Core Concepts

Our last couple of practices have concentrated on individual skills, most notably skating and stick handling. We have focused all practice on motion. That means we keep moving constantly with and without the puck – angling and cornering backwards and forwards while maintaining control of the puck. We have introduced some passing and shooting as combinations for moving within the zones and finishing on net with a shot. Even rebound work and redirections are practiced while in motion. By combining practices with the midget team and using many half ice drills and small games we have been able to efficiently make use of the available ice. This also allows the bantams to see what the midgets are doing and does bring the tempo of everything that is happening on the ice up a few notches for the bantams. With three net tenders on our team – two who also play out – we have good coverage for goal tending. Picking the starting goalie will be my next challenge over the next few weeks. I am eagerly looking forward to our next practice where we will see our returning goal tender return to the blue ice. Last year we had two very good and complementary net tenders with two very distinct styles. I spent Saturday watching a very exciting and “never a dull moment” game between our well coached midget team and cross-town rivals. I also had a chance to help out at the mite level – which was a lot of fun. It is always good to remember that this is where the importance of fundamentals is critical to the development of skilled hockey players. Trying to correct bad habits at the bantam level is much more difficult for both coach and player than teaching and practicing good habits at the early levels of play. I would say that some of the most important lessons in hockey are - or should be taught at the mite level. This means basic skating, stick handling, passing, and shooting. Luckily we have some very dedicated coaches and managers working with young skaters in our association. Seeing that we have good coaches working at both ends of the spectrum is reassuring that as players move up through the different age groups the concept of skills and fun remains a core concept for all levels.