Hat trick in 14 seconds

What can be accomplished in just 14 seconds? Just ask this 10-year-old minor hockey player from Cobourg, Ont., who led his team's comeback with a remarkable (lucky?) effort.

Hockey Night in Canada is calling kids

This looks like fun and if I were involved with a novice or peewee team, I'd sign them up. It would be a great minor hockey career moment to introduce Hockey Night in Canada. Click on the link to find out how.

Officials come down hard on Parry Sound midgets

Officials came down hard on the Parry Sound major midget team following a wild party on Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.
All but two players were suspended for the rest of the season. The two who did not get suspended were not at the party, according to a Canadian Press story posted on the CBC website.
The team's coaches were suspended for three years.
Fair? I think so based on the news reports I've read.
Too bad the OMHA didn't post a statement on its website about this incident and the penalties imposed. Not doing so missed a chance to communicate on an important issue to minor hockey players and parents.
And to point out to players and parents that there are consequences for bad choices.
It's my guess that there's much more of this type of behavior out there. The difference this time is that it got appropriate publicity.
A decade ago, there was a debate in our daily newspaper newsroom about whether or not to pursue a story about the underage drinking exploits of a local high school hockey team - the players would be the same age as the Parry Sound midgets. The high school team's season came to an abrupt end when players were caught drinking at a tournament in Maritime Canada, ending any championship aspirations. The story was never written because of how it would affect the relationship between the newspaper and high school in a small, tight knit community.
Fortunately, the Parry Sound situation got the publicity it deserved.

Channelling Ward Cornell

Movember countdown

We're into the final few days to help Wayne's World of Minor Hockey raise money for Movember and our coach Colin's hairy upper lip campaign for men's health.
When readers of this blog click on the various Google ads, money is raised for this important campaign.
Colin, by the way, has already started to reinstitute his familiar beard to go along with his moustache. A number of teens on the team also took part in the campaign, with great results and a certain amount of humour.
Winners all.
This is not the only charity event Colin has lead. Each season, his teams with the help of parents volunteer to help the London Food Bank.
I know we're not alone in organizing charity work for hockey players. Many teams realize it helps build an important sense of community, caring and giving. It also helps create team spirit.

Some of the parents and players who collected food during the 2008 campaign. 

Head shots in minor hockey

Pencil him in

Not all photo manipulation tricks work well for minor hockey shots, but I like what pencil effect did for this shot from two years ago of my defenceman son clearing the front of the net for his goaltender. Always a good day when the puck is in the shot.

Driving forces behind minor hockey

Hmmm, which car company does more for minor hockey, Ford, GM or Hyundai? In London, it's Ford and the various dealers. Many other brand dealers offer great support, including Probart Mazda and Wharncliffe Chrysler. Down the road in St. Thomas, a local dealer offers a kickback to minor hockey for every sale made through a referral.
Hyundai is giving away SUVs as minor hockey fundraisers in seven Canadian cities. Too bad Hyundai didn't leave one of their Tuscons in London.

Keep a tight grip on trophies

I always expect minor hockey kids to drop and smash a trophy by accident after winning a tournament or championship. Never expected a figure skating star to do it on national TV. Oops. Here's the Battle of the Blades clip, apparently cut for the west coast version of the broadcast. Thanks to Toronto Sun Family blog, which posted this first.

Brantford vs. West and the Making of Slap Shot

Can two teams with a history of odd games actually have a fun minor hockey game? The answer is yes, and no one could be more pleased than me.
The Brantford 99ers and West London Hawks major midgets, both this year's and last year's versions, have had ridiculous encounters in the past. But not so last night at London's Kinsmen arena.
Fast skating, strategic body contact, nice plays, great saves and clever players capitalizing on mistakes - the game had it all.
Add to that, scoreboard drama. Tied at one, West built a 4-1 lead going into the third. Coming out of the dressing room, Brantford gets some enthusiastic cheering from an over-the-top supporter. Before long, it's 4-2. Then 4-3. Dying minutes, goalie pulled, Brantford controls the play in West's end. West ices the puck. Faceoff won by Brantford, frantic play, crunching check into the boards, buzzer sounds . . . West hangs on for a much-needed two points.
Credit goes to the guys behind the bench for both teams. Their leadership help shepherd the kids into playing the game into the way competitive minor hockey should be. Handshakes by coaches at the end of the game was not lost on the kids and parents.
And to think I joked with a linesman before the game to keep his head up with these two teams.
I guess the book (The Making of Slap Shot)  I'm now reading isn't so relevant to this posting after all.