Let's Play Hockey's Summer Hockey Guide 2021

24

February 18, 2021

Let’s Play Hockey

www.stateofhockey.com

– LET’S PLAY HOCKEY SPECIAL SECTION –

SUMMER 2021

HOCKEY GUIDE

➤ SUMMER HOCKEY LEAGUES ➤ CLINICS ➤ CAMPS ➤ PLUS MORE!

CHECK OUT THESE ADVERTISERS! Propel Hockey Camps...............................................page 25 Prime Hockey.............................................................page 26 Carroll Goalie School.................................................page 27 The Goalie Club..........................................................page 28 Minnesota Made Hockey...........................................page 29 Heartland Hockey Camp.....................................page 30-31 Brainerd Lakes Summer Showdown......................page 32 Somerset Hockey.......................................................page 33

Cheese Cup Hockey Tournament.............................page 33 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hockey Camps ...page 34 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hockey Tournaments ...........................................................page 35 NAHL...........................................................................page 36 Planet Hockey.............................................................page 37 Northern MN Hockey Camp......................................page 38 MyEdge Hockey..........................................................page 39

www.stateofhockey.com

– S U M M E RLet’sHPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

February 18, 2021

All Day Summer Camps for Active Hockey Kids 10+ Years Creating Summer Fun!

ACTIVITIES • Full Day Camp • 2 Ice Sessions Daily • Off Ice Training (Kayaking, Fishing & Golf) • Academic Time • Minimum Age 7 • Dodgeball • Soccer • Kickball

For program details and registration visit propelhockeycamps.com or call 952.297.5920

Minnesota’s Premier Skill Development League since 2014!

• 70+ MINNESOTA SCHOOLS REPRESENTED • Proven development model with 300+ Alumni in Junior and Collegiate Hockey • Games played at multiple arenas around the entire Metro Area • 18 Game seasons plus playoffs and all-star game • Open to High School eligible players, plus separate Bantam and Peewee Leagues • Individual registrations, team requests, and carpool arrangements considered

High School Spring League

• Tryouts for new players in March • Season runs April thru May (Fri-Sun games)

High School Fall League

• Tryouts for new players in August • Season runs Sept. thru Oct. (NO Friday games)

Fall Bantam & Peewee League • Tryouts in July • Season runs August to September

For more info, please visit our website www.redandblackleagues.com

25

26

February 18, 2021

– S U M M E RLet’s HPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

www.stateofhockey.com

www.stateofhockey.com

February 18, 2021

Play Hockey – S U M M E RLet’s HO CKEY GUIDE –

27

CGS offers weekend and evening goalie clinics in Minnesota and Iowa

Sometimes goalies don’t get a lot reinforcing the essential techniques of training during the winter months. used in today’s game,” Carroll said.

So therefore, what they do during the “Goalies who train with us work hard, off-season becomes increasingly imimprove their skills and have fun!” portant as they strive to elevate their CGS offers four programs includgame to new levels. ing - Intro to Goaltending, IntermediThat’s where the Carroll Goalie ate Skills, Advanced Skills and Tryout School comes into play. Since 1995, Tune-up. they have been helping boys and girls Clinics are scheduled in the earbuild their individual skills and boost ly evenings and on weekends during their confidence in a safe, challenging June-September. Ice times are at six and upbeat learning environment.

Minnesota arenas including Braemar “I’m extremely proud of the repArena (Edina), Eagan Civic Arena, utation we’ve earned for developing Richfield Arena, Super Rink (Blaine), quality, fundamentally-sound goalSt. Michael-Albertville and the TRIA tenders,” said director Steve Carroll, a Rink in St. Paul, which is the practice Minnesota goalie development leader facility of the Minnesota Wild. who was a Hall of CGS will also be Fame goalie at Edioffering two weekna High School and “Our instructors are end clinics (IntermeMinnesota State Skills and Intro about diate Mankato. “We want passionate to Goaltending) in the goalies to feel goaltending and do West Des Moines, good about their Iowa, in July. It will game and feel good an excellent job of ex- be the first goalie about themselves.” plaining, demonstrat- school held in the The CGS staff new MidAmerican of instructors use ing, and reinforcing Energy Company their extensive the RecPlex, a one-ofessential techcoaching experiits-kind multi-sport ence to teach the niques used in today’s facility opening this goalies what it game.” spring. takes to be sucGoalie parents – Steve Carroll, Carroll like the variety of cessful. They also share their wealth CGS ofGoalie School programs of knowledge and fers because they enthusiasm for the realize that having position with the kids. their kids train under the watchful “Our instructors are passionate eye of Coach Carroll and his staff can about goaltending and do an excellent make a significant impact on their dejob of explaining, demonstrating, and velopment.

“I think the biggest thing is the coaching staff makes it fun,” said goalie parent Shane Hudella, from Hastings, Minn. “Each year we try to get the boys to one of the camps. It’s been pivotal in getting them ready for the fall or a little tune-up going into the playoffs and other parts of the year.

We can definitely tell the difference when they go to the Carroll Goalie School.”

Goalie parent Shelley Peterson from Becker, Minn., said, “Every year,

27TH L ANNUA

ever since he was eight, he seems to get so excited about being at CGS, you just can’t get enough of that as a parent. The positive environment and it’s just a lot of fun for him. We’ll be back, you’ll see us for a while.”

Goalie parent Jeremy Anderson from Minneapolis, Minn., said, “Our daughter goes to a lot of goalie schools during the summer, but CGS is by far her favorite.”

For more information, visit www. carrollgs.com

2021

CARROLL GOALIE SCHOOL

MINNESOTA AND IOWA LOCATIONS!

Blaine, Eagan, Edina, Richfield, St. Michael-Albertville, TRIA Rink (St. Paul) and West Des Moines • Improves individual skills • Safe, challenging, upbeat and fun environment • Experienced coaches • Weekend ice hours • Boys, girls, ages 6-14 • FOUR PROGRAMS: Intermediate Skills Advanced Skills Tryout Tune-up Introduction to Goaltending

Clinics designed by Steve Carroll, Minnesota Goalie Development Leader

Follow Let’s Play Hockey on Twitter @LetsPlay_Hockey ‘Like’ Let’s Play Hockey on Facebook at www.facebook.com/letsplayhockey

Book early for best selection!

www.carrollgs.com @carrrollgoalieschool

facebook.com/carrollgs

@carrollgs

www.stateofhockey.com

–– SSU UM MM MEER RLet’s H HPlay O OC CHockey K KEEYY G GU UIID DEE ––

February 18, 2021

29

Minnesota Made Hockey INDIVIDUAL SKILL Development

SUMMER 2021 HOCKEY CLINICS & TRAINING Minnesota Made Ice Center 7300 Bush Lake Road, Edina MN 55439

NOTHING WILL WORK UNLESS YOU DO - JOHN WOODEN optimum defense offense for defensemen passing & shooting mite speed & skills overtime training girls stick/shoot dekeing/scoring rookie academy puck protection speed academy summer of ice stickhandling mite shooting goaltending battle camp day camp checking Training for preschool through adult athletes Summer training June, July and August Fall clinics in September School year training before/after school Holiday break clinics MORE INFORMATION: Minnesota Made Hockey main phone: 952-746-9033

Co-Ed - All positions Clinics for all abilities Goaltending NEW! 3v3 leagues

Full Year Round Clinic Line-up on website

at SLP location

REGISTER ONLINE - www.mnmadehockeytraining.com

About MN Made Hockey Hard work is the only way to achieve success and lasting confidence. How many times have you heard someone refer to a young player as a very skilled player? Probably not often. The reason is there are not many of them out there.

MN Made Hockey is dedicated to the individual skill developemnt of hockey players. A player with strong skills can play in any coach’s system and is a more valuable player on the ice. Our goal is to help you attain your goals.

www.mnmadehockeytraining.com

ANY OTHER HOCKEY CAMP IN THE WORLD! ANY OTHER HOCKEY CAMP IN THE WORLD!

HEARTLAND HEARTLAND ) HOCKEY CAMP HOCKEY CAMP

30

February 18, 2021

www.stateofhockey.com

– S U M M E RLet’s HPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

g Inspiring HockeyInspiring Players HockeyWorldwide PlayersPlayers Worldwide For 37 Years!

For 37 For Years!

Hockey Worldwide 37 Years!

We have expanded We haveWe our expanded our have expanded our R & operated Owned & by operated U.S. &Olympian

by U.S.&Olympian NCAA Hockey & NCAA&Hockey Owned operated by U.S. Olympian NCAA Hockeycampus to 164 campus acres to 164 acres campus to 164 acres Inspiring Hockey Players Worldwide For 37 Years!

We have expanded our Champion, Champion, Steve Jensen Steve Jensen Champion, Steve Jensen Owned & operated by U.S. Olympian & NCAA Hockey Champion, Steve Jensen

campus to 164 acres

PORTAGE LAKE, DEERWOOD, MINNESOTA WE NOW OFFER WE NOW MORE ICE MORE TIME THAN ICE TIME THAN WEOFFER NOW OFFER MORE ICE TIME THAN PORTAGEANY LAKE, DEERWOOD, MINNESOTA OTHER ANY HOCKEY OTHER HOCKEY INHOCKEY THE CAMP WORLD! THETHAN WORLD! ANY OTHER CAMP IN THE WORLD! WE NOWCAMP OFFER MORE ICEIN TIME

HEARTLAND HEARTLAND HEARTLAND HEARTLAND S 6 R N U A O H H T E 6 R O S 6 M AN HR TU EO MO6RH CE E I HOCKEY HOCKEY CAMP CAMP HOCKEY CAMP F M I O T S R E U C I E O C H E F I HOCKEY CAMP O F M I O T H OOFUIRCSE ILY! ANY OTHER HOCKEY CAMP IN THE WORLD!

POWER SHOOTING RANGE

R NG

R

ICE ARENA

ICE ARENA

AYDEERWOOD, DPORTAGE PORTAGE PORTAGE LAKE, LAKE, DEERWOOD, MINNESOTA MINNESOTA E LAKE, DEERWOOD, MINNESOTA !

M I !

L T Y I L I A A D PORTAGE LAKE, DEERWOOD, MINNESOTA D E !

Y L TIM DAI S SH SO 6ARENA S6 6R R R N N N N A U U U A6R AH ICE A O H O HR HR HR H T TM TO T6 E EO E EU 6 O6 O M MO6RH M E C EIIM IM E E F C C CE I E E I I O E T S F F M M F I I R O O E O U T T C T S S I S O R R E E R E H F U U C C U C O I I I O O O H H H F F F O O O LESSON TENNIS COURTS YI!LY! IDL A ! !

D Y Y E L I I M I A A A L T D D E E E ! !

RINK D M M M Y Y I I I DAILY! T DAILT DATIL

POWER SHOOTING RANGE

URTS

POWERPOWER POWER SHOOTING SHOOTING SHOOTING RANGERANGE RANGE PRIVATE

DINING

DINING ROOM ARENA ICEICE ARENA ICE ARENA

PRIVATE LESSON RINK

DINING ROOM

DINING ROOMDINING ROOM DINING RO PRIVATE

E

THE SUMMIT LESSONPRIVATE PRIVATE PRIVATE TENNIS COURTS FLYBOARDING AT THE BEACH RINK LESSON EXPRESS WATERSLIDE LESSON LESSON FLYBOARDING AT THE BEACH TENNIS COURTS TENNIS COURTS TENNIS COURTS

NEW FOR 2021!

THE SUMMIT EXPRESS WATERSLIDE

RINK

RINK

RINK

NEW FOR 2021!

NEW

MINI GOLF

WATERBOGGAN

ERBOGGAN WATERBOGGAN WATERBOGGAN

STATION TRAINING SPIN WHEEL

CREEK-SIDE CAMP FIRE PIT

SPIN WHEEL

NE CREEK-SIDE CREEK-SIDE CREEK-S CAMP FIRE PIT CAMP FIRE PIT FIR CAMP

STATION TRAINING

STATION TRAINING STATION TRAINING STATION TRAINING

U CAMP

CREE MINI GOLFMINI GO

MINI GOLF CREEK-SIDE CAMP FIRE PIT

FOR 2021!

WATERBOGGAN STATION TRAINING

O

FLYBOARDING AT THE BEACH

THE SUMMIT THE SUMMIT THE SUMMIT FLYBOARDING FLYBOARDING AT THE FLYBOARDING BEACH AT THE BEACH AT THE BEACH PRESS WATERSLIDE EXPRESS EXPRESS WATERSLIDE WATERSLIDE NEW FOR 2021!

MINI

MINI GOLF

SPIN WHEEL

SPIN WHEEL SPIN WHEEL SPIN WHEEL

POWERED

BY OLYMPIAN OLYMPIAN SPIRIT! POWERED BY SPIRIT! POWERED BY OLYMPIAN SPIRIT!

steve @ hear tlandhockey.com |

P H O N E O R TE X T: 2 1 8 - 820 -1 6 0 4

r tlandhockey.com | P H O N E O R TE X T: 2|1 8P -H820 6R 0 4TE X T: 2 1 8 - 820 -1 6 0 4 steve @ hear tlandhockey.com O N E-1O POWERED POWERED

BY POWERED OLYMPIAN

BY OLYMPIAN SPIRIT! SPIRIT! BY OLYMPIAN SPIRIT!

steve @ hear steve tlandhockey.com @ hear@ tlandhockey.com | P H O N E O| RP HTE ON X|T: EPO 2R 1O8N TE -E 820 XOT:R-12TE 61 0 8X-4T: 820 0 4 -1 6 0 4 steve hear tlandhockey.com H 2 1-1 8 -6820

2021 CAMPS www.stateofhockey.com

– S U M M E RLet’sHPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

High Scho Mite & Dad/Mom )February ) 18, 2021 31 & Dad/Mom ) Girls/Wom ) Squirt & Dad/Mom ) Goalie ) PeeWee ) Bantam ) Adults

RECOGNIZED IN 2014 BY MPLS./ST. PAUL MAGAZINE AS ONE OF THE TOP 86 CONDO MOST FUN NEW LODGING PLACES FOR KIDS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA 7,60

0 FEET RECOGNIZED IN 2014 BY MPLS./ST. PAUL MAGAZINE AS ONE OF THE TOP 86 MOST FUN ) OF L PLACES FOR KIDS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

AKESHORE PROPERTY

2021 CAMPS

School & Dad/Mom 2021 CAMPS ) Mite ) High Girls/Women Squirt & Dad/Mom ) PeeWee High School Mite & Dad/Mom ) ) ) Goalie & Dad/Mom ) ) Bantam Squirt & Dad/Mom ) Girls/Women )) Goalie ) PeeWee & Dad/Mom))Adults

RINKSIDE CONDO LODGING

Adults Bantam ) NEW ) CONDO LODGING

7,600 F

EET DORMITORY OF LAKE7S,6H00 FEET F LO AR KE ESHORE PROPERO T PRYOPERTY

FAMILY GETAWAY!

NEW CONDO LODGING

TREE HOUSE LODGING

Family vacation packages, wi newly built condo lodging, available for as little as $2,05 for a family of four.

RINKSIDE CONDO RINKSIDELODGING CONDO LODGING

FAMILYGETAWAY! GETAWAY! FAMILY

DORMITORY DORMITORY

UPGRADED DORM ROOMS

HOUSE TREE TREE HOUSE LODGING LODGING

SOCCER FIELD

UPGRADED DORM ROOMS

ONE WEEK OF UNBELIEVABLE FUN & A LIFETIME OF UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES! ONE WEEK OF UNBELIEVABLE

Family vacation packages,with with Family vacation packages, newly built condolodging, lodging, newly built condo available littleasas$2,050 $2,050 available forfor asas little a family of four. for for a family of four.

NEW HOCKEY/ADVENTURE CAMPS FEATURING FANTASTIC FISHING

UPGRADED DORM ROOMS

SOCCER FIELD

SOCCER FIELD

ONE WEEK UNBELIEVABLE FUNOF &A LIFETIME OF UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES! FUN & A LIFETIME OF UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES! EW WEIGHTROOM NEW PRIVATE LESSON RINK NEW WEIGHTROOM

NEW WEIGHTROOM

NEW PRIVATE LESSON RINK

NEW PRIVATE LESSON RINK

NEW HOCKEY/ADVENTURE CAMPS FEATURING NEW HOCKEY/ADVENTURE FANTASTIC FISHING

CAMPS FEATURING FANTASTIC FISHING

NAUTILUS SLIDE NAUTILUS SLIDE

NAUTILUS SLIDE

800.945.7465| |HEARTLANDHOCKEY.com HEARTLANDHOCKEY.com 800.945.7465

800.945.7465 | HEARTLANDHOCKEY.com

32

February 18, 2021

www.stateofhockey.com

– S U M M E RLet’sHPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

Six keys to improve skating speed & efficiency Efficient high-end speed is highly trainable

by JACK BLATHERWICK

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

Every year, some players dominate in the regular season, but not in the playoffs when the pace is faster. The difference is efficient high-end speed, and it’s highly trainable.

1. Longer skating strides = wider strides. At high speeds, you cannot lengthen your stride straight backward because your feet would have to be impossibly quick. Instead, push hard to the side (hip abduction). This is the major source of skating power and efficiency at high speed, yet it is ignored in most weight rooms. Because your skate blade is not perpendicular to the angle of force, this propels you forward, in the same way a sailboat tacks crosswind much faster than the wind. At the end of each stride, you are pushing backward (hip extension) because you’re moving past the ice. You also rotate your hips to prepare for the next stride. Off-ice exercises for hip abduction-rotation-extension include side-to-side jumps, Russian Box jumps, resisted lunge walks and slide board.

2. For acceleration, nothing compares to short off-ice sprints. Explode as fast as you can for 5-30 meters then walk back to the starting line for recovery.

Lean forward to 45 degrees like Usain Bolt. Extend your body in a straight line (SLX) so your leg force passes through your center of mass efficiently. On the other hand, bending forward (pike position) is an inefficient use of force, whether sprinting or skating. Efficiency must be part of your speed training, not just strength, strength and more strength.

3. Less equipment means faster skating practice. Today’s shoulder pads are so heavy they look like they’re designed for football. Hockey pants (breezers) have too much padding and restrict the width and length of the stride. Speedskating coaches would never burden skaters with restrictive pants. Keep in mind

that all repetitions result in permanent changes to the brain and spinal cord(the CNS), so don’t practice slow, restricted strides every day at a young age when learning is greatest.

Get a pair of scissors to remove unnecessary padding. Slit the inseam to allow greater range of motion. Keep in mind that manufacturers are protecting their company from lawsuits, not just protecting your body. Include some “skating improvement days,” without breezers and shoulder pads. Your feet will move faster, and stride width-length will increase.

4. Strength workouts must incorporate explosive movement of your body, not just slow strength alone. Sprints plus weighted and unweighted jumps (one- and two-legged) should be inserted into each workout. Traditional weight training is part of the process at older ages, but if you don’t add explosive movement to train the Central Nervous System (CNS) for speed, weight training is too limited by itself. Why? 1) The heavier the lift, the slower your body moves. 2) Every lift includes deceleration in the last part of the movement, at precisely the point where the skating stride requires maximum acceleration. 3) Traditional weight training ignores the key to skating power: hip abduction-rotation-extension. 4) The range of motion in all barbell lifts is restricted to one plane; yet no sport – certainly not skating – is restricted to one plane.

5. Practice skating on your own. Whether you take lessons or not, you must get thouPHOTO BY MATT KANE sands of repetitions on your own, just as golf- The top high school players almost all have one shared trait – suers practice by the hour after each lesson. Add preme skating skills and speed. Creating separation and getting to dryland skating workouts when you come off open ice creates opportunity. The good news? Speed and skating the ice. There is no speedskating coach in the efficiency is highly trainable. world who would teach skating without dryland training.

Never skate with poor mechanics and slow feet, which 6. On the ice, every repetition must be done is inevitable if you do endurance skating drills past with 100 percent quality, so rest intervals are critthe point of lactic acid buildup and temporary fatigue ical. Even endurance training must be fast, with per(about 6-10 seconds depending on the intensity). fect execution to build speed and efficient mechanics.

BRAINERD LAKES

Summer Showdown The Brainerd Lakes Summer Showdown is gearing up for great hockey this summer. Come enjoy everything the Brainerd Lakes Area has to offer and play some great competition in a Summer Showdown!

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 10U 12U 2012/2013 Women’s League

June 4-6, 2021 June 11-13, 2021 June 18-20, 2021 July 9-11, 2021 July 9-11, 2021 July 16-18, 2021 July 16-18, 2021 August 6-8, 2021 October 1-3, 2021

Essentia Health Sports Center Go to www.BrainerdLakesSummerShowdown.com for more information and to register your team.

$1400 Team Registration Boys AAA Open 2007-2013 Birth Years Girls AAA Open 10U (’11/’10), 12U (’09/’08)

8-Team field 4-Game guarantee 15-minute stop-time periods Team awards for 1st-3rd place teams Stay and Play in Minnesota’s vacationland!

the BraInerd Lakes Area!

Boating

Pontoon Rides Mini-Golf Golfing

Skiing Swimming

Sunsets

Hockey Go-Karts

Biking

Fishing

S’mores

Contact BrainerdLakesSummerShowdown@gmail.com with any questions.

www.stateofhockey.com

February 18, 2021

– S U M M E RLet’s H Play O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

33

Training for the off-season

So the off-season is coming, now what? We know we need to skate and train but what should we do?

What should we focus on?

The first thing that we have to MN Wild Skating & Skills Instructor understand is that after a long season certain things start to happen in our skating. The most common technique flaws that start to show their head after a full season is lack of knee bend, choppy stride, and a skater being bent over at the waist. The majority of practices in the winter are designed to work power play, breakouts, forecheck, D-zone, etc. As the off-season approaches we must get back to working on our individual skills such as shooting, puck-handling, passing, and of course skating.

What should we do first? As summer approaches we will have a number of pro and college skaters that will be doing privates and small groups. With these groups we will always start with edges and balance. Challenging edge and balance drills are the key. Getting

the skater to build a strong base and have solid edges into the ice is the overall goal. The same applies with balance.

We need to get the skater down low and get in a position in which they will eventually become comfortable lower than 90 degrees. Most of this can be done slowly focusing on just the technique.

These skaters will not have to play competitively for a long time so getting back to the fundamentals is crucial. This will take some time and repetition, but it is key to begin building a strong skating foundation again.

We will then progressively work all of the skating skills through at a very slow speed. The whole idea is based around technique. Throughout a one hour lesson, I will typically focus on three skills at a time and work ceaselessly on technique. The skater must make sure the pushes are in the right direction, the upper body is under control, the edges are solid into the ice, and most importantly the knee bend is low enough.

Skating skills should be worked on progressively. What this means is that you would not teach a stride and then go to back crossovers immediately after. Picking and matching skills is always a good idea when starting to work technique.

Continue doing this slow until the skater

Andy Ness

2021 HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS

is really getting comfortable with his/her form and technique. Remember, working on a skill incorrectly fast is only reinforcing bad habits. I use the analogy of a golf drive. Anyone can go out and swing a golf club as hard as they can over and over but if their technique is horrible, nothing is going to change and then you are only reinforcing a horrible golf swing. Practicing only makes permanent so make sure you are doing the skills properly.

After I see that the skater’s technique is strong and efficient, we will then begin to start doing some overspeed.

Overspeed has been a buzz word of late and is a fantastic tool if done properly.

If you are doing “overspeed” you are skating out of your comfort zone. The idea is that eventually you will build a new comfort zone that is even faster and quicker. For example, if you are doing crossovers at full speed, you are trying to get your feet moving so fast that you may fall or lose the puck (if you are carrying one). The repetition of doing these skills will get you faster, but again, make sure technique stays sound at this speed.

Finally, we will do what is called over-load. Over-load is similar to technique work but the drills that are done are longer in duration with a few differ-

ent skating skills implemented in one drill. With the older skaters we will add a weight vest (in the photo) to make sure the knees stay bent and focus on strengthening the skater’s legs. These drills typically last about 30 seconds; the skater is always striving to be at 90 degrees with their knee flex and exaggerating every push from their edge. At the end of the drill the skater will get about a 60-90 second rest depending on the number of skaters. This is how we alway finish our practice. We always save about 15-18 minutes at the end to do this, again a great way to work the skater at the end.

Now you can have an idea of what skaters can and should do to improve their skating in the summer. Now is the time to work and really focus on getting better. Remember, all people are created with an equal opportunity to become unequal. The hard work will pay off.

Andy Ness is the head skating and skill coach for the Minnesota Wild. He has also been an assistant skating instructor for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.

CHEESE CUP BOYS HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

BORDER BATTLE TOURNAMENT

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN

• April 16-18 •

Registration Deadline: April 1, 2021

Hudson, Woodbury, Stillwater Area Boys & Girls AAA/AA – 2013 thru 2006 birth year

• May 7-9 •

Hudson and Somerset WI Boys U-16 & U-18 AAA/AA

BLAZE CUP

H O C K

• August 6-8 • Hudson and Somerset WI Boys U-16 & U-18 AAA/AA

• Sept. 10-12 •

Hudson, Woodbury, Stillwater Area Boys & Girls AAA/AA – 2013 thru 2006 birth year

2021

www.blazehockey.net For more information and to register, contact Dan Gilkerson 715.222.2448 dgilkerson@somersethockey.com

April 16-18 Birth Years 2007-2008-2009

E Y

$1200 Entry Fee

T O U RN

AM

April 23-25 Birth Years 2010-2011-2012

ENT

$1200 Entry Fee •Multiple Team Discount Available •Returning Team Discount Available

Contact Jay Boxer at 920-403-2000 or email: cornerstoneicecenterjay@gmail.com

34

February 18, 2021

Let’s Play Hockey – SUMMER HOCKEY GUIDE –

F C A H O C K E Y. O R G

|

1

www.stateofhockey.com

TIMOTHY 6:11

2021 FCA HOCKEY SUMMER CAMPS To sign up visit www.fcahockey.org May 27 - May 30

July 15 - July 18

Team FCA

Junior Christian Cup Tournament

May 27 - May 30

July 29 – August 1

Junior Team FCA

Pro & College Camp

(01-05 Birth Year Players)

(06-07 Birth Year Players) June 10 - June 13

Boys Overnight Skills Camp June 15 - June 18

Boys Advanced Camp (03-07 Birth Year Players) June 15 - June 18

Elite Goalie Camp

(01-07 Birth Year Players) June 24 - June 26

Girls Overnight Camp

(07-08 Birth Year Players)

August 5 - August 7

Women’s Pro and College Camp May 24 – August 16

Pro, College and Junior Summer Training June 21 – August 13

The Program Summer Training (Mites – HS)

All events hosted at the Northstar Sports Complex in Alexandria, MN

www.stateofhockey.com

February 18, 2021

– S U M M E RLet’sHPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

NORTHSTAR 2021 SUMMER TOURNAMENTS New

F C A H O C K E Y. O R G / S U M M E RT O U R N A M E N T S

|

1 TIMOTHY 6:11

Hosted at the NorthStar Sports Complex in Alexandria, MN Home of FCA Hockey and the NorthStar Knights July 23-25

Friday Nights - April 16, 23, 30, May 14

FCA Jr. Christian Cup

“Hockey Night in Alexandria”

‘07 to ‘08 Birth Years Team and Individual Spots Open August 13-15

FCA Jr. Summer Challenge ‘09 Birth Year Team Spots Open August 20-22

FCA Jr. Knights Open ‘10 Birth Year Team Spots Open

‘06 to ‘03 Birth Year Teams Low Entry Cost Team Spots Open

We are proud to be the northern expansion host to the

Red and Black High School League in Spring 2021.

Individual Roster spots are available.

Visit: RedandBlackLeagues.com

Visit www.fcahockey.org/SummerTournaments For more information call 320-219-6489 Lodging Options & Community Info can be found at ExploreAlex.com

35

36

February 18, 2021

– S U M M E RLet’sHPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

www.stateofhockey.com

THE LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY!

www.stateofhockey.com

– S U M M E RLet’s H Play O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

Functional skating

As the offseason approaches, it is time to get ready to train When we look at skating there are many different avenues we can look at. For this article, I would like to share with you what direction I like to go when skating and training during the summer and why. With so many options, it is important to understand and establish what is most important and disregard all the rest.

First, when I say there are many avenues MN Wild Skating & to go down I would like to Skills Instructor explain what I mean. When you are training in the summer, you can scrimmage, do small area games, do game drills or just do more games. Is this helping your individual development?

Remember, drills and skills are different.

Just doing a drill for the sake of doing a drill serves no purpose. When we look at skating specifically, we can look at over-speed, technique skating, or conditioning. In the “video post” world we live in, skating has somehow turned into a lot of shock and awe drills. I have seen kids jump over tires, spin around in the air, do forward to backward flips on one foot, all really for the sake of a “wow” factor. Is this the best use of our ice time?

Here is the problem. With the limited amount of time that we get to spend with skaters in the summer, we want to make sure their skating skills are “functional.” What I mean by that is the skating skills they are actually going to use in a game. Get back to the nuts and bolts.

When skating with pros (and even youth skaters), time is precious and important. Some kids I will only see five or six times in the summer.

When I have to cover edges, balance, power turns, crossovers, backwards, transitions, starts and stride, this doesn’t leave any room for “filler” drills. There are fundamental skating skills that need to be worked on. The only way to get improvement is through quality repetition through actual focused practice habits.

Some of the jumps and things aren’t bad, they just aren’t something in which an entire lesson should be focused around. Establish what is important and disregard everything else. Off-season training is really quite simple.

If you need work on your skating, skate. If you need work on your shooting, shoot. If you need to get stronger, get in the weight room. When we try to do a million other things, we end up spinning our tires in the sand and nothing gets better. Ice time is too valuable, make the most of it.

Andy Ness

49

19

ey

Let

l ay Ho sP

ck

’

Andy Ness is the head skating and skill coach for the Minnesota Wild. He has also been an assistant skating instructor for the New Jersey Devils, the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams and the U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.

Years 21 72 ✯ 20

www.stateofhockey.com

February 18, 2021

37

28

February 18, 2021

– S U M M E RLet’s HPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

www.stateofhockey.com

What the best stickhandlers do There are three critical aspects of stickhandling for young players to learn

by KIM MCCULLOUGH

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

Your ability to stickhandle effectively is a key skill that can really make you stand out in girls’ hockey. It is important to note that stickhandling isn’t all about having the fanciest moves on the ice. It’s about being able to beat people 1-on-1 while maintaining control of the puck. It’s about maximizing the distance between the player defending you and the puck so that you can beat them with speed and strength.

I tell the players I coach that puck protection is the most important stickhandling skill. The ability to put your body between the defender and the puck is how to control the puck most effectively.

This doesn’t require fancy “dangles” – it requires the ability to control your body in space and to know how to protect the puck from the defender using your body and stick.

This is especially critical in the female game since there is no full body checking.

In the men’s game, if a player is handling the puck, they can be hit. This is not the case in the female game. Therefore, players can feel a little bit “safer” carrying the puck – not having to worry about being run over with a bone-crushing check.

There is certainly nothing wrong with having great hands and being able to stickhandle with fancy moves. But the reality is that those moves have their time and place in the game – and that’s not every time you touch the puck. Players with great hands tend to want to showcase that abil-

ity every single time they touch the puck and quite often that strength actually becomes a shortcoming of their game.

Players must learn when it is appropriate to try a fancy move or whether it’s better to just lean into the defender with your shoulder and try to beat them with speed and strength. The vast majority of times in girls’ hockey, the second option is your better one. Think of it in the same way that a basketball player will protect the ball from a defender. In basketball, you don’t just dribble the ball in front of you and leave it vulnerable to the hands of the defender. You put your body in between the defender and the ball so as to protect it. This is a concept and skill that hockey players must embrace so that they can protect the puck effectively and maintain puck possession.

Three critical aspects of stickhandling for young players to learn are: head up, soft hands, feet moving. You can have the fanciest moves in the world, but if you can only execute them with your head down, you aren’t going to be very effective on the ice. This goes back to the idea of making the best decision possible with the puck. In hockey, you constantly need to be aware of what’s going on around you.

When you keep your head down, you are only aware of the puck. With your head up, you can decide whether making your fancy move is most appropriate, or whether you should simply protect the puck, make a pass or shoot the puck. It is absolutely critical that players become comfortable with handling the puck with their head up from a very early age.

The concept of having soft hands is

another one that players must embrace from a very early age. Far too many young female hockey players stickhandle like they are chopping wood. When it comes to having soft hands, it is absolutely essential that players get their hands out in front of them and away from their body. For some strange reason I haven’t quite figured out just yet, girls’ hockey players tend to stickhandle with their top hand glued to or next to their hip. This makes it very difficult to have soft hands as your top wrist has no room to roll back and forth. It also makes it nearly impossible to handle the puck on either side of your body – it limits your range of motion around your body. Players must get their hands out in front of them and allow the top hand to roll side-to-side and allow the bottom hand to slide up and down the stick as needed. Your hands cannot be surgically glued to your stick. They must move and adjust to the puck in order to stickhandle effectively.

Keeping your feet moving while stickhandling is another skill that players tend to struggle with and must be embraced in order to progress on to higher levels of women’s hockey. For some reason, when girls get the puck on their stick, they tend to stop their feet moving. It sometimes seems that handling the puck quickly and moving your feet quickly are mutually exclusive. Once players have become comfortable handling the puck at slower, more controlled speeds, they must get their feet and hands moving at higher speeds. My college coach used the analogy of the puck being an energy pill. When you receive the puck, it should make you move faster, not slow you down. Players

PHOTO: SUSAN MCPHERSON

must practice handling the puck with their head up, hands away from their body and at high speeds in order to truly have effective stickhandling skills.

For a specific eight-week plan to take your stickhandling and shooting to the next level, visit http://totalfemalehockey. com/products/elite_shooting_stickhandling. Kim McCullough, M.Sc., YCS is a highly sought-after expert in the development of aspiring hockey players and has played and coached at the highest level of women’s hockey in the world for the last decade. She is a former NCAA Division 1 captain, strength and conditioning All-American and played in the NWHL/ CWHL for seven years. She is the Director & Founder of Total Female Hockey and is currently coaching the Toronto-Leaside Jr Wildcats of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).

38

February 18, 2021

www.stateofhockey.com

– S U M M E RLet’s HPlay O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

NORTHERN MINNESOTA NORTHERN MINNESO HOCKEY CAMP

August 9MINNESOTA – 12 CAMP HOCKEY NORTHERN NORTHERN MINNESOTA August August 16 – 199 – 12 August 16 – 19 NORTHERN MINNESOTA HOCKEY CAMP HOCKEY CAMP August99– 12 – 12 August Come vacation in beautiful Bemidji while your players join NHL, AugustBemidji 16– 19 –CAMP 19 HOCKEY in beautiful while your players join NHL, August 16 NCAA andCome USHLvacation instructors for the third annual Northern Minnesota th

th

th

thth

th

th

th

th

th

th

th

Augustfor 9 –the 12 third annual Northern Minn NCAA and USHL instructors

Join Teddy Belisle (Los Angeles Kings) along with NCAA and Junior Hockey Camp.

Come vacationCamp. in beautiful Bemidji Augustwhile 16 –your 19 players join NHL, Hockey

Hockey Coaches for the second annual Northern Minnesota Hockey NCAA and USHL instructors for the third annual Northern Minnesota Join Teddy Belisle (Los Angeles Kings) along with NCAA and Junior Hockey Camp.

ThisCamp. camp will be held atbe the Bemidji Arena (BCA) in (BCA) in This camp at annual theCommunity Bemidji Community Hockey Coacheswill for the held second Northern MinnesotaArena Hockey Bemidji, MN withbeall going towards Youth Hockey Bemidji, MNproceeds withthe all proceeds goingBemidji towards Bemidji Youth Hoc Camp.

This camp Community Arena (BCA) This campwill will beheld heldat at the Bemidji Bemidji Community Arena (BCA) inin Association.

Association.

Bemidji, campgoing will focus on true development Bemidji,MN. MNThis withunique all proceeds towards Bemidji Youth Hockey This camp will be held at the Bemidji Community Arena (BCA) in with all proceeds going towards youth hockey and funding a 2nd Association.

Bemidji, MN. This unique camp will focus onplayer true development unique focus on true development. atThis the BCA. Thissheet unique camp willcamp focus will on true player development.

There willThere withunique all a proceeds going towards youth hockey a 2nd be high coach/player ratio with focusand onfunding small games camp will focus on true player development.

There willand pos be a This high coach/player ratio with focus on small games and position sheet at the BCA. Our will be to improve participants leveland through specific skills. be focus a high coach/player ratio each with focus on smallskill games position specific skills. specific skills.of essential skills. It will feature development deep practice Our focus will be totraining improvewith eachhigh participants skill level through through small group repetition and tempo.

There deep practice of essential skills. It will feature development will be a high coach/player ratio and focus on small games. Position th through smallEarly group training with high repetition and tempo.

There Bird deadline: April 30 th specific skills will be added to the Bantam and High School groups. th Bird deadline: April will beEarly a high coach/player ratio and focus on 30 small games. Position st Price increase of $50 May 1 st specific Price skills willincrease be added toof the$50 Bantam and High School groups.

Maya positive 1 st yet Our staff is eager to work with you and create th th Registration deadline: July 11 Registration deadline: July 11 challenging thatwith makes fun.

Our staff isatmosphere eager to work you learning and create a positive th yet challenging atmosphere that makes learning fun.

Early Bird deadline: April 30 Price increase of $50 May 1 Registration deadline: July 11

Cost:

Cost:

Forcard more info statements Visit: Foryour more info NOTE: Charges on or Visit: bank will www.NorthernMinnesotaHockeyCamp.com www.NorthernMinnesotaHockeyCamp.com Foronmore info Visit: NOTE: Charges your card or bank statements will show as Bemidji Youth Hockey Association show as Bemidji deadline: Youth Hockey Association www.NorthernMinnesotaHockeyCamp.com Registration 07/11/2021 Registration deadline: 07/11/2021 Register coming SOON Register coming SOON Camp: Daily activities include: Camp:

Mites Cost: Camp: Mites And Cost: Camp: Mites Cost: Camp: And $350*/wk Squirt / 10U Day Mites And $350*/wk Squirt and/ 10U Day Mites And $350*/wk Squirt / 10U Day PeeWee / 12U and $350*/wk Squirt / 10U And and Day PeeWee / 12U PeeWee 12U $350*/wk Squirt / 10U /and Day PeeWee / 12U

and eeWee /Bantam 12U / 14U

and $225*/wk Bantam / 14U Bantam / 14U High School Bantam / 14U $225*/wk and and $225*/wk and $225*/wk School HighHigh School High School

Evening

Evening Evening Evening

Daily activities include: Daily include:  activities 120 Minutes of Ice Daily activities include:  120 Minutes of Ice Daily activities include: Off-Ice Skills ▪ 120 Minutes of Ice  Off-Ice Athletic Development 120 Minutes ofSkills Ice ▪▪ Off-Ice Skills  ▪ 120 of Development Ice Minutes Athletic Off-Ice Skills ▪ Athletic Development Athletic Development  ▪ Off-Ice Skills

 Athletic Development

  ▪ ▪ ▪▪

75 Minutes of Ice Off-Ice Skills  75 75 MinutesMinutes of Ice of Ice 75Minutes of Skills Ice Off-Ice Off-Ice Skills Off-Ice Skills

Girls 14U/High School and Boys Bantam/High School will be separate antam /*14U  75 Minutes of Evening and groups $225*/wk will Off-Ice Skills *All proceeds go back to Bemidji Youth Hockey Association * Girls 14U/High School and Boys Bantam/High School be separate Girls and Boys Bantam/14U andand High School will bebe separate High*School * Girls and Boys Bantam/14U High School will separategroups groups *All *All proceeds go back to Bemidji Youth Hockey Association groups proceeds go back to Bemidji Youth Hockey Association *All proceeds go back to Bemidji Youth Hockey Association

Girls 14U/High School and Boys Bantam/High School will be separate roups All proceeds go back to Bemidji Youth Hockey Association

Ice

www.stateofhockey.com

– S U M M E RLet’s H Play O CHockey KEY GUIDE –

February 18, 2021

39