Utility

Under USA Hockey rules, the determining factor is whether it was deflected or directed. If the puck merely deflects off the skate of an attacking player, it would be a good goal. The Minnesota Hockey Officials Association (MHOA) offers players, parents, coaches and officials the opportunity to submit questions regarding USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey […]

The other key component is the fun factor. Kids who are being asked to work a lot harder than the fun they are having often choose to just walk away. Everybody involved in youth sports has seen the same play. A young athlete who has played his or her sport for several years decides to […]

If we want our players to be better equipped to attack, then we need to incorporate games that include purpose-driven directional play. We practice to prepare for competition and hope that the concepts we’re teaching transfer to the competition. Notice I used the term “concept” above and not skill. A concept is the idea of […]

Student-athletes must take ownership of their development and game. By blaming outside influences, what does that teach your child? I have been coaching for many years and the level of parental involvement has changed drastically. Today, coaches coach at the college level for the same reasons they have always coached: the love of the game, the […]

The more of these players that we get that become lifelong hockey players, that’s really a big goal to see more and more players who love the sport and want to be around it for a lifetime. Last month, USA Hockey announced three youth hockey organizations that earned designation as USA Hockey Model Associations. One […]

It’s a much faster game now, so it’s actually harder on the referees to keep up. All joking aside, it’s really been a great thing for the league and I think anybody that’s been around the game would agree with that. After 26 years as an official in the NHL, Denny LaRue hung up the […]