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Minor Hockey Moments
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Minor hockey moments
West London Hawks major midgets vs. Sarnia Jr. Sting,
Jan. 30, 2010, Kinsmen arena, London, Ont., Canada.
Minor hockey moments
West London Hawks vs. North London, midget A-AA,
at Kinsmen arena, London, Ont., Canada.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wayne Gretzky at 14
Here's a CTV story from when Wayne Gretzky of Brantford was 14 and his family wanted him to play for the Toronto Nationals. He was not allowed due to residency rules.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Henderson's jersey on tour
Paul Henderson, hero of the 1972 Summit Series, started his Team Canada jersey tour in his hometown of Lucknow, Ont.
Henderson and his famous No. 19 will tour several communities in southwestern Ontario, giving a chance for Canadians of a certain age to reminisce and younger hockey fans to get familiar with the most famous goal ever scored by Canada in international hockey. Minor hockey players should check this out - and get the backstory from their dads.
Canadian Press has the story. Here's the version published by the Winnipeg Free Press.
Henderson and his famous No. 19 will tour several communities in southwestern Ontario, giving a chance for Canadians of a certain age to reminisce and younger hockey fans to get familiar with the most famous goal ever scored by Canada in international hockey. Minor hockey players should check this out - and get the backstory from their dads.
Canadian Press has the story. Here's the version published by the Winnipeg Free Press.
Hockey's most absurd series
Think your teenage hockey is sometimes absurd? Nothing, except maybe the fictional Slapshot, compares with a legendary "hockey" series in 1969 between two teams in what was then a rogue Canadian junior hockey association.
The national final pitted the St. Thomas, Ont., Barons against the Flin Flon, Manitoba, Bombers. The Barons were local legends, still revered in the city where I worked for the daily newspaper for 17 years. But the Bombers featured Bobby Clarke, the win-at-all-costs diabetic who went on to captain the Philadelphia Flyers during their Broad Street Bullies years, and Reggie Leach, a native Canadian who went on to become one of the most feared snipers in the NHL.
Unfortunately, the series had little to do with hockey skill and everything to do with intimidation, fighting and deliberate attempts to injure. After opening with two games in St. Thomas, the series ended incomplete when the Barons quit part way through Game 4 in Flin Flon after a Bomber tried to kick a Baron in the head. He missed and his skate became caught in the boards.
The Barons were trapped in the dressing room for hours, needed a police escort to leave and had their hotel guarded by the RCMP overnight. When they tried to leave town, they found the league had cancelled their flight and refused to pay any expenses, leaving the players to pool their money and ask the City of St. Thomas council to help pay their way home.
The story is retold in full by London Free Press sportswriter Morris Dalla Costa in today's edition. The hook on retelling the story is the return of Reggie Leach, who as a 17-year-old deliberately fired the puck into the face of a mask-less Barons goaltender, to St. Thomas as a guest of the city's annual sports celebrity dinner.
Hopefully, no scuffles broke out in the buffet line.
Check this out: The London Free Press has posted 17 photos taken during the Barons-Bombers Jr. A series in 1969. The lack of protective equipment is a hoot, but the absence of glass around the rink must have only added to the circus-like interaction between players and fans. Not to mention the danger. Click London Free Press photo gallery.
The national final pitted the St. Thomas, Ont., Barons against the Flin Flon, Manitoba, Bombers. The Barons were local legends, still revered in the city where I worked for the daily newspaper for 17 years. But the Bombers featured Bobby Clarke, the win-at-all-costs diabetic who went on to captain the Philadelphia Flyers during their Broad Street Bullies years, and Reggie Leach, a native Canadian who went on to become one of the most feared snipers in the NHL.
Unfortunately, the series had little to do with hockey skill and everything to do with intimidation, fighting and deliberate attempts to injure. After opening with two games in St. Thomas, the series ended incomplete when the Barons quit part way through Game 4 in Flin Flon after a Bomber tried to kick a Baron in the head. He missed and his skate became caught in the boards.
The Barons were trapped in the dressing room for hours, needed a police escort to leave and had their hotel guarded by the RCMP overnight. When they tried to leave town, they found the league had cancelled their flight and refused to pay any expenses, leaving the players to pool their money and ask the City of St. Thomas council to help pay their way home.
The story is retold in full by London Free Press sportswriter Morris Dalla Costa in today's edition. The hook on retelling the story is the return of Reggie Leach, who as a 17-year-old deliberately fired the puck into the face of a mask-less Barons goaltender, to St. Thomas as a guest of the city's annual sports celebrity dinner.
Hopefully, no scuffles broke out in the buffet line.
Check this out: The London Free Press has posted 17 photos taken during the Barons-Bombers Jr. A series in 1969. The lack of protective equipment is a hoot, but the absence of glass around the rink must have only added to the circus-like interaction between players and fans. Not to mention the danger. Click London Free Press photo gallery.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Hockey players help crash victims
Kudos to the East Gwillimbury Eagles for being good citizens and helping seniors who wrecked their car trying to avoid a deer.
Members of the juvenile team were returning home from an away game in Port Perrry, Ont., when they came upon the scene and sprang into action, helping the elderly ladies from their car. The Toronto Sun has the full story.
Hockey helps teach citizenship, right coaches?
Members of the juvenile team were returning home from an away game in Port Perrry, Ont., when they came upon the scene and sprang into action, helping the elderly ladies from their car. The Toronto Sun has the full story.
Hockey helps teach citizenship, right coaches?
Tie Domi an odd choice for minor hockey coach
Enjoyed this story in the Toronto Star about retired NHLers volunteering as coaches for the kids' minor hockey teams in the Greater Toronto Area.
The most interesting volunteer, of course, is Tie Domi. Domi, whose second language is HBO/Bruce Bourdreau, never met a hockey rule he couldn't break and gained publicity he didn't want over an extra-cirricular relationship with a billionaire Canadian politician, is an interesting role model for teenagers. I wonder how he did with the Speak Out clinic required of all adults volunteering with young people.
Nevertheless, Domi's 15-year-old son, Max, is a high skill player on the Don Mills Flyers and has a bright in either Ontario Major Junior or U.S. NCAA hockey.
Mentioning his son brings to mind the story from a hockey dad who witnessed Domi as a parent watching his son play at a Toronto rink. His loud, rude language made regular parents around him uneasy and shattered any notion that highly paid NHL pros always act with class in the community.
Better are the examples of people like former Maple Leafs captain Wendell Clark, who jokes his job on the bench as an assistant coach is to open the door and bring coffee.
Or ex-Leaf Tom Fergus (kind of surprised he chose to retire in the Toronto area), who notes that he chooses parents as much as kids when decided who makes his teams. Parents with reputations of being trouble through complaining or unrealistic expectations for their kids need not apply.
I wonder if that's how my son's coach in the West London Hawks organization chooses his players.
The most interesting volunteer, of course, is Tie Domi. Domi, whose second language is HBO/Bruce Bourdreau, never met a hockey rule he couldn't break and gained publicity he didn't want over an extra-cirricular relationship with a billionaire Canadian politician, is an interesting role model for teenagers. I wonder how he did with the Speak Out clinic required of all adults volunteering with young people.
Nevertheless, Domi's 15-year-old son, Max, is a high skill player on the Don Mills Flyers and has a bright in either Ontario Major Junior or U.S. NCAA hockey.
Mentioning his son brings to mind the story from a hockey dad who witnessed Domi as a parent watching his son play at a Toronto rink. His loud, rude language made regular parents around him uneasy and shattered any notion that highly paid NHL pros always act with class in the community.
Better are the examples of people like former Maple Leafs captain Wendell Clark, who jokes his job on the bench as an assistant coach is to open the door and bring coffee.
Or ex-Leaf Tom Fergus (kind of surprised he chose to retire in the Toronto area), who notes that he chooses parents as much as kids when decided who makes his teams. Parents with reputations of being trouble through complaining or unrealistic expectations for their kids need not apply.
I wonder if that's how my son's coach in the West London Hawks organization chooses his players.
Linesman, teen player involved in incident at small town rink
Was there anything really to this? If there is, I'd hate to be the 17-year-old hockey player involved.
The London Free Press is reporting an incident at the rink in tiny Glencoe between a teen hockey player and a linesmen. The story says blows may have been exchanged - strong stuff considering any contact between a player and official is bad.
Gets worse for the teen as it turns out the linesmen is also an Ontario Provincial Police officer.
It sounds like the officer/linesman might be content to let it ride and leave any punishment to the hockey world - otherwise the OPP spokesman, who I happen to know, would have more concrete answers to the reporter's questions. The story itself was generated not by the OPP, but by an observer/tipster to the newspaper.
The London Free Press is reporting an incident at the rink in tiny Glencoe between a teen hockey player and a linesmen. The story says blows may have been exchanged - strong stuff considering any contact between a player and official is bad.
Gets worse for the teen as it turns out the linesmen is also an Ontario Provincial Police officer.
It sounds like the officer/linesman might be content to let it ride and leave any punishment to the hockey world - otherwise the OPP spokesman, who I happen to know, would have more concrete answers to the reporter's questions. The story itself was generated not by the OPP, but by an observer/tipster to the newspaper.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
A new holiday in Canada?
In its report about today being Wayne Gretzky's 50th birthday, the local TV channel suggested that if you polled Canadians and asked if this should be a national hockey, most would likely say yes.
Considering we don't even honour our first prime minister's birthday with a holiday, that'd be quite a thing to fete an athlete.
Still, given hockey's popularity, I wonder if the the various provincial governments that have created Family Day in February as a holiday got it wrong. Maybe they should've called the holiday Hockey Day. For many of us, it's the same as Family Day anyway.
Considering we don't even honour our first prime minister's birthday with a holiday, that'd be quite a thing to fete an athlete.
Still, given hockey's popularity, I wonder if the the various provincial governments that have created Family Day in February as a holiday got it wrong. Maybe they should've called the holiday Hockey Day. For many of us, it's the same as Family Day anyway.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Jr. B Club set to honour Logan Couture of San Jose Sharks
Logan Couture, now on a tear with the San Jose Sharks and a contender for NHL rookie of the year, played as a 15-year-old with the Jr. B St. Thomas Stars.
That team is set to honour Couture with a banner raising on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, at 6:30 pm. Here's a posting from the Stars:
That team is set to honour Couture with a banner raising on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, at 6:30 pm. Here's a posting from the Stars:
| The St. Thomas Stars Hockey Club are extending an invitation to the former players of the St. Thomas Stars Hockey Club to join us as we hang the banner honouring Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks. Logan played for the Stars as a 15 year old during the 2004-2005 season. Logan's parents Chet and Lori Couture will be on hand for the unveiling of the banner. We would like all alumni but especially those that played with Logan to be present for this dedication. We ask that Logan's former teammates be there early and meet at the Stars office on the upper level to join us for the on ice portion of the event. Please feel free to contact any teammates as we have not got contact information for everyone. I hope to see you there for this special night |
Close encounters with NHLers
The Toronto Star has published a cool story about ordinary people who once played minor hockey with guys who went on to the NHL.
I've known no such honours, but being from southwestern Ontario means frequently bumping into NHL players or friends of NHL players.
Working in St. Thomas, I was part of the machine that followed Joe Thornton from a kid to watch in minor hockey, to a local Jr. B star, a top player in the OHL and No. 1 overall NHL draft pick. His mom asked me to help track down a Team Canada photo our company had taken of Joe and Mario Lemieux - the shot is now a treasured part of the Thornton collection. When drafted out of the OHL, Joe did a charity event for St. Thomas hockey and the newspaper I worked for. It included a meet and greet in our office and a photo session with local kids, including my own tot.
When I was working in Uxbridge, the NHLers everyone seemed to know included Keith Acton, now an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Basil McRae, now a part owner of the London Knights and a scout for the St. Louis Blues.
Around London, Brian Campbell of the Chicago Blackhawks seems to have the highest profile, next to Leafs farmhand Nazim Kadri. Strangely, the two best NHL players from London - Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers - don't seem to have the local profile they deserve.
On the rise is Logan Couture, profiled in an excellent article in The London Free Press today by splendid sportswriter Ryan Pyette.
My favourite Couture story is from a local family friend, a London fire department captain who also happens to be a trainer with my son's team.
When Logan was a boy, his dad and the family friend took him to an NHL pre-season practice happening at a nearby arena. Logan's photo was taken with Jeremy Roenick. Fast forward a few years and Logan is drafted by the San Jose Sharks while the same Jeremy Roenick is playing in the twilight of his long, productive career. Of course, he's shown the photo of Logan as a child.
Turns out I had an obscure connection to the Nashville Predators and should have made more out of it a week ago when I was in Nashville to see the Preds play the Blackhawks. No. 13 for the Preds, Nick Spaling, and I went to the same high school, albeit in dramatically different eras.
What NHLers have you met?
 |
| Adam and Joe Thornton. |
Working in St. Thomas, I was part of the machine that followed Joe Thornton from a kid to watch in minor hockey, to a local Jr. B star, a top player in the OHL and No. 1 overall NHL draft pick. His mom asked me to help track down a Team Canada photo our company had taken of Joe and Mario Lemieux - the shot is now a treasured part of the Thornton collection. When drafted out of the OHL, Joe did a charity event for St. Thomas hockey and the newspaper I worked for. It included a meet and greet in our office and a photo session with local kids, including my own tot.
When I was working in Uxbridge, the NHLers everyone seemed to know included Keith Acton, now an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Basil McRae, now a part owner of the London Knights and a scout for the St. Louis Blues.
Around London, Brian Campbell of the Chicago Blackhawks seems to have the highest profile, next to Leafs farmhand Nazim Kadri. Strangely, the two best NHL players from London - Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers - don't seem to have the local profile they deserve.
On the rise is Logan Couture, profiled in an excellent article in The London Free Press today by splendid sportswriter Ryan Pyette.
My favourite Couture story is from a local family friend, a London fire department captain who also happens to be a trainer with my son's team.
When Logan was a boy, his dad and the family friend took him to an NHL pre-season practice happening at a nearby arena. Logan's photo was taken with Jeremy Roenick. Fast forward a few years and Logan is drafted by the San Jose Sharks while the same Jeremy Roenick is playing in the twilight of his long, productive career. Of course, he's shown the photo of Logan as a child.
Turns out I had an obscure connection to the Nashville Predators and should have made more out of it a week ago when I was in Nashville to see the Preds play the Blackhawks. No. 13 for the Preds, Nick Spaling, and I went to the same high school, albeit in dramatically different eras.
What NHLers have you met?
Monday, January 24, 2011
AAA debate continues in K-W
Interesting that the argument against amalgamating the elite AAA minor hockey programs in Kitchener and Waterloo seems to coming mostly from Waterloo parents.
The Waterloo Region Record reports here that petitions are in the works and a member-wide vote is being demanded over the plan that would see the number of AAA teams reduced so that the new, amalgamated K-W teams could better compete with Ontario's best teams from London, Elgin-Middlesex and Toronto.
To me, the plan seems like a good one. Could it be ego, a sense of community pride or a desire not to mix with Kitchener kids that's motivating Waterloo parents to object?
Let's hope it's community pride.
The Waterloo Region Record reports here that petitions are in the works and a member-wide vote is being demanded over the plan that would see the number of AAA teams reduced so that the new, amalgamated K-W teams could better compete with Ontario's best teams from London, Elgin-Middlesex and Toronto.
To me, the plan seems like a good one. Could it be ego, a sense of community pride or a desire not to mix with Kitchener kids that's motivating Waterloo parents to object?
Let's hope it's community pride.
Complaining about refs an international sport
I stumbled upon this comment while researching tournaments for my son's midget team. I thought it was ironic that an American parent would write about perceived injustices at a Canadian tournament in much the same way Canadian minor hockey teams often complain about calls by referees at U.S. tournaments. Is it all in the eye of the beholder?
Here's the post, left on a site affiliated with an arena in Toronto I did not clean up the spelling.
refereeing was atrocious this year and favored canadien teams we just came home early from the tournament this weekend and shouldnt have. 4 goals scored by our buffalo team in 2 games were called off because "the net was off" this happened in rink 1 and 3. in the opinion of our spectators and even a few of the oppositions parents we were screwed by the refs. this cost us the chance to advance to the semi finals. this evening and the possibility of the championship game on sunday. in 2 years with this team and 7 touraments in the toronto area, i would have to say the referreeing seemed to favor the canadien teams, (but i may be looking at that with rose colored glasses), this has been by far the worst and most biased penalty and goal reversal job by the refereeing staff that i have seen. 4! goals reversed in 2 games! utter bull kaka!!! the true meaning of"homer" bob ny
Here's the post, left on a site affiliated with an arena in Toronto I did not clean up the spelling.
refereeing was atrocious this year and favored canadien teams we just came home early from the tournament this weekend and shouldnt have. 4 goals scored by our buffalo team in 2 games were called off because "the net was off" this happened in rink 1 and 3. in the opinion of our spectators and even a few of the oppositions parents we were screwed by the refs. this cost us the chance to advance to the semi finals. this evening and the possibility of the championship game on sunday. in 2 years with this team and 7 touraments in the toronto area, i would have to say the referreeing seemed to favor the canadien teams, (but i may be looking at that with rose colored glasses), this has been by far the worst and most biased penalty and goal reversal job by the refereeing staff that i have seen. 4! goals reversed in 2 games! utter bull kaka!!! the true meaning of"homer" bob ny
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sticks and stones . . .
Anyone who's watched hockey has seen coaches disagree, with extreme vigour, the calls of referees. But this wild stick-throwing incident involving a Utah coach is over-the-top and reminds Canadian hockey fans of the time disgraced Calgary Hitmen coach Graham James stripped to the waist in some kind of self-styled protest.
In minor hockey circles, I've seen a peewee trainer squirt a water bottle in the direction of a referee. It was to get his attention and discuss a call, but the referee saw it differently and tossed the trainer.
A week ago during a tournament in Franklin, TN., a kids' coach from Pittsburgh tossed a garbage can on the ice in protest of calls. I can understand his frustration, although I can't condone his reaction. The refereeing during that tournament was not up to the standard we are used to in London. In fact, for the most part, American minor hockey needs to upgrade the training of its officiating staff in order to grow the sport.
On my son's current team, feedback to officials is frequent with most of it coming from a voice of authority. We're fortunate to have a highly qualified referee as our assistant coach. He's able to provide insightful feedback and keen critiques to on-ice officials in terms of fundamentals such as positioning to make calls, fairness of penalties and basic interpretation of the rules. To get their attention and make his points, he has been known to choose some of the same words as used by the Utah coach in the video.
And chiming in from time-to-time might be some teenagers who themselves are minor hockey referees and know the rules well.
It's all part of the sounds of the rink.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Peterborough coach wrong to pull team over racist slur: Columnist
A retired teacher, former minor hockey coach and former hockey scout for the NHL Buffalo Sabres weighs in on the Greg Walsh/racial slur incident in the Peterborough Examiner.
Interesting that the author once pulled a kids' team from a game because they were getting roughed up and coming to the bench crying. Pleas to the referees to bring the novice all stars vs. peewees game under control fell on deaf ears so the coach/author pulled his kids. He was suspended for a year by minor hockey.
What would you have done if you were the coach in a dangerous mismatch of teams? What would you do if you were coaching a game in which a racial slur went unpenalized?
Interesting that the author once pulled a kids' team from a game because they were getting roughed up and coming to the bench crying. Pleas to the referees to bring the novice all stars vs. peewees game under control fell on deaf ears so the coach/author pulled his kids. He was suspended for a year by minor hockey.
What would you have done if you were the coach in a dangerous mismatch of teams? What would you do if you were coaching a game in which a racial slur went unpenalized?
Friday, January 21, 2011
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Thursday, January 20, 2011
Nashville Predators game rocks
Being an NHL fan in southwestern Ontario for most of us means never seeing the Toronto Maple Leafs live. Even though the Leafs have been dreadful for years, tickets are hard to get and expensive, forcing fans to settle for watching the Sabres in Buffalo or Red Wings in Detroit or nothing at all.
Many of the hockey families on my son's West London midget team got their first taste of the NHL 11 hours down the road in Nashville while we were playing in a tournament at nearby Franklin.
We came away impressed.
The Predators play in downtown Nashville at the Bridgestone arena, steps away from the lively bar strip and great spots such as Tooties, Jack's Barb-b-que and the Wildhorse.
While the game itself (a 3-2, come-from-behind shootout win over the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks) was great, so too was the value added entertainment provided by the Predators. The intermission featured a live country band and greeting and inspiring fans to cheer were the talented Ice Girls. The Ice Girls, needless to say, captured the imagination of our teen hockey players.
You can't swing a cat in southwestern Ontario without finding someone who knows an NHL player. In our case, one of our hockey dads knows Brian Campbell, a defenceman with the Blackhawks, who grew up nearby in Strathroy. Through Campbell, arrangements were made for our players and two parents to visit the dressing room area after the game. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks were a little testy after blowing a 2-0 lead and only Campbell made time for the kids. Patrick Kane, who starred for our hometown London Knights major junior team, ignored the visitors.
Still a great experience, though.
Many of the hockey families on my son's West London midget team got their first taste of the NHL 11 hours down the road in Nashville while we were playing in a tournament at nearby Franklin.
We came away impressed.
 |
| West London midget hockey players enjoy meeting members of the Ice Girls prior to a Nashville Predators game. |
While the game itself (a 3-2, come-from-behind shootout win over the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks) was great, so too was the value added entertainment provided by the Predators. The intermission featured a live country band and greeting and inspiring fans to cheer were the talented Ice Girls. The Ice Girls, needless to say, captured the imagination of our teen hockey players.
You can't swing a cat in southwestern Ontario without finding someone who knows an NHL player. In our case, one of our hockey dads knows Brian Campbell, a defenceman with the Blackhawks, who grew up nearby in Strathroy. Through Campbell, arrangements were made for our players and two parents to visit the dressing room area after the game. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks were a little testy after blowing a 2-0 lead and only Campbell made time for the kids. Patrick Kane, who starred for our hometown London Knights major junior team, ignored the visitors.
Still a great experience, though.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Music City Cup not ours
If the object of out-of-town tournaments is fun, my son's midget team is a big winner. If it's to actually capture the trophy, well, not so much this time.
We drove 11 hours to play in a four-team tournament in Franklin, TN, just outside of Nashville on the weekend and along the way enjoyed being tourists in Nashville, shopping in Franklin and Ohio, a little bit of poker and social drinking, the amazing Famous Dave's BBQ (everyone should eat here) and a couple of excellent Cracker Barrels.
And we played four excellent hockey games against teens from Florida, Texas and Alabama. We won the consolation game and, if I may be so bold, would've won the championship if we didn't have three kids out with injuries, the latest being the son of our manager who damaged his knee early in the first game of the tournament.
No hockey tournament is complete without drama and it seems every time we cross the border for a tournament in the United States, something odd happens.
This time, it was during the final round robin game against South Florida, a team which started the season on a sad note when its coach was killed in a car accident. Players are wearing patches honouring him.
Of course the same players who have the class to honour their coach don't necessarily play the game with honour. Profanities directed to our bench, cut throat gestures and strange comments (the most polite was "Why don't you go home?") were part of the Florida approach.
The strangest thing was when a Florida player skated into a stream of water being spit out by one of our players. The player thought he was the target of a spitball and went to complain to the referee. Neither the referee nor the two linesmen saw a spitball, but believed the Florida kid and tossed our player out of the game. That was followed minutes later by tossing one of our trainers, who happens to be the father of the tossed player, out as well.
We lost the game and maybe respect for all things Florida.
That's the thing about travelling far afield to sports tournaments. You're doing more than playing a game. You're representing your city and country in the eyes of other teams and onlookers. How you act plays a role in the image people form about your home.
We hope we left people in Franklin and Nashville with a positive image of London and Canada. We came away loving Tennessee. Florida? Not so much.
Oh, and congratulations to Houston, winners of the Music City Cup. They beat Florida.
 |
| West London Hawks midgets pose with manager Larry Heald at Famous Dave's in Franklin, TN. This barbecue restaurant was No. 1 for teens and parents. |
And we played four excellent hockey games against teens from Florida, Texas and Alabama. We won the consolation game and, if I may be so bold, would've won the championship if we didn't have three kids out with injuries, the latest being the son of our manager who damaged his knee early in the first game of the tournament.
No hockey tournament is complete without drama and it seems every time we cross the border for a tournament in the United States, something odd happens.
This time, it was during the final round robin game against South Florida, a team which started the season on a sad note when its coach was killed in a car accident. Players are wearing patches honouring him.
Of course the same players who have the class to honour their coach don't necessarily play the game with honour. Profanities directed to our bench, cut throat gestures and strange comments (the most polite was "Why don't you go home?") were part of the Florida approach.
The strangest thing was when a Florida player skated into a stream of water being spit out by one of our players. The player thought he was the target of a spitball and went to complain to the referee. Neither the referee nor the two linesmen saw a spitball, but believed the Florida kid and tossed our player out of the game. That was followed minutes later by tossing one of our trainers, who happens to be the father of the tossed player, out as well.
We lost the game and maybe respect for all things Florida.
That's the thing about travelling far afield to sports tournaments. You're doing more than playing a game. You're representing your city and country in the eyes of other teams and onlookers. How you act plays a role in the image people form about your home.
We hope we left people in Franklin and Nashville with a positive image of London and Canada. We came away loving Tennessee. Florida? Not so much.
Oh, and congratulations to Houston, winners of the Music City Cup. They beat Florida.
Friday, January 14, 2011
11 hours later
Eleven hours on a bus with a bunch of teenagers isn't all that bad, once you block out the teenagers' choices of DVDs and realize they don't want to watch The Waltons nor listen to country music.
We're on the road in Franklin, TN., and ready to spend a day as tourists (or shoppers) before the tournament begins.
I think we're all missing Tim Hortons, but take comfort in the haul from the duty free.
Here's hoping the hockey competition is good and we win every game by a nailbiting goal or two.
We're on the road in Franklin, TN., and ready to spend a day as tourists (or shoppers) before the tournament begins.
I think we're all missing Tim Hortons, but take comfort in the haul from the duty free.
Here's hoping the hockey competition is good and we win every game by a nailbiting goal or two.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
AAA debate in K-W
The debate over amalgamation of elite AAA minor hockey in Kitchener and Waterloo for next season rages on, with the latest being a plea in the Waterloo Region Record for the major junior Kitchener Rangers to butt out.
A reader of Wayne's World of Minor Hockey points out the article without comment. Well, maybe a sigh.
In a nutshell, the merger in K-W under the coaching eye of the Kitchener Rangers would mean better development of the best young players in the Twin Cities. By boiling down the teams, single local entries could finally compete with AAA teams from London, Elgin-Middlesex and Toronto.
Whether they admit it or not, it would also give the Rangers a better database of local talent and position them to find some late draft coupes.
But the downside is the damage to local hockey pride and the traditional Canadian grassroots approach to minor hockey. It's particularly stinging for Waterloo, the junior partner in this.
What do I think? I like the idea as it puts more kids at a level - AA - that better matches their skills.
AAA should be elite, intense hockey, where the players are from age 12 or 13 sincerely aiming at playing on Jr. B or major junior teams.
A reader of Wayne's World of Minor Hockey points out the article without comment. Well, maybe a sigh.
In a nutshell, the merger in K-W under the coaching eye of the Kitchener Rangers would mean better development of the best young players in the Twin Cities. By boiling down the teams, single local entries could finally compete with AAA teams from London, Elgin-Middlesex and Toronto.
Whether they admit it or not, it would also give the Rangers a better database of local talent and position them to find some late draft coupes.
But the downside is the damage to local hockey pride and the traditional Canadian grassroots approach to minor hockey. It's particularly stinging for Waterloo, the junior partner in this.
What do I think? I like the idea as it puts more kids at a level - AA - that better matches their skills.
AAA should be elite, intense hockey, where the players are from age 12 or 13 sincerely aiming at playing on Jr. B or major junior teams.
Fun by the busload
Ten years in minor hockey and we've never done this before.
It's not unique for teams to pay the big bucks to charter a bus, but teams my son has been on have always opted for the flexibility of car conveys to out-of-town tournaments.
I'm not sure what to expect travelling by highway coach. I haven't done it since my poverty days of university since the train to Toronto or flights are more civilized ways to travel when a car isn't the right choice.
It'll be noisy, I expect, but perhaps maybe less so thanks to Ipods.
It'll be whiney. It's 11 hours of driving to Nashville, plus however long it takes to clear US customs at Detroit. Nerves are bound to be frayed.
Nevertheless, we're looking forward to it and approaching it all with a sense of humour and adventure.
Who knows, maybe we'll even win some hockey games.
It's not unique for teams to pay the big bucks to charter a bus, but teams my son has been on have always opted for the flexibility of car conveys to out-of-town tournaments.
I'm not sure what to expect travelling by highway coach. I haven't done it since my poverty days of university since the train to Toronto or flights are more civilized ways to travel when a car isn't the right choice.
It'll be noisy, I expect, but perhaps maybe less so thanks to Ipods.
It'll be whiney. It's 11 hours of driving to Nashville, plus however long it takes to clear US customs at Detroit. Nerves are bound to be frayed.
Nevertheless, we're looking forward to it and approaching it all with a sense of humour and adventure.
Who knows, maybe we'll even win some hockey games.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sniff test
Are all teenage hockey players immune to the stench of their gear?
Getting ready for a weekend tournament in Franklin, Tenn., I offer to wash everything possible from my son's bag.
He insists I just did it last week and it shouldn't have to be done again.
Wrong. That stuff's going to be in our hotel room every night, testing the science behind Febreze. At least we can start the weekend fresh.
For the record, the scent is still lingering in the laundry room.
Getting ready for a weekend tournament in Franklin, Tenn., I offer to wash everything possible from my son's bag.
He insists I just did it last week and it shouldn't have to be done again.
Wrong. That stuff's going to be in our hotel room every night, testing the science behind Febreze. At least we can start the weekend fresh.
For the record, the scent is still lingering in the laundry room.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Russian celebration translated
Remember last week when the Russian juniors stunned Canada with five goals in the third period to win the gold medal at the world championship?
Many of us could imagine, but still wondered, exactly what the Russian teenagers were saying as they celebrated their win.
Well, thanks to the Cheap Seats blog, now we know.
Some of it goes like this:
"Wooooo! wooooo!"
"Bitch f**k!"
"Whore!"
"I won for you mom I won for you!! F**k!"
"Aaaahhhhhh!"
"Victory!!!"
"Victory of Russia!"
It's not much different from what Canadian kids say on the ice or in the dressing room or from their coaches. Of course, we'd like to think Canadians wouldn't use heavy profanity while starring into a TV camera.
Maybe Canadian female hockey players would - they did, after all, suck back some cold ones on the ice after winning the Olympic gold last winter in Vancouver.
Also chiming in on the behaviour of the Russia teens is Don Cherry, whose opinions on his Coach's Corner segment of Hockey Night in Canada are so revered in Canada that they generate news stories.
Cherry's thoughts about teenage drinking and rowdy behaviour is interesting since he's the guy who used to hang bags of beer outside the bus window to keep them cool during long road trips in the American Hockey League.
Many of us could imagine, but still wondered, exactly what the Russian teenagers were saying as they celebrated their win.
Well, thanks to the Cheap Seats blog, now we know.
Some of it goes like this:
"Wooooo! wooooo!"
"Bitch f**k!"
"Whore!"
"I won for you mom I won for you!! F**k!"
"Aaaahhhhhh!"
"Victory!!!"
"Victory of Russia!"
It's not much different from what Canadian kids say on the ice or in the dressing room or from their coaches. Of course, we'd like to think Canadians wouldn't use heavy profanity while starring into a TV camera.
Maybe Canadian female hockey players would - they did, after all, suck back some cold ones on the ice after winning the Olympic gold last winter in Vancouver.
Also chiming in on the behaviour of the Russia teens is Don Cherry, whose opinions on his Coach's Corner segment of Hockey Night in Canada are so revered in Canada that they generate news stories.
Cherry's thoughts about teenage drinking and rowdy behaviour is interesting since he's the guy who used to hang bags of beer outside the bus window to keep them cool during long road trips in the American Hockey League.
Tournament time again
There are big tournaments and little tournaments. Tournaments down the street and across the continent. My son's teams have done all kinds.
The most enjoyable and best value was a one-day peewee tournament in my hometown, Clifford. Naturally, city parents in London were initially skeptical about taking the kids to a town of 700. But the perspective of playing in a small town, the matchups, restaurant meal at Greenley's and skills competition made it a most memorable tournaments.
Not that my son played a lot. He became sick on the drive there, missed the opening game, the skills competition and watched the second game.
I was concerned about him - and me. After all, since dads live vicariously through their sons I was so looking forward to watching him play on my "home" rink in front of relatives and some faces from my past.
When his team made the championship late at night, he rallied and played well taking part in a romp over a team from Cambridge.
The trophy the kids won that day has only recently been rotated out of our arena's display case. I think I'll ask if I can have it instead of letting it gather dust somewhere.
Our ying to that yang in terms of tournaments happens this week as my son's team leaves for the most expensive hockey weekend of his career. We've chartered a bus and are off to Franklin, Tennessee, which is a half-hour south of Nashville. The drive is 11 hours, plus however long it takes for more than 40 people to clear U.S. customs.
Hopefully this time my son - and everyone else for that matter - stays healthy for the entire weekend of hockey.
The most enjoyable and best value was a one-day peewee tournament in my hometown, Clifford. Naturally, city parents in London were initially skeptical about taking the kids to a town of 700. But the perspective of playing in a small town, the matchups, restaurant meal at Greenley's and skills competition made it a most memorable tournaments.
Not that my son played a lot. He became sick on the drive there, missed the opening game, the skills competition and watched the second game.
I was concerned about him - and me. After all, since dads live vicariously through their sons I was so looking forward to watching him play on my "home" rink in front of relatives and some faces from my past.
When his team made the championship late at night, he rallied and played well taking part in a romp over a team from Cambridge.
The trophy the kids won that day has only recently been rotated out of our arena's display case. I think I'll ask if I can have it instead of letting it gather dust somewhere.
Our ying to that yang in terms of tournaments happens this week as my son's team leaves for the most expensive hockey weekend of his career. We've chartered a bus and are off to Franklin, Tennessee, which is a half-hour south of Nashville. The drive is 11 hours, plus however long it takes for more than 40 people to clear U.S. customs.
Hopefully this time my son - and everyone else for that matter - stays healthy for the entire weekend of hockey.
West London Hawks Midgets
This video was shot by Art, one of the parents on my son's midget hockey team. It's the West London Midgets in their parent-purchased third jerseys playing neighboring Oakridge London. This time we won, 4-1.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Cherry: Junior partner
Don Cherry on last night's Coach's Corner, was bang-on in his brief analysis of Canada's gold medal loss at the World Juniors. His list of Canadian juniors playing in the NHL and not available for the tournament was impressive. No other nation has so many high-skilled teens in the world's best league.
Here's the link to Coach's Corner. Comments about the World Juniors are at the end of the segment.
Here's the link to Coach's Corner. Comments about the World Juniors are at the end of the segment.
Drunken teens at the highest level
I like this item from Steve Simmons' column today in the Toronto Sun. Tell me again why the Russian teenagers were not stopped from drinking underage in Buffalo? How would minor hockey coaches handle behaviour like this from teenagers? Their celebration on the ice was fantastic and appropriate. Their alcohol consumption afterwards was wrong.
Here's what the always excellent Simmons says:
No surprise that the Russian juniors were kicked off their flight Thursday. I happened to be in the bar at the Adams Mark hotel in downtown Buffalo post-game Wednesday night and the young Russians were not exactly being asked to show their ID. I left just before 1:30 a.m. But most of the Russians, still wearing their jerseys, were in the bar, loudly chanting “Beat Canada” in between chugs of something that wasn’t necessarily legal for teenagers ...
Here's what the always excellent Simmons says:
No surprise that the Russian juniors were kicked off their flight Thursday. I happened to be in the bar at the Adams Mark hotel in downtown Buffalo post-game Wednesday night and the young Russians were not exactly being asked to show their ID. I left just before 1:30 a.m. But most of the Russians, still wearing their jerseys, were in the bar, loudly chanting “Beat Canada” in between chugs of something that wasn’t necessarily legal for teenagers ...
Saturday, January 8, 2011
From rink to False Haven
What does a former minor hockey teammate of Brayden Schenn do when he's done playing hockey?
He picks up the guitar, joins a Saskatchewan band, lines up some gigs and puts himself out there on MySpace.
Check out False Haven.
He picks up the guitar, joins a Saskatchewan band, lines up some gigs and puts himself out there on MySpace.
Check out False Haven.
Charity work a way to build teams
Many minor hockey teams have community-minded parents and coaches who organize ways for the the kids to do charitable work as a team-building exercise. Ours is no different and for years has had a tradition of volunteering with the London Food Bank. In fact, community newspaper or website stories about teams volunteering are the most popular topic that pops up with my minor hockey web crawler.
Here's one of Glenda's shots of the boys taking a short break while working at the food bank.
Here's one of Glenda's shots of the boys taking a short break while working at the food bank.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Russia's bright Knight returns to London
The biggest sports story in Canada continues to be the collapse of the national junior team, blowing a 3-0 lead in the third period and eventually losing the gold medal 5-3 to the Russian juniors at the world championship in Buffalo.
Apart from the sad and subdued Canadian players returning home to their various junior teams, the main storylines were the drunken Russian team members who were booted from a flight home (albeit with no mention that all the kids were underage in New York where you have to be 21 to drink) and the backup goalie who blanked the Canadians in the third period.
But not so much here in London, where the hometown Free Press buried Bobkov and his gold medal on the sports front instead of page 1 where the editor choose a feature on Colombian deportees instead of the topic of the day.
Bobkov is the backup goaltender for the local Major Junior London Knights - not even the starter on a mediocre Ontario Hockey League team.
As Free Press writer Steve Green expertly tells it here, Bobkov and his teammates never gave up hope of winning, despite the odds. It's a lesson in effort, tenacity and hope and luck that should inspire all sports teams to play hard until the final buzzer. Bobkov himself delivered a sparkling performance, although the Canadians played a confused third period.
The fact that Bobkov played a key role in the win and was player of the game at the world championship after a disappointing season in the OHL for the hometown Knights is a wonderful story line.
If he were the hero for a Canadian junior win, would his photo have made Page 1?
Apart from the sad and subdued Canadian players returning home to their various junior teams, the main storylines were the drunken Russian team members who were booted from a flight home (albeit with no mention that all the kids were underage in New York where you have to be 21 to drink) and the backup goalie who blanked the Canadians in the third period.
But not so much here in London, where the hometown Free Press buried Bobkov and his gold medal on the sports front instead of page 1 where the editor choose a feature on Colombian deportees instead of the topic of the day.
Bobkov is the backup goaltender for the local Major Junior London Knights - not even the starter on a mediocre Ontario Hockey League team.
As Free Press writer Steve Green expertly tells it here, Bobkov and his teammates never gave up hope of winning, despite the odds. It's a lesson in effort, tenacity and hope and luck that should inspire all sports teams to play hard until the final buzzer. Bobkov himself delivered a sparkling performance, although the Canadians played a confused third period.
The fact that Bobkov played a key role in the win and was player of the game at the world championship after a disappointing season in the OHL for the hometown Knights is a wonderful story line.
If he were the hero for a Canadian junior win, would his photo have made Page 1?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Tips for photographing minor hockey
The Globe and Mail has an excellent article about photographing minor hockey.
As I can attest, it's impossible to get NHL quality shots at community rinks, but that doesn't stop people like me from trying. I like to park myself near the net and find the cleanest, least scratched spot to shoot through the plexiglass.
Initial results usually are poor and need to be manipulated, improving exposure and cropping - which is so much easier to do in the age of digital photography.
For three years, I've assembled the shots and put them to music on DVDs for the kids as a sort of season yearbook. Last year, I might've been a little excessive with the length of the DVD (22 minutes!), but I wanted to be sure everyone was included.
Since it was the last year of competitive hockey for some players, I asked all parents to provide photos from their son's early years in hockey and showed the evolution from 7 to 17. We debut the DVDs at the end-of-season party and then give everyone copies - which likely languish in drawers for years until someone gets a nostalgic pang.
The theme for this year's DVD will be our huge trek to a tournament in Franklin, TN., near Nashville next week.
Photos are posted game-by-game at the bottom of this blog and anyone can have them by following the photos to Photobucket. I've told people from opposing teams in our league to have a look and help themselves.
For parents interested in shooting their kids, I recommend reading the Globe article - and the comments that follow it.
As I can attest, it's impossible to get NHL quality shots at community rinks, but that doesn't stop people like me from trying. I like to park myself near the net and find the cleanest, least scratched spot to shoot through the plexiglass.
Initial results usually are poor and need to be manipulated, improving exposure and cropping - which is so much easier to do in the age of digital photography.
For three years, I've assembled the shots and put them to music on DVDs for the kids as a sort of season yearbook. Last year, I might've been a little excessive with the length of the DVD (22 minutes!), but I wanted to be sure everyone was included.
Since it was the last year of competitive hockey for some players, I asked all parents to provide photos from their son's early years in hockey and showed the evolution from 7 to 17. We debut the DVDs at the end-of-season party and then give everyone copies - which likely languish in drawers for years until someone gets a nostalgic pang.
The theme for this year's DVD will be our huge trek to a tournament in Franklin, TN., near Nashville next week.
Photos are posted game-by-game at the bottom of this blog and anyone can have them by following the photos to Photobucket. I've told people from opposing teams in our league to have a look and help themselves.
For parents interested in shooting their kids, I recommend reading the Globe article - and the comments that follow it.
Russian juniors booted from flight
OK, when I said it was nice to see the Russian juniors celebrating with enthusiasm, I didn't mean this kind of afterparty.
If indeed alcohol was the reason for the rowdiness that got them booted from their flight, the whole lot of them were breaking the law. The legal drinking age in New York is 21. No player was older than 19.
Interesting to note that alcohol abuse, while hardly new in hockey circles, is the reason why some NHL teams now shun Russian players. Think Toronto Maple Leafs.
Seems like the Russian juniors might be following familiar footsteps.
If indeed alcohol was the reason for the rowdiness that got them booted from their flight, the whole lot of them were breaking the law. The legal drinking age in New York is 21. No player was older than 19.
Interesting to note that alcohol abuse, while hardly new in hockey circles, is the reason why some NHL teams now shun Russian players. Think Toronto Maple Leafs.
Seems like the Russian juniors might be following familiar footsteps.
Congratulations to Russia
I would've rather been losing the game early than witness a crazy collapse like that of the Canadian junior team last night. Five goals in the third period after leading 3-0? Unheard of at this level. I thought it was a Saturday morning and I was watching a fun game of house league.
Still, good on the Russian kids and they were fully entitled to their spirited celebration after the game - a refreshing display of human emotion compared with the stern Soviet teams we used to see. Think 1972.
If this game had been played in Jersey or Vegas rumours would be swirling. Wonder if Janet Gretzky won big.
I can't stand to read or watch anything about the game, but for those who like staring at train wrecks, go to TSN.
Still, good on the Russian kids and they were fully entitled to their spirited celebration after the game - a refreshing display of human emotion compared with the stern Soviet teams we used to see. Think 1972.
If this game had been played in Jersey or Vegas rumours would be swirling. Wonder if Janet Gretzky won big.
I can't stand to read or watch anything about the game, but for those who like staring at train wrecks, go to TSN.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Juniors time to shine
This is one of those nights I'm glad I'm not in a rink.
Tonight, the place to be is by the fireplace and in front of the big screen TV (a Samsung, don't ever buy this brand, but I digress. Not that I'm still bitter) watching the Canadian juniors defeat the Russians in the championship.
Yes, I know the game doesn't start for more than an hour, but Canadians are confident when it comes to hockey.
No where else in the world does Major Junior hockey have such a hold on fans as in Canada. Many of the teens on Team Canada won't have highly successful pro careers (where is Justin Pogge now?) but for now they are the focus of a nation, our heroes.
Of course not every Canadian is rooting for the right team. Cheeky teen blogger Dylan McAteer makes a Facebook prediction about the Russians winning tonight. There are likely others of his ilk out there, but not many.
TSN, here we come.
Tonight, the place to be is by the fireplace and in front of the big screen TV (a Samsung, don't ever buy this brand, but I digress. Not that I'm still bitter) watching the Canadian juniors defeat the Russians in the championship.
Yes, I know the game doesn't start for more than an hour, but Canadians are confident when it comes to hockey.
No where else in the world does Major Junior hockey have such a hold on fans as in Canada. Many of the teens on Team Canada won't have highly successful pro careers (where is Justin Pogge now?) but for now they are the focus of a nation, our heroes.
Of course not every Canadian is rooting for the right team. Cheeky teen blogger Dylan McAteer makes a Facebook prediction about the Russians winning tonight. There are likely others of his ilk out there, but not many.
TSN, here we come.
High school girls busted for duct tape tops
 |
| Catholic high school hockey fans show their team spirit in Windsor. (Jenna Brimner photo) |
Girls in Windsor, Ont., thought they were having appropriate fun at an annual game between rival schools last month. But when they returned to school after the Christmas break, they found their school pride duct tape tops had run afoul of sober school officials.
Taken aback by the skin show of the Catholic teens in previous years, the school had specifically banned duct tape shirts spelling out support for their team. This year's girls tried to address the concerns of administration while still keeping up the tradition by wearing conservative T-shirts under their duct tape creations.
School officials suspended the fans for a day and have put them on "watch", according to a CBC TV report.
Administrators, of course, are being boring sticks in the mud. Compared to young fans at warm weather high school football games, this was nothing. It's not an issue of wearing duct tape clothing. It's the fact the teens outsmarted and creatively addressed the concerns of school administration - and adults don't like being shown up by young people.
Lighten up. Sports is meant to be fun for fans and athletes alike.
Here's the link to the CBC website version of the story.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Midget player guilty of assault
Sometimes things get so out of hand in minor hockey, police and the courts have to get involved.
A stick offence causing injury for example
Here is this season's case from Leduc, Alberta. Details are in the Edmonton Sun.
Read it and weep - and be thankful neither child is yours.
A stick offence causing injury for example
Here is this season's case from Leduc, Alberta. Details are in the Edmonton Sun.
Read it and weep - and be thankful neither child is yours.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Blackball fears in Waterloo
Will kids blackballed if their parents speak up in opposition to the merger of elite AAA teams in Kitchener and Waterloo?
That's one of the fears according to a story in the Waterloo Region Record.
The merger plan, which would see the Major Junior Kitchener Rangers play a major role in minor hockey, has enraged parents in Waterloo, but there seems to be little feedback from Kitchener.
Is the merger plan a good idea? Maybe, if winning is the goal.
We'll wait and see if the plan becomes a reality.
That's one of the fears according to a story in the Waterloo Region Record.
The merger plan, which would see the Major Junior Kitchener Rangers play a major role in minor hockey, has enraged parents in Waterloo, but there seems to be little feedback from Kitchener.
Is the merger plan a good idea? Maybe, if winning is the goal.
We'll wait and see if the plan becomes a reality.
Former NHL coach experiences minor hockey parents
Rick Lee, the former defenceman and assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, had some interesting things to say about minor hockey when he was in Ottawa for the huge Bell Capital Cup tournament.
He was there watching his American grandchildren play and was asked by the Ottawa Citizen if he'd ever volunteer to coach a minor hockey team.
His answer?
"Not after sitting with the parents this week. You can see it in the stands that there can be animosity with parents over ice time for their kids," Ley said ....
He was there watching his American grandchildren play and was asked by the Ottawa Citizen if he'd ever volunteer to coach a minor hockey team.
His answer?
"Not after sitting with the parents this week. You can see it in the stands that there can be animosity with parents over ice time for their kids," Ley said ....
"At that age, you can't over-coach as well because you paralyse them with over-analysis. They have to have fun and that's the only way they'll learn.
"It's just as hard to coach kids as (it is) professionals."
Ley also said body contact should be banned for peewees. The Bell tournament did just that in all except the elite AAA division.
Canada's next hockey hero?
Is this 15-year-old from Nova Scotia the next Sidney Crosby? Some people are staring to make comparisons, as we read here.
It's amazing how Canada, decade after decade, produces the world's best hockey players, from Gordie Howe to Bobby Orr to Wayne Gretzky to Sidney Crosby.
I remember when I was in university and a roommate started touting a teen from Brantford as being better than Orr. I scoffed, thinking there'd never be another player on par with Orr.
Turns out I was wrong.
Then came Crosby, the youngest captain to win a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medalist and now enjoying a dominant season that has Mario Lemieux in awe.
It's too early and not fair to label MacKinnon as the next in line. But if not him, history shows that some Canadian youngster growing up in small places such as Floral, Sask., Parry Sound, Ont., Brantford, Ont., or Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, will emerge to dominate the sport we love.
It's amazing how Canada, decade after decade, produces the world's best hockey players, from Gordie Howe to Bobby Orr to Wayne Gretzky to Sidney Crosby.
I remember when I was in university and a roommate started touting a teen from Brantford as being better than Orr. I scoffed, thinking there'd never be another player on par with Orr.
Turns out I was wrong.
Then came Crosby, the youngest captain to win a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medalist and now enjoying a dominant season that has Mario Lemieux in awe.
It's too early and not fair to label MacKinnon as the next in line. But if not him, history shows that some Canadian youngster growing up in small places such as Floral, Sask., Parry Sound, Ont., Brantford, Ont., or Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, will emerge to dominate the sport we love.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
One in 10 minor hockey players suffer concussions
A new survey suggests one in 10 minor hockey players suffer concussions - and based on what I've seen, I'd say the findings are bang on.
It's time to be wise about concussions. Coaches, parents and players need a new level of awareness, a new level of respect.
What happens if minor hockey doesn't improve its attitude towards concussions and hits to the head? Would government step in to order a ban on body checking as a way to safeguard the health of kids?
Could happen.
Here is the latest minor hockey concussion story as posted by the Vancouver Sun.
It's time to be wise about concussions. Coaches, parents and players need a new level of awareness, a new level of respect.
What happens if minor hockey doesn't improve its attitude towards concussions and hits to the head? Would government step in to order a ban on body checking as a way to safeguard the health of kids?
Could happen.
Here is the latest minor hockey concussion story as posted by the Vancouver Sun.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Music and hockey, perfect combination
OK, maybe it's my fault. That loud music heard pumping from changerooms, maybe I got them started on the road to hearing impairment.
I was one of those parents who toted a boom box into the room to entertain and pump up the kids while getting ready for games, starting when they were 8 or 9. Geddy Lee and Rush didn't go over too well (Is that a girl singing?) and still doesn't do much for the hockey crowd. Back then, the Pokemon theme was the big tune.
Fast forward a couple of years and the novelty wore off, especially among parents. The kids commandeered the volume control and requests for rap just seemed wrong for 11-year-olds and tender ears.
Skip ahead another couple of years and it's bliss. Ipods and personal headphones have taken over and ended the throbbing public volume, arguments over song selection and calmed passing parents.
Now we're back to the public sharing of someone else's favourite tunes. Ipod docking stations are often in place with the bass turned to earthquake levels.
It's a long way from Pokemon Johto and Pikachu I Choose You.
In the spirit of changeroom music, I've added an MP3 widget on the sidebar of this blog so you can listen to classic rock tunes (at a volume of your choosing) while reading about minor hockey. You can also download the full songs for 99 cents each using my Amazon widget.
I was one of those parents who toted a boom box into the room to entertain and pump up the kids while getting ready for games, starting when they were 8 or 9. Geddy Lee and Rush didn't go over too well (Is that a girl singing?) and still doesn't do much for the hockey crowd. Back then, the Pokemon theme was the big tune.
Fast forward a couple of years and the novelty wore off, especially among parents. The kids commandeered the volume control and requests for rap just seemed wrong for 11-year-olds and tender ears.
Skip ahead another couple of years and it's bliss. Ipods and personal headphones have taken over and ended the throbbing public volume, arguments over song selection and calmed passing parents.
Now we're back to the public sharing of someone else's favourite tunes. Ipod docking stations are often in place with the bass turned to earthquake levels.
It's a long way from Pokemon Johto and Pikachu I Choose You.
In the spirit of changeroom music, I've added an MP3 widget on the sidebar of this blog so you can listen to classic rock tunes (at a volume of your choosing) while reading about minor hockey. You can also download the full songs for 99 cents each using my Amazon widget.
Winter Classic: Toronto or Montreal?
C'mon NHL. It's time for a Winter Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Rain delay aside today in Pittsburgh, the Penguins are rockin' with the organization of this year's event featuring an invitation minor hockey tournament and alumni game between the Pens and Capitals.
I'd vote for Montreal hosting the next classic - it's colder there - and the opposition just has to be the Leafs.
The minor hockey and alumni components would be a huge draw.
Check our Scott Morrison's thoughts on the Classic here.
Rain delay aside today in Pittsburgh, the Penguins are rockin' with the organization of this year's event featuring an invitation minor hockey tournament and alumni game between the Pens and Capitals.
I'd vote for Montreal hosting the next classic - it's colder there - and the opposition just has to be the Leafs.
The minor hockey and alumni components would be a huge draw.
Check our Scott Morrison's thoughts on the Classic here.
Selling the new AAA in Kitchener-Waterloo
Is the new organization of elite AAA midget hockey in Kitchener-Waterloo the way of the future? Will major junior cities such as London follow suit with a new system that has top homegrown players placed under the eye of local major junior coaches?
One wonders as the new organization starts getting traction in K-W. In a nutshell, the AAA teams in the Twin Cities are merging at the minor midget and major midget levels, creating half as many teams and bumping kids who aren't selected for AAA a level down to AA.
The Rangers say they are doing it for the good of the community and talent development, not to get the inside track on drafting local gems from minor midget.
This article from the Waterloo Region Record goes a long way in selling the new way of doing things, but tryouts for next season's teams in both cities could be interesting.
Most at risk of being lost might be small town and rural high-skill players living near Waterloo. Will this result in creation of a Waterloo-Wellington AAA organization similar to the highly successful Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs?
One wonders as the new organization starts getting traction in K-W. In a nutshell, the AAA teams in the Twin Cities are merging at the minor midget and major midget levels, creating half as many teams and bumping kids who aren't selected for AAA a level down to AA.
The Rangers say they are doing it for the good of the community and talent development, not to get the inside track on drafting local gems from minor midget.
This article from the Waterloo Region Record goes a long way in selling the new way of doing things, but tryouts for next season's teams in both cities could be interesting.
Most at risk of being lost might be small town and rural high-skill players living near Waterloo. Will this result in creation of a Waterloo-Wellington AAA organization similar to the highly successful Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs?
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