Hey Gang,
In this Article I'm going to give you a couple of tips and tricks to help you through the season. I'm constantly looking for new drills, teaching techniques, and yes, believe it or not, ways to improve as a skater and hockey player myself. As I do this I will do my best to share helpful tips that I find with you. Check out the rest of the article for more information.
TEACHING POINTS:
A couple of key TIPS for you gentleman. Did you know that there are "
Other" skills that coaches and scouts are looking for. That's right, not everyone is JUST looking for that guy with the sweetest hands, or the blazing speed, or a great shot...nope. Coaches and scouts are also looking for things like:
1- Communication - Is a player verbal and loud on the ice. Can they and will they make themselves heard when they are open for the puck. Will they talk with other teammates and help "direct" the players on the ice. Are they vocal with the coaches...do they ask questions or offer suggestions, at the right time? This is probably one of the GREATEST assets that EVERY CAPTAIN in the NHL (and all levels really) posses.
2- Work Ethic - Is a player willing to ALWAYS put in 110% into all drills, practices and games? Will they never give up and always work hard in a game? Will they do what it takes on, and off, the ice to improve. If you have 2 AHL players with the exact same talent level and skills, the guy who runs laps around the arena after practice or does two extra push-ups when asked to do 10...That guy is the guys who will make it to the NHL.
3- Coachable - Does the player listen, and do all the little things that the coach tells him or her? Even if it's something they don't want to do. For example: A player has two goals in a game but we are up 10 - 1. The player really wants the hat trick but the coach tells him or her that they need to go back and play defence and chip the puck in or pass the puck around to kill the clock. This is a very small thing but pays HUGE dividends later on in hockey, and life.
COMMON PHRASES TO REMEMBER:
SLOT - Usually someone is calling this out because there is an open man in between the has marks, in front of the net.
LAST MAN- This is an indicator to a defence that his/her partner is stuck in the Offensive zone and they are the last man to stop the rush. This is a verbal queue for the last defence person to be more passive and contain the rush as opposed to attacking the puck carrier and possibly being beaten high in the attacking zone, giving the offense all kinds of time to score.
BOARDS -Indicates get the puck off your stick and up the boards in the "Safe-Zone" or into the offensive zone for us to chase.
MIDDLE!-This is, more often than not, called out by a coach or a verbal player on the ice to make sure a Defence person who is caught in a 2 on 1 does not give up the middle of the ice. This can also be yelled out by a verbal player or a Coach to indicate that the middle of the ice is Open in the offensive zone and there is a player available in the slot. Or this can be used to indicate that there is a player in our slot that is open. This can be use with, or in replacement of SLOT.
HELPFUL INFORMATION:
Here is a great article I read about 2 off-ice things you can do to improve your leg strength for faster, more powerful skating.
http://builtforhockey.com/off-ice-hockey-training-exercises-to-increase-skating-power/
(Kingston Park is a great spot to do the drills in this article, in case you are interested)
Great Quick Video for Quick Powerfull starts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkY3WM3vgRs
Practice these whenever you are at public skating or if you are at the rink early and the ice is open before we start practice...I promise you it will help you out!
See you Friday.