PHOTO BY FASTPHOTOPRO.COM
Get Better Buffalo Wild Wings would like to acknowledge ambitious hockey players by rewarding extra effort on the ice with a BUFFALO WILD WINGS “HUSTLER” sticker.
Hustler
Award Program Discounted Kids Meals on Sundays and Wednesdays at Buffalo Wild Wings!! Buffalo Wild Wings is a great family friendly place to go after games. Visit buffalowildwings.com for the location nearest you SEE PROGRAM DETAILS AT MICHIGANHOCKEYONLINE.COM
Contact your local BWW for fundraising opportunities!
Wayne Youth Hockey Association Gavin Hayes Caden Pachota Cody Pathota
ATTENTION
MICHIGAN HOCKEY Buffalo Wild Wings Hustler Program 23995 Freeway Park Drive Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829 FAX: (248) 478-1601 Phone: (248) 478-2500 Email: mh@michiganhockeyonline.com
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY RICK COMLEY HOCKEY CAMP
2010
At last summer’s USA Hockey National Coaches Symposium in St. Paul, Minn., the 580 amateur coaches going for their Level 5 cards were encouraged to make the game fun for kids and to preach skill development over winning. “You coaches have to face the delicate balance between coaching and teaching, developing players and winning games,” said former Minnesota North Stars coach and GM Lou Nanne, who was recently presented with the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award for all he’s done for hockey in Minnesota and around the country. “You as a coach will see kids grow and have a great influence on them at the most critical time in their life. It’s your responsibility to make sure you don’t stifle them.” Part of that is to keep the game fun, Nanne said. “I tell parents all that time that it’s tough to reach the top. One thing that keeps them reaching is a love of the game. That love is developed as a youngster, and you have to make sure you don’t dry them up.” A star defenseman at the college and minor pro levels, Todd Richards couldn’t agree more. Richards spent seven seasons coaching at the American Hockey League and NHL levels before landing the head-coaching job this season with the Minnesota Wild. While the NHL is all about winning, Richards said he doesn’t focus on tangible things like wins and losses, but on getting his team ready to play every day. It’s a message that he hoped youth coaches would take to heart. “For kids the focus shouldn’t be on scoring goals and winning. It should be about having fun, working hard, doing things the right way,” Richards said. “Focusing on the process and let the results will take care of itself.” “I think the ultimate compliment for a coach is when a player comes in and says ‘I love coming to the rink everyday.’ That means you’re doing your job. It all comes down to the culture you create and the identity you’ve established for your team.” Getting better also helps players develop a love for the game. “So make sure you continue to work on skill development,” said University of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia. “As kids move up the ladder coaches are looking for how well they can skate, how well they can shoot, how well they can pass, not
Doing drills and working with players to constantly improve their skating ability and to make plays with the puck at full speed is important at all levels.
how well they forecheck. You do that, and you instill in them a love of the game, and you will make them successful.” New York Rangers coach John Tortorella also knows the importance of communicating with players and letting them know coaches are there for them. “As a coach, you’re a teacher. You’re doing the same thing as a math teacher or a sociology teacher. You’re developing people,” said Tortorella. “I think coaches get way too much credit when we win, and we get way too much credit when we lose,” he said. “Don’t kid yourself. You’re a teacher and a guidance counselor. Coaches are important but players win or lose games.” As a coach, Tortorella has won more than his share of games. His straightforward approach has earned him a reputation as a no-nonsense coach, but few can argue with his passion for the game, and his players. “I think that players want honesty. They may not like some of your honesty, but they want it. That’s what strengthens the locker room. It makes all of them feel like they’re in it together,” said Tortorella, who coached the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2004. By Harry Thompson
presented by
where... MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
when...
VISUALLY BROADENING KNOWLEDGE
June 13 to 17 June 20 to 24 July 11 to 15 July 18 to 22 July 25 to 29
For a FREE brochure, complete information and mail to: M.S.U. SPORTS CAMP, 400 E. Jenison Field House, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1025 or phone (517) 432-0730.
www.sportcamps.msu.edu/ email: hockey@msu.edu
Call (248) 601-0100 or visit Vbksportsviewer.com for more information.
PURPOSE: A fun drill to improve passing skills and a great way to end practice.
Rick Comley HOCKEY CAMP
Age ______
Address _____________________________________ City/Town ___________________________________ State ______________ Zip _____________________ Telephone ____________________________________ Position Playing ________________________________
Michigan Hockey
Web-enabled sports training software to help players teach and players learn
BASEBALL
Name ___________________________
14
Fun, skill development and communication
SET-UP: This can be played at both ends of the rink simultaneously. The fielding team spreads out on their half of the ice, while the batting team lines up in the corner with the batter on the goal line. The batter “hits” by shooting the puck wherever he desires. If the puck is caught in the air, if he shoots it over the boards, or if he shoots it over the center ice red line without it touching a fielding player, the batter is out. Once the batter “hits”, he has to skate out around two cones in the neutral zone and back behind the net. The fielding team must retrieve the puck, make three passes (four different people must touch the puck) and score before the batter reaches home base (crossing behind the net). Once three outs have been made, the teams change positions. The number of passes and the length of the trip around the bases should be adjusted for the age and skill level of players.
MichiganHockeyOnline.com