By Jack Blatherwick
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

An e-mail from a 16-year-old defenseman who is playing in Austria for Team USA said virtually the same thing after the Russian game that I’ve heard for 40 years. The international game is really different … and a lot of fun. The Russian skills (individual and team skills) are so good it feels like they have eight players on the ice.

Why is international hockey so different?  Because the officials call the game as it is written in the rulebook. Hockey Canada prepares their national junior and Olympic teams for international play by showing a video of ‘strange calls’ made by referees. These are penalties as clearly defined in the rules, but infractions that are not called in North American hockey.

By Keith Hendrickson

The terrible and tragic incident of Jack Jablonski’s hockey injury has quickly opened up many eyes to what our game has grown into over the past 10 years or so. Some of us who have been involved in hockey for decades have discussed and tried to address the growing violence in our game.

Last week, the Minnesota State High School League was allowed to immediately add more severe punishment for three violent offenses: hitting from behind, boarding and head contact. The intent here is obviously good, but we must not fool ourselves and think more severe rules are the only answer. To think that would only do a disservice to what has happened and decrease our chances to actually address the roots of these violent problems.

By Hal Tearse
Minnesota Hockey Coach in Chief

Player safety is a joint responsibility to be shared by coaches and referees alike. The coaches and referees can make a difference when they work together to reduce injuries to children who play hockey.

Our guideline is the rulebook because it defines how we play the game and what the penalties should be for violating the rules. When the on-ice officials allow for too many “let them play” waivers in the rulebook, youth players learn that high hits, head contact and very aggressive and potentially harmful play is OK. If one team adopts that strategy, then other teams they play will respond in kind.

By John Russo
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

Each year (for 25 years), I have had a Guest Writer for the “Coaches Corner” – to provide a new and fresh view from an outstanding young coach.

A Wayzata native, Judd Stevens starred at Wayzata High School where he earned All-Conference, All-Metro, and All-State honors and was a Mr. Hockey finalist in his (2001) senior year. He went on to be part of two national championships for the University of Minnesota, and was captain in 2004-05. He was Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-WCHA in 2003-20, then went on to play pro hockey in Sweden.

By Chris Pryor
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

This is a question that probably will put me in unfavorable territory with some agents/advisors. I do believe at a certain point in time in one’s career the need for an advisor becomes apparent. However, when a player is 14, 15 years old, to have a person represent you becomes questionable for me.

I’m not sure what decision can’t be handled by a parent , coach or friend at that age that an agent needs to be involved. There are many quality individuals in Minnesota that do a good job of handling this area of expertise and I’m not proposing that they do not serve a purpose, BUT at what point in time?