Feature Story

Solutions to a non-problem

 

By Jack Blatherwick

Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

 

I take it to heart when friends in USA Hockey remind me to be positive – part of the solution, not the problem. OK, but I’m at a loss trying to figure out what the problem is.

Is it a national problem when the U.S. junior team doesn’t win international tournaments? Or is it about the Olympics? The men’s and women’s teams had poor results in 2006, silver medals in 2002. Maybe that’s what President Ron DeGregorio meant when he said, “We don’t like second place.”

Maybe it’s that the USA doesn’t have enough superstars in the NHL. Should we revamp the entire structure because a couple Russians are atop the scoring stats? After all, we have to search all the way down to the second name to find an American, Zach Parise: 35 goals and climbing fast.

Now there’s a model to copy, if you’re trying to make hockey better. Set your long-range goals high – very high. Make intelligent training decisions, and follow through with every ounce of energy you have. Never stand still: skate, stickhandle, shoot and train off-ice. When a coach has you stand in line, don’t fall asleep. Stickhandle through feet, or pick a spot on the boards and shoot for accuracy.

If the national problem is “we can do better,” OK, I buy it, and here’s my top five solutions beyond the good ones found in the USA Hockey proposal. Understand, these are opinions from an observer who has never coached young kids who can’t tie their skates yet. So in the spirit of respect for youth coaches who have the patience to go where I dare not, let me suggest the following as a start:

1) Ice time – without limit at any age. Extra practice is optional, of course, but I mean “unlimited.” When team practice ends, provide unstructured ice time for skills, keepaway games and scrimmages. For kids who suffer “burn out,” hey, there’s always basketball. Success is determined by the quality of the experience, not the number of dues-paying members. For a winner like Zach Parise, there’s no such thing as too much time on the ice. So how do we get this ice time? This should be our highest priority as a hockey community, finding ways to make this affordable.

2) Add many inexpensive practice arenas. Cut construction costs by 60 percent or more from the inflated numbers quoted by architects. This is where Minnesota Hockey and USA Hockey can really contribute. They’d collect ideas from every corner of the globe, draw up one plan for a no-frills practice arena, complete with inexpensive dryland training areas and send it out free to hockey associations. This cuts out local architects’ fees and eliminates their monumental fluff, added to impress spectators and raise the project cost. (Sorry, architects. This is not my input. It is nearly a direct quote from the head architect of a large design/build firm). Hockey associations should also try to eliminate general contractors if there is a competent sub-contractor or volunteer in the hockey association. Attorney/parents might contribute with a little legal work, and the price is reduced drastically – but that’s just the start.

No heaters are added – none, so spectators stay away. This is an arena for practice. It has dryland training space with shooting and stickhandling areas where spectators would otherwise need bleachers and an expensive lounge. Port-a-potties or stripped-down restrooms replace the expensive versions; dasher boards are built by volunteers; there are no scoreboards; and one “warming house” serves everyone. This is the 21st century version of the old outside pond. USA Hockey uses its collective negotiating power to get reduced prices on refrigeration systems, Zambonis, dasher boards and creative construction possibilities like steel or fabric buildings (Try a Google search for Tension fabric buildings).

3) Smaller ice sheets, the size of Noel Rahn’s Velocity Ice Center in Eden Prairie should also be considered. These are great for all ages, not just beginners, because they increase the rate at which decisions occur in confined spaces. On the other hand, larger practice rinks should have a drop-down divider at the center red line, allowing for two scrimmages at the same time.

4) Goaltender learning areas with a small patch of ice, like the Robb Stauber Goal Crease should be part of each practice arena. Robb makes a good point about our irrational approach to developing goalies compared to skaters. Goalies are not trained in a sequential way, whereas beginning skaters first learn to skate and handle their stick before playing in games – supposedly. Stauber notes that we put goalies into situations for which they have not been trained. For example, without previously practicing goalie-specific skating or movement drills, they are told, “Get out there and stop the puck any way you can.” Of course, they face rushes or power plays with several lateral passes, so an unprepared goalie competes by flopping and sliding across the crease rather than moving correctly. Bad habits at this early stage can become a lifelong style.

There should be times when goalies leave the rink to practice in the learning area while shooters are repeating shot after shot inside the rink. Six portable shooting targets would be standard in each practice rink, eliminating the long, boring lines where shooters wait for goalies to get ready. With targets, two or three players can shoot at once at the same station. This way there are more shots plus better development of goalies, and all we need is a small patch of ice in the corner of the arena.

5) Passion and constructive fun must be at the top of every practice plan. Bob Richardson is a longtime NHL scout, coach, and director of development programs that produce college and professional players. He would say, “Every practice must be so fun, so challenging, and so charged with energy that players leave the ice asking, ‘Wow, when’s the next practice? I can’t wait!’”

Don’t look for that kind of passion in a drill book.

 

Visit Jack's website at www.overspeed.info.

 

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