“So, we’ve spent a lot of time the last eight years developing those resources in conjunction with the other professionals to provide the best platform possible.” Strike up a conversation about hockey with Mike MacMillan and you instantly can hear the passion in his voice about the sport.  As the USA Hockey national coach-in-chief, MacMillan […]

“There’s no correlation between playing games and development, especially at that age. Those kids need to be on the ice (for practice) at least two to three times for every game.” To maximize the “Golden Age of Skill Development,” Minnesota Hockey has made a rule change to ensure players are getting the proper ratio of […]

“I want to grow the game, and I want to get people involved. Getting down there and working with these brand new players, it takes a lot of time to make sure they’re properly equipped. It takes an army of people.” Coaching and refereeing keeps Purcell busy, and that’s the way he likes it It […]

Another important step in creating a team culture focused on development is ensuring everyone understands the role of mistakes and how players learn from them. The first few weeks of the season are always an exciting time of the year. Every team has a blank slate, and players of all ages are energized about the […]

“There are going to be collisions. There are going to be accidental hits. What we focus on is taking away the purposeful checking and the purposeful hits that can lead to something more.” When Eric Hedblom first heard about the Minnesota Hockey Recreation League (“Rec League”), it couldn’t have come at a better time. His […]

The ‘please’ and ‘thank yous’ – the little things seem to be a little lost right now. Sometimes you have to remind your own kids about those little things. Two-time NCAA National Championship coach and Hibbing native Scott Sandelin knows that to build a winning program, you need a winning culture. That culture has to […]

Just because the player does not appear bothered by the treatment does not mean the behavior is acceptable. A vast majority of SafeSport reports to USA Hockey involve bullying either by a coach or by a teammate. The key for parents, locker room monitors and coaches is distinguishing between behavior that is just plain mean […]

I want you have to have the best season you can with your parents. They are your cheerleaders, you chauffers and the ones who make playing hockey possible. I played hockey for, well, let’s just say a long time. It started outdoors in Baudette, and the magic of the game took hold immediately. And truly, […]

“Just let go of some of the anxiety and think, I’m standing on a sheet of ice, with my buddies, playing a really, really fun game,” said Storm. “Enjoy it rather than stress about what’s going to happen later.” Nerves and excitement – two words often used to describe that familiar feeling of “butterflies” or […]

We’re going to give them the best age-appropriate training and environment that we can to let them thrive. We’re not going to train our 8-year-olds like they’re on the high school team. Can you imagine not keeping score during your child’s 12U/Pee Wee game? Not recording statistics or standings throughout the season? Having every child […]