Definition of gratitude; ‘the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.’
Thank you to the coaches that I asked to share some of their thoughts and gave me some material for this post. Great responses!
Before listing some of the many things most coaches are thankful for and having some fun, I felt compelled to mention some things I personally am very grateful for this Thanksgiving.
My loved ones, my family, my friends and the great people I work with. My health, my happiness and all the incredible things that I have been blessed to experience over the years, including coaching.
50 Things Coaches are ‘giving thanks’ for this year:
Home games.
Road trips.
Practices.
Power Forwards.
Pesky Forwards.
Passionate players.
Calm players.
White boards.
Respectful cellys….(that means celebrations I guess…..)
Blue line and backs….
Red line and backs…..
Down and backs….
Over and backs…..
Video.
Good power plays.
Better penalty kills.
Solid forwards.
Solid defense.
Rock solid goaltending………
Parents who see the ‘big picture’.
Advisers who actually advise…….
Players who forecheck well.
Players who backcheck always.
The top player on the roster,
The last player on the roster…..
Leaders.
Followers….
Warm coaches coats.
Bad rink coffee.
Good bus drivers.
Respectful scouts.
Team meals.
Team managers.
Unselfish players.
Unselfish parents.
Coaches who share information.
NHL Center Ice package.
Pre-game meals.
Post game decompression sessions…..
Good ice when you team is playing well.
Bad ice when they are struggling…..
Players that don’t talk back.
Players that say thank you…..
Players that that are thankful for their parents sacrifice.
Loved ones.
Family.
Friends.
Great people to work with.
Health.
Happiness.
All the incredible things experienced over the years.
Being a coach.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
Author: thehockeysummitblog
What’s The Rush?
“Be quick but don’t hurry.”
John Wooden
“Let’s not be in a rush to look like crap……”
Unnamed Coach
One of the age old questions in sport, and in hockey especially, is when should a player move to ‘the next level’, or play at a ‘higher level’? Obviously there is no single correct answer. All players develop at a different pace and no one path is correct for everyone. Nobody can accurately predict what a very young player can turn out to be and what they should or should not do to find their way.
(It is important to remember and note at this point the large number of players playing in the NHL who were undrafted…..)
What seems to constantly appear though are players rushing to get to the ‘highest level’ they can play at as soon as they can. Not factoring how much they are going to play or even how much they will be able to develop in that environment. It is a very dangerous area and can make an extreme difference in the development trajectory of a player.
Certainly there are players that can excel and need to be challenged by older more experienced players, but they are few and far between. It is only my opinion but there seems to be a huge focus on ‘getting there’, and not really thinking about what can go on once ‘there’…….
This is something that has been sticking in my head for quite a while so I wanted to get some other opinions and ideas about this topic. I asked about ten Division 1 college coaches about this and it was really interesting to hear their input. A common thread became obvious. Here are some of their answers:
Coach 1: “When we look at a player to recruit, remember we are looking at what a player will be like two, three, four or even five years down the road….. but we want to see them play, what they can do in a game, whatever the level. It is no use trying to evaluate a young player sitting on the bench in a really good league.”
Coach 2: “The most frustrating thing we come across is seeing a young player who is a huge part of his team, a leader, playing in key parts of a game……..move to a higher level too quickly, hit a wall and start to struggle. Some of them, a lot of them…don’t recover.”
Coach 3: “Do we like to see players play at the highest and most competitive level? Absolutely but it is not the league or level we commit to…..it is the player. Whether we recruit at the U16, U18, Junior, NAHL or USHL, that player has to be a big part of that team. No question about it……”
One of my favorite quotes from a coach was this, “There is a difference between playing at a high level and playing with a high level of intelligence……..”
In having these conversations, the common thing that kept coming from these coaches was that in their opinion, it is best to be patient. Take your time. Do not rush into chasing a higher league or level. Make sure whatever team you are on, you are going to be a very important player for that team. If you can do that and be that player at the highest level, then go for it!
Here are some interesting numbers about the best junior league in the United States, the USHL and it’s players. A lot of young players I talk to say they are looking and ready to go play there. But are they really?
We took a look at the players birth years on the active rosters and broke it down. The NTDP was eliminated as all their players are mainly 96 birth years. Here is the remaining 15 Teams and the approximate breakdown.
Birth Year
1993-41 players
1994-138 players
1995- 126 players
1996-51 players
1997 12 players
What is really interesting is out of the approximately 60 or so 96 and 97 birth year players, less than half seem to be playing average amounts of minutes or contributing significantly statistically to their teams.
There is always a lot to consider when making the decision on what level to play at.
I hope some of this helps when evaluating your options.
All the best!
A Little Fellow Follows Me
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I found this while doing some coaching research on the legendary basketball coach, John Wooden.
In case you did not know, Coach Wooden was voted the greatest coach of all time by The Sporting News in 2009. Coach Wooden passed away in 2010 at the age of 99.
Coach Wooden won 10 national championships at UCLA, winning more than 80 percent of his games over 27 seasons. When asked about his winning ways and success, he constantly shifted focus away from that and said that true fulfillment came from the rewards of a life spent teaching, mentoring and improving lives.
One of the amazing things I found out about him was that he kept this poem in his wallet with him at all times, right up to his death. Through all the championships, games, travel, accolades and practices.
It just so happens that the poem was presented to Coach in 1936 when his son was born but he said it helped him along the way remember the true meaning of coaching throughout his amazing career.
If this is good enough for the greatest coach of all time……..it is good enough to share with everyone.
Enjoy.
A Little Fellow Follows Me
A careful man I want to be,
a little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray,
for fear he’ll go the self-same way.
I cannot once escape his eyes,
what err he sees me do he tries.
Like me he says he’s going to be,
the little chap who follows me.
He thinks that I am good and fine,
believes in every word of mine.
The base in me he must not see,
the little chap who follows me.
I must remember as I go,
through summer sun and winter snow,
I’m building for the years to be,
that little chap who follows me.
Yesterday, Hockey Won
The last few weeks there have been a lot of things involving hockey that have been concerning to say the least. Ugly on ice incidents, arrests off the ice and a continual parade of players heading to the NHL league offices to be the latest players suspended for violent head shots. Tough to read the old Twitter feed lately these days…..
But yesterday I witnessed something that in my opinion was pretty special.
Yesterday, hockey won.
I help coach the U18 Wilkes Barre/Scranton Hockey team and we played Team Comcast U18. Both teams are filled with very talented, passionate young hockey players. All our games against them this season will no doubt be very competitive and intense.
Yesterday was supposed to be different. Yesterday was different.
Early in the week, Comcast had tragically lost a fellow teammate, Alexander Thomas. The circumstances of Alexander’s death are not important. Their team and their family lost someone who they loved dearly and was part of them.
There are no words that adequately express that kind of loss and pain. Especially for 16 and 17 year old teammates.
But yesterday for a short time, hockey won.
Those young men from Team Comcast wanted to play and here is what they did. They pulled together. They began to mourn their loss. And they asked us not to cancel a game we had scheduled shortly after Alexander’s death. His teammates wanted to play. They needed to play…..They wanted to be together. They needed to be together. They needed the game…….
Looking at the game you would think that Team Comcast would have a very difficult time. It would be virtually impossible for them to prepare, focus and play a game after the week they had just lived through.
For close to 60 minutes yesterday, their young players put on their hockey gear as players do, warmed up, and battled a team that was well rested and had not gone through anything emotionally close to what they had gone through. They played hard, they played smart and they played disciplined. They deserved to win the game although they came up just short. I found a big part of myself cheering for them and in some ways hoping they would find a way to win. Not really what a coach of an opposing team should do, but I am sorry. That is how I felt.
But here is the most important thing. They did not lose. We did not win. Hockey won. Again. Like it has so many times over the course of history, hockey was there to help people heal. It gave those young men a reprieve from the agony. It gave them a place they could go to temporarily be free from the pain. During a game at that level a certain kind of focus takes over where so many things have to get blocked out. That team and coaching staff should be proud of their will, strength and commitment to lace up their skates and compete like they did. Their coach even came in after the game to thank our team for playing and shared some kind words. I guess he understood that our guys were confused too. It was an example of total class.
Yesterday, hockey won……
As a young player in the NHL I was once on a team where one of our teammates lost his wife during childbirth and we had to play that night after getting the news. It was one of the most confusing and difficult things I have been through. Hockey didn’t make it right, but it provided a platform for us to lean on one another and somehow find the strength to move forward. We managed to come together, pray for our teammate, and get out as a family and play a good game.
Hockey won that night for a brief time.
I think I saw that same power again yesterday.
People will often say, “Hockey just really isn’t that important…..” In the grand scheme of things, they are 100% correct. But we should also never underestimate or forget that hockey also has some special qualities that help us all heal.
Dealing with their loss will forever be difficult. It is part of growing into an adult. But I hope that what those young Comcast players take away from yesterday is a feeling of pride about how they competed. They began to overcome what life has thrown at them. How it is important to always remember a fallen teammate and to honor him by being a team that forges on.
Yesterday, hockey won.
Knight Time
I was chatting with one of our players from the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Knights the other day and we were looking at a Knight statue that stands in the home rink. We got talking about what a ‘Knight’ really did and what their role was in history. I told him I would do some homework and get back to him.
(thought it was pretty interesting how some of it relates to hockey)
Enjoy
Knight Time
The Knight was one of three types of fighting men during the middle ages: Knights, Foot Soldiers, and Archers. The medieval knight was the equivalent of the modern tank. He was covered in multiple layers of armor, and could plow through foot soldiers standing in his way. No single foot soldier or archer could stand up to any one knight.
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Armor and Weapons
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A knight was armed and armored to the teeth. He had so much armor and weapons that he depended on his squire to keep his armor and weapons clean and in good working condition. At first the armor was made of small metal rings called chain mail. A knight wore a linen shirt and a pair of pants as well as heavy woolen pads underneath the metal-ringed tunic. A suit of chain mail could have more than 200,000 rings. However, chain mail was heavy, uncomfortable, and difficult to move in. As time passed, knights covered their bodies with plates of metal. Plates covered their chests, back, arms, and legs. A bucket like helmet protected the knight’s head and had a hinged metal visor to cover his face. Suits of armor were hot, uncomfortable, and heavy to wear. A suit of armor weighed between forty and sixty pounds. Some knights even protected their horses in armor.
A knight also needed a shield to hold in front of himself during battle. Shields were made of either wood or metal. Knights decorated their shields with their family emblem or crest and the family motto.
A knight’’s weapon was his sword, which was about thirty-two pounds. It was worn on his left side in a case fastened around his waist. A knife was worn on the knight’s right side. Knights used other weapons in combat as well. A lance was a long spear used in jousts. Metal axes, battle hammers, and maces were also used to defeat the enemy.
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Becoming a Knight
There were only a few ways in which a person could become a knight. The first way was the normal course of action for the son of a noble:
When a boy was eight years old, he was sent to the neighboring castle where he was trained as a page. He spent most of his time strengthening his body, wrestling and riding horses. He also learned how to fight with a spear and a sword. He practiced against a wooden dummie called a quintain. It was essentially a heavy sack or dummie in the form of a human. It was hung on a wooden pole along with a shield. The young page had to hit the shield in its center. When hit, the whole structure would spin around and around. The page had to maneuver away quickly without getting hit. The young man was also taught more civilized topics. He would be taught to read and write by a schoolmaster. He could also be taught some Latin and French. The lady of the castle taught the page to sing and dance and how to behave in the king’s court.
At the age of fifteen or sixteen, a boy became a squire in service to a knight. His duties included dressing the knight in the morning, serving all of the knight’s meals, caring for the knight’s horse, and cleaning the knight’s armor and weapons. He followed the knight to tournaments and assisted his lord on the battlefield. A squire also prepared himself by learning how to handle a sword and lance while wearing forty pounds of armor and riding a horse. When he was about twenty, a squire could become a knight after proving himself worthy. A lord would agree to knight him in a dubbing ceremony. The night before the ceremony, the squire would dress in a white tunic and red robes. He would then fast and pray all night for the purification of his soul. The chaplain would bless the future knight’s sword and then lay it on the chapel or church’s altar. Before dawn, he took a bath to show that he was pure, and he dressed in his best clothes. When dawn came, the priest would hear the young man’s confession, a Catholic contrition rite. The squire would then eat breakfast. Soon the dubbing ceremony began. The outdoor ceremony took place in front of family, friends, and nobility. The squire knelt in front of the lord, who tapped the squire lightly on each shoulder with his sword and proclaimed him a knight. This was symbolic of what occurred in earlier times. In the earlier middle ages, the person doing the dubbing would actually hit the squire forcefully, knocking him over. After the dubbing, a great feast followed with music and dancing.
A young man could also become a knight for valor in combat after a battle or sometimes before a battle to help him gain courage.
Chivalry:
Knights believed in the code of chivalry. They promised to defend the weak, be courteous to all women, be loyal to their king, and serve God at all times. Knights were expected to be humble before others, especially their superiors. They were also expected to not “talk too much”. In other words, they shouldn’t boast. The code of chivalry demanded that a knight give mercy to a vanquished enemy. However, the very fact that knights were trained as men of war belied this code.
These Knights are pretty good too!!! 🙂
These Knights are pretty good too!!! 🙂
For All The Coaches
Last week I wrote a short piece on Lou Holtz and received a good deal of positive responses from many coaches. One of the best parts of doing what I do is that I get to interact with so many coaches at all levels. I am always amazed at their passion and love for the game and helping young players. I too have been lucky to be an assistant coach with a team at the U18 level this year. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I have come to understand what makes this passion come out in people. So I put this together for anyone out there coaching at any level. Enjoy!
Coach
The word derives from the horse drawn carriages that were developed in the 15th century. The vehicles were originally used to transport royalty but in time they also carried mail, goods and common passengers. A ‘Coach’ remains something or someone that carries a valued person from where they are to where the want to be…….
So if you had a ‘Coach’, you knew you would have something (or someone) that would help you end up at your destination.
In other cultures and languages, coaches are known by many other names and titles.
In Japan, a ‘Sensei’ is ‘one who has gone down a path.’ In martial arts it is the designation for ‘Master’.
In Japan, a ‘Sensei’ is ‘one who has gone down a path.’ In martial arts it is the designation for ‘Master’.
In Sand script, a ‘Guru’ is ‘one with great knowledge and wisdom.’ Gu means darkness and ru means light. A Guru takes someone from darkness into the light.
In Tibet, a ‘Lama’ is ‘one with spirituality and authority to teach.’ In Tibetan Buddhism, a Dalai Lama is the highest ranking teacher.
In Italy, a ‘Maestro’ is a ‘master teacher of music’. It is short for Maestro Dicapella meaning ‘master of the chapel’.
In France, a ‘Tutor’ is a ‘private teacher’. The term dates back to the 14th century and refers to ‘one who serves as a watchman’.
In England, a ‘Guide’ is ‘one who knows and shows the way’. It denotes the ability to see and point out the better course.
In Greece, a ‘Mentor’ is a ‘wise and trusted adviser’.
All of these words describe the same role and define what a coach is. ‘One who goes before and shows the way’. No matter how you describe them, coaches make a difference in people’s lives. They help them grow. They improve their potential and they increase their productivity. Coaches are essential to help people affect positive change. Players would never maximize their potential without coaching. They may be good, maybe even better than everyone else, but without outside input, they will never be as good as they could be. Everyone performs better when someone else is watching, evaluating and providing positive feedback. Self-evaluation is important but the evaluation from someone else is essential.
There was a great piece on 60 minutes a while ago featuring Jim Whittaker, the first American to climb Mount Everest. It is pretty revealing to hear his answer when asked what his greatest accomplishment was. His answer was this:
“I have helped more people get to the top of Mount Everest than any other person. Taking people to the top who could never get there without my assistance is my greatest accomplishment.”
Guides have died attempting to help other people climb Everest…..and he was asked, “Would they have died if they were not taking others with them to the top?”
“No,” he answered, “but the purpose of the guide is to take people to the top.”
Then the interviewer asked, “Why do mountain climbers risk their lives to climb mountains?”
He responded, “It is obvious that you have never been to the top of the mountain…….”
That about sums it up……
Thanks to everyone helping young players climb their mountain.
Of course I have to include a little coaching gold nugget from the great coach Jimmy Dugan. 🙂
Lou’s Rules
At practice the other day I mentioned legendary college football coach Lou Holtz to one of our players. I was shocked when the young player wasn’t really sure who he was. I then remembered how old I was…..
So I told him I would find something from Coach Holtz for him and share it.
This is for him and anyone else who needs a little lift from Coach Holtz. This excerpt and rules are from one of his books.
Hope you share them with your young players. Enjoy!
‘Right about now,you may be asking who does this Holtz guy think he is? What qualifies him to tell me what I need to do to win everyday? Well, I’m with you. There’s nothing extraordinary about me. However,I have done a few things that I am proud of: I have been married to the same woman for thirty eight years…. all four of our children are college grads and,yes,they still speak to us. For two years running, an industry poll has selected me the best motivational speaker in the country. My tape, Do Right!, is the top selling motivational video of all time. I have appeared as a guest speaker before nearly every company listed in the Fortune 500. Four different presidents have invited me to the Oval Office. Though I’ve retired from football, I still work as a TV analyst for CBS Sports. And,as of this writing, I am one of the top fifteen winningest coaches in college football history.
So much for the advertisements for myself. I’m uncomfortable giving you my resume……Look, with the help of many people, I’ve been able to accomplish some notable things. If I could do them, so can you because I am no more gifted than anyone who ever drew a breath…. I graduated in the lower half of my high school class….I’ve had a pronounced lisp since childhood……I’m 5’10”, 150 pounds, wear thick glasses……My family was poor….No one from either side of my family never attended college…..
But given my background I know I have been blessed….and much of what I’ve accomplished came out of a strategy I devised long ago…..The plan is composed of ten steps….This is the plan.
1. The Power of Attitude. The attitude you choose to assume toward life and everything it brings you will determine whether you realize your aspirations. What you are capable of achieving is determined by your talent and ability. What you attempt to do is determined by your motivation. How well you do something is determined by your attitude.
2. Tackle Adversity. You are going to be knocked down. I have been on top and I have been at the bottom. To achieve success, you are going to have to solve problems. If you react positively to them, you’ll be stronger and better than ever. You can assume that your competitors have problems too. If you react to setbacks more quickly and positively, you gain a distinct advantage. I’ve never encountered a person who achieved anything that didn’t require overcoming obstacles. Expect them.
3. Have a sense of purpose.Understand what you are trying to do. Stay completely focused on your original and primary purpose. Do not be side tracked. If you own a business, help customers get what they want. If you want a promotion, give your employers what they want, somebody will who delivers a first-rate performance every day.
4. Make Sacrifice Your Ally. You can’t be successful without making sacrifices. Most losing organizations are overpopulated with people who constantly complain about life’s difficulties. The will drain your enthusiasm and energy. Take pride in making sacrifices and having self-discipline.
5. Adapt or Die. Things are always changing, so embrace the fact that your life and career are always in transition. Yes, you will achieve your goals, but don’t fall into the mistake of thinking you don’t have to do anything further. Even when you become number one, you will still need to stay focused on the fundamentals.
6. Chase Your Dreams. All great accomplishments start with a dream. Dreams fuel your enthusiasm and vision. They give you a burning desire to get up in the morning and achieve.
7. Nurture Your Self-Image. A positive self-image grows out of having strong character. To be trustworthy, committed to excellence, and show care for others are the underpinnings of a successful person.
8. Foster Trust. All relationships are based on trust. I can’t begin to tell you how many people I have seen ruin tremendous opportunities because they didn’t have the discipline and decency to do what’s right. Continually ask yourself, “Is this the right thing to do?” Do what you feel is right regardless of peer pressure or personal desires; success and confidence will not be far behind.
9. Commit to Excellence. Do everything to the best of your ability. Everybody wants to be associated with people who set and maintain high standards. When you lower standards, you only invite mediocrity.
10. Handle With Care. Treat others as you would like to be treated-with concern and care.
So that’s the plan. It has been the blueprint for my success and I am sure that if you follow it, you will achieve all the things you have set out to do…..Now let’s suit up. And let’s murmur a prayer for any opponents that dare get in our way. They are going to need all the help they can get…….”
Not Big, But Who Cares? (from Dman Summit Club)
I thought I would put together a couple of examples of Dmen who are not considered huge by any means but are huge contributors to their team.
The team I help coach has dmen who aren’t over-sized so hopefully this helps them visualize. These are two of the most valuable dmen in the greatest league in the world.
Here we go.
Erik Karlsson-6’00” 175lbs.
Kris Letang- 6’00” 195lbs.
Obviously these guys are great players because of how well they skate. But watch these examples and pay attention to the way they:
-compete
-play hard
-jump up in the play but always recover quickly
-are strong on the puck
-make fast, committed plays
-shoot the puck quickly and have short incredible releases
-get pucks thru to net
-don’t over-handle the puck. Move it quickly and then jump into the play
-are willing to battle bigger players
Human Touch
“I ain’t looking for praise or pity, I ain’t coming around searching for a crutch. I just want someone to talk to, and a little of that human touch……”
Bruce Springsteen
Human Touch
Two recent stories to share from the world of hockey. I recently had a young player that I am working with who is being recruited to play at a higher level. He was asked to get in touch with the coach of this team and I passed that information on to the player. The player said, “Sure, no problem…..do you have his cell phone number so I can text him?” That’s right……text him.
Story number two. At the same showcase event ,I heard a parent tell a story of two U16 players on a team that had been practicing together for two weeks, run into each other at their new school and not recognize each other until they passed each other a couple of times. (I guess they weren’t wearing their helmets…..) Now in fairness to the kids, they were new to the team and new to the school. But after two weeks of practice don’t you think they should know each other pretty well. This story went on for a while and then drifted into the parents talking more about the kids at a dinner texting each other from one end of the table to the other. I have heard many other stories of kids on a bus doing the same thing. Usually ends up in a little chuckle from the parents.
So, of course these stories now manage to translate to a new blog topic!
Sure, this is a topic that everyone is talking about but this blog is about hockey so this will pertain to hockey.
Now I really don’t want to sound like that ‘old’ guy who only talks about better days gone by but I am sure that I already do. I am not anti-tech or anti-social media at all. In fact I love it. Love Twitter. Love Facebook. Heck, you are reading this on a blog…..These are all phenomenal tools for information and great ways to enhance team communication. I just hope they are not going to replace team communication.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and on and on. Too many to keep track of. It seems like there is a whole group of young people and young players that are more confident expressing themselves on a keyboard than having a conversation with an actual live person. I know. I have three of them. So how does this affect them when it comes to hockey?
I am always fascinated by the amount of time, energy and money that is used to help players develop. It is amazing and parents and coaches should be commended. Athletes are always looking for the competitive ‘edge’. Something that separates them from the next player. This of course is when I chip in my opinion whether you agree with it or not. Here is a little training/recruiting tip that costs $0. Nothing….. Help your young player learn to converse better than the next player. Have them be able to sit down, look a potential coach directly in the eye and tell them why they would be good for their program and what their strengths as a player and person are. Here is the kicker…….they have to do it in MORE than 140 characters.
Coaches are human beings. (well most of them are….) They spend huge amounts of time with players after they recruit or draft them. They are looking to see what players are like off the ice as well. How they can stand up socially.
I recently talked to a college coach at a major Division 1 program and asked him about this situation concerning communication. Here is what he said;
“If it is even close to deciding between two recruits, there is no doubt that the player that I have a good conversation with will be the one we go with. No doubt about it. Let’s face it. We have to deliver our message and it is important players can express themselves directly to us as well……we sure don’t want to read about their thoughts on Twitter…..” Interesting point.
So what can be done to help our young players?
Here are some ideas that some people have shared with me and by all means let me know any suggestions you might have as well so we can share.
Obviously, challenge them to talk more. But not just to you. To their teammates, coaches, friends, teachers, neighbors…..etc. Explain to them how important this could be to them and why. Appeal to their desire to get better at hockey. This is hockey. This is part of them being a complete player.
Have designated times to put the cell phones away. Maybe during meals. On the team bus. In the locker room. Wherever you think you can and it is allowable. Have them change roommates on the road. Maybe as coaches encourage them to speak in team meetings. Run a video session.
Get them comfortable talking to other adults. Maybe ask your coach or team manager if they would host a mock recruiting or draft interview. I know of a coach that video taped the interviews and had the players watch themselves speak and try to improve. Anything that will challenge them. Let’s get them out of their comfort zone. We do it for them when it comes to training and coaching. The same should be done when developing their ability to communicate. It would be a shame to do all the right things to help your player develop and everything gets ruined by a bad interview with a coach.
That is something you don’t want to read about on Twitter……….
Please encourage everyone to share this blog on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. And yes even through word of mouth…….:)
Crashing The Net
Dmen, this is something that I put together for the forwards but it is something that all dmen need to be aware of. This is how good effective forwards think and what their mindset is or should be concerning ‘crashing the net’ and scoring goals.
During a coaches clinic in the summer, John Riley a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, presented on this topic and just how important and vital it is in today’s game. This mindset and a willingness to play in the ‘nasty’ areas is something all scouts look for. Some of these concepts were taken directly from John’s presentation. (Assist to Scout Riley)
I hope these 9 examples help the forwards get a visual of what it takes.
Example 1-Classic Example of the amount of traffic it takes sometimes to score….
Example 2-Watch the forward drive to the front of the net…..not the side.
Example 3-Division 1 Hockey-Listen to the announcer and watch Minnesota and their mindset.
Example 4- Again, focus on the players going to the front of the net, not the side…..
Example 5- Again to the front of the net……not the side……goalie can’t save what he can’t see…..
Example 6- Again, look at the forward and him getting position and looking for point shot. Not fun but has to be done…..
Example 7-Again, listen to the announcer and how he sums it up…..
Example 8- Watch the front of the net and how the forwards are willing to pay the price……
Example 9- Nothing really needs to be said here, just watch this guy…….
So just to wrap it up, sometimes to score it is nasty, tough, ugly work that has to be done. Everyone wants to score the ‘pretty’ goal but hopefully this points out that the majority of goals are like these examples.
Remember at the end of the season they never ask “How?” They just ask “How Many???”
The Hockey Summit Blog 