Sure, I drink Maple Leafs kool-aid, but this? The Pittsburgh Penguins have bottled and are selling melted ice from the old Igloo. I think it may stay on the shelves of hardcore Penguins fans, but never in their guts.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/884510--would-you-pay-40-for-a-bottle-of-mellon-arena?bn=1
Minor Hockey Moments
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Movember madness shave city
What does a formerly bearded minor hockey coach look like at the start of Movember?
Here's my son's coach, Colin, as he starts growing a new moustache as a fundraiser for men's health.
His many friends and associates are helping the cause with donations. I've pledged the proceeds from this blog - just click on any of the ads and money will be raised. Nothing to buy - unless you like what you're seeing. Personally, I think the new Fords look pretty sweet.
Need details about Movember http://ca.movember.com/
Here's my son's coach, Colin, as he starts growing a new moustache as a fundraiser for men's health.
His many friends and associates are helping the cause with donations. I've pledged the proceeds from this blog - just click on any of the ads and money will be raised. Nothing to buy - unless you like what you're seeing. Personally, I think the new Fords look pretty sweet.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Movember madness
Colin, my son's hockey coach, is no stranger to facial hair. Bushman beards, metrosexual trims, two-day scruffs. He's had 'em all. Always makes my own Alabama swamp look seem ragged. And grey.
But now Colin's up to something new, whisker-wise.
In honour of a co-worker diagnosed with prostate cancer, Colin's decided to join the league of men growing moustaches for November - call it Movember - as a fundraiser for men's health. We're talking prostate and testicular cancer. Yes, I said testicular. The kind Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Keith Acton didn't want to talk about.
Colin's sent a group email to all his hockey families to publicize his campaign and encourage donations. I've decided to donate the Movember proceeds from this blog. To do that, I need readers to visit often and click on the ads. That's it. Nothing to buy (unless you want to), just click for cancer cash.
More information about Movember http://ca.movember.com/
Here's a shot of Colin as he looked in October. Wonder if his new 'stache plan is the Salvador Dali look.
But now Colin's up to something new, whisker-wise.
In honour of a co-worker diagnosed with prostate cancer, Colin's decided to join the league of men growing moustaches for November - call it Movember - as a fundraiser for men's health. We're talking prostate and testicular cancer. Yes, I said testicular. The kind Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Keith Acton didn't want to talk about.
Colin's sent a group email to all his hockey families to publicize his campaign and encourage donations. I've decided to donate the Movember proceeds from this blog. To do that, I need readers to visit often and click on the ads. That's it. Nothing to buy (unless you want to), just click for cancer cash.
More information about Movember http://ca.movember.com/
Sunday, October 31, 2010
How to meet ice women
A Facebook friend - and fellow Ryerson journalism grad from some time ago - bemoans the lack of hockey in St. John's, NL, and looks forward to the Four Nations women's hockey tournament. Guess they still miss the Toronto Maple Leafs' farm team.
Developing women's hockey beyond Canada and the United States is important to the sport, especially if they hope to keep it as an event at the Women's Olympics.
Hockey Canada's http://www.hockeycanada.ca/ excellent website has details and there's this blog http://www.themuse.ca/articles/35207
Developing women's hockey beyond Canada and the United States is important to the sport, especially if they hope to keep it as an event at the Women's Olympics.
Hockey Canada's http://www.hockeycanada.ca/ excellent website has details and there's this blog http://www.themuse.ca/articles/35207
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Unruly hockey parents test the rest of us
I used to cyber-work with Kalvin Reid, an excellent opinion writer with the St. Catharines Standard. Here is Kalvin's latest take on minor hockey, unruly parents and the Calgary test. Couldn't have said it better myself.
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2824610
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2824610
No-checking hockey stirs controversy
The checking vs. non-checking debate takes centre ice in Prince Edward Island. A few years ago, minor hockey officials in London, Ont., wisely made house league hockey non-checking in all age groups while keeping it in competitive hockey's older groups. It's a better system for many reasons, including safety and a sincere effort to keep more kids playing the game. Many kids enjoy hockey for the skating, speed and friendship but have no interest in hitting. Often in the early teens there's such a wide variety in body sizes that allowing hitting adds to the risk of injury. And house league level kids might not be nimble enough on their skates or be able to react quickly enough to avoid hits.
Good for PEI.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Taking a run at minor hockey
A cool day for family athletics - providing personal thrills and lessons for minor hockey.
It started with a high school cross-country meet at Springbank Park bringing together the best of the best from London and area to compete in the WOSSAA (Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletics Association) championships.
Our younger son, who shunned minor hockey despite his older brother's uncurbed enthusiasm, barely qualified by finishing 15th last week in the city championships. He might have finished higher, but he ran the last third of the 6 km race in his socks after taking off his shoes when one lace became untied. He did it not thinking of himself, but because completing the race was important for the team.
At WOSSAA, running with about 150 high-placing athletes, he finished 19th, the best among juniors from his high school and one of the best in the city, but not nearly good enough to advance to the Ontario final.
Still, there were congratulations, applause, admiration and pride. No parents screamed insults. No peers tried to injure him.
Now comes the contrast.
At my older son's midget hockey game, respect, honour and sportsmanship were given the short shrift.
Adam, who has not been playing at 100% and has always been a defence-first defenceman, scored his first goal of the season. He was very involved in the play, drawing one deserved penalty and one that was a bit of a mystery. And he was, late in the game, part of a two-on-none breakout on an empty net and let his teammate pot the goal.
It was after than empty net goal when the lack of minor hockey sportsmanship reared its head. An opposing Stratford Warrior slashed my son on the arm as he and teammates were skating back to their bench. The game was 5-2 with only seconds left to play. What was the point, other than to assault?
Maybe if minor hockey wants to continue to attract families and the best young athletes, the sport needs to take a lesson in athletics from high school cross-country runners.
As is uncanny tradition, I missed taking a photo of my son's rare goal. I was at the far end of the rink. But I did snap this shot of one of his teammates scoring on Stratford.
It started with a high school cross-country meet at Springbank Park bringing together the best of the best from London and area to compete in the WOSSAA (Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletics Association) championships.
Our younger son, who shunned minor hockey despite his older brother's uncurbed enthusiasm, barely qualified by finishing 15th last week in the city championships. He might have finished higher, but he ran the last third of the 6 km race in his socks after taking off his shoes when one lace became untied. He did it not thinking of himself, but because completing the race was important for the team.
At WOSSAA, running with about 150 high-placing athletes, he finished 19th, the best among juniors from his high school and one of the best in the city, but not nearly good enough to advance to the Ontario final.
Still, there were congratulations, applause, admiration and pride. No parents screamed insults. No peers tried to injure him.
Now comes the contrast.
At my older son's midget hockey game, respect, honour and sportsmanship were given the short shrift.
Adam, who has not been playing at 100% and has always been a defence-first defenceman, scored his first goal of the season. He was very involved in the play, drawing one deserved penalty and one that was a bit of a mystery. And he was, late in the game, part of a two-on-none breakout on an empty net and let his teammate pot the goal.
It was after than empty net goal when the lack of minor hockey sportsmanship reared its head. An opposing Stratford Warrior slashed my son on the arm as he and teammates were skating back to their bench. The game was 5-2 with only seconds left to play. What was the point, other than to assault?
As is uncanny tradition, I missed taking a photo of my son's rare goal. I was at the far end of the rink. But I did snap this shot of one of his teammates scoring on Stratford.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sledge hockey championship coming to London
Not exactly minor hockey, but look what's coming to hockey's heartland at the Western Fair Sports Centre.
,http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/London+named+host+world+sledge+hockey+challenge/3740998/story.html
Sledge hockey players are awesome, and while they'll not draw the crowds of major junior or the NHL, the sledge championship should draw lots of attention in London, Ont.
I remember a hockey dad from a team several years ago grousing about sledge hockey, complaining about how the players carve up the ice and suggesting they should have their own rink.
Nice thought that minor hockey kids should always have perfect ice, but community rinks are for sharing.
And any hockey - ice, field, table, air included - is good.
,http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/London+named+host+world+sledge+hockey+challenge/3740998/story.html
Sledge hockey players are awesome, and while they'll not draw the crowds of major junior or the NHL, the sledge championship should draw lots of attention in London, Ont.
I remember a hockey dad from a team several years ago grousing about sledge hockey, complaining about how the players carve up the ice and suggesting they should have their own rink.
Nice thought that minor hockey kids should always have perfect ice, but community rinks are for sharing.
And any hockey - ice, field, table, air included - is good.
Trick or treat teambuilding
When I managed little kids' teams, I always went to great lengths to make the experience go beyond what happened on the ice. It was an attempt to create positive peer experiences that I hope resulted in positive interactions, great memories and maybe some lasting friendships.
One of the standards during the tyke and novice years was Halloween candy. Just like their dads sharing a cold one or a Timmies, the bonding of sharing candy for kids cannot be measured.
Just don't do what I did and give it to them before the game.
One of the standards during the tyke and novice years was Halloween candy. Just like their dads sharing a cold one or a Timmies, the bonding of sharing candy for kids cannot be measured.
Just don't do what I did and give it to them before the game.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario offers parental advice
This new program by the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario http://www.alliancehockey.com/display_news.asp?id=415 seems like a well-intentioned attempt to curb the enthusiasm of minor hockey parents, not unlike a compulsory program in Calgary.
But with the MHAO's attempt really attract any notice from the parents who need it the most?
Like making the NHL, one can only hope and dream.
But with the MHAO's attempt really attract any notice from the parents who need it the most?
Like making the NHL, one can only hope and dream.
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