Michigan Hockey June 22, 2009

Michigan Hockey michiganhockeyonline.com V.19:I.23 | June 22, 2009 FIRST CLASS

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

FROM THE EDITOR

FROM THE EDITOR A lost opportunity I never thought I’d see the day when Pittsburgh fans chanting “Let’s go Pens!” would drown out the Red Wings faithful at Joe Louis Arena.

But that’s what happened after Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead over Detroit in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. Shocked Detroit fans looked glassy eyed and couldn’t muster up the energy to respond and the Red Wings fell a goal short to the Penguins in the end.

It’s hard to blame the fans because expectations were so high for Detroit to win the Cup again. I heard people talking after the Game 6 loss about how they were glad the Red Wings would win it on home ice after clinching the Cup in Pittsburgh last year.

And I even had people tell me that they hoped the parade wasn’t going to be on Monday (or Tuesday or Wednesday) because they had their daughter’s junior high graduation (or class party or baseball game) that day.

In this issue of MH Dave Waddell (page 32) writes about what went wrong with the Red Wings quest for another Cup (lack of scoring and yes, injuries were a factor) and what happens now.

Kevin Allen says the Wings and the Pens could meet in the final next year – albeit with rosters that look a little different in this salary cap world. And Art Regner has some advice for the fans who still can’t believe what happened and tells us to “wait ‘til next year.”

And summer is upon us – so take a look at our Off-Season Training and Puckmasters in Wixom features (page 26), our What’s Going On listings (page 28) and the upcoming, retooled MAHA Summer Meeting (page 24).

Enjoy the summer,

4

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Call 734.834.0084 for info www.michiganpondhockey.com

Register On-line Today!

INSIDE 06.22.09 6 MH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

Editor-in-Chief

• Belle Tire 19 and Under girls squad wins in Sarnia • Suburban Stars win BD’s Spring Tournament • O’Leary Hawks women earn Silver at National Tournament (p. 7) • Mite A Stingrays win SCS Spring Shootout (p. 8) • Dearborn and Monroe compete in DISC Spring Final (p. 8) • Flint ’98 Phantoms win Fraser Summer Classic (p. 9)

Philip D. Colvin

Advertising Lucia Zuzga

9 MH BEAT

Design Editor Chuck Stevens

• Little Caesars Amateur Sports Foundation to manage Southfield Sports Arena • Top Michigan players in Taylor for MAHA camp (p. 10) • Sled Wings host tournament in Grand Rapids (p. 16) • New look MAHA Summer Meeting coming soon (p. 24)

STAFF Contributing Editor ........................... Kevin Allen Advertising ......................................Lucia Zuzga ................................................... Philip D. Colvin ................................................... Lauren Kovacs Subscriptions/Distribution ...............Lucia Zuzga Administrative Director ............. Peggy A. Griffin Controller .................................. David J. Klavon Administrative Assistant ...................Amy Jones

10 FALL TRYOUTS 14 STATE OF THE GAME

• The More Things Change by Lyle Phair

Circulation: Weekly press run of 8,000-10,000 with an

22 REDD DAWG TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

estimated readership of 24,000-36,000.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob Despirt, Don Dales, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda Holland, Lisa Zarzycki, Lori Yarnell, Lucia Zuzga, Mark Vansaw, Randy Paquette, Rob Murphy, Susan Bottrell, Todd Krygier

DEPARTMENTS

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, a division of Suburban Sports Group, 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 48335-2829. ©2004 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 photos: Tomas Holmstrom and the Red Wings were stopped by Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final by Dave Reginek/DRW. This page (from top): Detroit’s Darren Helm takes the faceoff from Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal as the Red Wings’ Jonathan Ericsson looks on in the Stanley Cup final by Dave Reginek/DRW; Summer training by Dave Reginek/Michigan Hockey; Austin Watson with the Memorial Cup by Dave Jewell/Windsor Spitfires and Red Wings goal by Dave Reginek/DRW.

Cover reprints available: email mh@michiganhockeyonline.com

ACTIVITIES 26 SUMMER • Off-season training:

get stronger and faster • Puckmasters Hockey Training Center open in Wixom • What’s going on this summer (p.28)

UPCOMING ISSUES 7/6, 7/13, 7/20 FALL TRYOUTS 8/17 TRYOUTS & TOURNAMENT GUIDE

30 JUNIOR HOCKEY REPORT

• Miller wins USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year • Hogan leaves Oakland for Wyoming • Watson wins Memorial Cup with Windsor (p. 31) • Whalers and Spirit sign draft picks (p. 31)

INSIDERS 32 •NHL Dave Waddell:

Wings crushing loss will be motivation for next year • Kevin Allen: Lidstrom still has it (p.34) • Art Regner: Fans are shocked (p.34)

Don't miss Michigan Hockey's Equipment Buyers' Guide!

Need new equipment, but don't know where to look? Michigan Hockey's 2009 Equipment Buyers' Guide will point you in the right direction!

From the latest trends in the equipment market to traditional items, Michigan Hockey will provide you with all the information you need to make informed purchases for next season.

This special edition of Michigan Hockey will hit the stands on July 3, so be on the lookout!

Advertisers: The ad deadline for this popular issue is June 24 ... don't delay – reserve your space today!

Contact Lucia at (248) 479-1134 or lucia@michiganhockeyonline.com

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

MH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

Belle Tire 19 and Under girls squad wins in Sarnia The Belle Tire girl’s 19 and Under team used a commitment to team defense, unselfish play and balanced scoring to go 4-1 over the Mother’s Day weekend and capture the Bluewater Sharks tournament title in Sarnia.

Belle Tire opened the tourney with a 2-1 win over a tough Southwest Cyclones team that included players from the Waterloo-Kitchener area. Katie Aluia backstopped Belle Tire with a great performance in net in the win. After losing to Toronto’s Hills Academy, Belle Tire shut out cross-town rival Little Caesars and finished pool play with a 5-2 win over Victory Honda on goals

from Shannon Yoxheimer, Maddie Collias, Sara Schmitt and Taylor Strazzulla.

Schmitt was voted tournament MVP and Alui played all five games to help Belle Tire to the championship.

The Belle Tire girl’s U19 team is: Katie Aluia, Maddie Collias, Sara Gilbride, Emily Flom, Lauren Slavik, Alexis Molotky, Hannah Jaiven, Colleen Kolis, Hannah McGowan, Emily Neitzel, Mackenzie Ritsema, Kari Schmitt, Sara Schmitt, Katelynn Scott, Taylor Strazzula and Shannon Yoxheimer. The team is coached by Mike Vigalante, Chad Dameworth, John Hindle and Steve Yoxheimer.

Suburban Stars win BD’s Spring Tournament The 1999 Suburban Stars beat the Livingston Lightning, 2-1, to take home the BD’s Mongolian Barbeque Spring Tournament title at Suburban Ice East Lansing on May 17.

After two scoreless periods the Stars took a 2-0 lead on third period goals from Brian George (assisted by Antonio Venuto) and Jack Rudin (assisted by Ian Juszczyk).

The Lightning cut the lead in half with under two minutes remaining in the game on a goal from Aidan Flick, with assists going to John Thomas and Trent Salmon. But the Stars, and goalie Keaton Courtney, held on for the win. Landon Chouninard

was in goal for the Lightning.

The other Stars are: Nicholas Zervos, Jack Wood, Kenneth Montemayor, William McLellan, Benjamin Eckerle, Joseph Woznicki, Kory McCullough, John Kaljian and Mack Hastings. Head coach is Mike McCullough and assistants are Justin Shaw, Kim Shaw and Alex George.

The rest of the Lightning include: Brody White, Josh Seiter, Dylan Reinke, Johnnie Pietila, Carson Pietila, Ryan Dickerson, Lars Storm, Christian Wentworth and Hans Hering. Head coach is Tom Storm and assistants are Greg Salmon and Gordie Pietila.

Goaltending Instruction

Previous playing experience, NCAA Division I and Professional 11 Years of Goaltending specific instruction B.S Degree Business, College coaching background Working with Beginners to elite Team or individual ice time Adults welcome • Affordable First session for free • Contact 313 971 8699 6

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

MH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

O’Leary Hawks earn Silver at National Tournament The O’Leary Hawks Women’s Sr. B team celebrated the conclusion of their 20th anniversary season by finishing second at the 2009 USA Hockey National Tournament in Rochester NY, on March 27-29.

This was the third-straight year the Hawks earned a Silver medal at Nationals, and while the team would have loved to bring home the Gold, the squad lost three players to injuries and it was a great accomplishment to make it to the final game again.

The Hawks opened against a familiar Massachusetts Lightning.

Down 1-0, the Hawks’ Wendy Stibitz scored (assisted by Carrie Sirola and Kelly Hamilton), to tie the game 1-1. The trio notched the game winner on the next shift when Hamilton scored on the powerplay for a 2-1 win. Stibitz and Marcie Walker also added third period goals.

The Hawks then lost in a shootout, 3-2, to the Syracuse Warriors, the squad that had defeated them in the National Championship game in 2008. Walker and Hamilton scored, and Melanie Hamilton was outstanding in goal for the Hawks in the loss.

Walker, Hamilton, Rhonda Carveth and Sirola notched goals in the Hawks, 4-0, quarterfinal win over the Palm Beach Predators. The Hawks earned another shutout in the semifinals, a 2-0 win over the hometown Rochester Edge on goals by Sirola and Amy Pattie.

The win sent the Hawks into the championship game against the Minnesota Blue J Hawks. The team started slowly in the final and the Blue J’s scored three goals in the opening period and held on for the win. O’Leary’s Crystal Miotke scored the team’s lone goal.

The Hawks finished the season 33-10-7, and won the London Ontario tournament in November, and defeated the London England Women’s National team in an exhibition game.

In their 20 seasons the O’Leary Hawks have competed in 18 National tournaments, winning once and bringing home silver or bronze medals 12 times. Carrie Sirola and Marcie Walker have played all 20 seasons and Kim Kelemen has played 19 seasons. Andrea Layman has coached the Hawks for 15 seasons.

The Hawks are: Melanie Appel-Hamilton, Dori Borden, Rhonda Carveth, Vicki Crimmins, Nicole Falardeau, Kelly Hamilton, Kelly Hammond, Tonya Hazzard, Kim Kelemen, Jackie Neal, Chicky McFarlane, Crystal Miotke, Amy Pattie, Tiffany Ribble, Allison Rutledge, Michelle Saunders, Sara Sharp, Carrie Sirola, Wendy Stibitz and Marcie Walker. Backup goalie at Nationals was Ann Dobija, and coach is Andrea Layman. Team manager is Carrie Sirola. The team is sponsored by John O’Leary State Farm Insurance.

michiganhockeyonline.com | June 22, 2009

7

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

MH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

2009 Summer Adult Leagues Individual & Team Registrations

July 7 to September 8 League Details • Excellent Game Times!

Games start as early as 8:00 p.m.

• Season begins in early July and runs through early Sept.

• All games played at the ONYX Ice Arena • No-check leagues.

Mite A Stingrays win SCS Spring Shootout The 2002 Mite A Plymouth Stingray team went undefeated in the St. Clair Shores Spring Shootout April 17-19 and defeated the 2002 Kensington Valley Rebels in the championship game 4-2 to take home the title.

The Stingrays are: Oliver Doran, Dylan Hernandez, Anthony Gattoni, Alex Schaumburger, Billy Shields, Kyle De Marco, Shane Kansier, Luke

Schembri, Stephanie Schmunk, Brendan Busdeker, Trevor Swazey, Ian Kimble, Alex Kansier, Jack Cotter, Dominic James, Nathan Korowin, Avery Hayes and Trent Anderson.

The Stingrays coaching staff is: head coach Rob Reilly, assistant coaches Donnie Busdeker, Dave Doran, Dan Hernandez, Bruce Schaumburger, Dan Szlaga and Paul Cotter.

• Focus on clean hockey and fun.

• Clean facility and friendly staff.

• Strict enforcement of rules.

• 8 games including first playoff game.

• Three 15-minute running-time periods.

• Standings updated and posted weekly in arena and on Onyx website.

• Trained scorekeepers and officials.

Team Registration Divisions 18 & Over D Tuesday Nights 18 & Over C Wednesday Nights 18 & Over C Friday Nights 18 & Over A/B Thursday Nights 30 & Over Sunday Nights

Team and Individual Registration Division 18 & Over C Friday Nights 18 & Over D Sunday Nights

Dearborn and Monroe compete in DISC Spring Final 52999 Dequindre Rochester, MI 48307 Phone: (248) 601-6699 Fax: (248) 601-0102

www.onyxicearena.com 8

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Dearborn and the Monroe Ice Hawks faced off on May 18 in the Spring League championship game at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center. The two Squirt teams skated their hearts out and after a scoreless opening period Dearborn’s Sara Bunch and Lucas LaPlaunt scored to give their team the lead. Gavin Riffle scored for Monroe in Dearborn’s 4-1 win.

Dearborn (middle) is: Nichola Tafelski, Grant Davison, Miguel Flores, Jackson Moschet, Tyler Myers, Lucas LaPlaunt, Alex Petlichkoff, Cameron

Godin, Colin Garner, Dean Buchholz, Sara Bunch, Brandon Bunch, Chase Williams, Max Sheperd and Coach Paul.

The Ice Hawks (above) are: Jacob Dowd, Alex Sanders, Steven Prati, Christian Tardiff, Matthew Rinaldi, Joe Dillon, TJ Potcova, Gavin Riffle, Nick Margrey, RC Beattie and Lucas Michelin. The head coach is Pat Dowd and assistant coaches are Dave Prati, Katie Markovich and Bill Markovich.

MH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Flint ’98 Phantoms win Fraser Summer Classic The 1998 Flint Phantoms went undefeated and won the Fraser Summer Classic Pee Wee A Tournament on May 17 at Great Lakes Sports City Arena.

The Phantoms defeated the Washtenaw Hurricanes, Blue Water Stars and the Fraser Falcons in route to going 4-0 to win the tournament.

The Flint Phantoms are: Spencer Bully, Brendan Flores, Zack Doner, Garrett Johnson, Jonah

Lainesse, Jacob Wood, Parker Koons, Zach Kippe, Brendan Borg, Dylan Houle, Brendan Walker, Ella Sinclair, Brock Reynolds, Noah Rocheleau, Tyler Isola, Cam Mundy, Gary Wildey and Trevor Sauve.

The Phantoms’ coaches are: Matt Walker, Kevin Reynolds, Chad Borg, Joe Houle, Brad Kippe and Kirk Allen.

Little Caesars to manage Southfield Sports Arena Little Caesars and the city of Southfield now have another thing in common besides each celebrating their 50th anniversary recently.

The Little Caesars Amateur Sports Foundation has signed an agreement to manage the Southfield Civic Center Sports Arena. The Southfield City Council unanimously approved the two-year contract on May 4, which includes management of the ice rink and concessions, but not the municipal swimming pool.

Southfield pursued the partnership as a way to keep the facility, originally built in 1971, and its programs up and running without raising taxes or fees.

The Southfield Parks and Recreation Department will work with the Little Caesars Amateur Spor ts Foundation to provide programming at the arena, including keeping hockey events, figure skating and open skating available to the public.

“We’re very excited for Little Caesars to come

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in — it’s a great partnership,” Bill Waterhouse, director of the Southfield Parks and Recreation Department, told C & G Newspapers.

With 15 teams and their future at the State Fairgrounds arena not locked down, the Little Caesars Hockey Club plans to move their youth teams into the Southfield Sports Arena. The Little Caesars girl’s teams will play at City Sports Arena in Detroit.

“This provides a home rink for our teams to practice and play while allowing the city to continue to offer quality recreational programs to its residents,” said Bill Ciraulo, director of the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Little Caesars plans to make some upgrades to the facility and there is a possibility of a longerterm agreement that would include adding a second sheet of ice to the arena.

“It’s a great location and I know it will be a great facility,” said Ciraulo.

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For more information call Bob Bishop 313-600-8655 michiganhockeyonline.com | June 22, 2009

9

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

MH BEAT

Change brings more opportunity for players at Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Select Camp

BY CARL CHIMENTI

2009 State Runners-Up Grosse Pointe 99 Bulldogs TRYOUTS! OPEN TO ALL PLAYERS FROM ALL COMMUNITIES Looking for a full time Goalie… team pays for the coach!

All positions open with plenty of ice time all season!

All ice will be local Professional Instructors New Uniforms, equipment and apparel for 2009-10!

Great parents, great families, great fun!!

we do here year after year comes from the number of allocations we get for the next year’s camp. Every year Michigan leads the way Every May and June the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association with the most allocations of any district in the United States, so I Select Camps bring together the top young players in the state to think we we’re doing some thing right here.” compete to be selected for the USA Hockey national festivals that All the players come into the select camp on even footing and take place later in the summer.

McIntosh let’s everyone know that from the get go.

This year’s Select 16 and 17 camps, again conducted at the Taylor “At the meeting before they hit the ice I tell all the players to Sportsplex over May 7-9, was business throw away all your individual press as usual with one notable but significant clippings, because it’s not going to do change. you any good here,” says McIntosh, Previously USA Hockey invited who has run the camp for the past National Team Development Program eleven years. “We evaluate on what players to the national festivals in they do here this weekend, not on what addition to the players selected from the they might have done in the past.” tryout camps. But that was nixed this This year’s evaluators included year, which opened up more spots for college and junior team coaches and players from the Taylor tryout camp. the players were divided randomly into “It’s a plus for us because USA four teams within their age group. The Hockey used to take Michigan spots first day consisted of practices, while from our select camp,” said Tim Friday started with morning meetings McIntosh, the Michigan Select Camp and then games the rest of the day and Coordinator. “This change gives us all day Saturday. a few more selections to send to the After the final game was completed National Festival at the 17-year old the evaluators got together to compare age group.” notes and make the final selections.

The 1992 and 1993 born players came “It’s great to play against your peers to Taylor after being selected from and getting back on the ice is fun,” said regional tryout camps held through out 16-year old Waterford resident Zach the state. They were shooting for an Mudge, who played for Little Caesars invite to one of the national festivals held last year. “It’s a little tough because you in Rochester, New York this summer. play four games with kids that you have The Select 17 Festival, held the last never played with, but at the end of the week in June, will include a Michigan day, it’s the same for everyone so you contingency of one goaltender, six just try to make the best of it.” defensemen and nine forwards. The Zack’s dad, Jeff Mudge, was 1993 age group will include two impressed with the players he saw goaltenders, six defensemen and eleven at the camp. “The hockey talent is forwards from Michigan at the Select extremely good,” he said. “The games Commerce Township’s Eric Trunick participated in the are fast and the competitive level has second week in July.

Due in part to Michigan’s history of 2009 MAHA Select Camp at the Taylor Sportsplex been very intense.” sending quality players to the festival, Mecosta’s Michael Hickson made USA Hockey will select a few At-Large picks in addition to the state’ the Select 16 camp last season and believes it made him a better allocated selections as well. player.

“This year we could have anywhere from one to maybe as high “It was a good and valuable experience that really improved my as four At-Large selections,” says McIntosh. “Feedback for the job development this past year,” he said.

TRYOUTS:

Monday, July 13 5:00 PM at GPCR Wednesday, July 15 5:00 PM at GPCR Players from all associations are welcome for the 2009-10 season!

For more information: 313.475.8225 or GP99Bulldogs@yahoo.com 10

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Michigan players selected to attend the USA Hockey Select 17 Festival, July 7-13 in Rochester NY Pos D D F D F F D F F F F D F D G F

1992 Player Phillip Accettura Brandon Archibald Kenneth Babinski Joel Benson Patrick Brown Brent Darnell Kevin Gravel Andrew Huff Tanner Kero William Kessel Jared Knight Austin Levi John McCarron Daniel Milan Adam Miller Andrew Sinelli

City Novi Port Huron Midland Marquette Bloomfield Hills Canton Kingsford Howell Hancock Bloomfield Hills Battle Creek Farmington Hills Macomb White Lake St. Clair Shores Dexter

Michigan players selected to attend the USA Hockey Select 16 Festival, June 26-July 2 in Rochester, NY Pos F F D F F G F

1993 Player Reid Boucher Cory Czarnik Craig Duininck Michael Ferrantino Brandon Flood John Gosselin Cason Hohmann

City Grand Ledge Washington Plymouth Plymouth Mason Brighton Plymouth

F G F F F F F D D D D D

Travis Maezes Josh Malecki Jacob McDowell John Miller Tyler Murray Stefan Noesen Blake Pietila Andrew Ryan Connor Schmidt Frank Schumacher Ryan Urso Travis Walsh

Ann Arbor Grosse Ile Dimondale Trenton Bingham Farms Northville Milford Brighton Flat Rock Brighton Livonia Haslett

Michigan players invited to attend the MAHA Bantam Camp, June 14-19 at Lake Superior State University in S.S. Marie.

1994 Vito Aluia Riley Barber Donovan Berwick Andrew Best Alexander Blankenburg Sam Bloomberg Vincent Brophy Brock Broyhers Anthony Carlderone Wesley Cimmarrusti Garret Cockerill Ryan Collins Trevor Cope Joseph Cox Brett D’Andrea Troy Donnay

Andrew Dorantes Ryan Dougherty Sheldon Dries Cory Dunn Jonathan Farkas Forest Folker Tyler Froberg Nolan Gluchowski Dustin Goupille Charles Green Kyle Haak Joshua Henke Brandon Hope Colin Horton James Howe Max Iafrate

Benjamin Johnson Sven Johnson Brett Kaufman Devin Kero Alexander Kile Bradley Kolcz, Jr Christopher Leibinger Michael Louria Ryan Lowney Myles Maltz Alex Marcinek Chase Matson Nick Michels Griffen Molino Anthony Mousseau Joseph Moza Zachary Nagelvoort Cody Nordquist Derek O’Flynn Zachary O’Hara David Parrottino Ted Pietila Brandon Ramsay Nino Romita Kyle Ruggles Kyle Schempp Nicholas Schilkey Scott Schueneman Trevor Sergott Joshua Shellman Dylan Shepard Maxwell Shuart Wyatt Smith

Nicholas Stevens Jacob Stricker Donald Sund Mario Tomei Blake Toth Jacob Trouba Brady Vail Grant Webermin Zachary Wiacek Wayland Williams Connor Wood Mark Yanis Cameron Yarwood Bryan Yim 1995 Evan Allen Mark Evan Auk Mark Baker Bryan Basilico Augustino Biondo Dalan Bulchak George Clark Nikola Coffman Dawson Cook Michael Curtis Ryan Cusin Nicholas Daigneau Spencer Dant Levi Erkkila Carl Faraon Taylor Fernandez Riley Fink

Hunter Gatza John Gessert Adam Gill Torrin Grange Wesley Guenther Trevor Hamilton Connor Hannon Brett Heikkila Carson HIbner Cameron Hite Michael House Max Humitz Ryan Jaros Ian Jenkins Trent Johnson Alexander Johnston Jesse Junttila Brendon Kearney James LaDouce Noah Lancucki Adam Larkin Benjamin Lasecki Tyler Layle Bryce Leaf Kameron Limburg Andrew Lindsay Jesse MacIntyre Louis Marr Michael McCarron Mitchell Minder Dane Moore Tyler Motte Alexander Payne

Craig Stephen Pefley Jacob Peterson Collin Pew Denver Pierce Troy Pierce Jon Pierret Vincent Post Brad Reitter Alex Robert Austin Rothe Matthew Roy Grant Rushlau Michael Sabatini Brennan Sanford Corey Schueneman Alexander Smith Brendyn Smith Dante Suffredini Alex Talcott Kyle TenEyck Zachary Timmerman Adam Ulfsax Nick Vandermissen Thomas Vincent Travis Welch Payton Wheeler Grant Widger Devin Williams Brett Young Michael Yuhasz

Play with the Best!

Birmingham Hockey Association

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Icebreakers Tryout Info - All skates at Suburban Ice Farmington Hills

12U Icebreakers Coach = Danny Veri dannyveri@sbcglobal.net 7-15-09 = 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 7-24-09 = 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 14U Icebreakers Coach = Rick Murry ramjam416@comcast.net 248-217-8968 7-19-09 = 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM 7-23-09 = 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

16U Icebreakers Coach = Lauren Lobert lhlobert@gmail.com 7-14-09 = 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM 7-19-09 = 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM 7-21-09 = 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM 19U Icebreakers Coach = Lyle Phair lphair@suburbanice.com

www.michiganicebreakers.com

-GIRLS-

REGISTER NOW FOR FALL HOCKEY!

GIRLS LEARN TO PLAY 12U HOUSE LEAGUE 13+ HOUSE LEAGUE

248-888-1400 for more details

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

STATE OF THE GAME

State of Game the

LYLE PHAIR

Hope springs eternal every June at the USA Hockey Annual Congress in Colorado Springs, Colorado. All areas of the game are poked and prodded, viewed and reviewed, cussed and discussed. Nothing is overlooked. No puck goes unturned.

This year the two most talked about elements were the growing the game initiative spearheaded by the newly formed Membership Development Department and the American Development Model (ADM).

Both of these “developments” have been a work in progress over the past few years, and while they were introduced in the past year, they are very much steering the direction of USA Hockey moving forward.

And for good reason. We need more players participating in the sport. The Membership Development Department will be focusing on providing ways for local associations to get new boys and girls, ages 4-8, into hockey and maybe more importantly, implementing proven programs that will keep them playing the game.

Breaking down the mostly myths, and in some instances truths, that hockey is an expensive, violent game that requires a huge time commitment from participating families will be the major challenge.

We also need more good players participating in the sport. We need better athletes who are more prepared to move on to play at the highest levels of the game. The National Hockey League would like to see more American players at that level. And so would USA Hockey, as it is a byproduct of a good program.

The ADM, which includes time-tested principles of long-term athlete development and high performance club teams, provides the framework for local associations to achieve those goals.

TAG-UP AGAIN ON THE TABLE Beyond those two major changes, in the immortal words of Yogi Berra it was, “déjà vu all over again”. Every second year

14

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE at the USA Hockey Annual Congress is a rule change year where new rule proposals are discussed and voted on.

And once again, for the umpteenth time in a rule change year, the tag-up offsides rule was on the table.

At one time I thought that tag-up offsides would be in the best interest of the game and the players playing it. But not because it is used at the higher levels of the game, the National Hockey League, college and junior hockey and even high school.

I don’t buy the argument that players “need to learn how to play it to be prepared to play at the next level”. That makes no sense to me at all. Players always have and always will be able to quickly adapt to any rule changes that get made, whether they are when they move up a level or just a change to the game in general from year to year.

The reason I thought it would be a good option was to eliminate whistles and keep the game moving. The more playing time the better. And less needless wasted time standing around waiting for an official to drop the puck, the better. In my opinion, that would be the only valid reason to have it in the game.

But that positive doesn’t come close to offsetting the negative impact on the game and the players playing it created by utilizing tag-up offsides. It completely dumbs down the game to the lowest level. Throw the puck out of the zone. Dump the puck back in.

Throw it out. Throw it in. And the rest of the players skate back and forth trying to catch up to the puck to make a play.

Some argue that the players like to play it. It is more fun for them. I would argue that kids will often want what they don’t have, whether it is best for them or not.

Because it is a rule used at the higher level they theorize that it would be better for them too. That is not always the case. Full facemasks are not required and fighting is allowed at the highest levels of the game as well. It would be difficult to come up with a convincing argument as to how those changes would be positive for youth hockey players.

SHORT TERM AND SHORT SIGHTED Some coaches, in fact many coaches, like the tag-up. Why not?

It is easy to coach. But it is a short-term, short-sighted approach to the game.

It allows players to make a play that requires little or no skating or puckhandling skill. It allows players to make a play that allows for no creativity or decision-making. It allows the player’s teammates to not have to get back quickly into the neutral zone in position to organize themselves for a counter-attack. All they have to do is come out over the blue line, all at the same time, then chase the

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

puck down like dogs chasing a rubber ball.

It also minimizes the chance that the defenders in the neutral zone will make a mistake and that there will be a turnover and a scoring chance created against.

It allows coaches not to have to coach the skating skills, puck skills, decision-making and team play to develop a neutral zone transition game.

If you have ever watched the game played at all age groups and levels, it is painfully obvious that the tag-up rule is not in the best interest of younger players developing their skills and learning the game.

If you are unsure, take a trip to Canada to watch some minor hockey games. You will rarely see a defenseman in the neutral zone backpedal with the puck, buying some time and space while his or her teammates re-organize themselves for a counter-attack.

You will rarely see a defense-to-defense cross-ice pass and a quick up to a forward. Instead you will most often see the defenseman skate to the puck and mindlessly and skilllessly fire it back into the attacking zone.

At the higher levels of the game, where the pace of play is much, much faster and those players already have a much greater command of the physical and mental skills necessary to play the game, tag-up offsides serves a greater good. It keeps the play moving. And the skating, puckhandling, and decision-making skills are all still utilized.

In my opinion, the best version of the offsides rule is the delayed offsides, where the play is not stopped immediately. If there is a possibility that the defending team can get control of the puck just inside the blue line and mount a counter-attack, the play is allowed to continue.

But as it stands now, as soon as the puck enters the zone the play is stopped, even if the puck is intercepted just inside the blue line and the defending team now has an offensive advantage created by the turnover. A 2-on-1, 3-on-1, or even a 3-on-2, is negated by the whistle.

The problem with delayed offsides is that it can difficult for all the officials to interpret and call consistently. Although when you think about it, it is not much different than many other rules in the book from that respect.

Fortunately, the tag-up offsides proposal was voted down again this year and the game and the players playing it will benefit from two more years without it.

At least until Groundhog Day 2011 when it is sure to be proposed again. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

TM

Stars Tryout Info - All skates at Suburban Ice Farmington Hills 2002 Stars Coach = Vicki Crimmins vcrimmins9@comcast.net 7-23-09 = 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM 7-27-09 = 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

2001 Stars Coach = Cal McGowan cmcgowan@suburbanice.com

2000 Stars Coach = Larry Fuciarelli hockey2win2000@yahoo.com 734-981-2345

99 Stars Coach = Mike McCullough mjmcc123@msn.com

98 Stars Coach = Steve Wood swood@cooperstandard.com 7-20-09 = 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 7-22-09 = 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

97 Stars Coach = Joe Jones jjones@suburbanice.com

96 Stars Coach = Scott Wolter afpi_sgw@ameritech.net 7-16-09 = 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM 7-19-09 = 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM 7-20-09 = 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM 95 Stars Coach = Joe Jones jjones@suburbanice.com Midget A Coach = Doug Wischmeyer dougwisch40@yahoo.com 7-15-09 = 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM 7-19-09 = 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM 7-22-09 = 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM

www.suburbanstars.com

MITE • SQUIRT PEE WEE • BANTAM HOUSE LEAGUES

-REGISTERFOR FALL HOCKEY

call for more details 248-888-1400

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

MH BEAT PHOTO BY MARK NEWMAN/GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

The Grand Rapids Sled Wings (shown competing in their annual game against the Grand Rapids Griffins) hosted the third-annual Jennifer Kygier Tournament and a clinic to help grow the sport.

Sled Wings look to grow in Grand Rapids

BY JOHN RAFFEL With no other local teams the Grand Rapids Sled Wings are used to traveling to find some competition.

But for a change of pace the 12-member Sled Wings squad, which includes players from the ages of 9-20, hosted the third-annual Jennifer Krygier Tournament at Griff’s Icehouse in mid-April.

The tournament was sponsored by Mary Freebed rehabilitation services and the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation.

“We meet once a week,” said Sled Wings coach Lynnette Eding. “And we travel to places like Fort Wayne, Chicago and Columbus. We have a national tournament, which this year is in (Buffalo, New York). We start playing in November and usually go to March.”

The tournament, which included teams from Fort Wayne and Chicago, focused on the joy of competing instead of wins and losses. Players from all three cities were pooled together and then split into teams for the tournament.

“Jennifer was a girl who used to play on our team.

She passed away three years ago,” said Eding.

It’s the seventh year of existence for the Sled Wings. It’s Eding’s fifth year with the program.

“One of the guys who was coaching asked me to come and help and I did and I’m still here,” Eding said.

She doesn’t have a relative involved in sled hockey but played in women’s leagues at Georgetown and Kalamazoo.

“Coaching this group is awesome,” she said.

“Just seeing them grow from just starting out and hardly being able to move to being fantastic in what they do. These kids are great.”

During the tournament, an adult team from Detroit, the Sled Dogs, put on a clinic at the arena.

“We’re trying to get an adult team to play out of Grand Rapids,” Eding said. “All of our kids are getting to be old. We had about 19 on our team in previous years. This year we have 12. There’s a wheelchair sports camp each year at Grand Valley (State University). We’ve brought sled hockey into that to try to recruit kids.”

Tyler Anderson, 18, has played sled hockey for seven years.

“I just heard there was a team starting and I’ve always liked hockey so I thought ‘why not give it a try?’” Anderson said. “I’ve been playing for awhile but the first time I tried it I liked it so I joined the team.”

Anderson plays defense for the Sled Wings.

“I’ve gotten quite a bit better,” he said. “I got a lot faster since I first started. My shot has improved a lot. The word has gotten around pretty good.

There’s a lot more teams than there was when we started.”

Anderson said he especially enjoys playing on his home ice and loves playing against the Griffins in the December exhibition games.

“I love that game,” he said. “It’s fun playing against those guys. They’re really competitive.

’96 Novi Ice Cats Bantam A Fall Tryouts OPEN/CONDITIONING SKATES Wed., July 8 • 8 - 9:30 pm Tues., July 14 • 8 - 9:30pm Fri., July 17 • 6 - 7:30pm

FALL TRYOUTS

Mon., July 20 • 7:30 - 9 pm Wed., July 22 • 7:30 - 9pm Sat., July 25 • 10:30 - noon

Skates and Tryouts take place at Novi Ice Arena ALL SKATES $15 / ALL POSITIONS OPEN for more information contact Bob Gawronski Gawronski@ameritech.net or 248-420-0436

16

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

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For movie listings and details: Movie Hotline (734) 927-3284 or visit compuwarearena.com

Join us this Summer for the coolest field trip around!

It's your chance to skate in our ice arena with your school or camp! Plus, tour the building and the Whalers locker room and then get player autographs! Eat lunch at Compuware!

For more information, call (734) 453-8400.

SUMMER

FIELD TRIPS

Stay cool this summer at our summer hockey schools and learn from the Whalers players and coaches!

We offer a variety of camps and clinics ranging from Beginner/Mini Mite up through High School. The goal of the camps is to help players develop the skills and fundamentals of power skating, stick handling, shooting, and passing in a positive, exciting environment. See PlymouthWhalers.com or call (734) 453-8400 for more details.

Summer Session July 15 - Aug 19 $76 call 734-453-6400 for more information or to register.

14900 Beck Road North of M-14 Plymouth • (734) 453-6400 compuwarearena.com

South Jersey Fall Classic Vineland, New Jersey August 28 – 30, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Tier II - B, (Select-A), AA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com Compuware Honeybaked Invitational Plymouth & Farmington Hills, MI September 16-20, 2009 Squirt Minor, Squirt Major, Pee Wee Minor, Pee Wee Major, Bantam Minor & Bantam Major J_hare@sbcglobal.net

Arenamaps.com Earlybird Tournament Sept. 25-27, 2009 – Kalamazoo, MI

Summer Meltdown Toronto, Ontario June 19 – 21, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Mite AA through Midget A 4 Game Guarantee Online Registration: http://www.tournaments.arenamaps.com/series/ (This tournament is for IL/IN Gold or Silver and MI non-elite level teams) MAHA Sanction # MIT100011

Arenamaps.com Bronze Earlybird Tournament Sept. 25-27, 2009 – Kalamazoo, MI Squirt-A, Pee Wee-A, and Bantam-A 4 Game Guarantee Online Registration: http://www.tournaments.arenamaps.com/series/

Girls Summer Chill Toronto, Ontario June 19 – 21, 2009 Youth 2001-1990 GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com Burnaby Summer Classic Burnaby, BC June 19 – 21, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

(This tournament is for IL/IN Bronze teams and MI teams who are the 2nd travel team in their age group or those that expect to be under 500 next season.)

MAHA Sanction # MIT100011

Manon Rheaume Tournament

Quest for the Cup Burnaby, BC June 19 – 21, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Farmington Hills, MI November 12-15, 2009 Girls 19&/21U, 16U, 14U & 12U 248-479-1139

Michigan Thanksgiving Classic Monroe, Michigan

Girls Quest for the Cup Burnaby, BC June 19 – 21, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Youth Classic Oshawa / Toronto, Ontario July 10 – 12, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Ultimate Summer Tournament Oshawa, Ontario August 14 – 16, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Future Stars Tournament Oshawa, Ontario July 10 – 12, 2009 Youth 2004, 2003, 2002 BOYS & GIRLS - House League, Select, Super 6 & 7 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Youth Oil City Showdown Edmonton, Alberta August 14- 16, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Oshawa Hockey Challenge Oshawa, Ontario July 17 – 19, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+:A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Oshawa Puck & Ball Challenge Oshawa, Ontario July 17 – 19, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Adult Summer Sizzler Edmonton, Alberta August 7 – 9, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

November 27 – 29, 2009 Youth

2003-1990 BOYS - (Travel

B, Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Girls Michigan Thanksgiving Classic

Adult Summer Meltdown Edmonton, Alberta July 3 – 5, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

ASHN Qualifier Edmonton, Alberta August 21 – 23, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Pre-Season Blast – Boys Toronto, Ontario August 28 – 30, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Pre-Season Blast – Girls Toronto, Ontario August 28 – 30, 2009 Youth 2001-1990 GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

King of the Rings Toronto, Ontario August 14 – 16, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Future Stars Tournament Toronto, Ontario August 28 – 30, 2009 Youth 2004, 2003, 2002 BOYS & GIRLS - House League, Select, Super 6 & 7 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Queen of the Rings Toronto, Ontario August 14 – 16, 2009 Youth 2001-1990 GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Montreal Summer Getaway Montreal, QC August 28 – 30, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Edmonton Season Opener Edmonton, Alberta September 4 – 6, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Toronto Fall Classic Toronto, Ontario September 18 – 20, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

October Classic Oshawa, Ontario October 16 – 18, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Las Vegas Old-Timers Classic Las Vegas, Nevada October 23 – 25, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Las Vegas Youth Blast Las Vegas, Nevada November 5 – 8, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Hockey for Heros / Armed Services Las Vegas, Nevada November 12 – 15, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Las Vegas Hockey Classic II Las Vegas, Nevada November 13 – 15, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com Las Vegas Hockey Classic III Las Vegas, Nevada November 20 – 22, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

November Classic Oshawa, Ontario November 20 – 22, 2009 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

New Jersey Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, New Jersey November 27 – 29, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Dan Holland & Randy Merten Memorial AA Hockey Tournament Ontario, Canada December 3-6, 2009 Squirt –Midget AA (plus Atom E/E & Pee Wee A/E) 519-727-5901 Email: tournaments@brdmha.com

New Jersey Christmas Classic Vineland, New Jersey December 27 – 30, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

New Years Ultimate – 2010 Oshawa, Ontario Dec 31, 2009 - Jan 1, 2010 Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

Monroe, Michigan November 27 – 29, 2009 Youth

2001-1990 GIRLS - Tier II

(C, B,BB) and Tier I (A, AA) 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

22

Edmonton Youth Classic Edmonton, Alberta July 10 – 12, 2009 Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA 1-888-422-6526 Email: tournaments@icesports.com www.canlanclassictournaments.com

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

All invitational tournaments in Michigan need a MAHA sanction and sanction number.

Go to maha.org to obtain your MAHA sanction

2009 NHL MOCK DRAFT

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

NHL 2009 Mock Draft The 2009 NHL Draft is set for June 26-27 in Montreal.

Here is Michigan Hockey’s take on how the first round could unfold: 1. NY Islanders – Victor Hedman (MoDo) Although a Mike Bossy-like scorer like John Tavares is tough to pass on, a huge Swedish franchise defenseman with tons of talent is someone the Isles can build around.

2. Tampa Bay – John Tavares (London) They could use a stud defenseman but a pure sniper with great hands like Tavares isn’t a bad second prize. A big goalscorer, who paired with Steve Stamkos, gives Lightning players to market around to sell tickets.

3. Colorado – Matt Duchene (Brampton) Speedy two-way center with high end skills will remind Avalanche fans of Joe Sakic.

4. Atlanta – Evander Kane (Vancouver) After considering a trade for veteran help, the Thrashers grab a sniper with grit, a quick release and the skill to play with Ilya Kovalchuk.

5. Los Angeles – Brayden Schenn (Brandon) With a group of talented, young defensemen on the roster, the Kings go for a creative playmaking center that never takes a shift off.

6. Phoenix – Jared Cowan (Spokane) Coyotes have young, talented forwards Kyle Burris and Mikkel Boedker and need a big, smooth skating defenseman that can play on the powerplay.

7. Toronto – Zack Kassian (Peterborough) If GM Brian Burke fails to move up to grab Tavares, he takes a big, strong skating power forward that can finish and relishes the physical part of the game.

8. Dallas – Louis LeBlanc (Omaha) Skilled and dynamic two-way center plays with passion that Stars love.

9. Ottawa – Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Leksand) The Senators need a skilled, playmaking blueliner and are glad Ekman-Larsson falls in their lap.

10. Edmonton – Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (Timra) Great skating left wing with blazing speed a perfect fit for Oilers.

11. Nashville – Jordan Schroeder (Minnesota) Shifty, hardworking right wing is creative playmaker and Preds like American players.

12. Minnesota – Dmitri Kulikov (Drummondville) Top end defenseman can run a powerplay and battle down low.

13. Buffalo – Jeremy Morin (NTDP) Sabres can’t pass on local product and goal-scoring machine.

14. Florida – Ryan Ellis (Windsor) The Panthers look for a replacement for Jay Bouwmeester and find undersized, offensively gifted PP QB. 15. Anaheim – Carter Ashton (Lethbridge) The Ducks need more scoring depth and get it with a big winger with toughness and a scoring touch.

16. Columbus – John Moore (Chicago) Blue Jackets have need for athletic, agile blueliner.

17. St. Louis – Nazam Kadri (London) Flashy center has speed and skill to play with Blues young stars in the making.

18. Montreal – Charles Olivier-Roussel (Shawinigan) Habs grab talented two-way D-man with big upside.

19. NY Rangers - David Rundblad (Skelleftea) Blueshirts can’t believe high-risk, highreward blueliner is still on the board.

20. Calgary – Scott Glennie (Brandon) Flames happy to see skilled, speedy winger is still around.

21. Philadelphia – Zach Budish (Edina HS) Potential star power forward missed all season with football knee injury.

22. Vancouver – Calvin de Haan (Oshawa) Canucks nab smooth passing and puck moving defenseman.

23. New Jersey - Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie HS) Devils go for speedy and skilled Minnesota HS blueliner.

24. Washington – Peter Holland (Guelph) Power forward with skill, size and big shot, but doesn’t always bring it.

25. Boston – Chris Krieder (Phillips Andover) New England prep forward has all the tools and too good to pass up.

26. NY Islanders (from San Jose via Ottawa) - Eric Gelinas (Lewiston) Strong skating blueliner makes things happen at offensive end.

27. Carolina - Jacob Josefson (Djurgarden) Skilled playmaking center a good fit with Hurricanes.

28. Chicago - Landon Ferraro (Red Deer) Speedy center has some skill and grit and is good penalty killer.

29. Detroit – Joonas Nattinen (Espoo) Finnish two-way center is hardworker with skill – just what Red Wings like.

30. Pittsburgh – Dylan Olsen (Camrose) Mobile, steady D-man has big shot and is good in his own end.

michiganhockeyonline.com | June 22, 2009

23

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

MAHA

MAHA adds to upcoming Summer Meeting

BY PHILIP COLVIN Do you want to get away and spend some time talking Michigan youth hockey?

Then the MAHA annual meeting is a good place to start.

As usual this year’s gathering, set for July 10-12 at Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs, will include committee meetings, proposed rule changes discussion and voting, an awards banquet and a Michigan Hockey - sponsored social hour.

In addition, the annual Association President’s meeting is on Friday afternoon. The four-hour session provides the opportunity to discuss problems, successes and provide feedback on proposed rule changes or anything that affects you and your association.

New to the weekend’s event schedule this year are three Saturday sessions that aim to educate Michigan’s youth hockey continent on new USA Hockey Programs and MAHA’s Vision for the Future program.

On Saturday morning there will be a presentation by USA Hockey’s Ken Martel on the organization’s new American Development Model (ADM). The strictly voluntary AMD is based on the principles of longterm athlete development and has the potential to change the way all hockey players train and provide a better learning experience for all our athletes. Representatives from USA Hockey will on hand to explain the program and how associations can begin to implement the principles of this program in the coming year.

On Saturday afternoon, USA Hockey’s Courtney Welch will explain the mission of the organization’s new Program Services can help associations deliver the best youth sports experience in their community and assist associations in the shared goal of getting more players involved in the game.

Also on Saturday afternoon there will be a workshop on MAHA’s Vision for the Future program, which was launched last fall to identify challenges facing associations now and in the future. This session will provide insight as to the issues we are currently addressing, as well as some potential solutions. Ideas, suggestions and solutions from all participants in the meeting will be welcome.

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2009 MAHA Summer Meeting (tentative schedule) Friday, July 10 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12 noon.

1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

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Registration Hotel Lobby Executive Board Meeting Association Presidents Meeting Chairperson and Directors At Large Meeting Adult Committee Meeting Girl’s/Women’s Committee Meeting OneGoal Committee Meeting STAR HOCKEY Committee Meeting State Playoff Committee Meeting Rules Committee Meeting Coaches Committee Meeting Officials Committee Meeting Hospitality Room & Exhibitors

Saturday, July 11 8:00 a.m.

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Coffee & Rolls Board of Directors Meeting (OPEN) Lunch Program Services for Local Associations Vision for the Future Coaching Program Cocktail Hors d’oeuvre Reception Awards Banquet Hospitality Room & Exhibitors

Sunday, July 12 8:00 a.m.

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

SUMMER TRAINING

Summer Training: ways to reach your desired results PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/MICHIGAN HOCKEY

BY LARRY O’CONNOR

purpose.

Jennifer Dunbar of Birminghambased Old Skool Training believes players should reflect on the past season, assessing where they came up short in terms of fitness or areas where they sustained reoccurring injuries, and design an exercise plan accordingly.

“It is also important that on top of this focused conditioning they begin to train all components of fitness: speed, power, strength, agility, flexibility, muscular endurance and nutrition,” says Dunbar, who is also a high school and collegiate women’s lacrosse coach. “All athletes want speed. If you develop strength and power, it will translate into speed on ice.”

Any builder will tell you that you can’t build a house without a solid foundation. The same holds true when developing a hockey player, fitness experts say.

That’s why traditional off-ice months of July and August are pivotal when players trade trips to the rink with excursions to the Las Vegas-lit fitness center or to the Spartansetting of their home basement.

Michigan-based fitness instructors recommend many tried-and-true routines like push-ups, chin-ups and squats to enhance physical fitness as well as numerous variations of weight training that require kettlebells to medicine balls.

Regardless of the exercise – or even if it involves weights – the mental DESIRED RESULTS approach is paramount, fitness In terms of overall might, though, gurus say. there are different methods to achieve “They need to approach it as desired results. though they are about to embark Conventional wisdom holds that on a time where they can make Working with slideboards, kettle balls and in the weight young players shouldn’t start with some progress,” says Jim Kielbaso, room can help get the most benefit out of your training. weight training until they are fully director of Wixom-based Total Sports developed, which can differ in age Performance Center. “Most of the time during the season, it’s just kind depending on the child. of a long maintenance phase. It’s hard to gain strength and size in If a player’s growth plates haven’t completely closed yet, “it’s the middle of the season because of they are on the ice so much. not really smart to do a lot of lifting,” says Kirk Vickers, founder of “This is really the critical time in the yearly training cycle where Farmington Hills-based TRIAD Health and Fitness. they can actually gain a lot of strength.”

With younger players, especially those in their early teens, Vickers The precision and zeal in which hockey players tackle off-season opts for a high-repetition and low-weight approach. chores will pay dividends on the ice and elsewhere, says Grant Elias, “The bottom line is what we are trying to do is get these kids to a fitness instructor who works with Suburban Hockey and Power be stronger on the ice,” says Vickers, who is a former Detroit Red Shot Hockey Academy.

Wings trainer. “I think what is missed in a lot of this is not looking “You might find you that you get in there and do a couple of reps and at balance and stability and control of the body.” then you can’t wait to get done with the set,” he says. “The parallel Vickers is particularly dismayed when he sees young players of that is like if you have a shift and it’s just about over and you’re respond to the oft-uttered directive to get bigger by loading up on thinking about something else and then you get scored on.” supplements and going for a crash course in free weight training, While discipline and focus is important, so too is a sense of which can pose more harm.

“That’s not necessarily going to make them a better hockey player,” Vickers says. “They are still getting knocked around on the ice because they have a poor center of gravity. They can’t deliver a check or receive a check very well and their directional change isn’t very good.

“If anything we have done a disservice to that kid. So, he’s put on three, four, five or maybe eight pounds, but he’s even a less efficient skater than prior to that.”

WEIGHT ROOM FOR OLDER PLAYERS

Once players reach high school-age and are vying for coveted spots in elite programs, time in the weight room is inevitable, Kielbaso says.

Push-ups, chin-ups and lunges have roles in developing muscular endurance and body control, but to get the size and strength coaches desire “they have got to get into the weight room,” Kielbaso says.

On that front, Daimond Dixon of Grand Rapids-based Pro Power Training recommends players need to do functional weight work with dumbbells while remaining on their feet.

“Standing on your feet is important because as athletes we play on our feet,” Dixon says. “You want to be on your feet when you train.

At the same time, you are working the core muscles (abdominal, hips and back).

“When you do an overhead press, if you are sitting down, you have that base underneath that is giving you a lot of support. If you do that same exact exercise standing up, your core muscle come into play.”

Dunbar suggests the fitness trifecta of strength, speed and agility may also be found through tossing a weighted orb around.

Chest passes, overhead throws and rotational tosses with a medicine ball can do wonders for core strength and balance.

“You want to train in all directions: Forward, backward (over the head) and rotational,” says Dunbar, whose Old Skool Training also employs kettlebells to improve strength.

Any exercise or routine is only tool, not the complete treasure chest for fitness perfection.

‘There’s lots of different things you can do, but not one of them is better than the other,” Kielbaso says. “I would hate to see someone who would say all I need to do is ‘X.’ “That’s not just how it is. They need to do a complete program.”

Puckmasters going full blast in Wixom Driving down Pontiac Trail just west of downtown Wixom there is nothing to give away that there is a brand new ice rink and hockey training facility tucked a mile back inside a business park.

Located south of Pontiac Train off of Century Drive on Century Court, Puckmasters Hockey Training Center is a 14,250 square foot facility with one purpose: to help players improve their skills.

Open since last November, the Wixom Puckmasters includes a 100’ x 44’ real ice indoor rink, a 60’ x 40’ synthetic ice ProSpeed Resistance Skating Surface (R.S.S.) training rink, an Endless Ice Skating Treadmill, RealHockey Shooting Simluator, a Rapid Shot Shooting range and an off-ice training room with free weights and an Endless Ice Skating Treadmill. The facility also includes two locker rooms, showers and a steam room.

Players can take a 45-minute one-on-one training session with a Puckmasters coach that can include both on- and off-ice work and then fire pucks in the shooting range or in the simulator until they run out of gas.

“We’re really about individualized training,” said owner Scott LaVoie. “Four (students) to one (coach) is the about the biggest ratio we’ll do.

Puckmasters, a franchise based in British Columbia, Canada, has locations in 12 Canadian cities and LaVoie’s Wixom location is the 11th in the United States and second in Michigan (Kalamazoo also has one.)

“There are 5,000-6,000 amateur players in a 15-mile radius of here,” Lavoie said. “At the same time, there really are no other facilities like this in the area.”

Puckmasters training programs combine work on both the real and synthetic ice surfaces, along with offering personal training, weights and dryland training.

26

Little Caesars AAA coach Craig Furstenau is Puckmasters’ resident coach and does player evaluations and creates a progressive development plan tailored to a player’s needs.

“So someone who is a strong skater but needs to improve their stickhandling – that’s what he’ll be working on,” said LaVoie.

And you can do everything on synthetic ice that you can do on real ice, but the synthetic ice gives a greater resistance so players really have to power through turns and have a good stride or they’ll fall.

“You can’t cheat on the synthetic ice,” said LaVoie. “And when you come off after 45 minutes you feel it in muscles you didn’t even know you had.”

Defenseman Brandon Lubin, who played last season on the Midget AAA national champion Little Caesars squad, has trained at Puckmasters since it opened.

“The facility is awesome,” he said. “The treadmill allows me to work on my stride, keep up my endurance and work on my puck handling skills in a tight area. The rapid shot helped improve my shot release and accuracy. As a defenseman I am able to use it to get quick shots offs not necessarily to score but to work on getting the puck on net.”

Puckmasters offers 1-on-1, 2-on-1 and Small Group 4-on-1 training sessions sold in packs of 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48, which also include use of the gym and dryland training areas along with the Rapid Shot and Shooting Simulator before or after your training session.

Sessions are usually once-a-week so a 4-pack gives the player use of the facility for a month.

Team training packages and intermediate goalie instruction are available and Puckmasters has partnered with Blake Anderson, who will run his advanced Goal-Tec Goaltending Training out of

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Owner Scott LaVoie finishes resurfacing the ice surface at the new Wixom Puckmasters Hockey Training facility. the facility.

The facility is clean and well lit, and LaVoie is in the process of hanging photos of players that train at Puckmasters, along with banners of local college, junior and pro teams. He also plans a pro shop with skate sharpener and collectibles.

“As a player you are always looking for that edge that will give you the step on your competition,” said Lubin. “I truly believe that by attending on a regular basis it has made me stronger physically, has improved my shooting accuracy and confidence in placing my shots and allowed me to develop quicker.”

By Philip Colvin

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

michiganhockeyonline.com | June 22, 2009

27

NORTHTO AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE WHAT DO LISTINGS

2009 Activity Guide Compuware Arena Compuware Arena | 14900 Beck Road |Plymouth, MI 48170 | (734) 453-8400 compuwarearena.com | NatalieS@Plymouthwhalers.com, MeganW@Plymouthwhalers.com

2810 Hannah Blvd. | East Lansing, MI 48823 | Ph: 517-336-4272 | Fx: 517-336-4273 siel@suburbanice.com | www.suburbanice.com

Programs:

Programs:

Summer Hockey Schools with the Whalers. Weekly beginning August 3 and running through August 21. The Compuware Arena Drive-in movie theatre shows double features of first run movies on three screens seven days a week through September 6, 2009.

Hockey Schools, Hockey Academy, Play to Learn Hockey Camps Power Skating Classes, Learn to Skate Program, “It’s a Girl Thing” Drop Ins Adult Hockey Leagues, Broomball, Adult Developmental Hockey Cosmic Skates, Public Skates, Adult Public Skates,18& Over Hockey Drop Ins, Sticks and Pucks Sessions, Greater Lansing Area Hockey Association Lansing Skating Club, Figure Skating, Ladies Silver Blades, Hockey Camps and Clinics, Private Lessons, Advertisement Opportunities, Birthday Parties Field Trips/Group Outings, Tournaments, Private Ice Rentals

Mount Clemens Ice Arena & Fitness Center 200 N. Groesbeck | Mount Clemens, MI 48043 | Phone 586-307-8202 | Fax – 596-307-8245 info@mountclemensicearena.com | www.mountclemensicearena.com

Programs: Adult/Youth Hockey Camps/Clinics, Youth Drop-in Hockey, Adult Hockey Leagues, Public Skating, Learn to Skate Classe, Figure Skating Camp, Birthday Parties, Fitness Center Memberships, Ice for Sale, Please visit website for more information.

Suburban Ice – Macomb 54755 Broughton Rd. | Macomb, MI 48042 | Ph: 586-992-8600 | Fx: 586-992-8666 macomb@suburbanice.com | www.suburbanice.com

Programs: Customer Appreciation Nights June 24 “Get Active” Free Open Skating from 6:00-8:30pm July 1 “Canada Day” Free Sticks and Pucks 6:00-6:50pm and 7:007:50pm (30 players per session) Free Open Skating from 6:00-7:50pm July 8 “Suburban Hockey Schools 35th Anniversary Party” FREE Hot Dogs, Face Painting, Raffles, Skating and more from 6:00-8:50pm Drop In Hockey Mite & Squirt: Tuesdays 6:00-7:20pm, Saturdays 9:45-11:05am, Sundays 6:15-7:35pm Pee Wee & Bantam: Tuedays 4:30-5:L20pm, Saturdays 11:15-12:35pm, Sundays 7:45 – 9:05pm High School: Monday through Friday 3:00-4:20pm, Saturdays 4:45 – 6:05pm, Sundays 9:15-10:35pm Sticks & Pucks Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:15-12:35 pm Saturdays 12:45-2:35pm Sundays 4:45-6:35pm Summer Programs to Beat the Heat!

July 9 FREE Give Hockey a Try Clinic – Pre Registration Required 6:00-6:50pm July 12 FREE Give Hockey a Try Clinic – Pre Registration Required 3:30-4:20pm July 12 Learn to Skate 7 week program offered for all ages on Sundays, Mondays or Thursdays July 20 Learn to Play Hockey Camp 6 week program offered for all ages on Sundays August 3 Suburban Hockey School Player Camp August 10 Suburban Hockey School Goalie Camp Annual Event August 15 Happy 4th Birthday Suburban Ice – Macomb Free Open Skate 11 – 12:30pm and 1 – 3pm Figure Skating Performances 12:30-1pm Free Hot Dogs 12:30-2pm Free Pictures on the Zamboni 12:30-3pm Free Give Hockey a Try Clinics 3pm Boys, 4pm Girls

28

Suburban Ice – East Lansing

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

The Summit 9410 Davis Hwy | Dimondale, MI 48821 | Ph: 517-319-1000 | Fx: 517-319-1004 thesummit@capitalcentre.com | www.capitalcentre.com

Programs: Summer Adult Leagues, Ice For Sale, Learn to Skate Camps/Classes, Learn To Hockey Camps/Classes, The Next Level Hockey Training, Figure Skating Adult and Youth Drop-in Hockey, Birthday Parties, Friday Teen/Dance Nights, Private Hockey Lessons, Soccer, Lacrosse, Flag Football, Dodgeball Softball, For Basketball,Volleyball,and Fitness Centre information please visit www.aimhighsports.com

Total Sports Complex 30990 Wixom Road (Inside Total Sports Complex) | Ph: 248-669-9818 | Fx: 248-669-0613 jim@totalsportscomplex.com | www.totalsportscomplex.com

Programs: Total Performance Hockey Training offers everything the SERIOUS hockey player needs for SERIOUS development. All of our programs are individualized and implemented by certified, degreed and experienced trainers.

We have a shooting area, full strength training facility, turf space for agility & conditioning, weighted pucks, shooting resistance cords, patented plyometric protocols and the only Athletic Republic Hockey Treadmill in southeast Michigan - the same hockey treadmill used by the US National Development Program in Ann Arbor. This is SERIOUS development for SERIOUS hockey players. If you want to maximize your time and energy, call Total Performance at 248-669-9818.

Troy Sports Center 1819 E. Big Beaver Rd. | Troy, MI 48083 | Ph: 248-689-6600 | Fx: 248-689-9911 info@troysports.com | www. troysports.com

Programs: Summer adult hockey league-July 7th-August 31st Summer Meltdown Camps-June 22nd-26th, July 20th-24th, August 3rd-7th, or August 24th-28th Learn to Skate Summer Classes-June 22nd-August 31st Learn to Skate Summer Camps-July 20th-24th, August 3rd-7th, August 17th-21st Future Wings Summer Instructional hockey classes-June 15th-August 26th TYHA Fall House League Registration available NOW! Adult Drop-In Hockey-All Summer, M-F morning, noon, and night Open Skating times weekdays and weekends all summer 3-on-3 league-June 22nd-July 24th weekday games only Adult Future Wings hockey learn to skate program Please visit www.troysports.com for more information, times, and prices

ONYX Arena – Rochester

Suburban Ice – Farmington Hills

52999 Dequindre | Rochester, MI 48307 | Ph: (248)601.6699 | Fx: (248) 601-0102 onyx@suburbanice.com | www.onyxicearena.com

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Programs:

Programs:

Summer Adult Leagues-Register as a team or individual – league starts July 7 Open Skating: Monday-Friday and Sundays call or check website for specific dates and times. Learn To Skate-Registration underway for Summer Series II begins July 8 – Aug. 15. Adult Drop In Hockey-Monday-Friday afternoons, offered daily – check website or call for specific dates & times Kids Drop In Hockey- Mites, Squirts, Pee Wee, Bantam & High School - check website or call for specific dates & times. Pop In Hockey- offered daily – check website or call for specific dates & times Hockey Schools-Suburban Hockey Schools-July 20-24, July 27-31, August 3-7, August 10-14, classes vary please call for details Premier Player Academy - June 30 – July 23, Tuesdays and Thursdays, call for details or visit suburbanhockey.com Fall Youth Hockey Registrations-Limited Spots Available in All Divisions, Call for Details. Birthday parties available – check online or call for packages

Open Skating – M-F 11:30am - 1:30pm, $2.00, skate rental available for $2 Sticks and Pucks – M-F 11:30am - 1:30pm, and 1:30pm – 3:30pm, no games, full equipment required, must sign up in person at the front desk, $8.00 Kids Sticks and Pucks - Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM, kids 8 and under, $8, no games, full equipment Hockey Schools – Suburban Hockey Schools – 5 weeks - July 13 August 14, various programs Mite – Adults, both male and female suburbanhockey.com Learn to play Hockey / Play to learn Hockey - 6/17 through 7/29, Wednesday 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Learn to Skate - summer session, 7/1 - 7/22 and 8/5 - 8/26, $44 per session, Sam 1, 2, 3 and Basic 1-5, Wednesday 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Metro Summer Hockey League - June 16 – July 26, games Sunday – Thursday, call front desk for more information Drop-In Hockey - Friday - 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM, $8.00 Womens Drop-In Hockey - call SIFH for details

Novi Ice Arena 42400 Arena Dr | Novi, MI 48375 | Ph: 248-347-1010 | Fx: 248-347-1077 novi@suburbanice.com | www.noviicearena.com

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Programs: Summer Adult Leagues – Sign up starts June 1st League starts July 8th Open Skating – M-F 12-1:50pm, Sat-Sun 3-4:50pm Skate Rental always available Learn to Skate – Registration for Summer Session II - June 15th Learn to Skate - Registration for Summer Session III - July 20th Learn to Skate - Registration for Fall Session - August 17th Drop-IN Hockey – Adults – Wed. & Fri. @ 6:30-7:50 am, Wed. & Fri. @ 11:30 am-12:50 pm, Wed. @ 10-11:20 pm, Saturday @ 9:00-10:20 pm

Sticks & Pucks – M-F: 2-3:20pm, Sat. and Sun. Afternoons from 1:30-3 Hockey Schools – Suburban Hockey Schools: July 20-July 24 & July 27 - July 31 classes vary call for more details Figure Skating – Contract Ice starts June 15th Basic Skills Figure Skating Competition – July 18th Customer Appreciation Day - July 13th

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Mount Clemens & Fitness Center: Future Pro Goaltending: June 13-14 Bandits Goaltending: June 15-19 Robby Glantz Power Skating: June 24-28 Turcotte Stickhandling: July 20-24 Public Skating Youth Drop-in Hockey Adult Hockey Leagues Learn to Skate Figure Skating Camp Birthday Parties Group Outings

248-478-2500

HELP WANTED *Minimum 5 yrs instructional experience *Part time skating instructor on The Blade skating treadmill. *CORE Sports Fitness (248) 619-0900 www.coresportsfitness.com

Mount Clemens Ice Arena & Fitness Center 200 North Groesbeck Phone: 586-307-8202 Fax: 586-307-8245 Email

info@mountclemensicearena.com

Website mountclemensicearena.com Contact Info

Ice time available for sale

Contact Carly Harris for more information

michiganhockeyonline.com | June 22, 2009

29

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

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30

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

The hardware keeps piling up for Bloomfield Hills native Andrew Miller.

The former 2007 high school Mr. Hockey at Cranbrook, who led the Junior A Tier I United States Hockey League in scoring this season as a member of the Chicago Steel, was named the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Player of the Year in May. A couple of weeks later Miller was selected as USA Hockeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2009 Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year, presented annually to the outstanding American-born player in junior hockey who played for a team based in the United States. The award is determined by a panel of junior hockey coaches and administrators.

Miller, who will attend Yale University and play for the Bulldogs next season, had 32 goals and 82 points in 58 games in his second season with the Steel.

Farmington Hills Jeff Petry (2007) and Livoniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bloomfield Hills native Andrew Miller Jeff Lerg (2005) are other was selected as USA Hockeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2009 Michigan winners of the award.

Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year.

HOGAN TAKES JUNIOR JOB IN WYOMING

After winning two national championships and a school-record 88 games with Oakland Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ACHA team, Sean Hogan accepted a head coaching job with the Yellowstone Quake of the Junior A Tier III Northern Pacific Hockey League (NORPAC).

Hogan, 30, saw the opportunity in Cody, Wyo., as one he could not resist. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am very excited about the opportunity and have always had a keen interest in junior hockey,â&#x20AC;? said Hogan, who replaces Southfield native Marty Quarters, who moved to Kenai of the North American Hockey League. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I take great pride in my ability to develop players not only on the ice, but with life skills. I want to play an integral role in helping players achieve their dream of playing collegiate hockey.â&#x20AC;?

Still leaving Oakland was bittersweet for the White Lake native. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a very difficult decision,â&#x20AC;? said Hogan, whose assistant coach Jeremy Bachusz has been named head coach of the Golden Grizzlies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had great players, I made many friends in the league and I helped build the program to be a national contender.

Hogan noticed quickly the professionalism of the NorPac teams, which has full-time coaches, solid community Sean Hogan and ancillary support, and an all-around willingness to grow and move players to the next level.

And the Quake is well-supported by the residents of Cody, and Yellowstone team plays out of a modern arena with access to a 24-hour training facility. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To me, the most important aspect of junior hockey is the ability of the organization to put more emphasis on promoting players than win-loss records,â&#x20AC;? Hogan said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I noticed that immediately with the Yellowstone organization. Winning is important, but striving to win, and the attitude is what develops players and gives them the opportunity to complete at the next level.â&#x20AC;?

Hogan also feels his coaching style will fit well with the Quake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a very open communicator with my players,â&#x20AC;? said Hogan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Players will know what is expected and there will be no surprises.

With that communication comes accountability, both ways, coach-toplayer and player-to-coach. When players know their responsibilities, and know that they will be held accountable to those responsibilities, a team or organization can thrive because no one will be confused as to what is expected of them.â&#x20AC;?

By Matt Mackinder

PHOTO BY R.J. MEYER/USHL

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Miller named Junior Player of the Year

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Ann Arbor native Watson wins Memorial Cup; Hackett is top-ranked goalie

PHOTO BY DAVE JEWELL/WINDSOR SPITFIRES

BY MATT MACKINDER

“I see myself playing more and in a greater role,” Watson. “I see myself contributing more offensively and being a more complete player. This is a big summer for me leading into the biggest year of my hockey career (his NHL Draft year) and I’m going to do what it takes to get better for next season.”

While last season was a whirlwind for Austin Watson, winning a Memorial Cup championship made it all worthwhile.

Watson, an Ann Arbor native who just finished his rookie season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, was part of a dominant squad that plowed through the regular season and HACKETT TO REALIZE DREAM IN MONTREAL playoffs en route to an OHL championship and ultimately, the Plymouth Whalers goaltender Matt Hackett started last season Memorial Cup. as the backup to Jeremy Smith, a throw-in in a trade two seasons The Spitfires lost the first two games of the Memorial Cup round ago between the Whalers and Windsor, but he now sits as the toprobin in Rimouski, Que., but won their rated North American goaltender for last round-robin game, the tiebreaker, the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on June 26-27 the semifinal and then topped the in Montreal.

Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Hackett, who went undrafted in his Rockets in the final to become the firstfirst year of eligibility last summer, ever team in the 91-year history of the moved up the NHL Central Scouting tournament to win it after dropping the list all year long. He went from not first two games. even being ranked in the preliminary “It was such a great feeling to win rankings last fall to eighth in the midit, and to do it coming back starting term rankings and then to No. 1 in the out 0-2 made it that much better,” said final list.

Watson, Windsor’s second-round pick Hackett posted a 3.04 goals-against in the 2008 OHL draft. “As a team, we average, a .913 save percentage, two stressed perseverance all year and when shutouts and a 34-13-3-0 record in it mattered most, that’s what we did.

55 games for the Whalers this past The atmosphere was great. The first season. couple of games, I was nervous due to Hackett also participated in Hockey the magnitude of the games and all the Canada’s Program of Excellence pressure, but as the tournament went Goaltending Camp in Calgary on on, I felt more and more comfortable.”

June 11-14. The camp included 10 Watson, who turned 17 in January, candidates for the Canadian National scored 10 goals and 29 points in 63 Junior Team and four candidates for the regular-season games with Windsor, National Men’s Under-18 Team who got then tacked on another three assists in instruction and evaluation from Hockey 20 playoff games and one assist in five Ann Arbor native Austin Watson won the 2009 Canada. games in Rimouski.

“You look at Matt and he’s a pure Memorial Cup with Windsor this season.

And not since Canton native Drew goaltender,” said Plymouth goaltending Larman won with London back in 2005 has a Michigan native had coach Stan Matwijiw. “He’s the type of goaltender that NHL teams the chance to hoist the Memorial Cup. are looking for. He’s big (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) and takes up a lot of “Winning a Mem Cup is something that not a lot of players get net. He’s very fundamentally sound.” to experience and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. It’s a great sense of pride to know that the last Michigan player to win it was MEURS SIGNS ON DOTTED LINE four years ago,” Watson said. “It’s good to know that Michigan The Whalers wasted little time in signing 16-year-old center Garrett kids can be a part of something so awesome as a Memorial CupMeurs, the team’s first-round pick in last month’s draft. winning team.”

Meurs, from the western Ontario town of Ripley, scored 52 goals Next season, Windsor appears to have a team built for another long and 95 points in 67 games last season for the Huron-Perth Lakers spring playoff run. Watson sees himself as getting the opportunity and at Plymouth’s rookie orientation camp May 16-17 showed he is to make more of an impact with the Spitfires. oozing OHL stardom potential.

“He showed the skill and tenacity our scouts talked about when they watched him last year,” Plymouth head coach/GM Mike Vellucci said. “He’s also a mature young man and that’s a credit to his parents.

Garrett should fit in well with our program.”

“This is great,” Meurs said. “Plymouth seems like such a great place. I’ve met all the coaches, trainers and everyone else. I’m looking forward to having a good year.”

COMPUWARE PRODUCT ALSO SIGNS

On May 28, Compuware center Stefan Noesen became the latest product of the Compuware youth system to commit to play for the Whalers.

Noesen was selected in the fourth round of last month’s draft and feels confident.

“I feel ready to play,” Noesen said. “I feel like I can contribute to the team. I’m excited to sign and become a member of the Whalers.”

Noesen is originally from Texas, but now calls Northville home.

Last year, he scored 24 goals and 48 points for the national champion Compuware U-16 squad.

“We’ve always put a premium on finding character players with skill,” said Vellucci. “Stefan fits that mold. He played on a championship team last year. I skated with his team in practices last year and love his potential. If Stefan continues to work hard and improve his conditioning, he has a chance to become an excellent player.”

The Whalers have a long history of drafting or signing local players from the Compuware program, going all the way to the team’s first-ever selection in 1990, Pat Peake, the Whalers’ all-time leading scorer.

WHALERS NOTEBOOK

Just two weeks after being drafted by the Whalers in the 10th round, Compuware defenseman Peter Hand verbally committed to Ohio State for 2011 … One of Plymouth’s fifth-round picks, Pittsburgh Hornets center J.T. Miller, has committed to the U.S. National Team Development Program … Defenseman Colin MacDonald, Plymouth’s 14th-rounder from 2008, signed with the Whalers on May 26 … Rookie forward Tyler Seguin was named to Canada’s national men’s summer Under-18 team selection camp in Calgary from August 1-4 with hopes of playing at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from August 11-15 … Veteran defenseman Michal Jordan was taken in the fourth round of the KHL (Russia) Draft on June 1 by SKA St. Petersburg … Outgoing Plymouth captain Chris Terry signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Carolina, the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2007, on May 29 …

Plymouth scouting director Jim Debenham resigned June 8 to take the same position in Sarnia. Plymouth then hired Don Harkins to replace Debenham on June 11.

Watson proud of how Saginaw rebounded for successful season

BY CARL CHIMENTI Despite an inauspicious start, the Saginaw Spirit is proud of the big strides the team made in the 2008-09 season.

Saginaw finished second in the Ontario Hockey League’s West division, arguably the toughest division in the circuit, behind only the Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires and third overall in the Western Conference.

In addition the team finished with their second best ever win (34) and point (80) totals, along with finally getting the huge monkey off their back with a first round playoff win over the Guelph Storm.

Saginaw head coach and hockey director Todd Watson is pleased with how his staff and players came together and how much they were able to achieve.

“Theoretically we should not have been in the playoffs last season,” said Watson, who won an OHL title as an assistant coach with the Plymouth Whalers in 2006-07 and will start his third season behind the Spirit bench in the fall. “We were picked to finish 18th out of 20 teams and to me to finish second in the tough west division, I am surprised more was not made of that.”

“That was a great accomplishment and then to get into the playoffs and win a first round series along with the teams first playoff road win and a first playoff sweep, what an outstanding year that was.”

The season’s success is even more amazing after what the team endured at the beginning of the year. At training camp the team was dealt a tough blow when none of the Spirit’s 1992 draft picks reported, including their top three selections, forwards Brandon Saad, Livonia native John Parker and Dylen Impens.

“Think about it - we were the only team in the OHL last year that had zero 92’s,” said Watson shaking his head in disbelief. “To me that set us back five years.”

A month into the season there was even more turmoil as the the

Spirit fired general manager Don Edwards and reorganized the hockey department. Watson was named Director of Hockey Operations in addition to his head coaching duties.

Edwards was the club’s fourth general manager, but Spirit President and managing partner Craig Goslin said at the time it was in the best interest of the team.

Looking back, Watson said the transition went well because of his coaching staff.

“It was not difficult because you are only as good as the people around you,” said Watson. “John Kisil (assistant coach) handled the day to day of the players and I brought in Adam (Mattson) from the Whalers to handle the hockey administration duties. I was fortunate to have both handle that, while I was in the middle assisting what ever side needed help.”

NOTEBOOK

The Saginaw Spirit have signed their top two 2009 draft picks, including Bingham Farms’ Vincent Trocheck.

Saginaw announced the signing of their top two picks in the May 2009 OHL priority draft. Both Anthony Camara (1st round, 14th overall) and Bingham Farms native Vincent Trocheck (2nd round, 24th overall), attended the teams May mini camp and will report to training camp in late August…Edward Pasquale and T. J. Brodie were invited to summer development camps by Hockey Canada. Pasquale attended Team Canada program of excellence goaltending camp June 11-14 in Calgary, Alberta and Brodie will participate at the Team Canada development camp August 5-10 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

michiganhockeyonline.com | June 22, 2009

31

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

RED WINGS

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

With defensemen Brian Rafalski (left) and Nick Lidstrom (below) closing in, Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood stops a shot from Pittsburgh’s Bill Guerin (center) as the Penguins Chris Kunitz looks for a rebound during the 2009 Stanley Cup final.

Long summer: Game 7 loss gives Red Wings motivation to return to final

BY DAVE WADDELL The pain of a Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final remains fresh for the Detroit Red Wings, who gathered for a team picture on June 15 at Joe Louis Arena.

However, the NHL has this ceaseless way of marching forward and as the players collected their personal belongings several did so knowing it could be for the last time in Detroit.

Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Ty Conklin and Tomas Kopecky are all unrestricted free agents while Jiri Hudler and Ville Leino are restricted free agents.

“It’s tough, that’s the way our lives are,” said Henrik Zetterberg of knowing some of his teammates were leaving the Detroit dressing room for the last time as Red Wings. “You don’t have that certainty.

You don’t know really what’s going to happen next year.

“With the cap world now, you can’t keep everyone you want.

Players have to find their spots to play in too.

“It’s sad, but you will always remember the players you played with. You’ll always bring that with you.”

Hossa, of course, will be the piece of the puzzle that determines the direction of the club. If the Wings sign him, it means several of the aforementioned names will be moving on. If not, then Detroit will have a lot more flexibility.

“It’s a little disappointing, but I had a great time in here with these people,” Hossa said. “I don’t regret anything.

“Now it’s up to Ken (Holland) and Ritch (Winter), my agent, they’re going to sit down and they’re going to talk about some stuff. I don’t know when, probably next week or the week after.”

Wings captain Nick Lidstrom summed up Hossa’s teammates feelings on the subject. He has lobbied Hossa to make the sacrifices necessary to stay.

“I’d like to see him stay,” Lidstrom said. “He’s been a great addition to our team. A 40-goal scorer isn’t something that’s easy to find. Even though he didn’t score the way he wanted to in the playoffs, he means a lot to our team. He showed a lot of character coming here, turning down some long-term offers and security to come here on a one-year deal. He wanted to win.”

“We hope to have him back again.”

Hossa said not completing his Stanley Cup journey hasn’t changed his mind on where he’d prefer to play next season.

“Detroit is at the top of my list for sure,” said Hossa, who acknowledged he’d have to take a pay cut to stay.

WINDS OF CHANGE

Though the winds of change are blowing strongly through the bowels of Joe Louis Arena, it’s change the Wings seem to embrace rather than fear.

“No. 1, I don’t have to do the changes,” said Wings coach Mike Babcock of how extensive he thought the changes might be. “That’s easy for me.

“But we don’t really do it that way. We bring them to camp and we see who is good enough.

32

“The thing I found out about veterans, when you have a family at home that you’re feeding, you tend not to give away your job very easily.”

However, Darren Helm, Leino, Jonathan Ericsson and Justin Abdelkader have showed they’re ready for prime time and there’ll no doubt be some upheaval among the veterans that remain regardless.

Babcock has already admitted he expects probably three of the youngsters to remain in Detroit once the NHL season starts for the Wings in October.

“Ericsson was better than I ever expected,” Babcock said. “I made it very clear to him that’s the bar now, so you’re in trouble. There’s going to be lots of expectations.

“Helm the same way. Leino got less of an opportunity, but he was good and so was Abby.

“Abby’s still a kid and might end up playing in the minors next year, at least at the start. We’ll see if he’s prepared.

“That’s something for those guys to decide in training camp and we’ll give them eight or nine exhibition games to figure it out.

“Leino, he’ll be a real good player.”

That as much as anything gives the Wings solace only days after the bitter disappointment of Game 7.

Despite coming up just short of their second consecutive Stanley Cup, the playoff campaign illustrated the Wings are likely to be in the mix for the NHL title for years to come.

“One of the greatest things about this organization is we always get players coming up and playing well from our own system,” Zetterberg said. “You saw a little bit of that in the playoffs.

“Looking forward to the future here, it’s going to be pretty bright.”

THE SKATING WOUNDED

As the veil of secrecy that descends at playoff time was lifted, the extent of what Babcock meant when he said his club was ‘being held together by bandages at the end’ was revealed.

Nick Lidstrom required surgery after Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals to repair the damage done by a Patrick Sharp spear to the groin.

His defensive partner Brian Rafalski was playing with a herniated disc is his back for three rounds and added a separated shoulder suffered against Chicago.

Pavel Datsyuk missed most of the finals with a Charley Horse and a bruised foot suffered in the Western Conference Finals. Dan Cleary had a severe groin strain and Tomas Holmstrom a bad left knee that may need surgery this summer.

Kris Draper played only eight playoff games due to an injured neck and groin strain while Kopecky was finished in the second round with a facial fracture.

Andreas Lilja never played in the post-season and is now facing some career questions resulting from the concussion he suffered Feb. 28.

“Let’s be honest, we’re a way better team when Pavel’s healthy,”

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Babcock said.

“He wasn’t very healthy in the playoffs and I thought that made a huge difference in the whole series.

“Every year, if you’re unfortunate, you’re going to have some injuries. We’ve had some injuries in the playoffs before and it cost us and I thought in the end, it caught up to us again this year.”

LOSS OF FIREPOWER

Injuries weren’t the only thing the caused the Wings to stumble.

The NHL’s highest-scoring team during the regular season and the early rounds of the playoffs struggled to score goals in the finals.

Detroit only allowed four goals over the last three games, but managed to lose two of them.

While Hossa is going to take the lion’s share of the blame, he wasn’t alone in failing to produce. Tomas Holmstrom had just three assists in the last 18 playoff games. Samuelsson had two assists in his final 10 games and Jiri Hudler had no goals in his last 12.

Second-line center Valtteri Filppula struggled against Evgeni Malkin and even Johan Franzen, who overall had an excellent playoff with 12 goals and 23 points, disappeared with one assist in the final three games against Pittsburgh.

“We didn’t produce enough offense,” Zetterberg said. “We were right there. We had our chances and we couldn’t put it away.

“I think our defense was good enough. Ozzie played unbelievable for us, he didn’t let many goals in.

“If you just let two in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final you should win.”

After only scoring two goals in his past 41 games going back to a second straight injury-filled regular season, Holmstrom even wondered if his body might not let him play beyond the end of his contract next year.

“I have one more year, I try to enjoy next year and see what happens after that,” said the 36-year-old Holmstrom. “The body’s got to hold up, too. You can’t be like this for a whole year.

“I love the game but what can you do if the body says no? It’s tough time.

“The way I play, you take a lot of beatings, too. Maybe it’s catching up on me.’’

Time will tell this summer with Holmstrom, but he won’t be alone in mulling over unpleasant memories from the finals.

Zetterberg said there’s few things that rekindle the hunger in a champion than watching another team lift the Stanley Cup. The Wings admit they already feel as if they let a moment in history pass and are determined to get back to the finals to make amends.

“The feeling you had when you skated off the ice, you’ll have that with you when you’re working out this summer preparing for next year,” Zetterberg said. “For sure you don’t want the feeling again.

You want the feeling you had last year.

“You just use that as motivation and we’ll be okay.”

During this two-day camp, campers will sharpen their fundamentals on the ice, participate in off ice training, and participate in activities in the Detroit Red Wings locker room. The camp is designed to include players of all skill levels and to be a fun two-day experience at Joe Louis Arena.

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For More Information or to Register Your Camper, log onto www.DetroitRedWings.com or contact Phil at 313-396-7482 or by email at phil.pierce@hockeytown.com. Space is Limited, Call Today! *Red Wings preseason game will be preselected by the Detroit Red Wings

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

RED WINGS

Lidstrom still among NHL’s elite

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

BY KEVIN ALLEN

hear everything about it,” Waddell said. “It was just like he was a fan…one of his dreams is to attend Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom is 10 months away a game at Anfield Road, the famous stadium. We from his 40th birthday, and three weeks removed talked 10 or 15 minutes about Liverpool soccer.” from a gruesome injury that almost forced the The Lidstrom animation that Waddell witnessed surgical removal of a testacle. isn’t often seen on the ice because Lidstrom has But those who watched Lidstrom perform in the spent 17 seasons developing a reputation as the NHL playoffs don’t seem to believe he’s anywhere calmest superstar in hockey. close to being ready to retire.

“The first time I ever met Lidstrom what I “Of course, he will be taking his family into remember is how quiet he was,” said Detroit’s consideration, but I could see him playing until he Kris Draper who has played with him since 1993. is 45, 46 or 47,” said teammate Kirk Maltby. “His “I’ve been very fortunate to see the evolution of skills haven’t diminished at all…it seems like he Nick Lidstrom first hand.” just finds it easy to play.”

Maltby recalls that the first time he heard After the Red Wings lost the Game 7 to Lidstrom speaking Swedish it surprised him.

Pittsburgh, it was revealed that Chicago’s Patrick “He doesn’t even really have an accent, so the Sharp’s stick had struck Lidstrom in the groin first he started speaking Swedish, I said, what during Game 3 and while the Red Wings were the…oh, I forgot about that,” Maltby said, laughing. preparing for Game 4, a doctor was telling Lidstrom “…it was a funny…you almost took it for granted he was North American.

He’s the same way now. He’s quiet and he goes about his business.”

Although he was a coach’s dream defender early in his career, his quiet demeanor, coupled with Detroit’s high profile dressing room, stunted his national attention.

“For a while, he was the best-kept secret in the league,” Draper said.

But with six Nor ris Trophies, Lidstrom now has the best defensive credentials in the game. He isn’t expected to win the Norris again, although he is nominated.

“He is so poised with the puck,” rookie defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. “I just try to do the things that he does out there. I learn just by watching him.”

During the playoffs, Lidstrom was among Detroit’s most consistent high level performers. He scored the winning goal with 50 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the conference final against Anaheim.

“I think (Lidstrom’s) greatest skill is that he doesn’t make things complicated,” Despite approaching his 40th birthday, Detroit defenseman Nicklas said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. “…he can play Lidstrom’s (with Pittsburgh’s Chris Kunitz) skills are still top notch. big minutes because he’s that he didn’t know whether the testicle could an effortless skater.” be saved or not. He had practiced Saturday, but Lidstrom has one season left on his contract, woke up Sunday in excruciating pain. The doctor and he has said previously that he could see had informed Lidstrom that he could awake from himself playing beyond that. He admitted before surgery with one testicle gone.

Game 6 of the Finals that he has thought about the “It was painful, I can tell you that,” Lidstrom possibility that this could be his last opportunity said. to win a Stanley Cup. Lidstrom told the Detroit Free Press that he “I thought about it last year too,” Lidstrom said. wasn’t angry about what happened, and hadn’t “You can’t take it for granted about winning a even sought out a replay to see what happened.

Stanley Cup or even being in the Finals. I learned He said sometimes these things happen accidently that early on. You have to take advantage of your as players try to lift another player’s stick. opportunities.”

That kind of reaction is a typical for a player His durability is unprecedented. He missed only who rarely lets any anger show. two games after testicle surgery, and those were However, those who believe that Lidstrom never the first two playoff games he has ever missed. allows his excitement to show has never heard That’s not exactly an indication of an athlete him discuss Liverpool soccer. breaking down.

One day, Windsor (Ont.) Star hockey writer Dave “You don’t see anything going in his game,” Waddell, who also writes for Michigan Hockey, Draper said. “He still skates well. He shoots the mentioned to Lidstrom that he seen a game in puck extremely well. He is so smart. He has a great Liverpool and had spent time with its famous stick. He is always in position. If he wanted to do player Kenny Dalglish. it, he could certainly go into his 40s. It will be a sad “He told me to pull up a stool and he wanted to day for Detroit when No. 5 walks away.”

34

June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

Art Regner

Red Wings Up Close

Cup loss staggers Red Wings fans It just wasn’t the die-hards, it was everybody.

An entire city - whether you were a hockey fan or not - had awarded the 2009 Stanley Cup to the Detroit Red Wings. Parade routes were planned along with anticipation of another summer of partying with Lord Stanley.

But it all came crashing down in a cacophony of a hollow, dense thud. When the initial shock faded the image was all too real. It was the brash young captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins that was skating around the Joe Louis Arena ice with the Stanley Cup. Detroit’s ‘Hockeytown Heroes’ had come up one game short of defending their championship.

Suddenly, the talk of celebrating ceased and “I don’t believe what I just saw!” became the topic of the day.

We can harp all we want about the schedule, officiating, conspiracies, injuries and plain old bad luck, but it was our (fans) assumption of victory that will make this defeat linger for months to come.

In a way, we’re all victims of the Red Wings success. There hasn’t been another Detroit team that has put together as impressive of a run for as long as the Wings. They’ve been heralded as the ‘best franchise in professional sports,’ a title that they deserve.

Since they’ve been the rock stars of the NHL for

Red and White. Although most of that scuttlebutt is unfounded, eventually that day will come.

That’s why regardless of how they finished this year; the Wings accomplished more than any other defending Stanley Champion in over a decade. We should be disappointed in how it ended, but we should also relish in the journey.

“They beat us,” said Red Wing goalie Chris Osgood, “I could say a few things, but they’d be looked at as excuses. They just beat us.”

Osgood and his fellow Red Wings certainly do not like to lose. They’ll eventually move on because they live to play another day. It’s us, the fans that will need time to come to grips with the defeat.

May I suggest you begin realizing that the 2008-09 Detroit Red Wings are history? This team will not be the same next year.

Detroit General Manager Ken Holland has already indicated that salary cap issues, restricted and unrestricted free agents, along with tough decisions on veteran players, will be factors into how different the roster will look for the 2009-10 season.

Out of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson, Chris Chelios, Ty Conklin, Derek Meech, Tomas Kopecky, Andreas Lilja (injury), Tomas Holmstrom, Draper and Maltby, more than one could have played their final game in a Detroit

The Red Wings accomplished more than any other defending Stanley Champion in over a decade. We should be disappointed in how it ended, but we should also relish in the journey. over a decade, we’ve all forgotten how difficult it is to win a title in professional sports. I would bring up the Lions, but why? You understand my point.

Make no mistake; the Red Wings are not above criticism. They appeared to have control of their destiny. With two opportunities to close out the Penguins and the all-or-nothing game seven of the Finals at Joe Louis Arena, the Stanley Cup should still be residing in Detroit.

You would think a team as deeply talented as the Wings would have been able to win just one more game. Their experience alone should have been enough. Unfortunately, the Penguins had just tasted the bitterness of losing the Cup to the Red Wings the year before and they learned their lesson well. Give Pittsburgh credit, they capitalized on every opportunity and when it counted the most they were better than Detroit.

But this about us, the good people of Detroit, southeast Michigan and Red Wings’ fans everywhere. Our actions and response to the Red Wings defeat proves we are spoiled and take the team for granted.

First and foremost, do not pay much attention to the media. You’ll get local pundits pounding the drum of a massive choke job by Detroit and the national press (especially the Canadian corps) sit Sidney Crosby at the right hand of God. Let the media do their jobs because it’s time for a little self examination.

Speculation had surfaced that Red Wings veterans Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, along with a few of Detroit’s other elder statesmen, could be competing in their last playoff campaign for the

uniform.

Signing Hossa should still be Detroit’s top priority and would give the Red Wings four elite forwards - Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen - in their top two lines which means major match up difficulties for the opposition.

Add in Valtteri Filppula, Dan Cleary and a projected fourth line of Darren Helm, Ville Leino, and Justin Abdelkader, and the Wings look extremely competitive up front.

Then again do we really know? Are you comfortable in assuming that the Wings will be returning to the Stanley Cup Final for a third year in a row? Can you be sure about a bright foreseeable future for the Red Wings organization?

Nothing is etched in stone when you try to predict the future. Looking back is tangible, looking ahead is a guess.

Why were we all so confident that the Wings had the Cup in the bag? For starters they were up two games to none. The team has been so good for so long that the opposition didn’t matter and most importantly they’re the Red Wings and the Red Wings are great!

By looking at the past we thought we knew the future. It’s human nature and fans do it all the time. It’s woven into the fabric of fandom, but let’s remember a the cliché “that’s why they play the game.”

And the Red Wings on most occasions have played the game better than anybody else - except this time they fell one game short.

While we may not like it, in typical fan fashion we do have a rallying cry - “wait until next year – go Wings!”

OPINION

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Kevin Allen covers pro and college hockey for USA Today

Pens and Wings could meet again

PHOTO BY DAVE REGINEK/DRW

Captain Sidney Crosby won’t be 22 until August.

Evgeni Malkin is also 22, and Jordan Staal is still only 20. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury seems like an old man at 24.

If there was a NHL team set-up for a long run of success, it is the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, with or without Marian Hossa, are also in a position to compete strongly for the Cup in 2010.

As much as the hockey world appreciated the Penguins vs. Red Wings, Part II, the intriquing aspect of the story is that there is a decent shot at the introduction of the third chapter of this hockey saga.

three centers, Crosby, Malkin and Staal. Goalkeeper Fleury is a $5 million cap hit. Counting the other players under contract, the Penguins have roughly just under $47 million tied up for just 14 players.

That leaves under $11 million for another eight or nine players, including a back-up goalie. Mathieu Garon is an unrestricted free agent.

Complicating the situation for the Penguins is that stay-at-home defenseman Scuderi, 29, played well enough during the playoffs that he has the potential to be one of the hotter defensemen in the marketplace.

Guerin, 37, earned $4 million this season, and it seems likely he would have to accept less to remain as Crosby’s right wing. Fedotenko earned $2.25 million this past season and Gill had a cap number of $2.07 million.

Even if Shero signs four other players for an average of $600,000 each, it would leave approximately $8.6 million for those four players.

Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan are also unrestricted, but they are expected to end up elsewhere next season.

My hunch is that Fedotenko and Scuderi both will get done, and Guerin and Gill are somewhat less likely, although it would be difficult for me to believe that Guerin would want to leave Crosby’s line. Playing with Crosby could add a couple of highly productive years to his resume. If he stayed healthy, he would probably score 30-35 goals playing with Crosby next season.

When Detroit coach Mike Babcock was asked if Pittsburgh was set-up for future success, he said ‘Yes’ as long as the salary cap didn’t get in the Penguins’ way.

“What happens is there’s only so With young stars like Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg, the Penguins and Red Wings could meet much pie to go around,” Babcock said. “It’s called math. Depth is again in next year’s Stanley Cup final. really important as much as star We could see Red Wings vs. Penguins again power is. But what they’ve got going for them right next year, provided the Penguins can deal with now are good players and good players attract the Stanley Cup hangover issues. good players.”

The Penguins’ strength is that they have Crosby, The Penguins probably will be trying to emulate Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Maxime Talbot and Brooks the Red Wings’ system of persuading players to Orpik all tied up moving forward, giving rise to the take less pay to remain with a quality team. idea of a team that could be a major contender for “Sometimes when it’s a good situation, a good several years. building coming, a good owner, good general “That’s a great thought, and it’s a dream,” manager,” Babcock said. “Maybe you can get guys said Pittsburgh coach and Grand Haven native to come for less.”

Dan Bylsma. “But there’s a lot of hard work and Detroit’s situation is difficult because there building and laying a foundation that goes into isn’t room to keep Hossa without probably trading every year. It doesn’t happen without building someone. Also, keeping Hossa, seems, at least that foundation.” on paper, to prohibit Detroit from keeping Mikael It also doesn’t happen without the general Samuelsson or Jiri Hudler. manager making sound financial decisions when But regardless of what happens to those three it comes to husbanding the team’s salary cap. players, there is enough talent on the Detroit roster Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero, with his that right now it seems like the Red Wings are the Stanley Cup championship only three days old, team to beat in the West. already is facing some difficult decisions about The unpredictable nature of NHL playoff hockey how to deal with potential unrestricted free agents makes the odds against Pittsburgh and Detroit Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin, Hal Gill and Rob meeting again in 2010 improbable, but the depth Scuderi among others. of talent on these two teams gives me hope.

The salary cap is expected to stay somewhere Detroit vs. Pittsburgh in the rubber match of near the $57.8 million mark for next season, and the a three-year competition - now that would be a Penguins have $21.4 million (37%) tied up in their story.

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