On Saturday, February 23, parents all across the United States have the opportunity to watch their kids “take their second first steps.” Saturday marks the sixth day of Hockey Week Across America, an annual celebration for the last twelve years. The week, aimed toward celebrating the hockey community and engaging new coaches, players, officials, and […]

If you do not pay attention to details and there are inaccuracies on the game sheet, the perception will be your performance on the ice was also lacking effort and attention to detail. Remember when score sheets simply consisted of three or four carbon copies at the scorer’s table? While we’re still likely to see […]

“Being able to play with all of my teammates and having fun playing something you love.” Mohamud Ahmedad was introduced to skating during a first-grade field trip. “It was really fun,” said Mohamud, who’s now a sophomore forward for St. Paul Johnson High School. “Even though I was falling down a lot, I really liked […]

For younger players, the first step in good peer-to-peer communication is explaining concepts to their teammates – be it a drill, a small-area game or a situation that just happened in a game. Coaches love hard workers and good teammates. But what other traits and behaviors do coaches really value in their players? Ted Cheesebrough, […]

Coyne Schofield is first all-time at Northeastern in career goals and points, but she also was a communications major and covered the men’s hockey team as a reporter as her schedule permitted. AFTER GOING STRIDE-FOR-STRIDE WITH NHL’S FASTEST SKATERS, U.S. STANDOUT TRIED HER HAND AT BROADCASTING In one week, Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield […]

“The kids who are more advanced are getting more challenged, and the lower end kids are still getting challenged but are getting more confidence as well.” Considering players in Mite/8U programs are often hopping on the ice for the first time, learning basic skills, interacting with their high school heroes and initially falling in love […]

Getting adults to try hockey is something a little different. Typically, it’s a kid might have a parent that wants to take him to it to give him a shot vs. these people want to try it for themselves. When Andrea Tan gets out onto the ice with first-time skaters, the reactions she hears are […]

Dan Jablonic, a regional manager for USA Hockey’s American Development Model, shares his insights. Skating is critical at every level, from 8U all the way to the NHL. But how do we separate the merely adequate from the excellent? And how do we put skaters as young as 10U on a path for excellence? Dan […]

The main objective of angling is to take away an opponent’s good ice and force them to bad ice. Taking the proper angle includes having your own goal in mind. Blink and you might miss a crucial part of the action. Hockey today is played faster than ever and critical to the pace is how […]

Excellent coaches know how and when to provide feedback or support, to hold kids accountable and to do so in a manner that builds players’ motivation and confidence. Coaches are the face of every youth sport organization. They have the opportunity to lead, inspire and develop young players on a daily basis, and how they […]