Tag Archives: minor hockey

End of Another Season….Next

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The Devil’s season mostly ended, or at least we had the farewell party, this past weekend.

The team was treated to an opportunity to take in the final game of the Clarkson Cup, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.  The girls, in their dark jerseys, lined the glass at one end of the rink with inflated beater bats in hand to cheer on Montreal vs. Toronto.  As Montreal took most of the play to Toronto in a lopsided 5-0 victory, our young ladies appeared to be cheering for the visiting side as they flashed up and down the ice in their familiar red, white and blue Montreal colours. The game action was impressive, despite the uneven score. There were some strong power moves, some very good saves and one beautiful top-shelf goal. The game no doubt gave our still-fresh athletes something to aspire to.

Post-game, we headed to a local rink for food, our own turn on the ice and some time to reflect on the season past.

After putting a pretty good dent in 11 pizzas, a veggie tray and a few 2L bottles of soda, the head coach took the stage to thank his many supporters and reward the kids with a medal for their efforts and a custom lithograph of the team he commissioned a local artist to produce – some lasting memories for our players who had worked hard and certainly improved throughout the year. The medals were a consolation for having narrowly missed the league finals and a spot in the provincial championships. They had certainly come as close as they could have, thus ensuring a successful season no matter the final result.  In short, medals were well deserved.

Hockey mom and I, who have a standing tradition of turning the hundreds of candid action photos we take into year-end, sound-tracked video montages, shared our latest compilation. It’s always good to hear the kids and parents alike laughing at shared memories. DVD copies for nearly the whole team have been requested and will be delivered.

With full bellies, coaches and players took to the ice for a skills competition, complete with prizes for some added incentive, and a quick game of 3-on-3.  The pressure of the last month’s games has long-since faded.  The girls just had fun. More laughing as they rushed after loose pucks or issued fake body checks along the boards. The game had about 20 penalty shots which had some girls cursing their assistant coach turned ref. I will admit I’ve never seen two penalty shots called on one infraction, but we do know it never pays to argue with a ref.

The day was capped fittingly with cupcakes and well wishes.  Some of these players will be on teams together again, while others may not.  Overall, this will be a fine season full of positive experiences for them to recall.  I believe the Devil would say the same.

The team actually still has some practice ice left over despite the end-of-the-year celebration. This season surplus will be used as tune-up ice for next season’s tryouts, which begin in a little over a month’s time.  Just enough time to take a deep breath before starting all over again.  Only this time it will all be a little different for yours truly – a hockey dad and a head coach.  Perhaps a couple of deep breaths are in order.

#imahockeydad

End of Another Season….Next

Posted on by
Reply

The Devil’s season mostly ended, or at least we had the farewell party, this past weekend.

The team was treated to an opportunity to take in the final game of the Clarkson Cup, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.  The girls, in their dark jerseys, lined the glass at one end of the rink with inflated beater bats in hand to cheer on Montreal vs. Toronto.  As Montreal took most of the play to Toronto in a lopsided 5-0 victory, our young ladies appeared to be cheering for the visiting side as they flashed up and down the ice in their familiar red, white and blue Montreal colours. The game action was impressive, despite the uneven score. There were some strong power moves, some very good saves and one beautiful top-shelf goal. The game no doubt gave our still-fresh athletes something to aspire to.

Post-game, we headed to a local rink for food, our own turn on the ice and some time to reflect on the season past.

After putting a pretty good dent in 11 pizzas, a veggie tray and a few 2L bottles of soda, the head coach took the stage to thank his many supporters and reward the kids with a medal for their efforts and a custom lithograph of the team he commissioned a local artist to produce – some lasting memories for our players who had worked hard and certainly improved throughout the year. The medals were a consolation for having narrowly missed the league finals and a spot in the provincial championships. They had certainly come as close as they could have, thus ensuring a successful season no matter the final result.  In short, medals were well deserved.

Hockey mom and I, who have a standing tradition of turning the hundreds of candid action photos we take into year-end, sound-tracked video montages, shared our latest compilation. It’s always good to hear the kids and parents alike laughing at shared memories. DVD copies for nearly the whole team have been requested and will be delivered.

With full bellies, coaches and players took to the ice for a skills competition, complete with prizes for some added incentive, and a quick game of 3-on-3.  The pressure of the last month’s games has long-since faded.  The girls just had fun. More laughing as they rushed after loose pucks or issued fake body checks along the boards. The game had about 20 penalty shots which had some girls cursing their assistant coach turned ref. I will admit I’ve never seen two penalty shots called on one infraction, but we do know it never pays to argue with a ref.

The day was capped fittingly with cupcakes and well wishes.  Some of these players will be on teams together again, while others may not.  Overall, this will be a fine season full of positive experiences for them to recall.  I believe the Devil would say the same.

The team actually still has some practice ice left over despite the end-of-the-year celebration. This season surplus will be used as tune-up ice for next season’s tryouts, which begin in a little over a month’s time.  Just enough time to take a deep breath before starting all over again.  Only this time it will all be a little different for yours truly – a hockey dad and a head coach.  Perhaps a couple of deep breaths are in order.

#imahockeydad

End of Another Season….Next

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Reply

The Devil’s season mostly ended, or at least we had the farewell party, this past weekend.

The team was treated to an opportunity to take in the final game of the Clarkson Cup, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.  The girls, in their dark jerseys, lined the glass at one end of the rink with inflated beater bats in hand to cheer on Montreal vs. Toronto.  As Montreal took most of the play to Toronto in a lopsided 5-0 victory, our young ladies appeared to be cheering for the visiting side as they flashed up and down the ice in their familiar red, white and blue Montreal colours. The game action was impressive, despite the uneven score. There were some strong power moves, some very good saves and one beautiful top-shelf goal. The game no doubt gave our still-fresh athletes something to aspire to.

Post-game, we headed to a local rink for food, our own turn on the ice and some time to reflect on the season past.

After putting a pretty good dent in 11 pizzas, a veggie tray and a few 2L bottles of soda, the head coach took the stage to thank his many supporters and reward the kids with a medal for their efforts and a custom lithograph of the team he commissioned a local artist to produce – some lasting memories for our players who had worked hard and certainly improved throughout the year. The medals were a consolation for having narrowly missed the league finals and a spot in the provincial championships. They had certainly come as close as they could have, thus ensuring a successful season no matter the final result.  In short, medals were well deserved.

Hockey mom and I, who have a standing tradition of turning the hundreds of candid action photos we take into year-end, sound-tracked video montages, shared our latest compilation. It’s always good to hear the kids and parents alike laughing at shared memories. DVD copies for nearly the whole team have been requested and will be delivered.

With full bellies, coaches and players took to the ice for a skills competition, complete with prizes for some added incentive, and a quick game of 3-on-3.  The pressure of the last month’s games has long-since faded.  The girls just had fun. More laughing as they rushed after loose pucks or issued fake body checks along the boards. The game had about 20 penalty shots which had some girls cursing their assistant coach turned ref. I will admit I’ve never seen two penalty shots called on one infraction, but we do know it never pays to argue with a ref.

The day was capped fittingly with cupcakes and well wishes.  Some of these players will be on teams together again, while others may not.  Overall, this will be a fine season full of positive experiences for them to recall.  I believe the Devil would say the same.

The team actually still has some practice ice left over despite the end-of-the-year celebration. This season surplus will be used as tune-up ice for next season’s tryouts, which begin in a little over a month’s time.  Just enough time to take a deep breath before starting all over again.  Only this time it will all be a little different for yours truly – a hockey dad and a head coach.  Perhaps a couple of deep breaths are in order.

#imahockeydad

It’s Mostly Over…for Now

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The Devil’s season ended with a thud a couple of nights ago as game four of what should have been a three-game series found them on the wrong side of a 5-2 score. Before the game, there were some nervous parents, including yours truly, pacing around and trying to decide where to stand for the game in order to satisfy their superstition. One parent even decided to stay home so as not to jinx the team. He was away for their last win and then present for their last loss so he chose to stay away.  I actually remembered just in time that the team manager had asked if I would handle the timekeeping/scoring for this critical game.  In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t agreed to perform these duties.

As the game started, the girls appeared to be nervous too, letting an opponent walk in from the corner with the puck to score the first goal only a minute and a half in.  I think we all knew that getting behind by a goal was not preferred.  Goals had been at a premium for the Devil’s team throughout the playoffs.  Prospects for a win got even bleaker a few minutes later as the visiting side deposited another puck in behind our goalie.  A one-goal deficit was not good; coming back from two goals down was nearly insurmountable.  The Devil would bang home a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1, but the bad guys would restore their two-goal advantage.  The girls would spend an awful lot of the game in the penalty box. For whatever reason, they simply did not play their typical game.  Many of the penalties were for hooking, which meant they were getting beat to the puck.  Once you’re beat, the natural reaction is to reach out with your stick to try to slow your opponent down.

With around three minutes left in the game, the Devil and her mates would cut the lead to 4-2.  The visitors would take a couple of penalties around the two-minute mark. After pulling their goalie, the home side had a rare six on three advantage for about 3-0 seconds. However, in that time they were not able to cut into the lead.  An empty net goal would seal the deal; sending the bad guys on to the provincial playdowns and leaving our girls with countenances that hollered out their dejection.  Just like that the season was over.

We do still have a few practices left. The first was yesterday.  Only four players showed up for what became a disjointed game of shinny. Not surprising with the season over and March break just beginning.

The remaining optional practices will be primarily used to keep the girls’ legs loose for next season’s tryouts, which start in about a month’s time. Yup, we all get but a wee rest before the cycle of a season begins anew.  Particularly your truly who has to start thinking about evaluators, on-ice helpers and drills to help select my own team.  New teammates, parents, coaches, friends and stories will follow in short order. I’m just hoping I can find time to keep telling them.

#imahockeydad

It’s Mostly Over…for Now

Posted on by
Reply

The Devil’s season ended with a thud a couple of nights ago as game four of what should have been a three-game series found them on the wrong side of a 5-2 score. Before the game, there were some nervous parents, including yours truly, pacing around and trying to decide where to stand for the game in order to satisfy their superstition. One parent even decided to stay home so as not to jinx the team. He was away for their last win and then present for their last loss so he chose to stay away.  I actually remembered just in time that the team manager had asked if I would handle the timekeeping/scoring for this critical game.  In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t agreed to perform these duties.

As the game started, the girls appeared to be nervous too, letting an opponent walk in from the corner with the puck to score the first goal only a minute and a half in.  I think we all knew that getting behind by a goal was not preferred.  Goals had been at a premium for the Devil’s team throughout the playoffs.  Prospects for a win got even bleaker a few minutes later as the visiting side deposited another puck in behind our goalie.  A one-goal deficit was not good; coming back from two goals down was nearly insurmountable.  The Devil would bang home a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1, but the bad guys would restore their two-goal advantage.  The girls would spend an awful lot of the game in the penalty box. For whatever reason, they simply did not play their typical game.  Many of the penalties were for hooking, which meant they were getting beat to the puck.  Once you’re beat, the natural reaction is to reach out with your stick to try to slow your opponent down.

With around three minutes left in the game, the Devil and her mates would cut the lead to 4-2.  The visitors would take a couple of penalties around the two-minute mark. After pulling their goalie, the home side had a rare six on three advantage for about 3-0 seconds. However, in that time they were not able to cut into the lead.  An empty net goal would seal the deal; sending the bad guys on to the provincial playdowns and leaving our girls with countenances that hollered out their dejection.  Just like that the season was over.

We do still have a few practices left. The first was yesterday.  Only four players showed up for what became a disjointed game of shinny. Not surprising with the season over and March break just beginning.

The remaining optional practices will be primarily used to keep the girls’ legs loose for next season’s tryouts, which start in about a month’s time. Yup, we all get but a wee rest before the cycle of a season begins anew.  Particularly your truly who has to start thinking about evaluators, on-ice helpers and drills to help select my own team.  New teammates, parents, coaches, friends and stories will follow in short order. I’m just hoping I can find time to keep telling them.

#imahockeydad

It’s Mostly Over…for Now

Posted on by
Reply

The Devil’s season ended with a thud a couple of nights ago as game four of what should have been a three-game series found them on the wrong side of a 5-2 score. Before the game, there were some nervous parents, including yours truly, pacing around and trying to decide where to stand for the game in order to satisfy their superstition. One parent even decided to stay home so as not to jinx the team. He was away for their last win and then present for their last loss so he chose to stay away.  I actually remembered just in time that the team manager had asked if I would handle the timekeeping/scoring for this critical game.  In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t agreed to perform these duties.

As the game started, the girls appeared to be nervous too, letting an opponent walk in from the corner with the puck to score the first goal only a minute and a half in.  I think we all knew that getting behind by a goal was not preferred.  Goals had been at a premium for the Devil’s team throughout the playoffs.  Prospects for a win got even bleaker a few minutes later as the visiting side deposited another puck in behind our goalie.  A one-goal deficit was not good; coming back from two goals down was nearly insurmountable.  The Devil would bang home a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1, but the bad guys would restore their two-goal advantage.  The girls would spend an awful lot of the game in the penalty box. For whatever reason, they simply did not play their typical game.  Many of the penalties were for hooking, which meant they were getting beat to the puck.  Once you’re beat, the natural reaction is to reach out with your stick to try to slow your opponent down.

With around three minutes left in the game, the Devil and her mates would cut the lead to 4-2.  The visitors would take a couple of penalties around the two-minute mark. After pulling their goalie, the home side had a rare six on three advantage for about 3-0 seconds. However, in that time they were not able to cut into the lead.  An empty net goal would seal the deal; sending the bad guys on to the provincial playdowns and leaving our girls with countenances that hollered out their dejection.  Just like that the season was over.

We do still have a few practices left. The first was yesterday.  Only four players showed up for what became a disjointed game of shinny. Not surprising with the season over and March break just beginning.

The remaining optional practices will be primarily used to keep the girls’ legs loose for next season’s tryouts, which start in about a month’s time. Yup, we all get but a wee rest before the cycle of a season begins anew.  Particularly your truly who has to start thinking about evaluators, on-ice helpers and drills to help select my own team.  New teammates, parents, coaches, friends and stories will follow in short order. I’m just hoping I can find time to keep telling them.

#imahockeydad

I’mGonnaBeAHockeyCoach Now Too

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Time for the rubber to hit the road as they say.  I was notified over the weekend that my quest to become the head coach of the Devil’s hockey team next season has been successful.  Presumably after careful consideration of my application and interview in relation to other applicants for the position, it was determined by the selection committee that I am indeed well suited to take on this important role as teacher, mentor and influencer to a team of 13 and 14 year old young women.  I’d like to think I was able to convey to the committee that I will do my best to uphold the position to the best of my ability through a successful season.

I am both excited and nervous about the challenges that lie ahead.  My focus will be on developing the individual and team skills of each player in a positive environment.  In fact, I believe my ability to accomplish the former is contingent on my ability to ensure the latter. Effective learning can only happen when the pupils enjoy working for their benefit and towards a common goal.  Success for me will be measured in terms of the growth of the players as individuals and athletes; emotionally and technically.

In my first head coaching role in a few years and my first at the rep level, I realize I have a lot to learn as well.  I expect my fair share of growing too.  I will definitely draw on the past experiences I have had in coaching clinics as well as strategies, drills, etc. that I have gleaned from coaches I have worked with before.  I will also rely on my staff, who have yet to be selected, resources the league will make available and many of my friends who have hockey knowledge. Last, but certainly not least, I will look to my team for learning cues. They will ultimately provide my validation.

The first big challenge I will face is the selection of the players who will make up the team. Here again, I will lean on a team of trusted friends/evaluators to help me arrive at a group of players we feel will work well together towards the aforementioned common goal.  A group of players who will respect, trust and play together as a team. This first part of the job might also be the hardest as selecting players for a team also involves not selecting players for a team – there’s no way to remove history, relationships, opinions or emotions from the equation.  I hope to be able to handle this process with objectivity and respect. I will do my best to communicate clearly while providing every opportunity for feedback.

The Devil will also have her challenges, as she’s now the coach’s daughter, which brings with it an automatic spotlight. I would not have applied for the position if I thought this would be a problem for her. So I expect she will embrace the challenge. I will help as admittedly I’m a hockey dad before I’m a hockey coach.  More learning for the two of us to work through.

Lots to process, lots to learn – it’s gonna be a fun ride as any coach of any team can surely attest! Wish me luck.

But before any of that happens, the Devil and her team are still battling to extend this season with a berth in the Provincial Playdowns next month. To that end, their three-game (actually 4-point) series with their biggest rival (as previously documented ad nauseum) was extended to game four because of a 1-1 ties last night.  The girls had a 1-0 lead going into the third period after dominating the game to that point.  But they surrendered the slim margin on what can only be described as a goddamn fluky, bouncing shot with eyes. Such is women’s hockey where garbage goals abound; we’ve had our share. And so, the deciding game four will go tomorrow night on home turf.  One more 32-minute round of heart-clutching torture mixed with delight; which we all hope will lead to yet more of the same on a slightly bigger stage to put a fitting cap on an already successful season.

#imahockeydad

I’mGonnaBeAHockeyCoach Now Too

Posted on by
Reply

Time for the rubber to hit the road as they say.  I was notified over the weekend that my quest to become the head coach of the Devil’s hockey team next season has been successful.  Presumably after careful consideration of my application and interview in relation to other applicants for the position, it was determined by the selection committee that I am indeed well suited to take on this important role as teacher, mentor and influencer to a team of 13 and 14 year old young women.  I’d like to think I was able to convey to the committee that I will do my best to uphold the position to the best of my ability through a successful season.

I am both excited and nervous about the challenges that lie ahead.  My focus will be on developing the individual and team skills of each player in a positive environment.  In fact, I believe my ability to accomplish the former is contingent on my ability to ensure the latter. Effective learning can only happen when the pupils enjoy working for their benefit and towards a common goal.  Success for me will be measured in terms of the growth of the players as individuals and athletes; emotionally and technically.

In my first head coaching role in a few years and my first at the rep level, I realize I have a lot to learn as well.  I expect my fair share of growing too.  I will definitely draw on the past experiences I have had in coaching clinics as well as strategies, drills, etc. that I have gleaned from coaches I have worked with before.  I will also rely on my staff, who have yet to be selected, resources the league will make available and many of my friends who have hockey knowledge. Last, but certainly not least, I will look to my team for learning cues. They will ultimately provide my validation.

The first big challenge I will face is the selection of the players who will make up the team. Here again, I will lean on a team of trusted friends/evaluators to help me arrive at a group of players we feel will work well together towards the aforementioned common goal.  A group of players who will respect, trust and play together as a team. This first part of the job might also be the hardest as selecting players for a team also involves not selecting players for a team – there’s no way to remove history, relationships, opinions or emotions from the equation.  I hope to be able to handle this process with objectivity and respect. I will do my best to communicate clearly while providing every opportunity for feedback.

The Devil will also have her challenges, as she’s now the coach’s daughter, which brings with it an automatic spotlight. I would not have applied for the position if I thought this would be a problem for her. So I expect she will embrace the challenge. I will help as admittedly I’m a hockey dad before I’m a hockey coach.  More learning for the two of us to work through.

Lots to process, lots to learn – it’s gonna be a fun ride as any coach of any team can surely attest! Wish me luck.

But before any of that happens, the Devil and her team are still battling to extend this season with a berth in the Provincial Playdowns next month. To that end, their three-game (actually 4-point) series with their biggest rival (as previously documented ad nauseum) was extended to game four because of a 1-1 ties last night.  The girls had a 1-0 lead going into the third period after dominating the game to that point.  But they surrendered the slim margin on what can only be described as a goddamn fluky, bouncing shot with eyes. Such is women’s hockey where garbage goals abound; we’ve had our share. And so, the deciding game four will go tomorrow night on home turf.  One more 32-minute round of heart-clutching torture mixed with delight; which we all hope will lead to yet more of the same on a slightly bigger stage to put a fitting cap on an already successful season.

#imahockeydad