From college to the NHL

By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor

If you’ve watched nearly any NCAA sporting event on television in the past several years, you’ve seen the ad. You may even be able to recite the tagline: “There are 380,000 NCAA student-athletes, and just about all of them will be going pro in something other than sports.”

It’s a noble campaign directed at educating the masses that most athletes in college will see their athletic careers come to an end at graduation.

In the world of NCAA hockey, the vast majority of players on the 59 Division I and 78 Division II/III men’s teams will not make the jump to the NHL, AHL, ECHL or any other of the various professional hockey leagues around the world. But for a select few, college hockey is merely a steppingstone to the bright lights of the National Hockey League.

Latest News

Earned respect for the ECAC

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:26

By Kevin Hartzell
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist

Having a son play in the ECAC the past four years has given me a new perspective on the balance of power in American college hockey. Those of us “in the West,” and that includes me, often want to believe that the WCHA is and always has been the best conference in college hockey. Back in my playing days, I was lucky enough to participate in two Frozen Fours, one of which had three WCHA teams in it and the other had all four of its participants from the WCHA.

No offense to the programs of that time, but the Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota and Boston College programs had great regional advantages. They had player talent pools right in their backyards … North Dakota’s being mostly in Canada. These teams won often and, really, they should have.

2013 NHL Draft: The Minnesotans

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:21

By Peter Knutson
Let’s Play Hockey

Minnesota has always been well-represented in the NHL Drafts. This year promises to be no different. With the NHL’s Final Scouting Report scheduled to be released on April 23, many Minnesotans are expected to be on the list.

Topping the list are Connor Hurley of the Edina Hornets and Tommy Vannelli of the Minnetonka Skippers. Both are expected to be drafted in the early rounds.

One size does not always fit all

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:17

By Diane Ness

One of the best things about hockey is that a hockey team can be made up of many different types of players. Whether you’re a bigger skater or a smaller skater, everyone can bring something different to the table.

As a skating coach, I look at the hockey player’s ability to skate and the different types of skating styles. For this reason, we can’t paint all skaters with the same brush. What we consider an “elite skater” may be different from one skater to the next.

The politics of girls’ hockey

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:26

By Kim McCullough, M.Sc, YCS

“Politics” of hockey are about to wreak havoc on all of us. Impending tryouts take all of our stress levels through the roof. We’re all worried that we might make the wrong choice, that what people are telling us is not the truth and that we won’t end up with the team we’d hoped for. The truth is we’re all in the same boat as players, parents and coaches.

As a coach, I want to create the best possible environment for our players and team to succeed next season and I’m putting in a lot of work to ensure that this is the reality. This is really no different than parents and players doing their homework about different teams and organizations to make sure they find the best “fit” possible for them.

Accountability

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:22

By Chris Pryor

We are always looking to blame someone when a player doesn’t get the ice time they would like or doesn’t make the team for which they are trying out. Or the job for which they interviewed.

Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but most of the time when you fail to achieve something it comes down to just one person, YOU. You are the one accountable. When we start to realize that you and only you are responsible for where you go in life, then and only then will we start to understand how this all works. You dictate where and what you accomplish. Not the coach, boss or even your parents.

Athletes make the best hockey players

Details: Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:11

By Minnesota Hockey

Athleticism is the key to success in all sports. The ABC’s of athleticism which include agility, balance, coordination and speed are the foundation for all basic sport movements and skills.

“If kids don’t pick up these fundamentals at a young age, there is a very good chance they won’t reach their full potential,” said Guy Gosselin, Regional Manager of ADM for USA Hockey. “Research has shown that there are specific times in a child’s development when the child is most capable of learning these basic skills.”