American blogger JBM Thinks is a sports mom, coach's wife with interesting insights. Hockey parents can just substitute the word "rink" for field or court in her new Top 10 list of New Year's resolutions you can find here.
My resolution? To help get a chartered bus full of Canadian teenage hockey players to Nashville and back, well fed, homework done and in good weather driving. And with a championship trophy. Not that I'm overly competitive, just that we do intend to win.
Minor Hockey Moments
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
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Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Kitchener, Waterloo ready to marry AAA programs
Interesting times ahead for elite minor hockey families in Kitchener and Waterloo as the number of midget and bantam AAA teams in the Twin Cities may soon be cut in half.
Under the hand of the Major Junior Kitchener Rangers, the AAA programs are slated to be amalgamated, meaning better AAA teams but fewer spots for players, who will either filter down to AA hockey teams or drift to other sports.
What's more, according to the Waterloo Region Record, the wheels are in motion to loosen the geographical restrictions for competitive hockey in Ontario in preparation for a "Super Midget League".
Interesting times are ahead for K-W that'll make last summer's AA debate in London look like child's play.
Under the hand of the Major Junior Kitchener Rangers, the AAA programs are slated to be amalgamated, meaning better AAA teams but fewer spots for players, who will either filter down to AA hockey teams or drift to other sports.
What's more, according to the Waterloo Region Record, the wheels are in motion to loosen the geographical restrictions for competitive hockey in Ontario in preparation for a "Super Midget League".
Interesting times are ahead for K-W that'll make last summer's AA debate in London look like child's play.
Our tournament time goes south
The Christmas break is tournament time for thousands of minor hockey players and parents.
Mostly a week for house league events, we never had to do the travel/hotel thing during our Christmas years, unless you count going back and forth to Brantford for the annual Wayne Gretzky competitive tournament.
For those who've never been, the Gretzky tournament is a cut above most others in terms of the effort to make it a show of friendship and love of hockey. An Olympic-style opening ceremony at the Brantford Civic Centre, an historic old barn strategically located next to the city's casino, is an awesome experience.
Or at least it should be. The year our team played in Brantford, there was such a gap between games all but three players went back to London. It didn't leave much of a team representation to march onto the ice. But other teams were there, including some from far away, drawn by the fun of playing in the home town of hockey's greatest star.
Brantford has an arena and swimming pool complex named in honour of Gretzky and this year's tournament marks a milestone of sorts for that facility. It is undergoing extensive renovations and this is the last year will be played on the old ice pads.
Just by coincidence, the tournament has 99 teams entered this year. Another odd coincidence? It's 99 kilometres from our driveway to the Gretzky arena.
As for our current team, we're off the ice during the Christmas break. When we found out our own West London Minor Hockey Association had cancelled our midget division in a February tournament because only three teams had registered, I found a replacement tournament this week in Hespeler. But while I found a tournament, I lost a team with most families and our coach having made other plans.
Given that we played our most recent league game with only 10 players, entering a tournament would've been a disaster.
Meanwhile, the focus is on a mega-trip in January to Franklin, TN, a half-hour drive south of Nashville where we'll line up against the Huntsville Chargers, South Florida Golden Wolves and Houston Wild.
It's a day-long, two-driver, $7,000 chartered bus ride to get to this tournament, so it's a little different than scooting done to Western Fair or St. Thomas for a few games.
Our teenagers will appreciate it, right?
Mostly a week for house league events, we never had to do the travel/hotel thing during our Christmas years, unless you count going back and forth to Brantford for the annual Wayne Gretzky competitive tournament.
For those who've never been, the Gretzky tournament is a cut above most others in terms of the effort to make it a show of friendship and love of hockey. An Olympic-style opening ceremony at the Brantford Civic Centre, an historic old barn strategically located next to the city's casino, is an awesome experience.
Or at least it should be. The year our team played in Brantford, there was such a gap between games all but three players went back to London. It didn't leave much of a team representation to march onto the ice. But other teams were there, including some from far away, drawn by the fun of playing in the home town of hockey's greatest star.
Brantford has an arena and swimming pool complex named in honour of Gretzky and this year's tournament marks a milestone of sorts for that facility. It is undergoing extensive renovations and this is the last year will be played on the old ice pads.
Just by coincidence, the tournament has 99 teams entered this year. Another odd coincidence? It's 99 kilometres from our driveway to the Gretzky arena.
As for our current team, we're off the ice during the Christmas break. When we found out our own West London Minor Hockey Association had cancelled our midget division in a February tournament because only three teams had registered, I found a replacement tournament this week in Hespeler. But while I found a tournament, I lost a team with most families and our coach having made other plans.
Given that we played our most recent league game with only 10 players, entering a tournament would've been a disaster.
Meanwhile, the focus is on a mega-trip in January to Franklin, TN, a half-hour drive south of Nashville where we'll line up against the Huntsville Chargers, South Florida Golden Wolves and Houston Wild.
It's a day-long, two-driver, $7,000 chartered bus ride to get to this tournament, so it's a little different than scooting done to Western Fair or St. Thomas for a few games.
Our teenagers will appreciate it, right?
Whale of a time for London product
At age 30, Londoner Jason Williams is still plugging away at pro hockey. After five years in the NHL, he's signed a tryout contract with the AHL Connecticut Whale.
Wasn't it Eddie Shack who was asked why he kept playing even though he had little ice time? He replied, because a seat on the bench is cheaper than a seat in the stands.
Those who love the game and get paid for it never want to get a real job if they can help it.
Details are here, courtesy AHL.com
Wasn't it Eddie Shack who was asked why he kept playing even though he had little ice time? He replied, because a seat on the bench is cheaper than a seat in the stands.
Those who love the game and get paid for it never want to get a real job if they can help it.
Details are here, courtesy AHL.com
Monday, December 27, 2010
Windsor tournament re-named for Probert
Hockey officials in Windsor, Ont., have renamed that city's annual Christmas novice tournament in honour of Bob Probert, the former Detroit Red Wing and Chicago Blackhawk enforcer who died of a heart attack at age 45.
To those who think of Probert only as a feared NHL tough guy who had brushes with the law might find this curious. But Probert was much more than that to his hometown. His image was positive.
Still, it's likely best that it's a novice tournament carrying his name. No telling how midgets would act playing under the Probert moniker.
To those who think of Probert only as a feared NHL tough guy who had brushes with the law might find this curious. But Probert was much more than that to his hometown. His image was positive.
Still, it's likely best that it's a novice tournament carrying his name. No telling how midgets would act playing under the Probert moniker.
Debate rages over tournaments using city's best arena
When you travel to an out-of-town tournament, you expect to be treated royally. Welcome gifts for kids or player of the game awards are often part of the formula. Playing in the host community's best rink is a given.
Or not. At least if you're heading to Kingston, Ont., where a debate has erupted over whether or not hockey tournaments should be held in the city's spiffy new four-pad facility.
The local economic development department wants the new facility to be the headquarters for tournaments. Why not? Well, at least one minor hockey official says it's not fair because it bumps local players to lesser facilities.
Seriously. When you invite company, don't you clean up a bit and use the best china?
Tournaments, when well organized, are fantastic cash cows for local associations and a major boost for local hotels and restaurants. The economic development people see this.
To follow the Kingston debate, start with this story from the Whig-Standard and read through to the many comments posted at the bottom of the newspaper story.
Or not. At least if you're heading to Kingston, Ont., where a debate has erupted over whether or not hockey tournaments should be held in the city's spiffy new four-pad facility.
The local economic development department wants the new facility to be the headquarters for tournaments. Why not? Well, at least one minor hockey official says it's not fair because it bumps local players to lesser facilities.
Seriously. When you invite company, don't you clean up a bit and use the best china?
Tournaments, when well organized, are fantastic cash cows for local associations and a major boost for local hotels and restaurants. The economic development people see this.
To follow the Kingston debate, start with this story from the Whig-Standard and read through to the many comments posted at the bottom of the newspaper story.
Captain of US juniors has London ties
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made many odd moves over the years, among them naming Rob Ramage as captain even before he pulled on the jersey way back in the Harold Ballard era.
His impact on the franchise was insignificant - Ramage is remembered more as a defenceman with the Calgary Flame or St. Louis Blues. And, of course, the player who grew up in my neighbourhood in London is also remembered as the drunk driver who crashed a car and killed fellow retired NHL defenceman Keith Magnuson.
Rob Ramage, who starred with our local Major Junior London Knights, is in jail now, unable to watch live his American-born son captain Team USA at the World Juniors in Buffalo.
In today's Sun Media newspapers, the always excellent Ryan Pyette of the London Free Press tells the story of John Ramage and his rise to hockey prominence. John Ramage seems like the prototype team player who may very well have an excellent pro career ahead of him. Read Ryan's story as it was posted by the Toronto Sun by clicking here. (I couldn't find it posted by the London Free Press.)
Not that we're cheering for the Americans to win the World Juniors, despite the fact their captain is the son of a Londoner.
We're obligated to cheer for Canada and Brayden Schenn of Saskatoon - a player I wish could join his brother with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And speaking of the Leafs, shouldn't Nazem Kadri, another of the many pro hockey players from London and area, be with the Canadian juniors instead of the Leafs?
His impact on the franchise was insignificant - Ramage is remembered more as a defenceman with the Calgary Flame or St. Louis Blues. And, of course, the player who grew up in my neighbourhood in London is also remembered as the drunk driver who crashed a car and killed fellow retired NHL defenceman Keith Magnuson.
Rob Ramage, who starred with our local Major Junior London Knights, is in jail now, unable to watch live his American-born son captain Team USA at the World Juniors in Buffalo.
In today's Sun Media newspapers, the always excellent Ryan Pyette of the London Free Press tells the story of John Ramage and his rise to hockey prominence. John Ramage seems like the prototype team player who may very well have an excellent pro career ahead of him. Read Ryan's story as it was posted by the Toronto Sun by clicking here. (I couldn't find it posted by the London Free Press.)
Not that we're cheering for the Americans to win the World Juniors, despite the fact their captain is the son of a Londoner.
We're obligated to cheer for Canada and Brayden Schenn of Saskatoon - a player I wish could join his brother with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And speaking of the Leafs, shouldn't Nazem Kadri, another of the many pro hockey players from London and area, be with the Canadian juniors instead of the Leafs?
Friday, December 24, 2010
Minor hockey loses option for hurt kids
Hurt in a hockey game and looking for quick repairs in London? Don't turn to St. Joseph's hospital in London.
St. Joseph's, which is located to several city arenas, lost its emergency department years ago but now has a fantastic urgent care centre - fantastic, that is, when it's staffed and open.
It's been a destination of choice when minor hockey players - and others - have suffered bumps, bruises, strains, pains, suspected concussions and broken bones.
But now the urgent care centre is closing daily at 4 pm due to a lack of staff, John Miner of The London Free Press reports.
That'll leave hurting kids heading to the emergency department at Sick Children's Hospital of Western Ontario at the London Health Sciences Centre's Victoria campus or to University Hospital in the city's north end.
If it has to cut back hours, St. Joe's urgent care should be open evenings and closed afternoons.
Until staffing improves, now more than ever, play safe in London.
St. Joseph's, which is located to several city arenas, lost its emergency department years ago but now has a fantastic urgent care centre - fantastic, that is, when it's staffed and open.
It's been a destination of choice when minor hockey players - and others - have suffered bumps, bruises, strains, pains, suspected concussions and broken bones.
But now the urgent care centre is closing daily at 4 pm due to a lack of staff, John Miner of The London Free Press reports.
That'll leave hurting kids heading to the emergency department at Sick Children's Hospital of Western Ontario at the London Health Sciences Centre's Victoria campus or to University Hospital in the city's north end.
If it has to cut back hours, St. Joe's urgent care should be open evenings and closed afternoons.
Until staffing improves, now more than ever, play safe in London.
Lone girl exits peewee team thanks to a hockey dad lawyer
What kind of a parent would lobby to remove a 12-year-old player from a team half way through a season?
A lawyer who sincerely thought he was doing the right thing, I suppose.
It happened with a peewee 'A' team in Toronto when a parent sought the support of other parents on his son's team to "fix" the problem of the team's only female, and weakest player.
The Toronto Star wrote:
Atis ... details two possible options for consideration, either moving Kayla from defence to forward and keeping her off of power plays and penalty kills, or playing her every second shift on defence and again keeping her off special teams “until her skating and shooting improves.” “If Kayla is NOT amenable to the above options, the coach should find Kayla a new team to play on — commensurate to her skill level — for the balance of the season,” .... Atis also raised concerns about Kayla changing in the same locker-room as the boys, stating, “there have been many ‘near miss’ incidents where the boys have almost been exposed to Kayla.”
To more read details from another blogger, click here.
To read the original Toronto Star article, click here.
A lawyer who sincerely thought he was doing the right thing, I suppose.
It happened with a peewee 'A' team in Toronto when a parent sought the support of other parents on his son's team to "fix" the problem of the team's only female, and weakest player.
The Toronto Star wrote:
Atis ... details two possible options for consideration, either moving Kayla from defence to forward and keeping her off of power plays and penalty kills, or playing her every second shift on defence and again keeping her off special teams “until her skating and shooting improves.” “If Kayla is NOT amenable to the above options, the coach should find Kayla a new team to play on — commensurate to her skill level — for the balance of the season,” .... Atis also raised concerns about Kayla changing in the same locker-room as the boys, stating, “there have been many ‘near miss’ incidents where the boys have almost been exposed to Kayla.”
To more read details from another blogger, click here.
To read the original Toronto Star article, click here.
Lost but a win
Eleven years of driving to minor hockey rinks, obscure and obvious. I'd never gotten lost - delayed in Waterloo once, maybe - until last night.
We were headed to Lions Park Arena in Brantford last night to make up a game cancelled because of last week's storm. We've never been to Lions Park before - usually we play at the Gretzky - so I dutifully checked and printed out instructions from an online arena finding service. And no, I don't have a GPS.
The driving was good and we arrived so early that we stopped at a Taco Bell for a dinner, phase 2, then continued on our way to the arena. Or so we thought. When we reached the city limits, I figured something was amiss. Asked one person, who had never heard of the arena. Asked another who thought it was in Paris. Asked a third who said we were going exactly the wrong way - it's close to downtown Brantford.
As we were getting back on track, the cellphone rings. It's our manager calling from the arena lobby wondering where we were and if we were coming. It was a bit of crisis as we only had nine skaters and one goalie, thanks to travel plans, work commitments and injuries. Fortunately, there was a map in the arena lobby and he guided us in - then pointed out a sale price on a great GPS.
Of course we didn't expect to win the game and a short bench soon became shorter. Our captain re -aggravated his knee and upper thigh early in the first period. One of the four defencemen - OK, it was my son - took a hefty penalty and missed half a period. Another forward took a puck off the helmet. Another defenceman was pushed heavily into the boards on the first shift of the third period and managed only a shift or two after that.
Still, the pucks went in for us - five goals. Brantford hit the post at least four times and scored four, the last with their net empty in the final moments. A 5-4 win and only seven skaters by the end of the game.
A Christmas miracle to be sure.
And if there's a GPS under the tree on Christmas morning, I'll understand why.
We were headed to Lions Park Arena in Brantford last night to make up a game cancelled because of last week's storm. We've never been to Lions Park before - usually we play at the Gretzky - so I dutifully checked and printed out instructions from an online arena finding service. And no, I don't have a GPS.
 |
| The bench was a short for the West London Hawks midgets in Brantford. They ended the game with seven skaters. |
As we were getting back on track, the cellphone rings. It's our manager calling from the arena lobby wondering where we were and if we were coming. It was a bit of crisis as we only had nine skaters and one goalie, thanks to travel plans, work commitments and injuries. Fortunately, there was a map in the arena lobby and he guided us in - then pointed out a sale price on a great GPS.
Of course we didn't expect to win the game and a short bench soon became shorter. Our captain re -aggravated his knee and upper thigh early in the first period. One of the four defencemen - OK, it was my son - took a hefty penalty and missed half a period. Another forward took a puck off the helmet. Another defenceman was pushed heavily into the boards on the first shift of the third period and managed only a shift or two after that.
Still, the pucks went in for us - five goals. Brantford hit the post at least four times and scored four, the last with their net empty in the final moments. A 5-4 win and only seven skaters by the end of the game.
A Christmas miracle to be sure.
And if there's a GPS under the tree on Christmas morning, I'll understand why.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Teen suspended from hockey for wanting better marks in school
Are crazy, bureaucratic rules only for boys' hockey? Nope, elite female hockey in Saskatoon shows it can compete with the boys when it comes to tripping up the school and hockey aspirations of a 17-year-old.
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix has the story about a team transfer gone off the rails involving Lindsay Karst and the local AAA Saskatoon Stars. In a nutshell, both she and her coach have been suspended because her parents were worried about Lindsay's falling grades.
Is minor hockey, even at the elite level, organized for the kids or for the egos of adults? Just asking.
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix has the story about a team transfer gone off the rails involving Lindsay Karst and the local AAA Saskatoon Stars. In a nutshell, both she and her coach have been suspended because her parents were worried about Lindsay's falling grades.
Is minor hockey, even at the elite level, organized for the kids or for the egos of adults? Just asking.
Teams boycott Peterborough tournaments
The coach of two London, Ont., minor hockey teams says his squads will be boycotting tournaments in Peterborough until the Ontario Minor Hockey Association apologies to coach Greg Walsh.
This is an interesting development you can read in this Postmedia story.
Not sure if this is a fair tactic, but if the goal is to continue the discussion about racism in minor hockey, then so be it.
This is an interesting development you can read in this Postmedia story.
Not sure if this is a fair tactic, but if the goal is to continue the discussion about racism in minor hockey, then so be it.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sidney Crosby brings Cole Harbour team to Winter Classic
Does Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby remember his minor hockey roots?
You bet he does - often helping teams from Nova Scotia.
The most recent example is arranging for an AA bantam team to play in a minor hockey tournament as part of this year's NHL Winter Classic weekend.
Don't we all wish Crosby came from our home town.
Read the story in the Dartmouth Chronicle-Herald.
You bet he does - often helping teams from Nova Scotia.
The most recent example is arranging for an AA bantam team to play in a minor hockey tournament as part of this year's NHL Winter Classic weekend.
Don't we all wish Crosby came from our home town.
Read the story in the Dartmouth Chronicle-Herald.
OMHA reverses coach's suspension
The OMHA has reversed a decision to suspend a Peterborough house league coach who stood up for his team in the face of racism on the ice. Good move. Let's play on.
Coach Greg Walsh had originally been suspended a year after his team refused to return to the ice for the third period after an opposing player called one of Coach Walsh's players the n-word.
The player who used the slur apologized and has already served a three-game suspension.
Here's a link to a CBC report.
Coach Greg Walsh had originally been suspended a year after his team refused to return to the ice for the third period after an opposing player called one of Coach Walsh's players the n-word.
The player who used the slur apologized and has already served a three-game suspension.
Here's a link to a CBC report.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Cherry on top
DJ Steve Porter nails it with this excellent Don Cherry remix first broadcast Dec. 18, 2010, on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
Georges Laraque weighs in on hockey racism
Former NHL player Georges Laraque has weighed in on racism in hockey in the wake of the stupid one-year suspension given a Peterborough house league coach by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association.
The former Montreal Canadien writes, "It's unacceptable and shameful that the OMHA is choosing to hide behind their rules and regulations to punish Walsh, instead of giving him and his team the respect they deserve for standing up against racism. Every single one of us knows that he did the right thing."
As I said in a blog posting a few days ago, the OMHA has screwed up, totally misreading the tea leaves and misjudging public opinion in dealing with this incident.
Here's the link to Laraque's Facebook posting.
The former Montreal Canadien writes, "It's unacceptable and shameful that the OMHA is choosing to hide behind their rules and regulations to punish Walsh, instead of giving him and his team the respect they deserve for standing up against racism. Every single one of us knows that he did the right thing."
As I said in a blog posting a few days ago, the OMHA has screwed up, totally misreading the tea leaves and misjudging public opinion in dealing with this incident.
Here's the link to Laraque's Facebook posting.
Greg Walsh gets shafted by OMHA
Steve Simmons is my favourite sports columnist for Sun Media. He's also an experienced volunteer minor hockey coach. Here's what he says about the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and Peterborough house league coach Greg Walsh. Clearly, the suspension is unfair and the public backlash has only just begun to harm the OMHA and the image of minor hockey.
The better solution to this whole situation would have been a media conference apology involving the kids, two coaches and OMHA head.
Suspending Walsh for a year makes the OMHA look like it condones racism and shafts volunteers who are sincere in trying to mold teenagers into fine young men.
Here is what Steve wrote in the online version of his column.
The better solution to this whole situation would have been a media conference apology involving the kids, two coaches and OMHA head.
Suspending Walsh for a year makes the OMHA look like it condones racism and shafts volunteers who are sincere in trying to mold teenagers into fine young men.
Here is what Steve wrote in the online version of his column.
BLINDNESS OF MINOR HOCKEY
For more than 20 seasons, under all kinds of circumstances, I have coached various levels of minor hockey in the province. I have been suspended more than once and argued against my players’ suspensions vociferously and often have been frustrated by rules that benefit the administrators but not the participants. The curious ruling this week by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association was that house league coach Greg Walsh would be suspended for pulling his team from the ice after a racial slur had been uttered by an opposing player. All Walsh asked for — and didn’t get — was an apology. Nothing more. He didn’t want his team to participate in a game being played under so ugly a tenor. The player in question wound up with a three-game suspension. The coach got the season. I would like to say I’m surprised by the ruling, but I’ve been around long enough to know that bull-headed illogic, rather than common sense, prevails too often in minor hockey rulings.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Ouch, ouch, ouch
Strathroy's Tyler Carroll of the OHL Guelph Storm shows his toughness blocking shot after shot during a penalty kill against the Kitchener Rangers.
TV viewing saved by a hockey dad
Just when it seemed like it would be a hockey-free night in our household, along comes a fellow hockey day to the rescue.
Miffed that our two-year-old Samsung LCD big screen TV broke yesterday, and further miffed that the Samsung call centre in South Carolina insisted I had to call a Mississauga company to arrange a repair, I turned to the Yellow Pages for help.
I didn't expect the TV to be fixed in time for Christmas, much less tonight's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks.
But Rouel at Oxford Electronics changed that. He fixed it in a matter of hours, on a Saturday.
Rouel started the job with one proviso. If he wasn't done by mid-afternoon when he had to leave for his son's hockey game down the road in Sarnia, then the TV would have to spend the weekend on the bench.
I could identify with that. Watching one's son play minor hockey is a priority - it used to kill me when I worked nights and missed games, so much so I would try to schedule vacation days around my son's hockey schedule..
Luckily for me, the TV repair was straightforward and Rouel (pronounced Ray-el) made the London Bandits major peewees game in Sarnia.
Of course I'm still miffed with Samsung and vowed to the supervisor at the service call centre not to buy anything they make again. Then my son held up his beloved and durable cellphone - it's a Samsung. Ditto for my cellphone.
We are in the market for a new dishwasher. Anyone know a good brand?
Miffed that our two-year-old Samsung LCD big screen TV broke yesterday, and further miffed that the Samsung call centre in South Carolina insisted I had to call a Mississauga company to arrange a repair, I turned to the Yellow Pages for help.
I didn't expect the TV to be fixed in time for Christmas, much less tonight's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks.
But Rouel at Oxford Electronics changed that. He fixed it in a matter of hours, on a Saturday.
Rouel started the job with one proviso. If he wasn't done by mid-afternoon when he had to leave for his son's hockey game down the road in Sarnia, then the TV would have to spend the weekend on the bench.
I could identify with that. Watching one's son play minor hockey is a priority - it used to kill me when I worked nights and missed games, so much so I would try to schedule vacation days around my son's hockey schedule..
Luckily for me, the TV repair was straightforward and Rouel (pronounced Ray-el) made the London Bandits major peewees game in Sarnia.
Of course I'm still miffed with Samsung and vowed to the supervisor at the service call centre not to buy anything they make again. Then my son held up his beloved and durable cellphone - it's a Samsung. Ditto for my cellphone.
We are in the market for a new dishwasher. Anyone know a good brand?
Friday, December 17, 2010
OMHA misreads the racism tea leaves
Oops. While the OMHA is right from a rules point of view but wrong in the eyes of broader public opinion in suspending a Peterborough midget house league coach for refusing to continue playing a game after a racial slur.
No one condones slurs in minor hockey, but the coach can't make up policy as he goes along.
Still, a suspension for the rest of the year - compared to three games for the offending player on the other team - seems too harsh. The backlash from the non-hockey playing community will not be pleasant.
Here's the link to a Toronto Star article about the situation.
Here's the link to an excellent opinion piece published by the National Post.
And to the left, a book to buy.
No one condones slurs in minor hockey, but the coach can't make up policy as he goes along.
Still, a suspension for the rest of the year - compared to three games for the offending player on the other team - seems too harsh. The backlash from the non-hockey playing community will not be pleasant.
Here's the link to a Toronto Star article about the situation.
Here's the link to an excellent opinion piece published by the National Post.
And to the left, a book to buy.
Travel and dogs
I've started two new blogs - one for dog lovers, one for travellers.
Wolf to Woof (clever, eh?) and Wayne's World of Travel are already gaining an audience.
For those who've asked, bloggers earn token amounts of money when readers click on the ads or, in my case, order a book from Amazon by following one of my product links. And, no, clicking on an ad doesn't mean you've automatically purchased the product.
Wolf to Woof (clever, eh?) and Wayne's World of Travel are already gaining an audience.
For those who've asked, bloggers earn token amounts of money when readers click on the ads or, in my case, order a book from Amazon by following one of my product links. And, no, clicking on an ad doesn't mean you've automatically purchased the product.
Wall of fame at corporate office
How often do you get to be part of a wall of fame in a corporate head office on the top floor of one of the city's tallest office buildings?
That's where I am, and more importantly my sons, in various minor hockey and soccer photos from more than a decade of involvement in London.
The office is that of Pacific & Western Bank of Canada and the sponsor plaques lining the wall are from the many kids' sports teams the bank has sponsored over the years. And it's not just the various teams my two sons have played on, but many other sports teams including a high school basketball team and charities.
Sponsorship matters. And so does saying thank you.
That's where I am, and more importantly my sons, in various minor hockey and soccer photos from more than a decade of involvement in London.
The office is that of Pacific & Western Bank of Canada and the sponsor plaques lining the wall are from the many kids' sports teams the bank has sponsored over the years. And it's not just the various teams my two sons have played on, but many other sports teams including a high school basketball team and charities.
Sponsorship matters. And so does saying thank you.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
More hockey lore
If you are heading out for some Christmas shopping and have a hockey fan on your list, here is the link to my reviews of the latest hockey books as published in The London Free Press.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Safe travels a priority
Is it karma that no sooner do I rant about weather wimps than I am crossing my fingers for a game to be cancelled because of the weather forecast? Maybe.
A snowstorm left hundreds of motorists stranded Tuesday along Highway 402 between Sarnia and Strathroy, Ont. Transport trucks, cars, police vehicles, even snowplows were stuck or in the ditch. It was the worst weather-traffic episode in Southwestern Ontario in 30 years.
Highway 402 is one of our hockey routes - Sarnia is in our league - so we know the highway well.
While it was a nice winter day in London in the morning, the forecast was for the storm to shift east and affect driving along Highway 401 between here and Woodstock. We were scheduled to make a midnight run to Brantford, an hour away, for a game. I call it a midnight run because the puck wasn't scheduled to drop until 9 pm and by the time the kids are changed and we drive home, it's pretty close to midnight.
Despite the forecasts of lousy roads it took a painfully long time to get the game officially cancelled, although I suspect many families had already made the decision not to go no matter what.
London city hall closed at mid-afternoon, many evening classes and activities in the city were cancelled.
It would've been folly to strike out for Brantford from London. No minor hockey game is worth that kind of risk.
Here's what our wintery world is looking like, courtesy The London Free Press.
A snowstorm left hundreds of motorists stranded Tuesday along Highway 402 between Sarnia and Strathroy, Ont. Transport trucks, cars, police vehicles, even snowplows were stuck or in the ditch. It was the worst weather-traffic episode in Southwestern Ontario in 30 years.
Highway 402 is one of our hockey routes - Sarnia is in our league - so we know the highway well.
While it was a nice winter day in London in the morning, the forecast was for the storm to shift east and affect driving along Highway 401 between here and Woodstock. We were scheduled to make a midnight run to Brantford, an hour away, for a game. I call it a midnight run because the puck wasn't scheduled to drop until 9 pm and by the time the kids are changed and we drive home, it's pretty close to midnight.
Despite the forecasts of lousy roads it took a painfully long time to get the game officially cancelled, although I suspect many families had already made the decision not to go no matter what.
London city hall closed at mid-afternoon, many evening classes and activities in the city were cancelled.
It would've been folly to strike out for Brantford from London. No minor hockey game is worth that kind of risk.
Here's what our wintery world is looking like, courtesy The London Free Press.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Hockey injuries happen off the ice, too
Kids can find all kinds of ways to get hurt, not all of which are on the ice.
I spend hours with my son in a Mississauga hospital during a tournament a few years ago. He had a stitch-worthy cut on his foot after slicing it on a spiral staircase leading from the hotel pool to a squash court the kids had commandeered for a mini-sticks game. A Saturday night in a big city hospital emergency department is no place for a kid. After the bars close, weird starts happening including a fight victim who seemed to be missing part of his scalp. It made the elderly lady with the non-stop bloody nose seem like nothing.
A story making the rounds in London this season has a teen player throwing all his gear around in the dressing room in a fit of rage after losing a game. Unfortunately when he whipped his skates, he hit a teammate and cut him in the head. The angry child is now out of hockey.
Sometimes it is your own teammates on the ice who do the accidental damage. Last night when our starting goaltender was preparing to warm up, he took a shot on the fingers. Not pleasant.
I spend hours with my son in a Mississauga hospital during a tournament a few years ago. He had a stitch-worthy cut on his foot after slicing it on a spiral staircase leading from the hotel pool to a squash court the kids had commandeered for a mini-sticks game. A Saturday night in a big city hospital emergency department is no place for a kid. After the bars close, weird starts happening including a fight victim who seemed to be missing part of his scalp. It made the elderly lady with the non-stop bloody nose seem like nothing.
A story making the rounds in London this season has a teen player throwing all his gear around in the dressing room in a fit of rage after losing a game. Unfortunately when he whipped his skates, he hit a teammate and cut him in the head. The angry child is now out of hockey.
Sometimes it is your own teammates on the ice who do the accidental damage. Last night when our starting goaltender was preparing to warm up, he took a shot on the fingers. Not pleasant.
Monday, December 13, 2010
West London Midgets at Stratford
Move your cursor over the my images for cool effect courtesy of Photobucket. Photos are also at the bottom of this blog. Click on the ads on this page if you like my photos!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
DJ Steve Porter - Leafs and Habs Mix
Where's Don Cherry in this great mix from DJ Steve Porter? Where's Lanny MacDonald getting leveled after skating with his head down in Montreal as a rookie Leaf? Love seeing Dave Keon and Tim Horton.
Michigan Dominates 'Big Chill'
It would take the Phoenix Coyotes 11 home games to match the attendance at the Big Chill outdoor NCAA game played Dec. 11, 2010
About those weather wimps
Hmmm, did I say weather wimps? After half a week without minor hockey in London due to a snowstorm, we're scheduled to be back on the ice tonight. But the snow's coming down again and the game is more than an hour away in Stratford. Whiteouts along Highway 7 are possible.
Suddenly, I'm hoping the game will be rescheduled. Trimming our newly purchased Christmas tree seems a better option.
Suddenly, I'm hoping the game will be rescheduled. Trimming our newly purchased Christmas tree seems a better option.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Buy the book: Hockey tomes
My page of hockey book reviews is published today in the London Free Press and lfpress.com.
The excellent photo featuring skates as bookends is by Morris Lamont, a hockey dad and former neighbour in residence way back when we were both students at Ryerson University in Toronto.
Enjoy the reviews at London Free Press Books.
The excellent photo featuring skates as bookends is by Morris Lamont, a hockey dad and former neighbour in residence way back when we were both students at Ryerson University in Toronto.
Enjoy the reviews at London Free Press Books.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Teens like to watch
So I'm sitting in my $187 seat at the Air Canada Centre watching a battle of the titans - the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Edmonton Oilers. Of course, the Oilers smacked the Leafs 5-0, leaving fans with their Phil of futility.
To my right were two grumpy old men, apparently season ticket holders, who reminded me of Waldorf and Statler from Sesame Street. Their main heckle target was the Leafs great new hope, Nazem Kadri of London. My attempt to defend Nazem, a fellow Londoner, only met with more venom.
To my left were two teens wearing Maple Leafs jerseys cheering with reckless abandon, drinking the Maple Leafs Kool Aid. Because of their all-in enthusiasm for the game, I took them for minor hockey players. But when I joked the Leafs could use them, they told me they didn't play hockey. They play basketball.
Last night, I was with my hockey-playing son at the local major junior game at the John Labatt Centre watching the Knights play the Guelph Storm. The family next to us included a teen fan - who plays football.
It made me wonder. What's wrong with hockey that teens love to watch it, but don't want to play themselves? Is it the culture of some minor hockey organizations, the cost or the fact that other youth sports offer better value?
Just asking.
To my right were two grumpy old men, apparently season ticket holders, who reminded me of Waldorf and Statler from Sesame Street. Their main heckle target was the Leafs great new hope, Nazem Kadri of London. My attempt to defend Nazem, a fellow Londoner, only met with more venom.
To my left were two teens wearing Maple Leafs jerseys cheering with reckless abandon, drinking the Maple Leafs Kool Aid. Because of their all-in enthusiasm for the game, I took them for minor hockey players. But when I joked the Leafs could use them, they told me they didn't play hockey. They play basketball.
Last night, I was with my hockey-playing son at the local major junior game at the John Labatt Centre watching the Knights play the Guelph Storm. The family next to us included a teen fan - who plays football.
It made me wonder. What's wrong with hockey that teens love to watch it, but don't want to play themselves? Is it the culture of some minor hockey organizations, the cost or the fact that other youth sports offer better value?
Just asking.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Stompin Tom Connors - The Hockey Song
Three great reasons to watch this. First, it's the greatest hockey song ever written. Second, lots of footage of Dave Keon. Third, men in the stands at Maple Leaf Gardens actually wore ties.
Hats off to great sponsors
Corporate sponsors, from the neighbourhood garage to dentists and banks, make minor hockey more affordable for minor hockey.
In house leagues, sponsors often get a team named for them. In competitive leagues, a sponsor bar gets sewn on jerseys. In Canada, Tim Hortons starts kids off on their hockey journey by sponsoring tyke leagues - Tim Bits Hockey.
The most generous sponsor I've dealt with personally is a commercial bank headquartered in London. Pacific & Western Bank of Canada has had some kind of sponsorship involvement with my son's hockey teams since he graduated from Tim Bits.
The bank's involvement has gone beyond officially sponsoring the team. When the John Labatt Centre opened in London, Pacific & Western bought a private box. During the arena's opening season, every child and a parent were given tickets to watch a London Knights major junior game from the luxury box.
Over the years, the bank provided T-shirts embroidered with the words "Pacific & Western Hockey", toques and hockey pucks - all in addition to officially sponsoring the team.
One season, after the West London Minor Hockey Association experienced a spike in registration and needed more sponsors, Pacific & Western doubled its involvement.
When another parent's store, Meloche Jewellers, offered to to take a sponsorship turn, Pacific & Western switched gears and paid for a tournament. Full use of the private box was also donated as an auction item.
All this for the betterment of the community in which the bank does business.
It's the universal motivation for sponsors of youth sports.
To all who sponsor, I tip my hat and wish you a Merry Christmas.
In house leagues, sponsors often get a team named for them. In competitive leagues, a sponsor bar gets sewn on jerseys. In Canada, Tim Hortons starts kids off on their hockey journey by sponsoring tyke leagues - Tim Bits Hockey.
The most generous sponsor I've dealt with personally is a commercial bank headquartered in London. Pacific & Western Bank of Canada has had some kind of sponsorship involvement with my son's hockey teams since he graduated from Tim Bits.
The bank's involvement has gone beyond officially sponsoring the team. When the John Labatt Centre opened in London, Pacific & Western bought a private box. During the arena's opening season, every child and a parent were given tickets to watch a London Knights major junior game from the luxury box.
Over the years, the bank provided T-shirts embroidered with the words "Pacific & Western Hockey", toques and hockey pucks - all in addition to officially sponsoring the team.
One season, after the West London Minor Hockey Association experienced a spike in registration and needed more sponsors, Pacific & Western doubled its involvement.
When another parent's store, Meloche Jewellers, offered to to take a sponsorship turn, Pacific & Western switched gears and paid for a tournament. Full use of the private box was also donated as an auction item.
All this for the betterment of the community in which the bank does business.
It's the universal motivation for sponsors of youth sports.
To all who sponsor, I tip my hat and wish you a Merry Christmas.
University team suspended after deadly hazing party
What's with sports teams and hazing?
Teenage hockey players in Parry Sound had their little go-round earlier this fall.
Now a university volleyball team's hazing party has left one of its players dead.
CBC is reporting St. Thomas University in Fredericton has suspended its entire men's volleyball team because of the incident in which, of course, heavy drinking was taking place.
Condolences to the family and friends of Andrew Bartlett, 21, who attended the party on the night of Oct. 23. When his parents proudly sent him to university, they never imagined this.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/12/09/nb-stu-hazing-volleyball-suspended-210.html#ixzz17dvaZP3q
Teenage hockey players in Parry Sound had their little go-round earlier this fall.
Now a university volleyball team's hazing party has left one of its players dead.
CBC is reporting St. Thomas University in Fredericton has suspended its entire men's volleyball team because of the incident in which, of course, heavy drinking was taking place.
Condolences to the family and friends of Andrew Bartlett, 21, who attended the party on the night of Oct. 23. When his parents proudly sent him to university, they never imagined this.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2010/12/09/nb-stu-hazing-volleyball-suspended-210.html#ixzz17dvaZP3q
Mistakes parents of athletes must avoid
It's a chore for many parents not to live vicariously through their athletic kids, but try we must.
Through Twitter, I stumbled upon this Top 10 list of mistakes parents of kids in sports make.
Recognize any of your errors, parents?
Through Twitter, I stumbled upon this Top 10 list of mistakes parents of kids in sports make.
Recognize any of your errors, parents?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Buy the book
Grandparents and parents of hockey players and fans are hitting amazon.com and bookstores looking for Christmas gifts. Don't buy a hockey book until you read Saturday's London Free Press print edition (preferred) or lfpress.com.
My hockey book reviews will be published and posted Saturday to help you decide if your money is best spent on Kerry Fraser, Don Cherry, Alex Ovechkin, Brian Kilrea or the ever humble Al Strachan.
I was at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto before a Maple Leafs game last week and asked the gift shop staff and a nearby Chapters store what titles were selling well. At the Hockey Hall of Fame, it was their own Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Goalies. At Chapters, it was Don Cherry's Hockey Stories Part 2.
Neither shop was moving many copies of my three favourites, Kerry Fraser's Final Call, Al Strachan's I Am Not Making This Up and the Brian Kilrea-James Duthie tome They Call Me Killer.
Nor were they selling a lot of copies of the excellent Ovechkin biography, The Ovechkin Project by Damien Cox and Gare Joyce. If Ovechkin were a Toronto Maple Leaf (hey, we can dream), this book would be a national bestseller.
Readers of Wayne's World of Minor Hockey can order books by clicking the amazon.com ads.
My hockey book reviews will be published and posted Saturday to help you decide if your money is best spent on Kerry Fraser, Don Cherry, Alex Ovechkin, Brian Kilrea or the ever humble Al Strachan.
I was at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto before a Maple Leafs game last week and asked the gift shop staff and a nearby Chapters store what titles were selling well. At the Hockey Hall of Fame, it was their own Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Goalies. At Chapters, it was Don Cherry's Hockey Stories Part 2.
Neither shop was moving many copies of my three favourites, Kerry Fraser's Final Call, Al Strachan's I Am Not Making This Up and the Brian Kilrea-James Duthie tome They Call Me Killer.
Nor were they selling a lot of copies of the excellent Ovechkin biography, The Ovechkin Project by Damien Cox and Gare Joyce. If Ovechkin were a Toronto Maple Leaf (hey, we can dream), this book would be a national bestseller.
Readers of Wayne's World of Minor Hockey can order books by clicking the amazon.com ads.
Closed arenas should mean refund for parents
What happens when you pay thousands of dollars to a vendor for a service they can't deliver. Would you "suck it up" or expect a refund for services or products paid for but not provided?
That the question for thousands of minor hockey families in London, Ont., where 100 cm of snow and a strapped snow removal crew led to the closure of all city-owned and at least one privately owned arenas for two days. Arenas are scheduled to reopen tonight.
Lost have been all practice ice - costing parents about $150 an hour - and in peril are games. There is not enough free ice time available in the city to reschedule practices at any logical hour. Finding appropriate blocks of ice time to accommodate two lost days of games will be a hair-pulling task for minor hockey volunteers and city staff.
London owes its various minor hockey and figure skating clubs a full refund for closed arenas and lost ice. If our newly elected Mayor Joe Fontana is serious about running the city more like a business, he'll make sure this is done.
That the question for thousands of minor hockey families in London, Ont., where 100 cm of snow and a strapped snow removal crew led to the closure of all city-owned and at least one privately owned arenas for two days. Arenas are scheduled to reopen tonight.
Lost have been all practice ice - costing parents about $150 an hour - and in peril are games. There is not enough free ice time available in the city to reschedule practices at any logical hour. Finding appropriate blocks of ice time to accommodate two lost days of games will be a hair-pulling task for minor hockey volunteers and city staff.
London owes its various minor hockey and figure skating clubs a full refund for closed arenas and lost ice. If our newly elected Mayor Joe Fontana is serious about running the city more like a business, he'll make sure this is done.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
DJ Steve Porter eyes hockey
DJ Steve Porter, who did this video, is about to give his treatment to hockey.. Porter is taking his act to Hockey Night in Canada, starting on Saturday, Dec. 11, with a special opening to the Toronto Maple Leafs-Montreal Canadiens matchup (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET). Porter's certain to have some creative licence with Don Cherry.
Could be the best part of the game.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2010/11/19/sp-porter-hnic.html#ixzz17TVCGsky
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2010/11/19/sp-porter-hnic.html#ixzz17TVCGsky
Weather wimps or safety first?
In 10 years of minor hockey, I don't remember any games or involving games between two in-city teams being cancelled due to winter weather.
We're Canadians, We know how to drive in snow. And we like hockey.
Of course that's not to say there haven't been some dubious nights. I remember one game night crawling along to Oak Ridge arena just across the river and being grateful we were not making the big trek to Argyle in the far end of London.
Things are different this week thanks to a dumping of lake effect snow that's left 100 cm of snow here in two days.
There have not been blinding whiteouts in the city, but the huge snowfall has left my friend Ed and his fellow city snowplow operators unable to cope. They can only work 12 hours a day and have not yet made it around even once to residential streets like our cul-de-sac.
On Monday, our game against North London was cancelled when the city closed its arenas in a move that, to my recollection, was unprecedented. On Tuesday, they closed the arenas again, meaning there's no practice this week. It has already been announced that schools will be closed for the third consecutive day on Wednesday.
One wonders if the reason for closing arenas is the weather or a redeployment of staff to cope with the snow. Or staff not making it into work. Or the fact the city hasn't plowed arena parking lots.
Whatever, it doesn't seem Canadian.
We're Canadians, We know how to drive in snow. And we like hockey.
Of course that's not to say there haven't been some dubious nights. I remember one game night crawling along to Oak Ridge arena just across the river and being grateful we were not making the big trek to Argyle in the far end of London.
Things are different this week thanks to a dumping of lake effect snow that's left 100 cm of snow here in two days.
There have not been blinding whiteouts in the city, but the huge snowfall has left my friend Ed and his fellow city snowplow operators unable to cope. They can only work 12 hours a day and have not yet made it around even once to residential streets like our cul-de-sac.
On Monday, our game against North London was cancelled when the city closed its arenas in a move that, to my recollection, was unprecedented. On Tuesday, they closed the arenas again, meaning there's no practice this week. It has already been announced that schools will be closed for the third consecutive day on Wednesday.
One wonders if the reason for closing arenas is the weather or a redeployment of staff to cope with the snow. Or staff not making it into work. Or the fact the city hasn't plowed arena parking lots.
Whatever, it doesn't seem Canadian.
Bed bugs fears put end to teddy toss
Everyone's quite rightly on alert for bed bugs. When I go into a hotel room, the first thing I do is check the mattress for any tell-tale signs. When I get home, the laundry is done immediately and the luggage is left in the garage. Minor hockey families staying in hotels during tournaments might want to do likewise because once these little critters are in your home, they are tough to get rid of. It's a lice-like experience.
Now a hockey team has cancelled its teddy bear toss fundraiser due to a fear of spreading bed bugs, according to the National Post.
Just wait until university kids start returning home next spring. That's when Ontario's bed bug concerns could hit a new level.
Now a hockey team has cancelled its teddy bear toss fundraiser due to a fear of spreading bed bugs, according to the National Post.
Just wait until university kids start returning home next spring. That's when Ontario's bed bug concerns could hit a new level.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Not just hockey rough on kids
Minor hockey isn't the only rough and tumble activity for kids. Take walking the dog, for instance.
Stranger danger reminder
Here's a new worry for hockey parents. Never mind coaches who slip through the cracks or keeping an eye on little sibling roaming rinks. In Nova Scotia, there's a problem with authorized adults wandering into dressing rooms.
It prompted the local minor hockey president to issue an advisory which read, in part:
It prompted the local minor hockey president to issue an advisory which read, in part:
- Pay close attention to your children, know where they are at all times and ensure they are not left alone.
- In a non-threatening manner, challenge anyone who is inside a dressing room and doesn't belong there.
- Report anything you feel is "wrong" to arena staff immediately.
He added: "This is not to alarm anyone or suggest in any way that anything has 'happened,' merely some common sense reminders," according to Southshorenews.ca.
Awareness defeats predators.
Put racism on ice
There is no room for racism and slurs in minor hockey, but did we need Peterborough house league coach Greg Walsh to point it out?
While everyone appreciates the discussion Coach Walsh spurred when he and his players decided to quit a game after a racial slur hurled at one of his players, his action is troubling and a bad omen for minor hockey organizations.
While making a strong, effective statement about zero tolerance for racist, he also unwittingly showed kids how to thumb their noses at authority, rules and process - which is why Coach Walsh has been appropriately suspended.
Let's be clear. The minor hockey hierarchy is filled with smart people who have the bases covered. Let's also be clear that minor hockey organizations want to welcome all kids and all skill levels.
But teenagers, taught and emboldened by their parents and rogue coaches, will say things and do things in the heat of a game. F-bombs, gay jokes, animated and pointless advice to referees, and, yes, racial taunts are all part of the mix.
There are penalties and suspensions in the rule book to cover all scenarios.
Minor hockey can't have coaches inventing their own rules on the fly, including when to play or when not to play. The result would be chaos.
Without being there, it's hard to say how the situation could have been handled better.
Perhaps the best way would have been to follow the example of retired NHL referee Kerry Fraser when he mediated a situation between Theo Fleury and a player with the St. Louis Blues. The Blues player had taunted Fleury about cocaine and alcohol addictions. Fraser, as he recounts in his new book Final Call, provided on-ice counsel and arranged a face-to-face apology along the boards. Fleury appreciated it and the Blues player later called it a life, and attitude, changing moment.
Too bad the offending opposing player did not have the benefit of Fraser's wise advice.
Still, the player has now expressed regrets, as reported in the local Peterborough Examiner.
And for more on this topic, check out the letters published by the Toronto Star.
Maybe it's time we all bought a copy of the Willie O'Ree biography, the first black person to play in the NHL.
While everyone appreciates the discussion Coach Walsh spurred when he and his players decided to quit a game after a racial slur hurled at one of his players, his action is troubling and a bad omen for minor hockey organizations.
While making a strong, effective statement about zero tolerance for racist, he also unwittingly showed kids how to thumb their noses at authority, rules and process - which is why Coach Walsh has been appropriately suspended.
Let's be clear. The minor hockey hierarchy is filled with smart people who have the bases covered. Let's also be clear that minor hockey organizations want to welcome all kids and all skill levels.
But teenagers, taught and emboldened by their parents and rogue coaches, will say things and do things in the heat of a game. F-bombs, gay jokes, animated and pointless advice to referees, and, yes, racial taunts are all part of the mix.
There are penalties and suspensions in the rule book to cover all scenarios.
Minor hockey can't have coaches inventing their own rules on the fly, including when to play or when not to play. The result would be chaos.
Without being there, it's hard to say how the situation could have been handled better.
Perhaps the best way would have been to follow the example of retired NHL referee Kerry Fraser when he mediated a situation between Theo Fleury and a player with the St. Louis Blues. The Blues player had taunted Fleury about cocaine and alcohol addictions. Fraser, as he recounts in his new book Final Call, provided on-ice counsel and arranged a face-to-face apology along the boards. Fleury appreciated it and the Blues player later called it a life, and attitude, changing moment.
Too bad the offending opposing player did not have the benefit of Fraser's wise advice.
Still, the player has now expressed regrets, as reported in the local Peterborough Examiner.
And for more on this topic, check out the letters published by the Toronto Star.
Maybe it's time we all bought a copy of the Willie O'Ree biography, the first black person to play in the NHL.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
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.
Monday, November 29, 2010
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.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
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.
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. |
Friday, November 26, 2010
Pencil him in
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| 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.
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.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
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.
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.
Junk moment on So You Think You Can Dance
Not all athleticism of young people is displayed at the hockey rink. Dancing, especially break dancing, can be quite the thing. Here's a young entrant in the Dutch version of So You Think You Can Dance doing what few hockey players could do. Or want to do.
Hurt happens
What's the cost of minor hockey injuries? An accountant could have a field day assigning costs and tallying the columns.
I can offer an example of a minor injury. Heaven knows the cost of repair and recovery for something major such as a concussion.
Emergency dental appointment: $30; dental repair: $170. Plus the pain and time involved. Plus the missing of games and practices - we're paying $20 a game for this recreation. It isn't the NHL. Or even the OHL.
We all sign on and agree to the risky recreation of minor hockey. Hurt happens. It's when the injuries are the result of malice and willful rule-breaking by another participant that we have a problem.
I can offer an example of a minor injury. Heaven knows the cost of repair and recovery for something major such as a concussion.
Emergency dental appointment: $30; dental repair: $170. Plus the pain and time involved. Plus the missing of games and practices - we're paying $20 a game for this recreation. It isn't the NHL. Or even the OHL.
We all sign on and agree to the risky recreation of minor hockey. Hurt happens. It's when the injuries are the result of malice and willful rule-breaking by another participant that we have a problem.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Parry Sound midgets . . . hic
Do teenage hockey players drink. Yep, sometimes. Watch for it on out-of-town tournaments as the kids get older.
But alcohol-fuelled parties involving girlfriends of underaged hockey players are likely less frequent - or at least less frequently hit the news.
The major midget team - that's an age group with which I can identify - in Parry Sound will have a lot of questions to answer after this Toronto Star article about a hazing party.
It'll be interesting to see what the official report will conclude - and whether the local minor hockey association will have a comment.
Parry Sound, of course, is the hometown of No 4, Bobby Orr.
But alcohol-fuelled parties involving girlfriends of underaged hockey players are likely less frequent - or at least less frequently hit the news.
The major midget team - that's an age group with which I can identify - in Parry Sound will have a lot of questions to answer after this Toronto Star article about a hazing party.
It'll be interesting to see what the official report will conclude - and whether the local minor hockey association will have a comment.
Parry Sound, of course, is the hometown of No 4, Bobby Orr.
Tale of two city rinks
St. Catharines knows both worlds - one of the best minor hockey palaces and one of the worst single-pad, small lobby barns in Southwestern Ontario. Seriously, isn't it time to deep-six the oddly named Haig Bowl?
The Sportsplex 4, aka the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre, there's great parking, good pedestrian flow during busy tournaments and amazing sightlines for fans.
We had a team there a couple of years ago - it was a great experience.
Just try to avoid the Haig Bowl.
The Sportsplex 4, aka the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre, there's great parking, good pedestrian flow during busy tournaments and amazing sightlines for fans.
We had a team there a couple of years ago - it was a great experience.
Just try to avoid the Haig Bowl.
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| Waiting to play at the Sportsplex 4 in St. Catharines, Ont. |
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Bell ringers
Are concussions just a hockey issue. No, as Allison Korn explains in the Toronto Sun, It also touches Olympians.
How to plan an NHLer
Does your birth month matter when trying to earn a spot on a competitive minor hockey team? Does it matter in the NHL?
The Globe and Mail weighs in on the issue with the author and the various posters of comments coming up with different conclusions based on the data.
In most communities, I'd bet the top tier teams are dominated by kids born in the first three or four months of the year from peewee through to major bantam. It might start to even out more during midget. Of course that could be because spots have been freed up by elite athletes moving to major junior and Jr. B teams.
If you're planning to raise an NHLer (and who isn't?), time the birth for March. Or to put it a way hockey dads can understand, just celebrate the Stanley Cup final with your wife.
The Globe and Mail weighs in on the issue with the author and the various posters of comments coming up with different conclusions based on the data.
In most communities, I'd bet the top tier teams are dominated by kids born in the first three or four months of the year from peewee through to major bantam. It might start to even out more during midget. Of course that could be because spots have been freed up by elite athletes moving to major junior and Jr. B teams.
If you're planning to raise an NHLer (and who isn't?), time the birth for March. Or to put it a way hockey dads can understand, just celebrate the Stanley Cup final with your wife.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Best rink on the circuit
Playing minor hockey in Southwestern Ontario takes us to many grand arenas, none of which I hope ever fall to the wrecker's ball. Sarnia Arena and Brantford Arena are wonderful old time hockey palaces, but my favourite is Allman Arena in Stratford. We were there Sunday and played the local kids to a 3-3 draw.
Just as enjoyable as the game were the french fries from the service club food booth in the lobby. Not to be missed!
Just as enjoyable as the game were the french fries from the service club food booth in the lobby. Not to be missed!
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| West London and Stratford midgets play at historic Allman Arena. |
Snow what's new?
You know winter is coming to Southwestern Ontario when arena parking lots are filled with people who've made their cars ugly by switching to snow tires and ditching their wheelcovers.
Remember when radial tires were touted as year-round rollers making snows obsolete? Remember when front-wheel drive cars were supposed to make snows obsolete?
Part of the reason in this area is that there are not enough people like Ed, the meticulous City of London snowplow operator and uber-hockey dad. Snowplowing, sanding and salting does not seem to be as prompt and meticulous as it once was, although Ed and his friends try.
Part of the reason hockey families invest in snow tires and all-wheel drive vehicles, beyond the obvious dedication to hockey, is that fact everyone has close call or nailbiting driving stories to tell.
We took the hint one tournament weekend when we got stuck in our driveway. A slow drive home from Barrie saw us creep through two distinct storms, from freezing rain to blinding snow where it was tough to tell where the edge of the 401 was. Freezing rain leaving Ann Arbor, Mich., left us in peril not in our quest to get home but in arriving safety at an outlet mall.
There's a section of the 401 near Woodstock that's notorious for sudden whiteouts and heavy streamers blow across from Lake Huron. A chartered bus from Newmarket coming to London for a tournament was in caught in a whiteout and crashed a few years ago, sending several team members to hospital instead of the rink. Friends of my nephews from Newmarket were on the bus and it was only good luck that someone wasn't killed or permanently injured.
We all love hockey, but the rules of the road are just like the rule of the rink. Try your best, cope with adversity, meet the challenge ... but ultimately, it's safety first. Be a skilled winter driver, but be brave enough to cancel games or stay at home when weather is bad.
For my part, I bought an all-wheel drive Ford Escape mostly to make sure we'd always make it to hockey games. Before that, I had a sedan with four winter ice radials.
Remember when radial tires were touted as year-round rollers making snows obsolete? Remember when front-wheel drive cars were supposed to make snows obsolete?
Part of the reason in this area is that there are not enough people like Ed, the meticulous City of London snowplow operator and uber-hockey dad. Snowplowing, sanding and salting does not seem to be as prompt and meticulous as it once was, although Ed and his friends try.
Part of the reason hockey families invest in snow tires and all-wheel drive vehicles, beyond the obvious dedication to hockey, is that fact everyone has close call or nailbiting driving stories to tell.
We took the hint one tournament weekend when we got stuck in our driveway. A slow drive home from Barrie saw us creep through two distinct storms, from freezing rain to blinding snow where it was tough to tell where the edge of the 401 was. Freezing rain leaving Ann Arbor, Mich., left us in peril not in our quest to get home but in arriving safety at an outlet mall.
There's a section of the 401 near Woodstock that's notorious for sudden whiteouts and heavy streamers blow across from Lake Huron. A chartered bus from Newmarket coming to London for a tournament was in caught in a whiteout and crashed a few years ago, sending several team members to hospital instead of the rink. Friends of my nephews from Newmarket were on the bus and it was only good luck that someone wasn't killed or permanently injured.
We all love hockey, but the rules of the road are just like the rule of the rink. Try your best, cope with adversity, meet the challenge ... but ultimately, it's safety first. Be a skilled winter driver, but be brave enough to cancel games or stay at home when weather is bad.
For my part, I bought an all-wheel drive Ford Escape mostly to make sure we'd always make it to hockey games. Before that, I had a sedan with four winter ice radials.
Is your town Hockeyville?
Has anything done more to raise the profile of minor hockey in Canada than Kraft Hockeyville? I think not.
Last year's winner was Dundas, Ont., so look for this year's to come from somewhere far, far away from the Golden Horseshoe.
But maybe not Clifford, where the amalgamated municipality of Minto once threatened to close the arena but backed off when the villagers lit torches (figuratively speaking). Minto did manage to remove heaters from the stands in a bid to save a buck or two.
Come to think of it, maybe Clifford could use the renovation money prize up for grabs in the Hockeyville contest.
Last year's winner was Dundas, Ont., so look for this year's to come from somewhere far, far away from the Golden Horseshoe.
But maybe not Clifford, where the amalgamated municipality of Minto once threatened to close the arena but backed off when the villagers lit torches (figuratively speaking). Minto did manage to remove heaters from the stands in a bid to save a buck or two.
Come to think of it, maybe Clifford could use the renovation money prize up for grabs in the Hockeyville contest.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
London doctor’s study leads him to see a sport in denial
Are hockey teams understating the number of concussions players suffer? True, according to this article in the London Free Press.
No more head games.
No more head games.
Behind the bench . . . reluctantly
Watching the support staff - two trainers and a manager - fill in behind the bench for absent coaches last night made me think of my own forays when I was thrust into a role for which, ahem, my qualifications were thin.
I did have a Speak Out card and was on the roster as manager, and real coaches can't always be there. So behind the bench I go.
One of the first times was at a tournament when the head coach unexpectedly came down with flu-like symptoms after spending the night before out with his buddies. The assistant coach had previously booked off and so . . . me. My only meaningful contribution was successfully convincing an 11-year-old to return to playing defence for us instead of forward. He did, but it was the last time he acquiesced to such a radical suggestion from a mere coach. He's on my son's team this year. Playing forward.
A year later, we were in my hometown Clifford for a one-day tournament. My son wasn't feeling well and had spent most of the tournament at my parents' house. When his team made it to the championship game, he rallied but asked if I could be on the bench in case he needed to make a quick exit. The cool air of the arena served him well and he played major minutes and had a great time. We won the tournament.
The last time my son played with an AE team, we were in a spring tournament in Queensville, Ont., with a partial team trying its best to shake off an implosion that had resulted in a lot of no-shows. I was drafted to help on the bench when the coach had to catch a flight to Europe on business. The three team volunteers left, including me, gave passionate pre-game spiels about pride, effort and how dedication to hockey builds good habits for life before the team's final game together. No Miracle on ice here. We lost. But parents were overjoyed because if we had won and advanced to the final, the game time was a ridiculous 9 pm start and would've meant getting home to London at about 1 a.m. on a school and work night. Priorities!
I did have a Speak Out card and was on the roster as manager, and real coaches can't always be there. So behind the bench I go.
One of the first times was at a tournament when the head coach unexpectedly came down with flu-like symptoms after spending the night before out with his buddies. The assistant coach had previously booked off and so . . . me. My only meaningful contribution was successfully convincing an 11-year-old to return to playing defence for us instead of forward. He did, but it was the last time he acquiesced to such a radical suggestion from a mere coach. He's on my son's team this year. Playing forward.
A year later, we were in my hometown Clifford for a one-day tournament. My son wasn't feeling well and had spent most of the tournament at my parents' house. When his team made it to the championship game, he rallied but asked if I could be on the bench in case he needed to make a quick exit. The cool air of the arena served him well and he played major minutes and had a great time. We won the tournament.
The last time my son played with an AE team, we were in a spring tournament in Queensville, Ont., with a partial team trying its best to shake off an implosion that had resulted in a lot of no-shows. I was drafted to help on the bench when the coach had to catch a flight to Europe on business. The three team volunteers left, including me, gave passionate pre-game spiels about pride, effort and how dedication to hockey builds good habits for life before the team's final game together. No Miracle on ice here. We lost. But parents were overjoyed because if we had won and advanced to the final, the game time was a ridiculous 9 pm start and would've meant getting home to London at about 1 a.m. on a school and work night. Priorities!
Rinky-dink
We all love convenient, comfortable, warm minor hockey arenas with big dressing rooms and, hopefully, ventilation.
London has two of the best in the two-pad Kinsmen Arena and Western Fair Sports Centre, albeit the latter is getting a little beat up from heavy use. Our city also has some of the worst, including the low-ceiling Silverwood Park (in 10 years of hockey, we've never played or practised there! Lucky us.), the crazy cold Oak Ridge and Farquarson Arena, our main practice rink. Farquarson features maybe the smallest change rooms in the city. Try filling them with 18 teenagers and their hockey bags. Ditto for the tiny dressing rooms at the Ilderton Arena - the place made famous by figure skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
Memorial Arena in St. Thomas, where San Jose Sharks Captain Joe Thornton learned to play, features a drop of about a kilometre from the bench to the ice surface. And some of the dressing rooms are long, narrow spaces tucked under the stands.
Not all old arenas are uncomfortable barns. Allman Arena in Stratford, where we're heading tonight, is my favourite destination. Locals there rejected a city proposal to rip out the classic old seatings in favour of more modern ones that would've better accommodated today's big butt patrons. New seats, people said, would ruin the atmosphere. As someone with a skinny butt, I think they were right.
But ugly, substandard arenas are not limited to smaller cities and towns. One of the worst arenas we've played in was Chesswood in Toronto - we expected better in the Big Smoke. It was hard to find, uncomfortable for viewing and its tiny lobby filled up too fast during the comings and goings of a tournament.
Toronto plans a "skyscraper" minor hockey palace on its waterfront, a project propelled in part by the great growth in female hockey.
But Toronto Sun editor Rob Granatstein, a player himself and emerging hockey dad, says in an excellent column (Nov. 20, 2010) that the project might get bogged down in the waterfront muck.
If it happens, the waterfront arena will be spectacular. But maybe a more realistic plan for Toronto would be to rip down ramshackle rinks like Chesswood and help private sector operators replace them with facilities like London's Western Fair Sports Centre.
London has two of the best in the two-pad Kinsmen Arena and Western Fair Sports Centre, albeit the latter is getting a little beat up from heavy use. Our city also has some of the worst, including the low-ceiling Silverwood Park (in 10 years of hockey, we've never played or practised there! Lucky us.), the crazy cold Oak Ridge and Farquarson Arena, our main practice rink. Farquarson features maybe the smallest change rooms in the city. Try filling them with 18 teenagers and their hockey bags. Ditto for the tiny dressing rooms at the Ilderton Arena - the place made famous by figure skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
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| It's a little tight at Memorial in St. Thomas. |
Not all old arenas are uncomfortable barns. Allman Arena in Stratford, where we're heading tonight, is my favourite destination. Locals there rejected a city proposal to rip out the classic old seatings in favour of more modern ones that would've better accommodated today's big butt patrons. New seats, people said, would ruin the atmosphere. As someone with a skinny butt, I think they were right.
But ugly, substandard arenas are not limited to smaller cities and towns. One of the worst arenas we've played in was Chesswood in Toronto - we expected better in the Big Smoke. It was hard to find, uncomfortable for viewing and its tiny lobby filled up too fast during the comings and goings of a tournament.
Toronto plans a "skyscraper" minor hockey palace on its waterfront, a project propelled in part by the great growth in female hockey.
But Toronto Sun editor Rob Granatstein, a player himself and emerging hockey dad, says in an excellent column (Nov. 20, 2010) that the project might get bogged down in the waterfront muck.
If it happens, the waterfront arena will be spectacular. But maybe a more realistic plan for Toronto would be to rip down ramshackle rinks like Chesswood and help private sector operators replace them with facilities like London's Western Fair Sports Centre.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The play's the thing
It's a two-game road trip this weekend as we're up the 401 to Woodstock late tonight (game time 8:45!) and travel Highway 7 on Sunday to Stratford, home of the famous Shakespeare Festival and the awesome Allman Arena, where the spirit of Howie Morenz may or may not still dwell.
Our low-flying Hawks desperately need a pair of wins having bumped along in a week filled with being outmatched, outplayed, outlucked (I'll invent words as needed) and thwarted by no-show referees.
Amid it all, we're fitting in a university open house as plans for life beyond minor hockey begin to take shape.
A new book has landed on my review desk that's perfect for the shape we're in. But I'm not the one who should be reading Play Better Hockey by Ron Davidson. After all, I have the easy job of sitting in the stands.
Our low-flying Hawks desperately need a pair of wins having bumped along in a week filled with being outmatched, outplayed, outlucked (I'll invent words as needed) and thwarted by no-show referees.
Amid it all, we're fitting in a university open house as plans for life beyond minor hockey begin to take shape.
A new book has landed on my review desk that's perfect for the shape we're in. But I'm not the one who should be reading Play Better Hockey by Ron Davidson. After all, I have the easy job of sitting in the stands.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Pizza powers players
It's hard to say what kids like best, hockey or pizza.
We've consumed plenty of both over a decade of minor hockey, from team parties and teambuilding events to tournament prizes.
Pizza in the dressing room was an almost monthly reward for one season's team. I admit mothers would cringe when the kids would eat slices without washing their hands - hockey gloves being the second most foul-smelling piece of equipment - or rest slices on the bench.
Maybe the sweetest tasting pizza came in a small town tournament in Clifford, Ont., where the team won a couple of extra larges from a locally owned place.
Of course, it's always a shock to watch how much teens and pre-teens can consume. Eating a medium by one's self is not unheard of.
Pizza for hockey teams? It's as fundamental as sticks and skates.
We've consumed plenty of both over a decade of minor hockey, from team parties and teambuilding events to tournament prizes.
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| Fundamental fuel for fun hockey. |
Maybe the sweetest tasting pizza came in a small town tournament in Clifford, Ont., where the team won a couple of extra larges from a locally owned place.
Of course, it's always a shock to watch how much teens and pre-teens can consume. Eating a medium by one's self is not unheard of.
Pizza for hockey teams? It's as fundamental as sticks and skates.
Take your pic
I've added a slideshow of my shots from West London games at the bottom of the blog. Skate down and check it out.
I use a Nikon D-80 with a humble 18-135mm lens and put the shots together with music on an end-of-season DVD.
I use a Nikon D-80 with a humble 18-135mm lens and put the shots together with music on an end-of-season DVD.
Mouthguard ick
This tale from a hockey mom.
A West London player loses his mouthguard amid the usual midget vigorous play near the opposing goalie.
The goalie sees it and uses his stick to shoot it near a linesman during a stoppage in play.
The linesmen kicks at it one, two, three times to get it closer to a West London player to pick up near the bench.
As the mom says, "Don't you think the linesmen could have picked it up and hand it to the player?"
Kinda beats dragging it across the rink.
A West London player loses his mouthguard amid the usual midget vigorous play near the opposing goalie.
The goalie sees it and uses his stick to shoot it near a linesman during a stoppage in play.
The linesmen kicks at it one, two, three times to get it closer to a West London player to pick up near the bench.
As the mom says, "Don't you think the linesmen could have picked it up and hand it to the player?"
Kinda beats dragging it across the rink.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Ovechkin struggled with drills at age 8
When Sasha was 8, he struggled to stay on his feet in practice and had trouble doing figure-eight drills. In games, the coach wouldn't put him on the ice until late in the game, and only if it was already a blowout. His peers were way ahead of him.
Then, thanks to his parents and their favoured standing in the Russian sports world, he started to practice up to three times a day, often individually with the best coaches. Skating, Strength. Puck handling.
Today, Alexander Ovechkin is the best, or second best, player in hockey.
Not every late-blooming kid turns out to be an Ovechkin. But the benefits of practice, focus and dedication apply across the board at every skill level, on the ice and in life.
When skating was a barrier to my son fully enjoying hockey in his first year, we enrolled him in power skating lessons with London's Larry Turgeon and the Lambeth Skating Program. It paid dividends. My son soon went from being unable to skate backwards across the ice to being one of the fastest, elite skating players in his league. It wasn't genetics or anything I did or anything his minor hockey coaches did (it's not their job to teach skating). It was my son's focus and getting better and the talent of his instructor.
All parents of young players starting out in hockey should invest in power skating lessons. It's the core skill. It's wiser to spend money on power skating early instead of excessive tournaments - and fancy composite sticks.
BTW, the new Ovechkin biography is now on my reading table.Search Amazon.com for Alexander Ovechkin
Then, thanks to his parents and their favoured standing in the Russian sports world, he started to practice up to three times a day, often individually with the best coaches. Skating, Strength. Puck handling.
Today, Alexander Ovechkin is the best, or second best, player in hockey.
Not every late-blooming kid turns out to be an Ovechkin. But the benefits of practice, focus and dedication apply across the board at every skill level, on the ice and in life.
When skating was a barrier to my son fully enjoying hockey in his first year, we enrolled him in power skating lessons with London's Larry Turgeon and the Lambeth Skating Program. It paid dividends. My son soon went from being unable to skate backwards across the ice to being one of the fastest, elite skating players in his league. It wasn't genetics or anything I did or anything his minor hockey coaches did (it's not their job to teach skating). It was my son's focus and getting better and the talent of his instructor.
All parents of young players starting out in hockey should invest in power skating lessons. It's the core skill. It's wiser to spend money on power skating early instead of excessive tournaments - and fancy composite sticks.
BTW, the new Ovechkin biography is now on my reading table.Search Amazon.com for Alexander Ovechkin
Hockey stick hell
Here's my dilemma.
Do I assume my slapshot-challenged player is going to break more sticks this season in an attempt to propel the puck and buy a spare (or spares) when they are on sale?
His favourite Easton Henrik Zetterberg model seems to be on sale for half price this week at Canadian Tire, that iconic Canadian retailer that seems to have captured the lion's share of my minor hockey dollar during the past decade. Well, that and Herm's Sports Exchange.
Adam went years before breaking a stick. Last season I think he broke five, so many that I attempted (and failed) to covert him to a more frugal wooden model. Easton loved us.
Personally, I think composite sticks are more about fashion than enhancing the game for most minor hockey players. Twice so for the youngest kids.
Maybe we need wooden sticks only minor hockey leagues to save parents from themselves.
Do I assume my slapshot-challenged player is going to break more sticks this season in an attempt to propel the puck and buy a spare (or spares) when they are on sale?
His favourite Easton Henrik Zetterberg model seems to be on sale for half price this week at Canadian Tire, that iconic Canadian retailer that seems to have captured the lion's share of my minor hockey dollar during the past decade. Well, that and Herm's Sports Exchange.
Adam went years before breaking a stick. Last season I think he broke five, so many that I attempted (and failed) to covert him to a more frugal wooden model. Easton loved us.
Personally, I think composite sticks are more about fashion than enhancing the game for most minor hockey players. Twice so for the youngest kids.
Maybe we need wooden sticks only minor hockey leagues to save parents from themselves.
Minor hockey can be a pain
My son's a castaway - and couldn't be happier.
He's finally cast-free after nine weeks of limited mobility and maximum aggravation.
He broke his scaphoid and totalled his bicycle after being hit by a car at a four-way stop, the worst injury of his athletically active childhood.
Unfortunately, he followed it up with a sprained jaw in a hockey game.
No cast, a fully fit jaw and a spiffy new mouthguard - he's ready for smooth sailing the rest of the hockey season.
We hope.
The older the kids get, the more risk of injuries in hockey.
So far this season, on our team and the opposing teams, we're seen a knee injury that left a player absent from school and on crutches, a head injury that resulted in blurred vision, a call to paramedics and trip to emerg for a health episode on the bench and a variety of quick trips and treatments on the ice or bench by the trainers.
One hopes a child never gets hurt in athletics, but it happens. Especially in minor hockey, a sport not intended for the meek.
He's finally cast-free after nine weeks of limited mobility and maximum aggravation.
Unfortunately, he followed it up with a sprained jaw in a hockey game.
No cast, a fully fit jaw and a spiffy new mouthguard - he's ready for smooth sailing the rest of the hockey season.
We hope.
The older the kids get, the more risk of injuries in hockey.
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| Stratford's trainer attends to an injured player while concerned teammates look on during a game in London. |
One hopes a child never gets hurt in athletics, but it happens. Especially in minor hockey, a sport not intended for the meek.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Daron Richardson memorial draws thousands
This was a brave thing for Ottawa Senators assistant coach Luke Richardson and his family - a huge public funeral for their teen daughter, Daron Richardson.
The family did it in part to help draw attention to the issue of teenage mental health.
Daron, a girls hockey player, died in hospital after trying to hang herself.
The memorial, held at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, drew 6,000.
The family did it in part to help draw attention to the issue of teenage mental health.
Daron, a girls hockey player, died in hospital after trying to hang herself.
The memorial, held at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, drew 6,000.
Anyone seen the refs?
It's not always the ref who has to make the call. Sometimes, it's the host team manager.
With all the scheduling and communication that has to go on to organize minor hockey games, it shouldn't be a surprise that sometimes things go wrong. Could be a double booking of ice. Could be a team heading to the wrong arena. Or arriving at the wrong time.
But perhaps most annoying of all are the games, fortunately rare, when referees don't show up.
That's what happened tonight at London's Western Fair Sports Centre when the elite Junior Knights Gold team, the league leaders, tried to line up against our West London Hawks.
It became obvious something was amiss when the three minute warmup dragged on a bit longer than usual.
No one wearing stripes was anywhere to be found. Not on the ice. Not in the room. Not racing down the corridor.
Home team Junior Knights officials were calling every number at their disposal, but to no avail. A half hour after the game was supposed to start, the teams gave up.
What's supposed to happen is the home team manager is to check the referee's room 15 minutes before game time - and if it's empty call an emergency assigner's number.
In reality, few managers remember to do so.
In other arenas, there are referees working other games who might be corralled. But on this night at the four-pad complex, there was a Jr. B game on one pad, a practice on another and a kids sledge hockey practice (really cool) on another.
The annoyance factor, especially on a school night, was high but it could've been worse. At least it didn't involve a team driving an hour or more to play a game. Nor did anyone have to cope with a snowstorm.
But we did hustle to be there and plan our evenings around the game.
More annoyance might yet surface. Ice time in London is in such demand that it may be difficult to get a two hour block of time to accommodate a rescheduled game.
Since every kid's family pays about $20 per game to play, everyone certainly wants to play it instead of having a cancellation or forfeit.
With all the scheduling and communication that has to go on to organize minor hockey games, it shouldn't be a surprise that sometimes things go wrong. Could be a double booking of ice. Could be a team heading to the wrong arena. Or arriving at the wrong time.
But perhaps most annoying of all are the games, fortunately rare, when referees don't show up.
That's what happened tonight at London's Western Fair Sports Centre when the elite Junior Knights Gold team, the league leaders, tried to line up against our West London Hawks.
It became obvious something was amiss when the three minute warmup dragged on a bit longer than usual.
No one wearing stripes was anywhere to be found. Not on the ice. Not in the room. Not racing down the corridor.
Home team Junior Knights officials were calling every number at their disposal, but to no avail. A half hour after the game was supposed to start, the teams gave up.
What's supposed to happen is the home team manager is to check the referee's room 15 minutes before game time - and if it's empty call an emergency assigner's number.
In reality, few managers remember to do so.
In other arenas, there are referees working other games who might be corralled. But on this night at the four-pad complex, there was a Jr. B game on one pad, a practice on another and a kids sledge hockey practice (really cool) on another.
The annoyance factor, especially on a school night, was high but it could've been worse. At least it didn't involve a team driving an hour or more to play a game. Nor did anyone have to cope with a snowstorm.
But we did hustle to be there and plan our evenings around the game.
More annoyance might yet surface. Ice time in London is in such demand that it may be difficult to get a two hour block of time to accommodate a rescheduled game.
Since every kid's family pays about $20 per game to play, everyone certainly wants to play it instead of having a cancellation or forfeit.
Make that field hockey
Just to clarify a newspaper graphic published in many Canadian newspapers today, the next queen of England Kate Middleton never played hockey in school. She played FIELD hockey. Close, and it's also a great sport. But when Canadians read the word "hockey" we think ice hockey.
Nashville skyline
This season is shaping up to be the lightest schedule of my son's minor hockey career. A losing league record thus far does not bode well for any lengthy playoff run. Only three tournaments are being entered, not the five or six we've been used to.
The third tournament is in jeopardy as the convener cautions that only two teams have entered so far. It's a sign of the economy and of a drifting interest by teenagers playing at the mid-competitive level.
We won our first tournament in October in St. Thomas. And while the third tournament may or may not happen, tournament number two should more than make up for it in teams of adventure, fun and fresh hockey experiences.
Less than two months from now, players, coaches and parents will be boarding a chartered bus (rented from the University of Western Ontario Mustangs) and heading 11 hours south to Nashville to play in the Music City tournament.
Not all forays into the U.S. work well for Canadian teams. Often there are mismatches. Often Canadian teams find tournaments filled with too many compatriots.
Nashville will be different, thanks to the fact we're outspending other Ontario teams to travel far enough to meet up with American teams from emerging minor hockey programs.
In our pool will be the South Florida Golden Wolves, Huntsville (Alabama, I assume, not Ontario) Chargers and Houston Wild.
We're trusting a private company, Advanced Tournaments of Illinois, to convene a well-matched, well-organized event - one that should be a memorable one for our teen players and their families.
The third tournament is in jeopardy as the convener cautions that only two teams have entered so far. It's a sign of the economy and of a drifting interest by teenagers playing at the mid-competitive level.
We won our first tournament in October in St. Thomas. And while the third tournament may or may not happen, tournament number two should more than make up for it in teams of adventure, fun and fresh hockey experiences.
Less than two months from now, players, coaches and parents will be boarding a chartered bus (rented from the University of Western Ontario Mustangs) and heading 11 hours south to Nashville to play in the Music City tournament.
Not all forays into the U.S. work well for Canadian teams. Often there are mismatches. Often Canadian teams find tournaments filled with too many compatriots.
Nashville will be different, thanks to the fact we're outspending other Ontario teams to travel far enough to meet up with American teams from emerging minor hockey programs.
In our pool will be the South Florida Golden Wolves, Huntsville (Alabama, I assume, not Ontario) Chargers and Houston Wild.
We're trusting a private company, Advanced Tournaments of Illinois, to convene a well-matched, well-organized event - one that should be a memorable one for our teen players and their families.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tragedy for NHLer and his family
The Ottawa Citizen has reposted this excellent 2005 article the Luke Richardson family. Richardson's daughter, Caron, who is featured in this story with her grandfather, died last week at age 14 in hospital after trying to hang herself.
To add to the sadness, a Facebook memorial page was defaced. Read that story here.
Richardson, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, is now an assistant coach with the Senators.
z
To add to the sadness, a Facebook memorial page was defaced. Read that story here.
Richardson, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, is now an assistant coach with the Senators.
z
Hockey head shots compared with child abuse
The debate over deliberate head shots in minor hockey reaches a new level with this letter appearing in the Ottawa Citizen which compares adults allowing head shots in the game with child abuse.
The writer makes a valid point.
There's also a case to be made that some coaches engage in verbal child abuse. Are profanity-laced, screaming critiques in front of peers and other adults really part of the teenage teaching experience? What would the reaction of parents be if the same behaviour came from an adult in another setting such as the classroom or a summer camp or on the street?
Even major junior coaches, who handle the elite teenage hockey players in Canada, are not held to a reasonable standard. I just finished reading longtime Ottawa 67's coach Brian Kilrea's book about his life in hockey and perspective on coaching teenagers. Kilrea's one of the most revered coaches in Canadian junior hockey, but his self-confessed methods of coaching teenagers from showering with them to lacing his playing instructions with f-bombs would be a field day for litigation-minded parents.
Coaches have an obligation to keep the sport safe. Coaches have an obligation to treat their young players with the same level of respect that a classroom teacher would show. Aren't these reasonable standards for minor hockey programs that are supposed to be created for kids?
The writer makes a valid point.
There's also a case to be made that some coaches engage in verbal child abuse. Are profanity-laced, screaming critiques in front of peers and other adults really part of the teenage teaching experience? What would the reaction of parents be if the same behaviour came from an adult in another setting such as the classroom or a summer camp or on the street?
Even major junior coaches, who handle the elite teenage hockey players in Canada, are not held to a reasonable standard. I just finished reading longtime Ottawa 67's coach Brian Kilrea's book about his life in hockey and perspective on coaching teenagers. Kilrea's one of the most revered coaches in Canadian junior hockey, but his self-confessed methods of coaching teenagers from showering with them to lacing his playing instructions with f-bombs would be a field day for litigation-minded parents.
Coaches have an obligation to keep the sport safe. Coaches have an obligation to treat their young players with the same level of respect that a classroom teacher would show. Aren't these reasonable standards for minor hockey programs that are supposed to be created for kids?
Monday, November 15, 2010
NHL star discusses concussions
Brainworks points us to this item about Hockey Hall of Fame member Pat Lafontaine. Click and learn.
OK, so that didn't go so well but the milkshakes were good
The last time I saw a kids' team implode into the depths of dismal was when my son was playing major peewee AE.
Thinking we had swagger, we entered the team in an OMHA 'B' tournament in Aylmer, about 45 minutes away.
We should have known it would be an odd weekend from the way it started.
The first round robin game was at 7 am, bright and early for even pre-teens, and it was against a minor peewee AE team from neighbouring Oakridge. Younger kids. Should've been a win. We knew it might not be just based on the tone of the kids when they arrived. We didn't count on getting thoroughly trampled by younger players who came to compete.
So dismal was the effort from a lack of backchecking to any sense of team play that the head coach decided to use Game 2 to make a statement. Everyone who was usually a forward played defence. Everyone who was a defenceman played forward. Fortunately, he didn't relocate the goalies.
That game had a predictable outcome, even though everyone went back to their familiar positions for the third period.
Game 3 of the round robin found the coach absent with a self-inflicted flu and a befuddled group of West London kids smoked by the host team.
Amid it all was an attempt at a team meal where the manager arranged a discount at one restaurant while the grandmother of a player thought she'd make arrangements at another. The kids who showed up at the right team meal laced their meals with multiple orders of milkshakes, with predictable results.
The tournament was early in the season and the team did start clicking and had some success later.
So confident were we that we arranged an exhibition game late in the season against the same Aylmer team with which we were not competitive during the tournament, just to prove how far we had progressed.
Smoked again.
Thinking we had swagger, we entered the team in an OMHA 'B' tournament in Aylmer, about 45 minutes away.
We should have known it would be an odd weekend from the way it started.
The first round robin game was at 7 am, bright and early for even pre-teens, and it was against a minor peewee AE team from neighbouring Oakridge. Younger kids. Should've been a win. We knew it might not be just based on the tone of the kids when they arrived. We didn't count on getting thoroughly trampled by younger players who came to compete.
So dismal was the effort from a lack of backchecking to any sense of team play that the head coach decided to use Game 2 to make a statement. Everyone who was usually a forward played defence. Everyone who was a defenceman played forward. Fortunately, he didn't relocate the goalies.
That game had a predictable outcome, even though everyone went back to their familiar positions for the third period.
Game 3 of the round robin found the coach absent with a self-inflicted flu and a befuddled group of West London kids smoked by the host team.
Amid it all was an attempt at a team meal where the manager arranged a discount at one restaurant while the grandmother of a player thought she'd make arrangements at another. The kids who showed up at the right team meal laced their meals with multiple orders of milkshakes, with predictable results.
The tournament was early in the season and the team did start clicking and had some success later.
So confident were we that we arranged an exhibition game late in the season against the same Aylmer team with which we were not competitive during the tournament, just to prove how far we had progressed.
Smoked again.
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