Minor Hockey Moments
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Teen goalie pays heavy price for his style
Is the chase of an pro hockey career worth this? A talented, athletic Toronto teen has undergone multiple surgeries with more on the horizon all from playing and practising the butterfly goaltending style, says the Toronto Star.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Coach jailed for tripping player
Remember the British Columbia hockey coach who purposely tripped a kid when they were lined up to shake hands? The kid broke his wrist when he fell.
Now the "coach" is in jail - 15 days to be served weekends.
Which is OK, 'cause he isn't spending time at the rink anymore.
Here's the link to the CBC story.
Now the "coach" is in jail - 15 days to be served weekends.
Which is OK, 'cause he isn't spending time at the rink anymore.
Here's the link to the CBC story.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
North Dakota fans in middle of KKK uproar
Definitely not what's meant when hockey fans are asked to dress for a white-out in stands. Kids in North Dakota decided dressed in Ku Klux Klan garb was cool. It was not.
It is a sensitive issue for American society - and maybe especially so for hockey which is trying to grow in appeal for young athletes and fans beyond the traditional base of white families.
In the U.S., where high school hockey is the big show and not community-based minor hockey as it is in Canada, the sport is largely white. Only a handful of non-white athletes play in the NHL, and most of these are from Canada.
This will change, but the effort isn't helped by the antics of these North Dakota kids.
It is a sensitive issue for American society - and maybe especially so for hockey which is trying to grow in appeal for young athletes and fans beyond the traditional base of white families.
In the U.S., where high school hockey is the big show and not community-based minor hockey as it is in Canada, the sport is largely white. Only a handful of non-white athletes play in the NHL, and most of these are from Canada.
This will change, but the effort isn't helped by the antics of these North Dakota kids.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Midget breaks neck in Toronto game
The most evil play in minor hockey. Here's why it is banned. http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/02/19/midget_junior_player_suffers_broken_neck_after_check_from_behind.html
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Young hockey teammates die in plane crash
Imagine the sadness as a Manitoba atom team vows to keep playing its season after three of its young players were killed in a plane accident.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Boy dies on outdoor rink
Tragic news out of Quebec this weekend as a nine-year-old boy was found dead on an outdoor hockey rink, trapped under a net. It appears he was alone, trying to drag the heavy net into place to play a game he loved.
Here's a link to a Sun Media story.
Here's a link to a Sun Media story.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Game on, despite snowstorm
It's the biggest snowstorm in years in Southwestern Ontario and yet one of the provinces' biggest girls' hockey tournaments carries on at the Western Fair Sports Centre.
By contrast, all minor hockey games up the 401 in Toronto are cancelled.
The push to play through winter storms is why careful thinking hockey parents invest in winter tires and, often, AWD SUVs. Check out the parking lot on a tournament weekend around here and you'll see SUVs outnumbering soccer mom mini-vans by a wide margin.
Always thought winter tournaments should be sponsored by Michelin, Toyo or Goodyear to push their much-needed snow and ice radials.
By contrast, all minor hockey games up the 401 in Toronto are cancelled.
The push to play through winter storms is why careful thinking hockey parents invest in winter tires and, often, AWD SUVs. Check out the parking lot on a tournament weekend around here and you'll see SUVs outnumbering soccer mom mini-vans by a wide margin.
Always thought winter tournaments should be sponsored by Michelin, Toyo or Goodyear to push their much-needed snow and ice radials.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Minor hockey Star
No one covers minor hockey issues as well as the Toronto Star.
Here's a piece today about making the kids' game non-contact for reasons of safety and fun. It's true: Contact hockey is the realm of elite players on evenly matched teams with the best coaches, trainers and referees. Contact hockey in more loosely organized leagues is at best too discouraging for less gifted kids and at worst too dangerous where serious injuries can and do happen.
Yesterday, the Star published a piece about the cost of hockey and the dreams chased by families of kids on AAA teams, the highest level for tweens and teens in Canada.
The odds of having it pay off with an NHL career worth millions or even an NCAA scholarship worth thousands are long. More likely is a life-long disadvantage from missed school days, lack of sleep, or injuries from over-training or on-ice mishaps.
I've always thought the cream will rise naturally to the top, no matter how many expensive, time- consuming tournaments or personalized training a 14-year-old consumes. Fun, fitness and friends - not hotels, high-tech sticks and hockey hookey - should be the keywords for kids participating at any level.
Here's a piece today about making the kids' game non-contact for reasons of safety and fun. It's true: Contact hockey is the realm of elite players on evenly matched teams with the best coaches, trainers and referees. Contact hockey in more loosely organized leagues is at best too discouraging for less gifted kids and at worst too dangerous where serious injuries can and do happen.
Yesterday, the Star published a piece about the cost of hockey and the dreams chased by families of kids on AAA teams, the highest level for tweens and teens in Canada.
The odds of having it pay off with an NHL career worth millions or even an NCAA scholarship worth thousands are long. More likely is a life-long disadvantage from missed school days, lack of sleep, or injuries from over-training or on-ice mishaps.
I've always thought the cream will rise naturally to the top, no matter how many expensive, time- consuming tournaments or personalized training a 14-year-old consumes. Fun, fitness and friends - not hotels, high-tech sticks and hockey hookey - should be the keywords for kids participating at any level.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Family moves to avoid small town coach
What's the worst minor hockey experience you've ever heard?
This story from Northern Ontario tops my list, where ill will, anger and a refusal to "release" a teen to play hockey in a nearby town left a family with no alternative but to sell their home of 16 years and move so their son could play the game he loves for a coach who doesn't have a track record of senseless screaming at kids.
For those not from Ontario, the province has an outdated geographic system of dictating where kids can play. Only for hockey. Other youth sports are just happy to have young people play, make friends and keep fit.
This story from Northern Ontario tops my list, where ill will, anger and a refusal to "release" a teen to play hockey in a nearby town left a family with no alternative but to sell their home of 16 years and move so their son could play the game he loves for a coach who doesn't have a track record of senseless screaming at kids.
For those not from Ontario, the province has an outdated geographic system of dictating where kids can play. Only for hockey. Other youth sports are just happy to have young people play, make friends and keep fit.
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