA, Bantam A, AA, Pee Wee AA 2 PM Pee Wee A, Squirt A, AA, Mite A, AA Thanks for choosing LCAHL! We are looking forward to a great season!
Table of Contents September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4 AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT
Red Wings help at Kris Draper Hockey School
MH BEAT
Russian Lokomotiv wraps up Michigan tour Michigan Tech visits makes European hockey trip
6
8-9 10
GET BETTER
Executing offensively
STATE OF THE GAME
By Lyle Phair I’m only a kid
HOMETOWN HERO
13
REEBOK TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
14
PARENT’S GUIDE
JUNIOR HOCKEY
Whalers and Spirit get ready for start of season Central States Hockey League preview
PRO PREVIEW
Pro Preview Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk expect a big season in Detroit; Grand Rapids ready to rebound and Kalamazoo could be even better.
Grand Rapids Griffins expect to rebound Kalamazoo Wings ready to defend North Division title NHL Preview: Detroit is at the top of Western Conference
RED WINGS AND NHL INSIDERS
Dave Waddell: Red Wings are deep and talented Kevin Allen: Chris Chelios is Godfather of American hockey
COMING IN OUR NEXT ISSUE
ARENA GUIDE
4
Our annual Arena Guide will take a look at some of some recent renovations at rinks across the state. We’ll also preview Michigan teams at the Midget AAA level and more
PAGE 19-22
PAGE 26
PAGES 27-29
Parent’s Guide Having a good season, feeding your player, dates to remember and more
Junior Hockey Whalers and Spirit gear up for new season
Pro Preview Griffins, K-Wings and NHL start soon
Michigan Hockey
MichiganHockeyOnline.com
12
Troy’s Sean Collins
Having a good season Training Table: Feeding your player well Fundraising gets creative Be Our Guest: Dr. Michael Czarnota on concussions Be Our Guest: Mitch Zorn on Being a good goalie parent Season Calendar: MAHA dates to remember
PAGES 27-29
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Look for it on arena stands, on michiganhockeyonline.com and in your e-mail In Box on October 1. Advertising copy for the next issue of MH is due on September 22. Contact Lucia Zuzga at (248) 479-1134 or lucia@ michiganhockeyonline.com or Philip Colvin at (248) 479-1136 or phil@michiganhockeyonline.com for more information.
19 20 21 21 22 22
24 26
27 27 29
28 30
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
Editor-in-Chief Philip D. Colvin
phil@michiganhockeyonline.com
Advertising Lucia Zuzga
From the Editor
FROM THE EDITOR
ONLY ON THE WEB
lucia@michiganhockeyonline.com
A Goodwill Tour
Database Manager Josh Curmi
jcurmi@michiganhockeyonline.com
Design Chuck Stevens Contributing Editor Kevin Allen Rob Murphy Distribution Lucia Zuzga
EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob DeSpirt, Christine Szarek, Derek Blair, James Jenkins, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda Holland Lisa Zarzycki, Mark Vansaw, Nyron Fauconier, Randy Paquette Rob Mattina, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer's full home address and day and evening telephone numbers. MICHIGAN HOCKEY is published by SUBURBAN SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN HOCKEY®, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 483352829. ©2010 by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN HOCKEY or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.
MICHIGAN HOCKEY 23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200 Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829 (248) 478-2500 • FAX: (248) 478-1601 EMAIL: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com WEBSITE: www.michiganhockeyonline.com
Cover: Red Wings’ Henrik Zetterberg by Tom Turrill/ Michigan Hockey Photos page 4 (from top, L to R): Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk by Dave Reginek/DRW; Parent’s by Philip Colvin/Michigan Hockey; Saginaw Spirit celebration by Aaron Bell/OHL Images and the winning entry of the Grand Rapids Griffins jersey design contest by Ryan Muraro.
Cover reprints available email: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com
Michiganhockeyonline.com
Administrative Director Amy Jones
More Parent’s Guide Fitting your equipment
While watching a few of the games on the Saint Petersburg, Russia Lokomotiv’s tour of Michigan (page 8-9), I was struck by how well hockey brought together 12-year old boys from two very different places 4,500 miles apart. On the ice before the games the players smiled nervously and some even tentatively shook hands after exchanging gifts. The games were on the whole competitive, wide-open and exciting to watch. And while the players seemed to enjoy the on-ice action, they had even more fun off of it. The Michigan teams played host to the Russian kids, and despite the language barrier, the players bonded over the universal language of hot dogs, pizza, ice cream, Oreo cookies and juice boxes. The host families took the Russian players swimming, bowling, fishing and to the gokart track for racing, miniature golf and laser tag. And some just let the kids hang out at home playing video games and Nerf Guns. One parent who hosted two Russian players for a night told me that their Nerf Guns got more use in the 24 hours the Russians were there than they had “in the last year.” This was the second time that Lokomotiv has visited Michigan and as one parent told me, “everyone enjoyed having them in our homes. It was a great experience for the kids and for us.” Our Parent’s Guide that starts on page 19 has tips for a great season, how to feed your player well, a concussion reminder and how fundraising is getting creative. In addition, check out more fundraising ideas, how to fit your player’s equipment and our 150-term hockey glossary in our “Only on the Web” at michiganhockeyonline.com. Our Pro Preview starts on page 27 with looks at the Grand Rapids Griffins, Kalamazoo Wings, Detroit Red Wings and the NHL. If you have any ideas for future stories, things you liked (or didn’t like) in Michigan Hockey or just want to talk hockey, send me an e-mail (phil@michiganhockeyonline.com) or give me call (248-479-1136) anytime. Have a great season,
More Fundraising ideas Glossary of hockey terms
More Pro and Junior Previews The rest of the NHL’s Western and Eastern Conferences AAHL GLJHL Alpena Thunder Soo Eagles
MichiganHockeyOnline.com
Michigan Hockey
5
Email us articles and photos at MH@michiganonline.com
SEND MICHIGAN HOCKEY YOUR NEWS!
Amateur Hockey Report
6
Michigan Hockey
FUN MEALS for
Hockey Moms
submitted by Hockey Moms Submit your recipe & photo to: lucia@michiganhockeyonline.com
CHEESY GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN WRAPS Red Red Wings’ Wings’ Kris Kris Draper Draper hosts hosts camp camp at at CORE CORE Sports Sports As the Detroit Red Wings prepared for the upcoming season, several players took time out of their busy schedule to skate with some local youth players at the annual Kris Draper Hockey School at the end of August at the Troy Sports Center. And who better to train you than Draper, a 12-year veteran of the Red Wings and co-owner of CORE Sports Fitness inside the Troy Sports Center, and the staff at CORE Sports? Over ninety players, aged 6 to 16, trained each day at CORE Sports Fitness with professional trainers and on the ice with Draper, former NHL player Matt Elich and their team of instructors. The school’s instruction focused on four major skills: skating, puck handling, passing and shooting. Utilizing CORE’s state-of-the-art facilities, the staff also put campers through off-ice training techniques that could be utilized throughout the season. Several Red Wings stopped in over the four day school to skate with the players, sign autographs and hang out at CORE. After racing around cones and skating on the BLADE hockey
treadmill, the campers were treated to some time with Red Wings Draper and Chris Osgood (top), Dan Cleary, Nick Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty and Kirk Maltby.
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MH Beat
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
Russian ’98 Lokomotiv wrap COME SKATE IT’S GREAT
October 28 to December 20 Classes offered for ages 3 through Adult
LEARN TO PLAY HOCKEY PROGRAM The 1998 Lokomotiv team (above) from St. Petersburg, Russia traveled to Michigan in late August and early September to play 17 games in 15 days against teams from across the state, including the Lansing Capitals, Grand Rapids Griffins, Holland Ice Dogs, Kalamazoo K-Wings, Jackson Generals, Plymouth Stingrays, Suburban Stars, Sun County Panthers (Canada), Lambton Sting (Canada), Novi Ice Cats, Birmingham Rangers, Allen Park Huskies, Victory Honda, Belle Tire, Compuware and the Kensington Valley Rebels.
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The Lokomotiv started their trip on the west side of the state with games in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Holland and Kalamazoo. The Lansing Capitals hung out with the Russian team after losing 3-2 on August 21 and traveled to Jackson a few days later to watch Lokomotiv play the Generals. The Kalamazoo Wings lost 5-2 to the disciplined, well-conditioned Lokomotiv on August 24. As happened regularly on the tour, the two teams exchanged gifts before the game and had a pizza party after. During their stay with the K-Wings’ families the Russian players’ favorite foods were Oreo cookies, juice boxes, and hot dogs and the two teams went bowling, played laser tag, video games, and miniature golf the following day. In the Russians third-to-last game in Michigan, Belle Tire (above) ‘98s beat Lokomotiv, 6-3, on Sept. 2 in a fast-paced up and down game with lots of scoring chances.
MichiganHockeyOnline.com
MH Beat
pss up tour of Michigan 52999 Dequindre Rd. Rochester MI 48307
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Hockey Clinic Thursday, Sept 30th, 6:15pm
Boys and Girls ages 4-13
The Plymouth Stingrays shut out Lokomotiv 5-0 on Aug. 26, but the real fun came after the game. The Stingrays and their parents billeted the Russian players and went swimming, played video games and mini-sticks. Plymouth’s Alec Allen (left) and Riley Brass (right) flank Russians Nikolya Solovyev and Kirill Vilenskiy before a game of Nerf Guns. The Stingrays and Lokomotiv toured Michigan’s Yost Arena and had a BBQ at Heritage Park. (center photo on page 8) Before heading to Novi where they lost to the Wildcats, Lambton and Sun County (Ontario) at an international festival on August 28-29, Lokomotiv beat the Suburban Stars, 9-6, on August 27 (below). The Stars’ families hosted the Russian players on September 2 and the kids played video games, air hockey, soccer and Nerf Guns, rode ATVs and went to Paradise Park.
FUNDAMENTAL HOCKEY Still taking Registrations
Mighty Mite (ages 3-6) Wed or Sat Mini Mite (ages 6-8) Wed Sat Squirt/Peewee (ages 9-12) Tues Sunday
Phone: 248.601.6699 MichiganHockeyOnline.com
Michigan Hockey
9
MH Beat
Michigan Tech goes to Europe
The Michigan Tech Huskies team traveled to Germany and Austria for a five-game trip against European pro teams in late August.
DDuring i th the season Mi Michigan hi Tech’s T h’ hockey h k trips t i are tto ttowns lik like AAnchorage, h Minneapolis and Madison. But this summer the Huskies traveled to Germany and Austria in late August to play a series of games against European pro teams. On August 12, the Huskies drove from Houghton to Marquette, flew to Detroit, then to Amsterdam and on to Munich, Germany. The team then took a 90-minute bus ride to Kaufbueren, Germany where they played in the four-team Joker Cup tournament. Tech opened with a 3-0 win over the host team the following day, with Aaron Pietila, Bennett Royer and Brett Olson getting the goals and Josh Robinson earning the shutout. The Huskies lost 2-0 against the Linz Black Wings in game two and finished the tourney 1-2 after a 5-2 loss to the Augsburger Panthers on August 15. Steven Seigo and Anthony Schooley scored and Corson Cramer played in net. The players and staff were able to spend some time walking around Kaufbueren and saw the old city walls that provided protection to the city over seven hundred years ago and churches that dated back to the 1300s. The games in Kaufbueren drew some Michigan Tech alumni living in Switzerland and the team was awarded a third-place trophy (right) and John Kivisto was named tournament MVP. The Huskies them went to Austria on a double-decker bus, with players on top and the staff below, and stopped for lunch in Innsbruck, the site of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, at a place that featured an animal petting zoo. The Wildcats beat the Vienna Capitals, 6-5, on August 17 at the Klenk Dome in St. Polten, Austria. Mikael Lickteig’s goal late in the third period was the game winner as the Huskies overcame a 4-3 deficit to even their record in Europe at 2-2. Tech wrapped up the tour with a 7-2 loss against Klagenfurt (Germany) on August 18 before heading back home.
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Get Better
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
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Execute offensively Hockey is all about creating space and time for yourself and eliminating space and time for the opposition. No matter what system a team uses, adhering to some key principles ensures that everyone is pulling in the same direction. These basic ideas work because systems don’t win games, execution does:
READ, ANTICIPATE AND ACT Do your thinking during practice and on the bench, not on the ice. Expand your on-ice vision and don’t get mesmerized by the puck. Don’t hesitate, anticipate. If you wait to react to what has happened you are already a step behind.
ON THE BREAKOUT During a breakout get into position quickly, support the puckcarrier by getting into a passing lane so they don’t have to search for you. Get to the puck quickly and survey the ice before you get there so you don’t have to search for them. Defensemen always need to know where their partner is, back up your partner and provide an outlet. Wingers come in to at least the hash marks along the boards to discourage their defensemen from pinching. Know where your center is and then provide an outlet for your defensemen and center. Centers should provide an outlet for defensemen and wingers. Make the easy pass, look for indirect lanes and use the boards to your advantage. Don’t pass through more than one player. If there is no easy pass or seam to skate the puck, take it to the boards and battle. Don’t throw the puck away and don’t feed their points. Exit the zone as a unit and don’t leave the zone ahead of the puck.
NEUTRAL ZONE AND OFFENSIVE ZONE PENETRATION Move up the ice together, fill the lanes and attack the seams between opposing defensemen and remember that speed kills. Head man the puck and don’t make teammates slow down to stay on-side.
PHOTO BY TOM TURRILL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY
Keeping the puck deep, winning battles by the boards and creating space and time will help execute in the offensive zone.
Puck movement is key – keep the other team off balance and don’t let them set up defensively. Make passes and receive passes in stride and create space in the outside lanes by moving the puck to the middle of the ice before passing to the wing. Don’t expose the puck to be pokechecked, instead make your move outside of defender’s reach. Create 2-on-1’s and give and go. The puck carrier drives to the net, the second man goes to the net (preferably a forward down the adjacent lane) and the man trails the play in the high slot. When in doubt lay the puck in the corner along the boards and get on the forecheck.
IN THE OFFENSIVE ZONE One forward must remain high in the slot to be the shooter and the first back checker. Retain possession of the puck, win battles by the boards and don’t make blind passes. Keep the puck deep. Don’t carry the puck from below hash marks to above the hash marks and use the corners to cycle the puck. Move the puck quickly, anticipate where you might pass the puck before you get it and be open when the puck carrier is ready to pass it. Look for openings on net and shoot for them. A quick release and accurate shot are better than a big wind-up that hits the glass. Defensemen work to get your shots through and look for space at the side of the net for deflections. Source: Rob Palmer/Michigan Level 4 Coach’s Clinic Presentation
Web-enabled sports training software to help coaches teach and players learn
VISUALLY BROADENING KNOWLEDGE Attack Triangle Drill
Call (248) 601-0100 or visit Vbksportsviewer.com for more information. Source: weisstechhockey.com
Purpose Develop offensive attack skills Setup Players in two lines along boards on opposite sides of rink facing each other. First X (at top) leaves without puck and cuts across the neutral zone and receives a pass in stride and drives wide to the net. Passer takes off wide and follows up puck carrier in position as a trailer. Second X (at top) cuts inside the first cone and drives wide to form an attack triangle.
MichiganHockeyOnline.com
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State of the Game
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
State Game of the
by Lyle Phair
I’M JUST A KID
As we drop the puck on another hockey season, it’s like a new day dawning, a fresh sheet of ice, a long and winding road ahead ready to be taken. Many new adventures will unfold. Each practice and each game a new chapter in the novel that is the season. Countless lessons will be learned by those new to the game and re-learned and re-learned over and over again by those who have experienced it for years. Sometimes we forget. But the game never stops teaching. As a coach and a parent I know every year that I need to remind myself to make sure that I am approaching the game from the proper perspective. As we all know (or if we don’t yet we soon will), it is pretty easy to get caught up in the emotions of the moment and do something or say something that we will very much regret later on. WHAT’S IT REALLY ABOUT But there are plenty of reminders around us at almost every youth sporting event that takes place, be it soccer, baseball, football or hockey. Someone, somewhere will get out of hand and have to be reminded of what exactly this stuff is really all about. One such reminder occurred this past spring. It was one of those beautiful spring nights in mid-May, warm enough yet cool enough to make for a great night for a game. And there were plenty of games going on at the Northville Community Park that night. Three soccer games on adjacent fields back-to-back-to-back with a lacrosse game just a Chuck Stevens 5-iron to the south. Plenty of action and plenty of excitement. And as could be expected, plenty of noise. Much of it coming from the parents and coaches on the sidelines of the soccer fields, shouting, among other things, encouragement and directions to their young stars and starlets on the field. As much as I have grown to have an appreciation for “the beautiful game”(although it is not even close to hockey in terms of being a sport) the one thing that I will never quite accept is the fact that the parents and spectators are right there with the team on the sidelines. If not “right there” then just down the way. And with that closeness comes the noise, the encouragement and cheering part of it good, some of the directions and sideline coaching, not so much. On this particular night what caught my attention, somehow rising up and standing out above the din that is the sidelines, was an exchange from the field directly behind us. Two teams of what looked
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like nine-year olds were squaring off in a hotly contested match. Two athletic looking, athletically dressed alpha male coaches prowled the sidelines, toting clipboards and barking orders non-stop to their young charges on the field. Suddenly one of the coaches, a little angered by something he saw on the field by an opposing player, blurted out something to the effect of, “Hey #7, keep your hands to yourself or I’ll show you what to do with them!” But apparently it was unheard or ignored because it was soon followed up with a “Hey #7, I told you to watch it or we’ll take care of you!” That apparently caught the kid’s attention because his response was something that everybody heard, not just on their field but for three fields over. Not so much because of how loud he said it, but what he said. “Hey Mr. I’m just a little kid!”was his response. I happened to turn in that direction just as the words were coming out of his mouth. Seeing the confrontation was interesting. A barely four-foot tall nine-yearold standing up to and staring up at a six-foot-three, two hundred and twenty five pound thirty-something coach. The coach’s reaction was priceless. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t respond. How do you respond to that? He turned, put his hands in his pockets and slinked down the sidelines, head down. Lesson learned. Maybe. At least for that night. The silence was deafening. The coach probably wasn’t a bad guy. Most coaches aren’t. It’s tough to call anybody a bad guy for devoting the kind of time, energy and commitment it takes to coach a team in any sport. Most coaches mean well. As do most parents. Sometimes we just get caught up in the emotions of the moment and need a little dose of reality to set us straight. That scene is sure to get repeated over and over and over this hockey season as it does every hockey season. Not the response from the player, but the over-exuberant yelling from the coach. Many coaches do it. Many parents do it. If not at the field or the rink, then probably on the way to the rink. Or worse yet on the way home after a tough game where the kid didn’t play quite up to expectations. THEY ALREADY KNOW Here’s a little news for you if you weren’t aware. The kids already know when they don’t play that well. It’s not that difficult for them to figure out. They know what they did wrong and what they can try to do better next time. And rest assured, if they didn’t know during the game, at some point they were told about it by their coaches. More often than not they are told more times than they need to be. That’s sort of the nature of coaching. It’s about correcting mistakes and trying to right wrongs. But obviously it is much, much more than that. About teaching the game, allowing players to learn the game, building skills and inspiring confidence. All too often we coaches spend too much time on the correcting and not enough time on the inspiring. I know I am guilty as charged on that one. It’s something I try to remind myself about every time I go to the rink or soccer field. What is a little sadly humorous is that while the players already know where they stand and what they did wrong well before any of us adults unnecessarily drill it into them again and again, is that they really don’t care as much about it as we adults do. It’s not that they don’t care about doing well and playing their best and winning and losing. They really do. But it’s just not as important to them as it is to the adults. They are kids. They move on to other things in their kid lives. It’s not that they don’t care. They do. But sometimes they do a much better job of keeping it in perspective than some of the adults do Something to think about on your way to the rink this season. They’re just kids.
PHOT PHOTO TO COU CO COURTESY URTESY OS URTESY URT URTE O OSU S ATHLETICS
Defenseman Born: October 30, 1983 Height/Weight: 6-1/212
Hometown: Troy Shoots: R
Season Team
League
2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2006-07 2007-08 2007-08 2008-09 2008-09 2009-10 PHOTO P PHOT O BY JUS JUST US U ST S SP SPORTS ORTS TS PHO P PHOTOGRAPHY HO OTOGR GR G RAPHY Y
Cleveland Barons NAHL Cleveland Barons NAHL Sioux City Musketeers USHL Ohio State University CCHA Ohio State University CCHA Ohio State University CCHA Ohio State University CCHA Hershey Bears AHL Hershey Bears AHL South Carolina Stingrays ECHL Hershey Bears AHL Washington Capitals NHL Hershey Bears AHL NHL Totals
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
55 56 59 41 40 39 37 3 12 31 39 15 63 15
0 5 6 3 9 7 9 0 0 1 1 1 1 1
10 23 22 12 17 11 19 0 0 13 7 1 17 1
10 28 28 15 26 18 28 0 0 14 8 2 18 2
30 54 89 57 40 63 50 2 11 16 38 12 55 12
A solid two-way defenseman who can move the puck, Collins is currently attending the Washington Capitals training camp after spending last season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears… Played baseball at Bishop Foley Catholic High School in Madison Heights before graduating from Rocky River High School in Rocky River, Ohio, in 2002… Played two seasons with the Cleveland Barons (NAHL) and a season in Sioux City (USHL) before attending Ohio State and playing four years with the Buckeyes… Was named team’s top freshman in 2004 and went on to serve as Buckeyes captain his senior year, when he led the team in scoring, was named second team all-CCHA and was one of three finalists for both the league’s Best Offensive Defenseman and Best Defensive Defenseman honors… Signed with Washington as a free agent on March 17, 2007 and made his pro debut with the Bears against Binghamton on March 25… Made his NHL debut against Toronto on December 6, 2008 and averaged over 14 minutes a game over 15 games with the Capitals. Picked up his first NHL point with an overtime assist on Dec. 23 against the New York Rangers and scored his first NHL goal on January 1, 2009 against Tampa Bay… Has won two straight Calder Cups with Hershey the last two seasons… Graduated from Ohio State with a BA in family resource management with a minor in business management ... nickname is Colly ... uncle Kevin played football for Central Michigan and then in the NFL, while uncle Greg was an All-American in football at Notre Dame and also went on to an NFL career… Lists Steve Yzerman as his favorite athlete… His favorite meal is filet mignon and crab legs and his favorite movie is Braveheart.
TOURNAMENT CALENDAR Advanced Tournaments September 24-26, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Squirt A, Pee Wee A, Bantam A Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Hockey Time Productions K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series Kalamazoo, MI October 8-10, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI September 24-26, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Advanced Tournaments October 15-17, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Squirt House, Squirt A, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Action Tournaments Battle at the Border Cup Brownstown, Dearborn, Garden City, Melvindale, Westland, MI September 24-26, 2010 Mite & Midget A & AA 734-751-9105 actiontournamentscentral.com
West Shore Tournament Series Scottville, MI October 15-17, 2010 JV Preseason I 231-843-9712 www.westshoreice.com
COMPUWARE / HoneyBaked Invitational Plymouth, MI September 30 - October 3, 2010 Midget (Mj. & Mn.) www.compuwarehockeyaaa.com
Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Series Fall Color Tournament Traverse City, MI October 15-17, 2010 Squirt A & AA 231-933-4842 gthatournaments@yahoo.com
Advanced Tournaments October 1-3, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Mite AA, Squirt AA, Midget Minor & Girls 12U Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Action Tournaments Battle at the Border Cup Brownstown, Dearborn, Garden City, Melvindale, Westland, MI October 15-17, 2010 Girls U-12 & Girls U-16 734-751-9105 actiontournamentscentral.com
Arenamaps.com Earlybird Tournament October 1-3, 2010 Kalamazoo, MI Squirt-Midget A & AA mstommen@arenamaps.com www.tournaments.arenamaps.com/ series
Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Squirt AA, Pee Wee House, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Action Tournaments Battle at the Border Cup Brownstown, Dearborn, Garden City, Melvindale, Westland, MI October 1-3, 2010 Squirt & Pee Wee A & AA 734-751-9105 actiontournamentscentral.com
Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Series Fall Color Tournament Traverse City, MI October 22-24, 2010 Pee Wee A & AA 231-933-4842 gthatournaments@yahoo.com
Advanced Tournaments October 8-10, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Pee Wee House, Pee Wee AA, Midget Major/HS & Girls 14U Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI October 22-24, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Action Tournaments Battle at the Border Cup Brownstown, Dearborn, Garden City, Melvindale, Westland, MI October 8-10, 2010 Bantam A & AA, Girls U-14 734-751-9105 actiontournamentscentral.com
Advanced Tournaments October 29-31, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Pee Wee A, Bantam House, Midget Major/HS & Girls 16U Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI October 8-10, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI October 29-31, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
USA Wild Flowers Halloween Weekend Tournament Detroit, MI October 29-31 Girls 12-U & 14-U Tier II molsoncosmo@prodigy.net 248-496-1744 Advanced Tournaments November 5-7, 2010 Holland, MI Great Lakes Tournament Series Mite House, Squirt House, Bantam A & Girls 19U Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Dirty 30 Women’s over 30 Tournament November 5-7 Kensington Valley Ice House 3-Game Guarantee $675 per team Registration Deadline: October 8 810-494-5555 www.kensingtonvalleyicehouse.com Grand Traverse Hockey Association Tournament Series Traverse City Challenge Cup Traverse City, MI November 5-7, 2010 Bantam A & AA 231-933-4842 gthatournaments@yahoo.com Hockey Time Productions Motown Cup Tournament Series Detroit, MI November 5-7, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
OUT OF STATE Advanced Tournaments September 24-26, 2010 Chicago, IL CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Preseason Challenge Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV\ Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments September 24-26, 2010 Chicago, IL MYHockey Rankings PreSeason Challenge Invitational Squirt Minor/A, Squirt Major/AA, Pee Wee Minor/A, Pee Wee Major/AA, Bantam Minor/A and Bantam Major/AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments September 24-26, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Preseason Challenge Mite through Midget: A, and AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH September 24-26, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
COMPLETE and UP-TO-DATE TOURNAMENT LISTING ON WEBSITE
www.michiganhockeyonline.com
Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH October 8-10, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH October 22-24, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Hockey Time Productions Hoosier Cup Tournament Series Ft. Wayne, IN October 8-10, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Advanced Tournaments November 5-7, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Veterans CupMite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Hockey Time Productions Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series Pittsburgh, PA October 8-10, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Hockey Time Productions Rock ‘n Roll Cup Tournament Series Cleveland, OH November 5-7, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Niagra Sports Tournament Niagra Falls Columbus Day Early Bird Niagra Falls, NY October 9-11, 2010 Mites, Squirts, Pee Wees, Bantams, and Midgets B, A & AA available. 716-791-4068 www.niagratournaments.com
Hockey Time Productions Hoosier Cup Tournament Series Ft. Wayne, IN November 5-7, 2010 Mite-Midget House, B, A, AA High School Varsity and JV 216-325-0567 www.itshockeytime.com
Advanced Tournaments October 15-17, 2010 Nashville, TN Music City Tournament Series: Nashville Fall Classic Mite through Midget: B, A, and AA, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www. advancedtournaments.com
Las Vegas Youth Blast Las Vegas, Nevada November 5 - 7, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993,1992,1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com
Las Vegas Old-Timers Classic Las Vegas, Nevada October 22 - 24, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+: A/B,C,D,E 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http:// www.canlanclassictournaments.com Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Chicago, IL CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Fall ClassicMite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www. advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Pittsburgh, PA Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Fall ClassicMite through Midget: B, A, AA, Girls U12, U14, U16 & U19 Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Advanced Tournaments October 22-24, 2010 Rochester, NY Empire State Tournament Series: Empire State Showdown Mite through Midget: B, A, AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com
Hockey for Heroes / Armed Services Las Vegas, Nevada November 11-14, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com Las Vegas Hockey Classic III Las Vegas, Nevada November 19 - 21, 2010Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http:// www.canlanclassictournaments.com Chicago Wolves Windy City Challenge Series Wishbone Challenge West Dundee, IL November 25-30, 2010 Mite-Midget B, A & AA 847-844-8700 Ext. 224 glapato@clubsportconsulting.com www.leafsicecentre.com New Jersey Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, New Jersey November 26 – 28, 2010 BOYS - 2009, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http:// www.canlanclassictournaments.com
Fort Wayne Thanksgiving Blast Fort Wayne, Indiana November 26-28, 2010 BOYS - 2002/2001, 2000, 1999/1998, 1997/1996, 1995/1994/1993,1992/1991 Tier II - B, A, AA 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http:// www.canlanclassictournaments. Advanced Tournaments November 26-28, 2010 Chicago, IL CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com Gene Harrington Invitational Shootout Classic Niagra Falls, NY December 3-5, 2010 781-710-6560 www.nahockey.com
CANADA Niagara Falls - Fall Getaway Niagara Falls, Ontario September 24 - 26, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com October Classic Oshawa, Ontario October 15-17, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com November Classic Oshawa , Ontario November 19 - 21, 2010 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com New Years Ultimate - 2011 Oshawa, Ontario Dec 31 - Jan 1 - 2011 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com Winter Whiteout - 2011 Oshawa, Ontario Feb 11 – 13, 2011 Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@ icesports.com http://www. canlanclassictournaments.com
Nov. 25-30, 2010
Dec. 27-30, 2010
Register before October 25
Register before November 26
Apr. 28-May 1, 2011
May 19-22, 2011
Register before March 28
Register today for the Windy City Challenge Series!
Register before April 19
Mite through Midget: AA,A and B Age Level
Period Length
Tournament Cost
Mite/Novice
13 minutes
ONLY $595
Squirt/Atom
13 minutes
ONLY $650
Skills competition in the Wishbone Challenge–winners receive free Chicago Wolves tickets for entire team!!
Pee Wee
13 minutes
ONLY $650
Bantam
13 minutes
ONLY $695
Out of town teams stay at our select hotels for $79 to $89 per night.
Midget
14 minutes
ONLY $795
4 game minimum guarantee.
Registration required no later than one month prior to tournament date.
To sign up, or for more information please contact Gina LaPato at 847-844-8700 ext. 224 or email glapato@clubsportsconsultinggroup.com Hosted by The Leafs Ice Centre, located on Route 72 just west of Randall Road at 801 Wesemann Drive, West Dundee, IL 60118
www.leafsicecentre.com • 847-844-8700
*IVVMW 7XEXI Advanced -') %6)2% Tournaments Tournament Series &MK 6ETMHW Great Lakes Holland, MI %VIE .YRMSV
,SGOI] %WWSGMEXMSR
=SYXL 8SYVREQIRX 7GLIHYPI Nov 12-14 = Squirt B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675)
Dec 3-5 = Pee Wee B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675) FSU vs Michigan State, Friday Dec 3rd call early for group tickets Dec 10-12 = Mite Studio Rink Tournament, 8-10 teams ($350) 4x4 hockey played on the Ferris State Studio Rink FSU vs Alaska-Fairbanks, Fri/Sat, Dec 10/11 call early for group tickets Jan 7-9 = Mite B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675) Full Ice games, non-D6 teams only Jan 7-9 = Mite Studio Rink Tournament, 8-10 teams ($350) 4x4 hockey played on the Ferris State Studio Rink Jan 14-16 = Mite Studio Rink Tournament, 8-10 teams ($350) 4x4 hockey played on the Ferris State Studio Rink FSU vs Michigan, Saturday Jan 15th call early for group tickets
Period Length
Entry Fee
Mites Squirts/Pee Wees Bantams Midgets
13 minutes 13 minutes 13 minutes 14 minutes
$695 $750 $795 $895
Play in a Holland, MI tournament and receive 50% off the entry fee on a second tournament in any other location All Tournaments Four Game Minimum October 1-3, 2010 October 8-10, 2010
Pee Wee B, Pee Wee AA Midget AA, Girls U14 October 15-17, 2010
Squirt B, Squirt A, Bantam B
Tournament Info: printable application, tournament rules, etc www.ferris.edu/icearena www.bigrapidshockey.org
Mite A, Squirt B, Bantam B
Squirt AA, Pee Wee B, Midget B October 29-31, 2010
Squirt A, Pee Wee B, Bantam A, Girls U14
Pee wee A, Bantam B Midget AA, Girls U16
Squirt B, Squirt AA, Midget B
Mite B, Squirt B, Bantam A, Girls U19
All Tournaments are 4-game guarantees, with Fri/Sat/Sun games unless noted Midget and Bantam tournament games = 1.5 hours ***All participants/teams must be USA registered
January 21-23, 2011
January 28-30, 2011
Jan 28-30 = JV/Midget A Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($800)
Feb 25-27 = Midget B/BB Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($800)
January 14-16. 2011
Mite B, Pee Wee B, Bantam AA
October 22-24, 2010
November 5-7, 2010
Feb4-6=Mini-Mite&IPCross-IceTournament,12-14teams($200)
January 7-9, 2011
Mite AA, Squirt AA, Midget A, Girls U12 Mite AA, Squirt B, Bantam B
Jan 21-23 = Bantam B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($770)
Feb 4-6 = Mite Studio Rink Tournament, 8-10 teams ($350) 4x4 hockey played on the Ferris State Studio Rink
16
Great Value
November 12-14, 2010
Mite A, Pee Wee B, Midget B November 19-21, 2010
Mite AA, Squirt A, Bantam B
February 4-6, 2011
February 11-13, 2011
Pee Wee B Pee Wee AA, Bantam AA, Girls U16 February 18-20, 2011
Mite B, Squirt B, Bantam B
December 3-5, 2010
February 25-27, 2011
Squirt B, Pee Wee A, Girls U12, Midget A
Pee Wee B, Pee Wee A, Midget B
December 10-12, 2010
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Pee Wee B, Pee Wee AA, Bantam B
Tournament Locations:
Tournament Hotline: (231) 591-2881
Chicago, IL Rochester, NY Washington, DC Nashville, TN Pittsburgh, PA Riverside, CA
Hotel Sponsor: Holiday Inn: (231) 796-4400, pleas call 3-4 weeks prior for reservations
For More Information: www.advancedtournaments.com 847-277-7343
Michigan Hockey
Grand Traverse Hockey Association TOURNAMENT SERIES
MichiganHockeyOnline.com
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Visit Michigan and save at participating Choice Hotels.
Michigan. Conveniently located all around our hotels.
ACME Sleep Inn & Suites 5520 US 31 North ALLENDALE Sleep Inn & Suites 4869 Becker Dr. ANN ARBOR Comfort Inn & Suites 3501 South State Street AUBURN HILLS Comfort Suites 1565 N Opdyke Road BATTLE CREEK Quality Inn & Suites At The Casino 11081 East Michigan Comfort Inn 2590 Capital Avenue SW BIG RAPIDS Quality Inn & Suites 1705 S. State Street BIRCH RUN Comfort Inn 11911 Dixie Hwy CADILLAC Econo Lodge 2501 Sunnyside Drive CHARLOTTE Comfort Inn 1302 E. Packard Hwy. CHELSEA Comfort Inn 1645 Commerce Park Dr. COLDWATER Comfort Inn & Suites 1000 Orleans Blvd.
COMSTOCK PARK Comfort Suites Grand Rapids North 350 Dodge Street DETROIT Comfort Inn Downtown 1999 E. Jefferson Ave. DEWITT Sleep Inn 1101 Commerce Park Dr. DURAND Quality Inn 8511 East Lansing Rd. ESCANABA Comfort Suites 3600 Ludington Street Econo Lodge 921 N Lincoln Rd FARMINGTON HILLS Comfort Inn 30715 W. Twelve Mile Rd. FLAT ROCK Sleep Inn 29101 Commerce Dr. FLINT Comfort Inn Airport 2361 Austin Parkway Sleep Inn Airport 2325 Austin Parkway GAYLORD Quality Inn 137 West St. GRAND BLANC Comfort Inn & Suites 9040 Holly Road GRAND RAPIDS Quality Inn Airport 4495 28th St. S.E.
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Parent’s Guide
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
Parents can help kids have fun and learn life lessons Kids regularly list their top reasons for playing sports as “to have fun” and “stay in shape.” Winning barely cracks the Top 10. And playing sports can help kids develop character and leadership skills and teach them life lessons of perseverance, overcoming adversity and becoming good team members. “There isn’t any other youth institution that equals sports as a setting in which to develop character. Sports are the perfect setting because character is tested all the time,” said John Gardner, Presidential Medal of Freedom Winner and Founding Member of Positive Coaching Alliance’s National Advisory Board. A 2001 research study, “The Development of Psychological Talent in U.S. Olympic Champions,”found that Olympic Champions reported having parents and coaches who “provided considerable encouragement and support and reciprocal trust and respect.” A parent’s attitude can play a huge role in how a player competes in a sport, so try to be a good role model to ensure that your child is having fun and developing his or her physical, mental and social skills so they want to keep playing. Here are some basic rules to being a good hockey parent: Be on time - for all games and practices. Make sure that you arrive at the rink in plenty of time for your player to be prepared to get on the ice on time. Be positive – Avoid criticizing your child’s play and ncourage your player to give his/her best effort every day to be able to learn and improve, and make sure that they do not let mistakes, or fear of making mistakes, stop them. Every player will make mistakes, it’s part of the development process, and if they are afraid to try something because they are afraid of failure, they will never achieve it. Check your own ego at the door - For many parents, the end result (winning) seems to matter more than the process (becoming better athletes, enjoying physical activity and learning how to play as part of a team). You may thrive on competition but always remember that it’s your child who’s playing, not you. And their accomplishments (and failures) are just that—their own. Support your child, cheer your child and encourage your child but don’t confuse what you want with what’s best for your child. Encourage effort and reward hard work - One of the most valuable lessons that sports can teach our children is that hard work and team effort can bring great rewards. Good sports parents help their children see that a valiant effort can be just as important as winning. Know and respect your coach - Most youth coaches are under- or unpaid. Many are volunteers who invest an enormous effort in your child’s athletic activities. Take the time to talk to your coach, understand their coaching style and find out how you can help. Understand that winning is a nice by-product of good coaching but
by no means is it the only goal. Treating coaches with respect will make them more receptive to your questions and concerns. Let the coach do the coaching – Be supportive of the coach and the team. Disagreeing with coaching decisions in front of your child may make you think that you are sticking up for your player. In reality, it simply sends your child confusing messages as to who is in charge. By dividing his or her loyalty, you make it that much harder for your child to listen to the coach and be part of a team. If you don’t understand something or have a question, by all means ask the coach for clarification or voice your concerns in private. If you have grave concerns about the coaching, talk to your association president. But keep your child out of it. Let your player be a player – Avoid comparing your child to other players. Each player is different and will develop skills and knowledge of the game at a different pace. Some have more athletic ability than others, some are more competitive than others, and some think the game faster than others. During a game, avoid yelling directions to the players on the ice. Hockey is a very complex and fast sport. Chances are they can’t hear you, and even if they can, by the time they try what you are yelling, it will no longer be the right play. Let the players make their own decisions, and their own mistakes. Hopefully they are having fun and are developing a passion for the game so that they will continue to play and enjoy it. Listen to your child - Talk to you child about what happens at practice and at games, not about the outcome and the wins and loses. Ask if they had fun, if they learned anything new and if they felt they gave their best effort. Carefully listen to what they say about their own performance or that of their teammates and coaches. If your young player is upset about a bad game, help them figure out what went wrong — don’t just give them a list of all the problems you saw or gloss it over with empty praise. Help them find a better strategy for the next time or set aside practice time away from the team. Practice good sportsmanship in the stands - Players can be very aware of their parents in the stands and will often take their cue from you in terms of behavior. If you are out of control and screaming at referees or other players, then that is what they will be inclined to do. A girl’s soccer league in Ohio instituted“Silent Sunday”to eliminate spectator cheers and jeers and sideline distractions. The experiment was wildly successful and a sad commentary on parents. Instead of being forced into silence in the stands, use your own conduct to teach your child that gracious winning and losing builds character. Respect the referees – Referees do not get practice time like players and coaches. If a player or coach makes a mistake, others on the team can make up for it. If a referee makes a mistake, there is no one to help. Referees do make mistakes
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BY PHILIP COLVIN
Young athletes list “having fun” as the top reason they play sports. at all levels of the game. They are constantly learning the game and how to control it. Berating officials not only sets a poor example for the players, it also drives good referees out of the game, which results in more less–experienced referees calling the games. Following these steps won’t guarantee a parent that their player will become the next Nick Listrom or Angela Ruggiero. However, these steps can take something that kids want to do (play sports) and turn it into something that parents want for their kids (healthy living and life lessons). Remember, the goal of youth sports isn’t about building a career, it’s about building a life.
Michigan Hockey
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Parent’s Guide
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
The right stuff: feeding a young player well takes a little planning BY SARAH ZIENTARSKI
During the busy season an easy stop at the nearest drive-thru restaurant can be appealing, but it is important that parents try to keep in mind what’s healthiest for their young athletes. Following a balanced diet that includes foods from all the major food groups every day will give kids the nutrients - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water – to provide young athletes with the proper nutrition that can help them get the most out of the game. Schedules are not the only battle parents have in getting kids to eat healthy. Their young athletes may be opposed to healthier food options. Dr. Matt Marturano, naturopathic physician and nutrition and wellness coach for Lifetime Spa and Fitness in Troy, says the easiest way to get around this is to simply start introducing healthy foods into their diet rather than taking away the junk food and let the child decide. “The athlete’s body will start craving the healthier foods, connecting how they eat with how they feel,� Marturano says. “Eating junk food leads to a lack of performance and their body feels like junk. When they eat better they will perform better.� Parents can help by making sure that the proper foods are available for training for outstanding performance. Sturgis High School athletic trainer James Lioy suggests starting by finding foods that your athlete enjoys. “Make a list of foods that your athlete likes and dislikes,� he says. “It gives them a say in the process.�
PRE-GAME MEAL Nutrition is the foundation of optimal performance. Poor nutrition means poor energy levels, which in turn means poor performance and an increased chance of injury due to fatigue. Athletes should eat their last large meal 3-4 hours before exercise that includes balanced food groups of complex carbs, low in fat with some protein. Hydrate with milk, juice and water. Before any intense activity like a hockey game, athletes need a small snack for optimal performance (1.5 – 2 hours before exercise). Marturano recommends a piece of fruit and a small handful of nuts or seeds. Young athletes need energy for games and practices, so meals before competition
should contain mostly carbohydrates and starches, which are easier to digest than fats and proteins, and help to steady blood sugar levels. “You can’t have too much protein before exercise because your body will stop using that protein and it will weigh you down or cause cramping,� Marturano says. “Focus on a meal of mostly carbs and healthy fats.� A few small meals that are quick and easy for young athletes are a handful of walnuts or almonds with fruit, or a fruit smoothie made with a tablespoon of peanut butter. It’s best to exercise on a mostly empty stomach. Digestion routs blood that’s needed to carry oxygen to exercising muscles to the digestive tract, so eat at least three hours before exercise to allow time for digestion. Marturano suggests eating three small meals with two snacks throughout the day to avoid exercising on a full stomach. Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise and stay away from sugary foods, as they can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels without any real energy boost.
ENERGY Carbohydrates provide the energy to working muscles during exercise. They also contain other nutrients like antioxidants; vitamins A and C that help maintain healthy cells in the body, and B vitamins that help the body use that energy. “Always the primary source of energy is a mixture of carbs and healthy fat,� Marturano says. “Complex carbohydrates are foods that also have fiber and they are essential to a high-intensity work-out.� Marturano recommends eating healthy fats - nuts, seeds, avocados and coconut milk - throughout the day to build your young athlete’s energy. Foods high in energy-boosting carbs include whole-grain bagels, yogurt, oranges, bananas, apples, pears, fruit juices, pasta, rice, dried beans, breads, oatmeal and vegetables like potatoes, carrots, peas, corn, winter squash and sweet potatoes. While it is specific to each individual and varies with activity level and body weight and height, a general guideline is for an athlete to consume 34-60 calories per kg of body weight. So a 100-lb player should consume between 1500-2700 calories a day. According to nutrition experts, in order to supply essential fatty acids and to help their bodies absorb beta-carotene and vitamins A, D, E and K, young athletes can consume up to 30 percent of their calories as fat.
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MUSCLE REPAIR Post-game is where protein comes into the diet – it’s essential for building and maintaining enzymes, tissues and muscles – but a young athlete only needs it in moderation. “All that was lost during the games were enzymes, so you need to replenish those with protein,� Marturano says. Most nutritionists say that drinking a couple of glasses of milk and eating a serving of meat, fish or poultry along with a variety of whole grains and some vegetables spread out over the whole day will more than meet daily protein needs. Excessive protein intake doesn’t help muscles get bigger and can lead to dehydration. Susan Kundrat, M.S., R.D., L.D., believes an easy way to eat for fitness is to divide a plate into three equal portions. Fill 1/3 of the plate with grains, preferably whole grains, 1/3 with fruits and vegetables, and 1/3 with lean protein sources, like chicken or turkey breast, eggs, or nonfat/low fat yogurt. Then, choose a high-nutrient drink like skim milk or 100 percent juice.
STAYING HYDRATED Your body is made up of about 60-70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Bodies need water to regulate body temperature and to allow nutrients to travel to all your organs. During exercise, muscles generate heat that is carried by fluids to the skin where it’s released by sweating. When you’re severely dehydrated, sweating stops and the body overheats leading to fatigue, dizziness, or worse. Children have a lower capacity for sweating capacity, don’t tolerate temperature extremes as efficiently as adults and produce more heat during exercise. So the best way for young athletes to stay hydrated and avoid fatigue is to drink water all day long. But what about all those sports drinks out there? Where do they fit in? Most contain a lot of sugar and shouldn’t be a substitute for water. Marturano says, “Sports drinks are good used sparingly during the game. What’s best is to take a few sips of the sports drink to replace some of the electrolytes lost then switch to water.�
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Parent’s Guide
Dr. Michael Czarnota, Ph.D.
PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DIG PHOTO
When in doubt, sit them out Teams get creative for fundraisers BY LARRY O’CONNOR
Grandmother Mary Kuhl took the reins on the spaghetti making, Gregory says. Parents and players were asked to bring at least 10 paying guests in hopes of raising $1,000. Proceeds would go towards buying additional ice time. Spaghetti dinners typically have low overhead, which makes for a better fund-raising yield. The team is looking at other money-raising ventures, possibly a pop can drive, to offset the higher costs of travel hockey. The Gregorys moved up to squirt travel after learning Cade would have to play half-ice at the house level, which is part of USA Hockey’s American Development Model. “We just know we need to get some money because we know it is expensive,” the team manager says. “We needed to do something.” Southgate Mite B Senators decided to mask their money maker, which in this case involves a Halloween costume dinner dance. The event is tentatively planned for Friday, Oct. 29 at the Southgate Civic Center. “We usually do a bowling fund-raiser, but we thought we’d change it up this year,”says Kelly Senterfit, Southgate Senators Mite B manager and whose son, Trevor, is a team member. The inaugural event has some built-in cost efficiencies. Senterfit’s cousin, George Kontos of Sonik Entertainment, is donating his services. The goal is to raise $3,000, which will pay off the team’s new jerseys, buy warm-up suits and enable the Senators to play in the Silver Sticks Tournament in December. Like a number of associations, Southgate Hockey Association is seeing a registration decline, which is sparking such creative endeavors. “We usually do an association fundraiser, but things are a little bit low on registration,” says Senterfit, who’s also association secretary. “So we’re kind of letting teams do their own thing.” The Southgate team is also considering a link-up with the Detroit Red Wings where members can net proceeds from selling tickets, Senterfit says. Another Downriver outfit has a similar deal in place. Parents of Grosse Ile Mite B teams work concession stands on game nights at Joe Louis Arena, says Jackie Morabito, team manager. The team gets 10 percent of the booth’s take, which is used to offset ice player ice bills. “What happens is the person who works get a split of the funds toward their individual ice bill,” says Morabito in an e-mail. “We are trying to make hockey affordable for everyone.”
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A concussion is a blow to the head or the body that changes the way the brain works – how it thinks (memory), how it moves (poor coordination) or how it feels (fatigue, sadness) – not how it looks, which is why head CT scans are generally normal, although it may be important to rule out issues that require surgery, such as significant bruising or bleeding. A TV set may not be missing parts or have obvious damage but if the picture is fuzzy you know there’s something wrong with the way the set works. A player does not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion and this actually occurs in a relatively small percentage (5-10%) of cases. It has been estimated that there will be over 1.6 million sport-related concussions per year. For athletes in collision and contact sports such as hockey, football and soccer that means about 10% of the team will have a concussion during a typical season.
INCREASED AWARENESS From 1997 to 2007, although sports participation had declined, emergency room visits for concussions in organized team sports in 8- to 13-year-old children doubled and had increased by 200% in the 14- to 19-year-old group. This greater awareness has had an effect at all levels of sport. At the college level, schools are required to have a concussion management plan on file “such that a student-athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion shall be removed from practice or competition and evaluated by an athletics healthcare provider with experience in the evaluation and management of concussions.” NCAA student-athletes must also sign a statement in which they “accept the responsibility for reporting their injuries and illnesses to the institutional medical staff, including signs and symptoms of concussions. During the review and signing process, student-athletes should be presented with educational material on concussions.” A recent article on the dangers of repeat and multiple concussions offered this basic idea: Return to play guidelines
BASELINE TESTING: BEFORE AND AFTER Tests that measure how the brain works will be most sensitive to the effects of a concussion and therefore most useful in managing those effects. Tests have been designed specifically for use in athletics and are most valuable when pre-injury baseline testing has occurred. Post-injury evaluation with similar tests provides a “before and after” comparison, which allows for individual decisions that can be tailored to each unique person and injury. IMPACT is one such test (actually a 30-minute battery of tests and symptoms) and is the most widely-used, researched and accepted approach to testing sport-related concussion. Baseline testing can be provided to teams and schools for very little cost and is generally done on a yearly basis to account for the growth and development of young skaters.
THE TAKE HOME MESSAGE • Become aware of concussion signs and symptoms (players, parents and coaches) • Athletes need to be evaluated and cleared by experienced clinical health care providers • Do not attempt to play with symptoms/do not allow a symptomatic athlete to play • Expect or demand comprehensive care for concussed athletes that includes balance evaluations and cognitive testing • When in doubt, sit them out • Talk to your team, league or school about implementing pre-injury baseline testing of balance and cognition (memory, reaction time) • Proper concussion management from the start results in fewer problems and a quicker return to play For free downloads and good information on concussion, go to: cdc.gov/concussioninYouthSports For information on concussion, neuropsychology and baseline testing, go to: sportconcussions.com Dr. Czarnota is a metro-Detroit based neuropsychologist who has included the management of sport concussions in his clinical practice since 1999. He currently serves as a consultant for a variety of teams and leagues that include high school, major junior, collegiate and professional athletes. For questions or more information he can be reached at (248) 253-8208 or: drczarnota@ sportconcussions.com. Visit his website at sportconcussions.com.
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after sport-related traumatic brain injury are designed to maximize athlete safety by insuring that speed of thinking and clarity of thought have returned to normal . If mental abilities and physical reflexes remain impaired the athlete is at greater risk for further injury, which may result in permanent consequences.
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Next to the government, few can beat hockey teams when it comes to creative ways to raise revenue. As the new season starts, so do a myriad of fundraisers to help teams offset some of the costs of going to tournaments, team apparel and ice time. And, what once involved peddling candy and magazine subscriptions or collecting newspapers and bottles has evolved into multi-tentacled methods to extract money from family, friends and supporters. Some efforts, as evidenced by the ‘98 Livingston Lightning attempt to raise money for cancer awareness, are also becoming selfless. On Oct. 2, the team will play a “Shoot for a Cure” benefit at Grand Oaks Ice Arena in Howell. Parents will sell baked goods and auction off items to kick off Cancer Awareness Month. The Lightning will play a scrimmage against a yet-tobe determined team. All proceeds benefit the Woodland Cancer Center in Brighton. Sandy Miller, wife of Lightning coach Dave Mitter, came up with the idea. “We thought it would be a good idea to teach the kids to give back, to give something back to the community,” says Molly Tasker, whose son Evan skates for the Livingston outfit. “We thought it would be a good lesson for the boys instead of just playing hockey and spending a bunch of money.” Livingston Lightning players will wear pink jerseys bearing the name of a person they know who’s faced a cancer diagnosis. The Oct. 2 event runs from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The charitable endeavor comes on the heels of the team’s annual fund-raiser, which took place Sept. 11 at Chemung Hills Country Club in Howell. About 120 duffers attended the annual golf outing. Money raised will buy warm-up suits and defray individual ice bills. Players and families sold individual sponsor holes with those proceeds also going towards ice fees. A team approach, as opposed to singular efforts, tends to work best in hockey fund-raising circles, organizers say. The 2001 Jackson Generals Squirt A team marshaled family and friends for a spaghetti dinner on Sept. 17. The feast was planned at 6 p.m. for Kuhls Bell Tower, which is a catering business owned by team manager Jackie Gregory’s grandparents John and Mary Kuhl. se “They know what they are doing,”says Gregory, whose son Cade, 8, plays on the 2001 Generals squad.
Concussions in sport remain a very timely topic as hockey season begins. Proper guidelines and management strategies are no longer just for the pros. If done correctly, the goal is to get the player back to play as quickly and as safely as possible. More and more states are passing legislation that requires improved education of coaches in recognizing concussions and there is a bill pending in the U.S. Congress that would expand that effort to include funding for baseline testing, which measures how the brain works before an injury occurs.
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Michigan Hockey
21
Parent’s Guide
2010-11 Dates to Remember
Mitch Korn, Nashville Predators
Being a good Goalie Parent It’s easy being the athlete, but it’s tough being the parent. Unfortunately, it’s the adults that sometimes make it tougher than it should be to be an athlete. Goalies are a unique breed, and their parent’s should be as well. Simply, a good goalie parent is one who is “supportive” and lets their goalie play, learn and have fun: Properly equip your goalie – Make sure you goalie has gear that properly protects and properly fits. Make sure the equipment is not too heavy. Spend your money on quality, not fashion. Why spend $250 for a fancy mask paint job when the goalie wears inadequate pants or body protection? Insure that the goalie’s stick fits and is not worn out. Some kids use sticks for a season. They never crack, but the heel is totally worn out. Keep the goalie in “fresh” sticks. Bigger is not better - Often in an attempt to “help”, parents buy goalies gloves which are too large. A catch glove which is too large makes it tough to hold onto pucks when catching. A blocker that does not fit hampers a goaltender’s stick control. An adult stick for a youth goalie diminishes stick control, rebound control and makes 5-Hole coverage more difficult. Teach the goalie to dress him/herself – You are not helping by dressing your goalie when he/she is 10 or older. At a recent goalie camp, a dad insisted on dressing his 12 year old. Was he going to stop the puck for him too? This is the start of teaching independence. Make the goalie carry his/her equipment – While parents may help the real young ones (8 – 10 year olds) by carrying their stick, the goalie must carry his/her own bag to/from the car. It’s about teaching responsibility and yet another chance to stress independence. Remove the pressure – While kids get scared when home alone, I have rarely seen kids scared to play sports, especially goalie. It’s the parents who put pressure on them that creates the anxiety. Pressure to win, pressure to get a scholarship, pressure to make the team, etc. Assure them that you will love them and be there regardless of the results. Do your best, try hard, compete but have fun! We are trying to develop good citizens first, hockey goalies second. Remember the “big picture.” Playing is a life lesson, not life or death. They actually “grow more” when it’s harder rather than easier. Say the right things, teach responsibility and blame no one – What a parent says, and how it is said can have a long lasting impact on a child . . . goalie or not. Innocent statements, in an attempt to sooth your child, or ‘motivate’ them, often does not turn out to be support at all. For example: Situation: A “bad” goal is scored. Do not say: “That was horrible.” Do not say: “If the defensemen would have hit the guy in the neutral zone, the play would have never happened.” You should say: “I bet you’d like that one back. What did you learn from the goal? Why did it go in?”
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Michigan Hockey
SEPTEMBER 18 Officiating Seminars Level 1, 2, 3 – Kalamazoo Level 1, 2, 3 – Holland Level 1, 2, 3 – Alpena LCAHL Travel season starts 19 Officiating Seminars Level 2, 3 - Southgate Level 1, 2, 3 - Milford Level 1, 2, 3 - Jackson CEP Level 1,2 Clinic - Alpena
Situation: The defensemen turns the puck over in the slot, the goalie was not expecting a turnover, and the opponent scores. Do not say: “That defenseman is horrible.” Do not say: “The goal was all his fault.” Do not say: “How can the coach even play him?” You should say:“Were you ready for something unexpected to happen? Regardless of whose error it was, you (goalie) must be prepared to give yourself a chance to make a big save for the team. That is your role”
25 Officiating Seminar Level 1, 2 - Bay County CEP Level 1 Clinic – Battle Creek CEP Level 1 Clinic – Walker CEP Level 1 Clinic – Kalkaska CEP Level 1 Clinic – Macomb
Situation: The team has lost five straight, all by one goal. Do not say: “The team has to score more goals.” Do not say: “If it wasn’t for those stupid penalties, you would have won.” Do not say: “It’s the ref’s/coaches fault.” You should say: “The goalie has the most opportunity to get this team out of the slump. You have to try to find a way to make one or two more saves per game.”
26 Officiating Seminars Level 3 - Bay County Level 1, 2, 3 – Marquette CEP Level 2 Clinic – Walker CEP Level 2 Clinic – Macomb LCAHL Faceoff Meeting – Motor City Casino
Situation: The goalie gives up a big rebound off his/her chest, and an opponent scores. Do not say: “Your defense has to clear that rebound.” Do not say: “You had no chance.” You should say: “Some rebounds, like that one, you could control. How about at next practice, you work on trapping pucks on your body?”
Sit in the crowd – Nothing is worse than a parent who stands right behind the net while their child is playing. Are you comfortable when your boss looks over your shoulder while you are composing an e-mail or writing a memo? I see it all the time, parents banging on the glass and trying to talk to the goalie during stoppages. Leave them along during the game. If handled correctly, goalie experiences are great character builders. But more importantly, they will help them grow up to be fantastic adults. Now in his 13th season as the goalie coach of the Nashville Predators, Korn previously spent seven seasons with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Korn also runs goaltending schools and his hard work, superb communication skills, ability to “dissect” a goalie’s game, and great sense of humor has gained him the respect and friendship of those he has coached and worked with at all levels.
MichiganHockeyOnline.com
31 CEP Level 1 Clinic – St. Ignace NOVEMBER 1 Girl’s/Women’s intent to enter state playoffs due Youth / Boys deadline for intent to enter State Playoffs 5
MAHA Executive Board Meeting Southgate Holiday Inn – 6 PM
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State Playoff Committee Meeting Southgate Holiday Inn – 9 AM CEP Level 2 Clinic – Marquette
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CEP Level 3 Clinic Marquette
30 LCAHL House season starts OCTOBER 1 ACHL Metro season starts 2
It’s simple, do not let your goalie blame anyone else or make excuses. Take responsibility for the goal (regardless how it occurred) good or bad and learn from it. Regardless of age, the goalie needs to be accountable, yet be able to “let go” after the goal and learning phase, and move on. You are not helping your goalie by encouraging blaming others, or letting him/her get defensive with excuses. Be quiet in public - Thank goodness my dad was just a spectator. Today, many parents get more worked up and more nervous than the kids. Chill Out! Nothing embarrasses a kid more than hearing his parents in the stands. Well, maybe a simple “way to go” on a big save, but that’s it. No cheering, no yelling, no ridiculing the other team, no taunting the other goalie. Being loud is often confused with being supportive. It is counter productive. On most occasions, goalies cannot hear the screaming parent and if they do, the parent is absolutely a distraction. It is a kid’s event so parents “should be seen and not heard.” Please just watch, be quiet and enjoy the fact your goalie is playing the toughest position in sports.
OCTOBER CONTINUED 30 CEP Level 1 Clinic – Tawas City CEP Level 3 Clinic Kalamazoo
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Officiating Seminars Level 1, 2, 3 – Ann Arbor Level 1, 2, 3 – Flint Level 1, 2, 3 – S.S. Marie CEP Level 1 Clinic – Kalamazoo CEP Level 1 Clinic - Walker CEP Level 2, 3 Clinic – S.S. Marie
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ACHL East season starts
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Officiating Seminar Level 1, 2, 3 - Traverse City CEP Level 1 Clinic - Hancock
10 Officiating Seminar Level 4 - Fraser CEP Level 2, 3 Clinic Traverse City 16 Officiating Seminar Level 1, 2, 3 - Calumet CEP Level 3 Clinic – Fraser ACHL West season starts 17 Officiating Seminar Level 1, 2, 3 - Southgate CEP Level 1 Clinic – Fraser CEP Level 1 Clinic – Marquette ACE Directors Clinic - Alpena 23 CEP Level 2 Clinic – Kalamazoo ACE Directors Clinic Marquette
15 Request for Team/Player exceptions due for state playoff eligibility 30 Nominations for MAHA Officers due to secretary DECEMBER 4 CEP Level 2 Clinic – Hancock Playoff Committee Meeting Southgate Holiday Inn – 8 AM 5
CEP Level 3 Clinic – Hancock
15 Rule Change Proposal deadline 31 Roster change deadline 31 Coaching Certification deadline JANUARY 14-15 MAHA Annual Winter Meeting Southgate Holiday Inn 18 LCAHL playoffs start 20-23 USA Hockey Winter Meeting Orlando, Florida FEBRUARY 18-20 Hockey Weekend Across America
Parent’s Guide
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
Extreme Passing Kit helps you improve How can improve your shooting, stickhandling, passing and one-timers? Believe it or not the only major skill you can’t improve by using the Extreme Passing Kit is your skating. So what is the Extreme Passing Kit? The Extreme Passing Kit was developed by Hockeyshot to provide players with a massive shooting and stickhandling surface, complimented with a puck rebounding device. Hockey players can spend hours practicing stickhandling and shooting on the roll up shooting pad (a big, flat, very smooth surface) and then work on their passing and one timers by passing into the“one-timer”puck rebounding device that screws onto the end of the shooting pad. If you run out of ideas of things to practice, here is a list of skills that you or your children can work on using the Extreme Passing Kit: SHOOTING • Quick release wrist shots • Powerful wrist shots • Snapshots • Slapshots • Backhands • Going top-shelf from in close on the backhand and forehand • One timers
PHOTO BY BOB BRUCE/MICHIGAN HOCKEY
PASSING • Giving and receiving a pass • Quick passes • One touch passes
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• Backhand passes • Saucer passes • Behind the back passes • Between the leg passes • Drop passes STICKHANDLING • Dribbling the puck (quick back and forth stickhandling ) • Forehand to backhand transition • Fakes and dekes • Moving the puck around the body • Wide moves across the body • Moves from behind the body to in front of the body • Protecting the puck • Toe drags • Through the legs • Flipping the puck over a stick When it comes to stickhandling, the list of things to work on is only as limited as the hockey player’s imagination. And an important part of developing hockey skills is having the right tools available for play and practice. Having an ice rink year round is almost impossible for most hockey players, but the extreme passing kit can be a great substitute for any player who wants to improve their hockey skills year round, and become a better player. To check out the extreme passing kit visit hockeyshot.com
Michigan Hockey
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Plymouth Whalers’ Malysa aims for bigger role BY MATT MACKINDER
On a deep Plymouth blueline last year, Whalers rookie defenseman Nick Malysa played just 42 games and recorded just three assists. This season, however, Malysa is considered a veteran defender and capable of having a breakout year in the Ontario Hockey League. Last year as a 16-year-old, Malysa adapted to life in the OHL and had a mentor in fellow defenseman Leo Jenner, who last year was playing his fifth season in the league. “All last year, I just kind of took it all in and learned how the team rolls,” said Malysa, a Bridgewater, N.J., native. “On our first road trip, I actually roomed with Jenner and he sat me down and basically told me how things work with the team and the league and what I should expect. Even during practices, I’d ask Jenner and (Michal) Jordan things. They always answered my questions and helped me out and that really made it comfortable. I guess you could say they took me under their wing.” Another area of the Whalers that made Malysa feel at ease was the atmosphere in the locker room and off the ice. “Right away when I got here, I saw that there were no groups in the room or anything like that,” Malysa said. “There was never any rookies and veteran separation. We all hang out and talk and go go-karting, things like that. It’s really a good situation.” And the fact Malysa had such a positive experience in his first season in the OHL led him to recommend the league to a close friend, Nick Ebert, now a rookie with Windsor. Both from the same area of New Jersey, the pair will now play against one another this season. “Even after last season when Nicky came home from Waterloo (of the United States Hockey League), he wasn’t sure what he was going to do next season,” explained Malysa. “He didn’t know what the right spot for him was. I went to his house a couple times and sat down with him and his dad and just told them about the OHL.” Ebert was drafted in the first round in May by Mississauga, but was dealt to the Spitfires in late August. During the summer of 2009, Malysa was in the same boat as Ebert in having to make the decision as to where to play during the following season. The Whalers drafted Malysa in the fifth round of the 2009 OHL draft and he signed in July. Malysa knew early on that the OHL was where he wanted to compete. “I sat down with my advisor and we talked it over,” the 6-foot, 193-pound Malysa said. “Hockey is the No. 1 priority in my life and I know that if I played college hockey, I’d only be playing around 30 games a year, where in the OHL, it’s a 68-game regular season and then playoffs.” Malysa has also shown his maturity by having a veteran-like attitude when it comes to Whalers rookies. “I’ve been trying to help out the new guys we have this year,” said Malysa. “Everything from last year that I learned from Jenner and Jordan is still fresh in my mind. I’ve been hanging out with one of our rookies, Tom Wilson, and just showing him how things work around the locker room and at school.” On the ice, Malysa sees a focused group of players that will give nothing short of 110 percent to have success. “We have a very young team, but we are also the hardest-working team I’ve ever seen,”boasted Malysa.“We might be the underdog or whatever and we might start out
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PHOTO BY AARON BELL/OHL IMAGES
We have it covered from Mini-Mites to the Pros
slow, but I think come mid-season or even sooner, we’ll start to surprise some people.”
PRE-SEASON TUNEUPS The Whalers went 1-1-2 in four pre-season games – two with Windsor and two with London. Stefan Noesen’s goal with 51 seconds to go in the third period gave Plymouth a 2-2 tie with Windsor on Sept. 4 at the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea. First round pick Max Iafrate (Livonia) also scored for the Whalers. Scott Wedgewood started in goal for the Whalers and had a shutout through 29:07. Matt Mahalak (Monroe) went the rest of the way and allowed both Windsor goals. Two days later in Windsor, rookies Rickard Rakell and Chris Albertini scored in a 6-2 loss. On Sept. 10, Plymouth and London played to a 1-1 tie as Jay Gilbert’s goal at 1:48 of the third period stood as the tying goal. “We worked hard,” said Plymouth associate coach Joe Stefan. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we’ll take the point.” Mahalak’s 26-save shutout helped the Whalers to a 5-0 win over London in St. Thomas, Ont., on Sept. 11 Noesen and Garrett Meurs each scored a goal and added three assists in the game. Veteran defenseman Beau Schmitz (Howell), who wore the ‘C’ in both London games, scored two goals, while rookie Ben Holtom scored the other Plymouth goal. The Saginaw Spirit opened the pre-season with a 5-4 win at S.S. Marie on Sept. 10 before losing the second game of the home-and-home, 4-2, at the Dow Events Center the following night. Saginaw opened up the pre-season with a split following a home and home series against division rival Sault Ste. Marie. The Greyhounds got a measure of revenge winning the rubber match 4-2 at the Dow Event Center on Saturday (Sept. 11), after the Spirit escaped with a 5-4 win at the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Newly signed rookie forward Terry Trafford scored on a penalty shot with 6:32 to go to snap a 4-4 tie and goaltender Mavric Parks secured the win with a spectacular save, sliding across the crease to rob Nick Cousins with little more then two minutes to play. Rookie Brandon Saad had a goal and two assists in his Spirit debut and Micky Sartoretto and Vincent Trocheck completed the scoring for Saginaw with power play markers. In the rematch in Saginaw, Trocheck and Sartoretto scored for the Spirit. Tadeas Galansky made his first start and went the distance stopping 33 shots.
SPIRIT NOTEBOOK Saginaw signed Trafford, the team’s third round pick in the summer’s priority selection before the exhibition season started. Last season Trafford scored 24 goals and 53 points in minor midget play for the Mississauga Reps. Trafford becomes the fourth player along with center Justin Kea, defensemen Jacob Ringuette and goaltender Jake Paterson to be signed from the draft class of 2010…. Seven players are attending NHL rookie camps, including Michael Kantor (Columbus), Garret Ross (Dallas), Josh Shalla (St. Louis), Ryan O’Connor (Philadelphia), Michael Sgarbossa (San Jose), Jordan Szwarz (Phoenix) and Ivan Telegin (Atlanta).
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Junior Hockey
September 20, 2010, Volume 21 : Issue 4
PHOTO BY ANDY GROSSMAN/DETAILED IMAGES
Metro defenseman Mike Corder will captain the Jets this season.
Four Michigan teams hope to make impact in CSHL BY MATT MACKINDER
To recognize and promote the commitment of youth coaches in the state, Michigan Hockey would like youth coaches to tell us a few things about yourself and why you coach youth hockey.
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Two new Michigan teams are now part of the 12-team Central States Hockey League this season as two franchises from a year ago have re-located. First, in early summer, the Dearborn-based Motor City Chiefs were sold and are now the Michigan Mountain Cats, a team that will play in Burton. Then in late August, the Grand Rapids Jr. Owls became the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution. The Flint Jr. Generals and Metro Jets (Waterford) are back to comprise the Michigan quartet. The past two years, all four Michigan-based teams have failed to qualify for the CSHL playoffs. That trend looks to end this season, especially in Battle Creek. “My expectations are very high,” said Jr. Revolution head coach Nick Bet. “I expect to have a winning team and am aiming for a minimum of 25 wins. I also expect to make the playoffs and make a run at the league championship. I hope to move as many players to the next level of hockey as fast as possible. Moving up players to the next level will be my No. 1 priority.” Goaltenders Ruben Medrano (Holt High School) and Karel Popper, who played for Flint last season, defensemen Tyler Allen and Ben Belton, who played in Grand Rapids last year, make up the back end. Forward Maxim Norsov joins former Owls Radney Ritchie and Jordan Sabatino and ex-Jr. Generals forward Brett Menton up front. Flint Jr. Generals - Flint has a new coach in Jeff Worlton and changeover will be a challenge at first for the Jr. Generals. Austin Willenborg (Tri-City, GLJHL), forwards Warren Carter (Tri-City, GLJHL), Andy Lay (Flint Powers Catholic High School) and Tyler Kennedy (Tri-City, GLJHL) and defenseman Billy Tilot should be the new go-to players, while returning forwards Joe McAuliffe, Bobby Cronk and Cody Thompson will be looked to for leadership. “With a complete roster turnover, we will have lots of ups and downs, but our goal for the year is win the league and then go to nationals,” said Worlton. “With the coaches we have on staff, including assistant coach Eric Albrecht and goalie coach Jon Houle, we feel very good about the season ahead.” Metro Jets - The Jets hired Jason Cirone, a former NHL forward with the Winnipeg Jets and assistant coach with the NAHL’s Motor City Metal Jackets last year, as their new head coach in August and he already knows what he wants to
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accomplish at Lakeland Arena this season. “Everyone will have to show up every night for us to be successful,” Cirone said. “We have a good crop of rookies and expect them to perform every night. Let’s wait and see which ones decide to be impact players. Our returning core will be very important to our team, especially (defenseman) Mike Corder, who will be our captain.” Mike Denston (White Lake) and Brett Grech (Hartland), back for his fifth season with the Jets, will be the veteran forwards, while rookie forwards Matt Stirling (Dexter) and Justin Bennett (Brighton) will be alternate captains under Corder. Dan Hudson (Gregory) scored three goals in two pre-season wins over Flint and could be a solid forward for Metro, who will go with Allan Dowler in net this season. Michigan Mountain Cats - The Mountain Cats have another former pro player at their helm in Chad Grills and a slew of experienced junior players in former Jets defenseman Tyler Schofield (Clio) and ex-Jets forwards Paul Elezaj (Leonard) and Brad Tunesi (Sterling Heights). Goalies Schuyler Ferguson (Flushing) and Robert Schultz (Pinconning) will battle for the starter’s role. Even with being a new squad, Grills has high hopes for his group. “We are looking at having a great year,”Grills said. “We have set high standards and we are going to be a competitive team that is looking to be a contender in the playoffs. We have a good mix of older and younger kids that are hungry to win. We are excited to get the season going and looking at an exciting season of hockey for the Mountain Cats.” Last season, the St. Louis Jr. Blues dominated the regular season and Hurster Cup playoffs and wound up going on a Cinderella run to the Tier III Junior A national title. St. Louis moved up half their roster last season, leaving many gaps to fill for this year. New head coach J.P. Beilsten doesn’t see any issue with turnover, though. “We feel like we will compete with every team,”said Beilsten. “The players we have signed have shown tremendous growth over the last couple of weeks. They are a hard-working group, but untested, and they will need to outwork teams to get wins.” The CSHL regular season began the first weekend in September with St. Louis sweeping Flint and continues until the beginning of March when the top eight teams qualify for the Hurster Cup playoffs.
Minor Pro Hockey PHOTO BY MARK NEWMAN/GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
Kalamazoo Wings prepare for second ECHL season BY MATT MACKINDER
The Kalamazoo Wings start the season with a new general manager, a new NHL affiliate and a lot of new players. Welcome to the world of minor professional hockey. The Wings, starting their second season in the ECHL, hope to improve on their 42-20-6-4 record of a year ago (third-best in the league) with eyes on a second straight North Division title. And they’ll rely heavily on veteran goaltender Ryan Nie to get to the postseason once again. “He is a work-horse that demonstrates poise and leadership between the pipes,” said Kalamazoo coach Nick Bootland. “Ryan’s performance during the regular season played a vital role in us winning the division.” The 25-year old Nie’s trophy case includes a good deal of weekly and monthly awards from his years in Kalamazoo, PHOTO BY JOHN GILROY PHOTOGRAPHY
Former Plymouth Whalers goaltender Ryan Nie returns to Kalamazoo for his second consecutive season with the K-Wings.
both in the ECHL and IHL. It’s a safe bet that more hardware will be added this season. Forward Darryl Lloyd is back for his second year in Kalamazoo and his seventh as a professional. Last October 15, Lloyd scored the Wings’ first goal in ECHL history in a 4-1 win over the Reading Royals. It was his first of 20 goals last season. “(Lloyd) is a hard-nosed player and plays with intensity,” said Bootland. “Our expectations of Darryl have certainly increased by the grit and determination he displayed last season and we believe he can duplicate those efforts again this year.” The Wings also re-signed a former junior teammate of Nie’s with the Plymouth Whalers in forward Andrew Fournier. Fournier and the Whalers won the 2007 Ontario Hockey League championship. A third-year pro, Fournier led the K-Wings last season in scoring by posting 71 points (27 goals, 44 assists) in 70 games. “Coming off a career-year, Andrew has proven that he is an impact player,” Bootland said. “He has been able to score at every level he has played at and last season, he showed the tenacity that helped him win a championship in junior.”
Also signed for next season at Wings Stadium are forwards Patrick Asselin (former Saginaw Spirit captain), Trent Daavettila (Howell), Sam Ftorek, Kory Karlander, Bryan Jurynec and Anton Kharin (Twin Lake) and defensemen Jon Landry and Finlandia University alum Ross Rouleau (Hancock). Karlander is a grizzled vet that has been in Kalamazoo before. After spending the past two seasons with the Odessa Jackalopes of the Central Hockey League, Karlander is returning to Kalamazoo where he played five of his previous 15 professional seasons. “Kory brings leadership, championship experience and understands what we want to accomplish here,” said Bootland. “He continues to be a premiere face-off specialist and helps teams even-strength or on special teams.” Karlander has a unique status as the only K-Wings player to represent the organization in every league Kalamazoo has participated in, including the original IHL. Landry anchored the Wings’ defense after joining the team in January. “Last year, Jon came in and gave our offense a spark,” said Bootland. “Down the stretch, he played through pain and helped stabilize our blue line.” Kharin is the son of Sergei Kharin, the United Hockey League playoff MVP of the1998-1999 Colonial Cup champion Muskegon Fury. In addition to the players already signed, Kalamazoo will also have New York Islanders’ prospects and San Jose Sharks’ minor leaguers on hand, as both have their ECHL affiliations in Kalamazoo. The Islanders’ agreement is new this season. “We are excited about being the ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders,” said Kalamazoo president Paul Pickard. “The Islanders organization is full of young and talented prospects that will bring energy and a strong work ethic to the K-Wings organization. As part of the Islanders family, we will do our part to help them be successful both on and off the ice.” New general manager Jim Burlew also returns to Kalamazoo after serving as the Wings assistant GM from 2002-04. “While I left for an excellent opportunity outside of the hockey in 2004, I never lost my love for the sport or the Kalamazoo Wings,” said Burlew. “I am excited and honored to return to an organization that has such a remarkable tradition and has meant so much to the city of Kalamazoo and the communities of southwest Michigan.” “Eight years ago, he played a vital role in our organization’s turnaround and because of his success, he received an offer that was compelling enough for him to leave,” said Pickard. “Jim has had success wherever he has been and we are thrilled he has decided to return to the organization.” On the bench, Bootland has coached the Wings to a record of 86-49-8-5 over the past two seasons. “He has made the seamless transition from player to coach that we thought he would,” said Pickard. “Looking at his overall record, wining the division and the amount of call-ups we endured (last) season, Nick has the shown the knack of getting the most out of his players.” Kalamazoo’s sophomore ECHL season begins on the road October 22 against the Toledo Walleye. Their first home game at Wings Stadium is slated for the next night versus the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Griffins expect to rebound BY PHILIP COLVIN
The Grand Rapids Griffins are expecting things to get back to normal this season. Last year the Griffins (34-39-3-4) missed the playoffs for the second time in three years, but the team has made the postseason 11 times in the franchise’s 14 seasons in the Furniture City. A blend of veterans and top young players ready for breakout years has the team excited about the upcoming campaign. “We’ve added players at both ends and our players from last year should be ready to step up,” third-year Griffins coach Curt Fraser, who re-signed for two more seasons on August 27, told WOOD TV. “Last year we had a lot of holes. This year we’re deeper and I am looking forward to getting something done.” Up front the Griffins lost leading scorer Jeremy Williams (31 goals and 63 points), who signed with the N.Y. Rangers. But Jan Mursak (24-18-42), Tomas Tatar (16-16-32), Francis Pare (16-23-39) and Cory Emmerton (12-25-37) will be back. “Mursak had a great season last year and we expect him to build on that,” Grand Rapids general manager Bob McNamara told WOOD TV. “And we expect Emmerton and Tatar to have big seasons.” Last year the Griffins depth was compromised with call-ups to Detroit when the Red Wings were hit with the injury bug. This season Grand Rapids added several players to help combat that threat. Center Joakim Andersson, Detroit’s second round pick in 2008 who played 10 games for the Griffins in the 2009 AHL playoffs, is returning to Grand Rapids after playing last season in Sweden. Red Wings forward Valterri Filppula’s brother, Ilari Filppula, also signed with the Detroit in June after two seasons with TPS Turku in Finland and is slated to play for the Griffins. And the Red Wings inked veteran centers Jamie Johnson and Chris Minard to free agent contracts in July. Johnson set a personal best as a pro with 27 goals and 71 points last year for Rochester. Minard, a nine-year pro signed by Detroit in July, has averaged a point a game at the AHL level the last three seasons (95 points in 94 games), and has played 40 NHL games for Pittsburgh and Edmonton in that span. “They are guys that can fill the net,” said McNamara. Last year’s captain, right wing JamieTardif, signed a one-year contract and will be back for his fifth season in Grand Rapids. Last year, he recorded 16 goals and 33 points to go along with 90 penalty minutes in 77 games. And with a logjam at forward in Detroit, Kirk Maltby, Drew Miller and Mathias Ritola could also end starting the season in Grand Rapids. “We have a lot of good pieces,” said Fraser. The Griffins have also re-loaded on the blueline, adding
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veteran pro Greg Amadeo, a tough stay-at-home type who played at Michigan Tech and won two straight Calder Cups with Hershey the last two seasons. Brendan Smith, Detroit’s first-round pick in 2007 out of Wisconsin, also joins a group that also includes third-year Griffin Sergei Kolosov, Logan Pyett and Brian Lashoff, who returns from junior hockey after playing six games in Grand Rapids last season. Nine-year pro Doug Janik, who had a career high 37 points last season with the Griffins and served as alternate captain, will also be back. Derek Meech, who cleared waivers on September 9, could also end up in the AHL. “With guys like Lashoff, Smith, Amadeo and Janik, all of a sudden our defense looks a lot better,” said Fraser. The Griffins addressed their goaltending by bringing back veteran Joey MacDonald, who spent last season playing for both Toronto teams in the AHL and NHL. In six previous seasons in Grand Rapids from 2002-08, MacDonald played in 164 games, recorded 88 wins, 16 shutouts and helped mentor current Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard. MacDonald is expected to help Red Wings first round pick Thomas McCollum, now entering his second season in Grand Rapids, the same way. McCollum had ups and downs last year but according to Fraser was outstanding at Red Wings prospect camps in July. “He looked fantastic there and having Joey here will help stabilize things and help him out,” said Fraser. “With the combination of those two, along with Jordan Pierce, we will be very good in goal.” The Griffins open the season at Van Andel Arena on October 8 against the Abbotsford Heat. “We’re excited about this year and think we’ll be back on track,” said McNamara.
GRIFFINS NOTEBOOK The Griffins home schedule features 17 Fridays and nine Saturday games, including the 14th annual New Year’s Eve celebration, which will feature a new 6 p.m. start time and the team’s first-ever New Year’s Day game, on Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. against Peoria. Other holiday home include the day before Halloween (Oct. 30), the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26), and the day after Christmas (Dec. 26)… The American Hockey League will operate with an all-time high of 30 teams in 201011, which will also mark the AHL’s 75th season. The Griffins will compete in the North Division of the Western Conference along with the Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames), Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens), Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche), Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks), Rochester Americans (Florida Panthers) and Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs).
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PHOTO BY TOM TURRILL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY
PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW
PHOTO BY TOM TURRILL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY
Red Wings Preview
Detroit reloads for a run at the Cup With bodies being thrown overboard as salary cap casualties in Chicago and free-agent and retirement losses altering the look in San Jose, the Detroit Red Wings could afford to watch with quiet smugness this summer. Wings general manager Ken Holland proved a lousy actor when he feigned sympathy for the Hawks and Sharks. “We’ve noticed that,” said Holland of the blood-letting of talent. “We feel bad about that.” “We went through that last July, but now we feel we have our depth back.” There can be no doubt the Wings would’ve moved forward in the Western Conference had they done nothing this summer with their two conference rivals weakened. That they’ve added forwards Jiri Hudler and Mike Modano along with defenseman Ruslan Salei while keeping everyone they wished to, has thrust the Wings back into the forefront of the discussion regarding the team that’s the best in the west. Holland knew he still had a formidable club that only required some tweaking this summer after watching his team’s tear in the final 20 game of the regular season. “A year ago, we lose all those players on July 1,” Holland said. “Most people judge our team against our team. I knew that. “Then we had players dropping like flies. I always felt if we got our team together, we’d make some noise. “We went on a great run. I look at those last 20 games (of the regular season) as who we were. “Now you add Modano and Hudler. You hope players get excited because we’re adding and not losing players.”
DOMINO EFFECT In adding players, the Wings have now positioned themselves to compare favorably with the rest of the elite clubs in the league. The addition of Hudler, who scored 24 goals in the 2008-09 season before playing in Russia last winter, along with Modano to center the third line has had a domino effect on the Wings’ line-up. It’s allowed Detroit to play Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk to play together with Tomas Holmstrom on the top line while Valtteri Filppula will center Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi on the second unit. “He (Modano), along with the return of Jiri Hudler and the development of our kids, makes us as deep up front as we’ve been in a couple years,” Holland said. “I like our team.
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“I think we are one of the legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup. Lot’s of things have to go right for the team that wins it, but we’re in the conversation.” One NHL scout in the Western Conference rates Holland’s off-season work as first rate and pushes Detroit past the likes of Chicago and San Jose to the front of the in the western race along with Vancouver. “I think getting Modano is quietly one the best moves of the summer,” he said. “I think he’s going to have a very good year there. “He’s got a lot of hockey left in him. He’s going to be playing against the other teams’ fifth and sixth defensemen and their third line. “Look at Detroit’s third line now, Cleary, Modano, Hudler, how many teams can put something like that out there? He’s going to be excited playing in his hometown.” With their depth restored, the critics have fallen back on that old chestnut of old age to claim the sky will fall this season in Detroit. Certainly, with 40-year-olds Nick Lidstrom and Modano, a 36-year-old Brian Rafalski, a 37-year-olds Tomas Holmstrom and Chris Osgood and 39-year-old Kris Draper it’s no surprise the Wings average age is the league’s highest at over 30 years. However, Osgood and Draper are being pushed to smaller roles while Lidstrom and Rafalski are still top pairing defensemen who actually played better in the second half of last season. Holland also likes to point out the Wings are very specific about the 40 somethings they’ve had their line-ups. “The 40 year-olds we’ve had – (Steve) Yzerman, Lidstrom, Modano, (Dom) Hasek, (Chris) Chelios - they’re superstars,” Holland said. “They might not quite be what they were, but their skills are still better than average. We don’t bring just any 40-something in.”
EXCITED AND HUNGRY The remainder of Detroit’s line-up is largely composed of players in their prime or not having reached it. Fourteen players are 31 or younger with 11 of that group being in their 20s. Coach Mike Babcock expects the team’s youngsters to step forward this season and take on even more responsibility. “We’ve had some huge growth from some young players and we needed to,”Babcock said. “We had an unbelievable push just to get in the playoffs. They worked hard.” Perhaps more important than Detroit’s age is how well rested they Wings claim to feel and whether they can avoid the rash of injuries that staggered the team last winter. Ironically, it wasn’t the team’s old guard that broke down either.
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With a deep roster that includes stars Johan Franzen (from left), Nick Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk, the Red Wings are hoping to make another run at the Stanley Cup.
No one is more eager to get going than forward Johan Franzen, whose season was largely wrecked by a torn ACL. “I’ve been working out a lot to make sure my knee is strong enough this season,” said Franzen, who had 10 goals and 21 points in 27 regular-season games after injuring his knee in the third game of the season last October. “I don’t want to sit out a lot of games again this year. I’m making sure I’m well prepared. “I’ve had a lot time to get ready. It’s 100 per cent or even better than before the injury. This is the strongest I’ve ever been.” In many ways, Franzen’s season resembled the Red Wings’ campaign as a whole. The six-three, 225-pound winger fought to get healthy after knee surgery, was surprisingly good down the stretch and ran out of gas in the playoffs. “I think we’re going to respond well and have a great season,” Franzen said. “We usually come back strong after a not successful game or season. I think we’ll be excited and hungry.” Franzen said the Wings’ off-season additions of Hudler, Modano and Salei have restored the team’s depth. “Good players is my first thought,” Franzen said of the moves. “I’ve played with Hudler a lot in past years. He’s got great vision. Great passes. He’s really great on the power play.” However, Franzen said the key to the Wings season will simply be whether Detroit can avoid the devastating injuries of last winter. “A lot of it has to do with keeping a healthy team,” Franzen said. “If we have a full team playing, we’re going to produce. “It’s hard when a lot of guys go out. The load gets heavy on some guys. If we can keep the team healthy, we’re going to be fine.” With their top three lines and top three defensive pairings largely set, the only real battles in training camp will be for spots on the fourth line and the seventh defenseman’s spot. However, defenseman Jakub Kindl seems to have that spot all but locked up after the Wings placed Derek Meech on waivers earlier this month. Darren Helm and Justin Abelkader are strong bets for two of those spots while Patrick Eaves has earned favor in Babcock’s eyes with his mix of speed, penalty killing ability and more offensive upside than any of the other contenders. It likely means either or both Drew Miller and Mathias Ritola could be playing in Grand Rapids or elsewhere while Kris Draper will have to battle to upgrade his status as the 13th forward. “We’ll get to camp and let them sort it out,” Holland said.
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Red Wings, Sharks and Canucks are the class of the West
BY KEVIN ALLEN
The Detroit Red Wings’ approach to hockey is akin to a dealer’s approach to art in that they both like to own masterpieces. The Red Wings, with a long history of signing future Hall of Famers, added to their collection this summer when they signed Westland native Mike Modano to one-year contract. “I pointed out that we have had a lot of top players come here at the end of their careers and play very well,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. Modano grew up about 40 miles from Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, and there is a rink in his hometown named after him. “He can still skate and he can still play, and I think he will be a good fit here,” Holland said. The Modano signing was Holland’s only major offseason move, but the Red Wings feel as if they signed a major free agent acquisition because Jiri Hudler returned from Russia. Those additions may be more noteworthy this season because Stanley Cup champion Chicago lost eight players off their roster and San Jose lost two major contributors. By keeping all of their players, the Red Wings may have made progress. Defense: In Nick Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart, the Red Wings’ top four is among the league’s best. Jonathan Ericsson’s lack of development last season was alarming. Ruslan Salei was signed to be No. 6. Forwards: On most NHL teams, Modano would be a second line performer, but he will be on Detroit’s No. 3 line. With Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen Valterri Filppula, Tomas Holmstrom and Todd Bertuzzi, the Red Wings have a noteworthy top six. Modano, Dan Cleary and Jiri Hudler could end up on the third line. Darren Helm is a fine young player, and he’s slated for fourth line duty. Detroit still has an embarrassment of riches up front. Goaltending: Jimmy Howard was Detroit’s best rookie goalie since Roger Crozier won the Calder Trophy in 1965. Howard lost the Rookie of the Year voting to Buffalo’s Tyler Myers, but he was probably Detroit’s MVP in 2009-10. When the Red Wings were overrun by injuries, Howard kept Detroit in the race.
SAN JOSE SHARKS All-Star center Joe Thornton is the symbol of everything that is both right and wrong about the San Jose Sharks. Thornton is magnificently skilled, and owns the reputation of one of the league’s special performers. But historically, his playoff impact has been lacking. That scouting report would fit his team as well. Each regular season, the Sharks seem special. Then in the playoffs, they seem to lose their confidence. Each summer there is fan outcry for the Sharks to make a major move, and general manager Doug Wilson did that this summer. But it was goalie Evgeni Nabokov, not Thornton, who paid the price for the franchise’s playoff shortcomings. He wasn’t re-signed. Defense: The retirement of Rob Blake dramatically alters San Jose’s look on the blue line. However, Douglas Murray’s development has reduced that sting. Dan Boyle is the only thoroughbred in the defensive mix, but the Sharks have an impressive group that also includes Marc-Edouard Vlassic, Nicklas Wallin, Kent Huskins and Jason Demers Forwards: The line of Patrick Marleau, Thornton and Dany Heatley is as dangerous as any in the NHL. And the line of Ryane Clowe, Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi was just as productive at times. The Sharks will score goals by the bushel. Goaltending: Having said goodbye to a Russian goalie, the Sharks will go into battle with Finns Antti Niemi and Antero Niittymaki.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS In the salary cap world, the sales pitch is as important as dollars when it comes to luring top free agents. That was proven again when Vancouver landed unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis on July 1. Twelve teams were interested in Hamhuis and some were offering more than the $4.5 million per season that Hamhuis accepted from Vancouver. Defense: The defensive upgrade resulting from the Hamhuis signing and Keith Ballard acquisition was partially negated by Sami Salo’s long-term Achilles injury. Presumably, the Canucks might have traded Kevin Bieksa, but those plans were canceled when Salo was injured. Still, with Christian Ehrhloff and Alexander Edler also in the mix, the Vancover defense should be steady Forwards: In an era when goals are still challenging to score, it’s noteworthy that the Canucks return six forwards who scored 25 or more goals. Alexandre Burrows led with 35, followed by Mikael Samuelsson with 30 and the Sedin brothers with 29 apiece. Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond had 25 each.
Goaltending: Roberto Luongo’s reality has not lived up to his promise. In terms of superstar impact, Luongo’s reputation may be more monstrous than his presence on the ice. Although he did lead Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2010, Luongo hasn’t altered the Canucks’ fortunes.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS The key forwards for winning the Stanley Cup were Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. The key forwards for defending it will be Jack Skille and Viktor Stalberg. With almost half of its championship roster now gone because of salary cap woes, Chicago needs strong seasons out of their younger prospects to have a shot at repeating. The Blackhawks know what Kane and Toews will do, but it’s unknown whether replacements can adequately fill the skates of missing players. Right wing Skille was a 23-goal scorer last season in the AHL, and he could replace some the goals lost by the departure of Kris Versteeg and Dustin Byfuglien. Left wing Bryan Bickell (19 goals in the AHL) will also have an opportunity to play regularly. Defense: The purge had the least impact on the blue line because the top four of Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson are still intact. The importance GM Stan Bowman places on these four was noted when he matched San Jose’s four-year, $14 million contract offer to Hjalmarsson. Forwards: After the Chicago reconstruction was completed, the Blackhawks still had five forwards (Kane, Toews, Marian Hossa, Troy Brouwer and Patrick Sharp) who scored 22 or more goals last season. Goaltending: Former Michigan standout Marty Turco rides to the rescue. An argument can be made that Niemi was still unproven even after he won the Stanley Cup. Niemi still only has 39 games of NHL experience. At last season’s training camp, it wasn’t even certain Niemi would win the team’s backup job.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS When the Predators traded captain Jason Arnott last summer it wasn’t as much about Arnott’s performance level as it was about general manager David Poile’s belief that it was time to promote Shea Weber. Coach Barry Trotz called it “a pretty easy decision” to award the ‘C’ to Weber, a multi-talented defenseman who is equally proficient at scoring goals and delivering crushing body checks. Only a few players around the NHL can match Weber’s on-ice abilities and leadership skill. Defense: The loss of Dan Hamhuis to free agency was significant, but the reacquisition of Ryan Parent helps soften the blow. He’s still in his development stage and he has a chance to become the defensive stalwart that Hamhuis is. Weber and Ryan Suter are the horses of the defense, but Francis Boullion and Kevin Klein are key contributors. Look for Cody Franson to play an expanded role. Forwards: Speedy center Matthew Lombardi was signed to add zest to a Predators squad that had to work excessively hard to score last season. No Western Conference playoff team scored fewer goals than the Predators in 2009-10. Goaltending: Pekka Rinne is probably as important as Weber in terms of impact on the team. Given their lack of scoring, the Predators need a goalie who makes few mistakes. Rinne is the right man for that job, although his numbers took a tiny dip last season.
Former Michigan defenseman Jack Johnson is part of a young blueline corps in Los Angeles.
PHOTOS BY TOM TURRILL/MICHIGAN HOCKEY
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LOS ANGELES KINGS The Los Angeles Kings went hunting for Ilya Kovalchuk and settled for Alexei Ponikarovky last summer. That was like going to the showroom to buy a Lamborghini sports car and coming home with a jeep. The Kings can certainly use Ponikarovsky’s modest goal potential, but the objective of getting LA ticket buyers stimulated by a major free agent splash didn’t materialize. Defense: Drew Doughty is 20, and he could win the Norris Trophy this season. He’s already one of the NHL’s most well-rounded defenseman. He can pass, shoot, defend and hit. Jack Johnson is less consistent than Doughty, but might be even more passionate. He can also be a difference-maker. When the game is on the line, Johnson wants to make the big play. Rob Scuderi is a shot blocker and a defensive zealot and Matt Greene is a solid performer. Forwards: Point-per-game center Anze Kopitar is the centerpiece of this improving offensive team. His added a noticeable layer of aggressiveness to his game last season, and he improved his plus-minus from minus-17 to plus-6. Heavy-hitting Dustin Brown is the team’s heart. Goaltending: Only five NHL goalies boasted more wins than Jonathan Quick’s 39 in 2009-10. But Quick’s save percentage (.907) and goals-against average (2.54) were mediocre in comparison to rivals.
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Livonia native Ryan Kesler is developing into a star with the Vancouver Canucks.
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PHOTO BY RICHARD LONG/MICHIGAN HOCKEY
Red Wing Insider
Chelios retires as the top American player ever BY DAVE WADDELL
When the late coach Herb Brooks met with then 39-year-old Chris Chelios in the summer before the 2002 Olympic Games, he wasn’t even positive he wanted him on the U.S. squad. When Brooks was finished talking with Chelios, he couldn’t imagine playing without him. By the time Brooks had boarded a plane to travel home, he had decided that no one other than Chelios should be captain of the U.S. team. That’s how much Chelios impressed. Chelios has an aura about him that is difficult to explain until you meet him. He’s engaging. He’s bright. He’s impish. He’s passionate. He’s tough. He’s the man you want standing next to you if you are going to a party or off to war. I remember Brooks specifically telling me that the Chelios analysis of what had gone wrong for the Americans at the 1998 Olympic Games was as analytical and comprehensive as any report he had received about the event. Brooks said the Chelios insight was so fascinating that he felt like he was talking to another coach. When Chris Chelios announced his retirement on August 31, it was like hearing the Godfather was stepping down from the family business. One of my most vivid memories of Chelios came at orientation camp before the 1998 Olympic Games when America’s NHL stars began showing up one-by-one to a large meeting room to complete their paperwork. There were nods and waves from the assembled group as each man entered the room. But it was all rather perfunctary until Chelios entered the doorway. It was if the circus had just turned onto Main Street or Elvis had entered the building. I remember Jeremy Roenick rising from his seat to greet him. Others followed
suit. I remember Mike Modano ribbing Chelios about leaving messages that weren’t returned. Quickly there were 10 or 12 players around Chelios. He held court like he was George Clooney at the Oscars. Everyone laughed at all of his jokes. Everyone listened to his stories. There he was no doubt who was in command of the American troops. At that point, I understood why the American players viewed him as the Godfather of America’s hockey program. Around that time is when I also began to rank Chelios No. 1 on my rankings of the top American NHL players of all-time. I have never wavered from that conviction. He retired at age 48 after 26 NHL seasons and I believe it’s impossible to say any American player was more meaningful to the NHL program than Chelios was. Frank Brimsek is a Hall of Fame goalie. Modano is magnificent in his skating and scoring. Roenick was a swashbuckling scorer. Pat LaFontaine was a superb player. Brian Leetch was special. Phil Housley was dynamic. Joey Mullen was memorable. Those players are all deserving of consideration, but Chelios offered intangibles that the others did not. All of the above-mentioned players were first-rate hockey players, and some were strong leaders. Many of them have worn the U.S. sweater proudly, but it would be hard to convince me that anyone wore it more proudly. He was USA Hockey’s ultimate leader. This is a man who left in the middle of his sister’s wedding reception to make sure he was able to play in a game at the 1996 World Cup. At international competitions, if you saw Chelios away from the rink, there would always be a large contingent of U.S. players with him. New York Islanders center Doug Weight once told me that Chelios was like the hardened sergeant from a combat platoon. You just trusted Chelios because there wasn’t too much he hadn’t seen in the hockey arena.
Former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios retired on August 31 after 26 NHL seasons, four Olympics and three Stanley Cups.
Fans in opposing arenas didn’t love Chelios the way his teammates did. He was a villain on the road, much like Chris Pronger is today. Like Pronger, Chelios played on the outer edge of the rule book. He was often in the middle of the pushing, shoving and mouthing off. Detroit fans hated Detroit before he was traded here during the 1998-99 season. He actually ended up playing more seasons in Detroit than he did in Chicago. Chelios was also a Norris Trophy winner, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the game’s ultimate warriors. I would say the American program will miss his leadership, but I’m hopeful that USA Hockey officials will bring him aboard in a management capacity in future international tournaments. His ability to lead and rally the Americans isn’t gone just because he isn’t player. He doesn’t need a job because the Red Wings gave him one. He doesn’t need a title because players gave Chelios that years ago. He’s the Godfather of American hockey.
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