A Letter of Thanks to A Class Team: Huskies Lose 3-1

Hockey isn't about winning. It is so much more. I had to write a letter to the team we played Sunday. No -not a letter because of problems... a letter because they were a class act.


Southern Maryland Sabres,

I wanted to take the time to thank the coaches, parents, and most importantly the players for demonstrating what a youth ice hockey game should be like. I was greatly impressed by all involved because of the level of respect demonstrated, on and off the ice. Your players are big, skilled, and most importantly play respectfully. Their respectful play didn’t prevent them from playing physically; it made them stand out as one of the better clubs and teams in the league.

I wanted to thank the Sabres for restoring some of my hope for what youth ice hockey should be like on a daily basis. The kids played hard, the game was great, they battled, and they skated away having fun. I could not ask for more as a parent.

I have had extremely bad experiences from one parent from another team (on more than one occasion) where he came down yelling, “hockey is hockey let the boy’s play.” Of course I had to remind him hitting players and instructing his child to harm is not hockey. If that wasn’t bad enough he had to start yelling at my wife. I have seen another player from a second team, continually recklessly hit and harm our players. In both cases, I found the CBHL and coaches(of those teams) doing little to address this. To me it is a pattern that needs to be addressed. There seems to be parents, coaches, and clubs that don’t understand this is youth ice hockey. Hockey is physical sport. Hockey is not a reckless sport.

I feel the League and Clubs need to focus on the 98% of youth players that play with safety and respect in mind. When those 98% of kids come to play, you get a game like we had on Sunday. Sadly, I find the other 2% are tolerated and given chance after chance to change. Unfortunately, they don’t learn or change and it is our children that get repeatedly hurt.

Because of the failure of the CBHL to enforce the Zero Tolerance Policy of USA Hockey (thus far); I may not have my child play in the play-offs depending on the team. What I have seen from two unmentioned teams, and I have written letters to the CBHL, is just not youth ice hockey. My club has been great in hearing our concerns and I truly hope we get into and play you in the play-offs. I know what every team would win, would deserve a shot to be CBHL Champions. Your team already is above that title, attitude and game-play has already made them true champions. Your boys and our boys don’t need trophies.

Please let everyone involved know that one parent believes you all are a class hockey act and understand it isn’t about winning, it’s about the youth players, our children. When a victory comes from that, it is so much better for everyone.


Thanks

Mayo Clinic Injury Reduction & Our Parent Skills and Scrimmage Clinic

A group of parents have purchased 20 blocks of ice for between season hockey. We wanted to provide an alternative method for hockey development between seasonal travel hockey play.We will be opening it to 20 players. The focus of our clinic is skill development and fun.

The players will receive 15 -20 minutes of skill coaching at the beginning of each session. The players will scrimmage for the remainder of the time. It will be a full game atmosphere without checking. Any player that hits to the neck, head, or back will have to sit for the remainder of the session. Hockey is about mental and physical skill development. Our clinic removes checking as a method to allow youth players the opportunity to focus on speed, stick skills, positioning, and other mental aspects of the game without having to worry about getting check. Removing 1 aspect (checking) allows youth players to fully focus on 4 different skill areas of hockey development. We fully believe this we help the youth players develop essential skills and make the better players.

I will present the full model in February.


Below is small cut from an extensive Mayo Clinic study. It is page 32. You can read the entire PDF at this link. The most relevant information to my concerns are pages 30 onward. Mayo Article On Changes to Prevent Youth Ice Hockey Injuries


D. What Needs to be Done?



For several years investigators have tried to catch the attention of hockey’s decision makers by
publishing on the increased risk of injury to children playing in checking leagues.(11, 48) The resistance to change relates to the culture of ice hockey and a fear that such a rule will result in an inferior quality of player. Some coaches in non-checking leagues report on amazing skill development that can occur when players are not afraid of the big hits, but are confident to “go to the net” with speed, finesse and with the puck on their stick. The exemplary work by Emery and colleagues should persuade decision makers to postpone body checking until 14 years of age.(50,51) Decreasing body checking in developmentally immature youngsters, who still lack control over their “on-ice” checking skills, is now an evidence based necessity to decrease concussions in youth hockey.(11,66)


In the breakout session for this sector, hopefully actions on rules, regulations and enforcement will take place.

An Open Letter To Youth Ice Hockey Parents: We Can Make Changes

This is a letter I sent to help raise the voice of parents. We can make changes in youth ice hockey that will reduce harm.


Good Morning,


I want to take the time to thank the Huskies organization for taking our concerns and all parents’ concerns seriously. There is not another club I would choose over the Huskies to represent the safety concerns of our children and youth players.

That being said, there is only so much a single club can do alone. The Huskies have demonstrated through their coaches, volunteers, and club attitude that safety and respect is an expectation of their youth club players. We can proudly see that in our children and coaching staff. It can also be found on the Peewee Blue team. They have 2 large skilled players that play physically, fast, and with respect. They exemplify how a player with size advantage should carry themselves on the ice. They do not play to intimidate and bully, they play to compete and have fun. They are very successful players. I am sure their parents are proud.

I am writing this email and sending this out on my own accord. I would like to encourage you to look at our 36 game season thus far and ask yourself if you feel USA Hockey’s Zero Tolerance Policy is being enforced to the highest level by the CBHL. The CBHL is responsible for the safety of our children. Did you know the rules existed? I don’t believe it is being enforced. I would like you to think about plays you have witnessed that take hockey from the physical sport it is, into the realm of a reckless sport. Have you seen players recklessly hurt?

Do you feel, as I do, that the safety of the 98% of youth players on ice that play respectfully is taking 2nd seat to the 2% of youth players that play without respect, harm repeatedly, and show no remorse? I think those 2% of players, once given the opportunity to change, should be removed, if they still need to learn. They should not (this sounds funny) be given the opportunity to show they learned by hurting or not hurting other players, our children. A pattern is a pattern. One or two tries, then you lose your right to player with other kids. End of story.

I don’t understand why repeat offenders are allowed to continue to play. This is not an adult league - it is a youth league. Hockey is not a right - it is a privilege. They can try again next year. However, keeping them (the 2%) in the league is taking precedence over protecting the other 98%. This is my opinion. It is, however, accurate.

If you are not familiar with Zero Tolerance, please search - USA Hockey Zero Tolerance. You will find a power-point presentation (by USA Hockey) and a summary. It, in short, states a player arguing with a call or demonstrating dissatisfaction must be given a mandatory (100%) 2 minute unsportsmanlike penalty. Continued expression of dissatisfaction will lead to a 10 minute misconduct, and then a game misconduct.

I have spent the last 3 months identifying ways safety can be addressed in youth ice hockey. Some of you may know I have a blog and we have established a website. I learned that Zero Tolerance was created to deal with problematic players and behavior. It was actually designed to help protect referees. If enforced as written, I know players on our team would not have been harmed. I ask you to recall an instance of a player from any team getting additional penalties under the Zero Tolerance Policy of USA Hockey. The CBHL, by the way, has in their by-laws the full adoption of USA Hockey Rules.

I can only recall 1 or 2 instances over a 3 year span that a Zero Tolerance penalty was called. I can, however, recall dozens of instances where it should have been called. Don’t be swayed by the cop-out and systemic barrier of referee’s discretion. This is a youth league and solutions are simple.

The CBHL must make immediate changes, this season. They can institute a Zero Tolerance Referee that stands between the penalty boxes. That referee is solely responsible for overseeing player, parent, and bench behavior. It is quite simple. Very similar to yellow and reds cards in soccer, a player can earn their way to an ejection. The on ice referees can manage the game and the ZT referees can mange behavior and game safety. They both can issue penalties. It is not rocket science. It is simply a process of recognizing this is not the NHL but a youth league. Adapt the rules to fit the needs of maintaining the highest standards of safety. I give the CBHL this solution free of consulting fees. There is no need to drag out discussions in a committee. Just make the change. The yellow card empowers the referee to take the next step. The yellow card signals warning. It is seen by every player and parent. It will reduce injury.

If safety and harm concerns you, now is the time for all concerned parents to speak out more loudly then the hockey rhetoric that protects abusive players and abusive behavior. I can tell you this… Change will not happen if you don’t speak up now. The CBHL is looking into our concerns. That may or may not lead to change. Very often, those wanting change are pacified with “a committee to look into things.” Changes can be made this season to protect our children and reduce the risks of harm. I personally will not be accepting anything less, and will exercise all my rights to improve safety and reduce the risk of harm for all our children, youth players.

I am encouraging you to write a letter of concern and send it through the appropriate channels to the CBHL. Your letter will represent your child. If you have questions, please email me or approach me at practices and games. Silence is not golden, in this case. Assertive letters are not golden. They are more valuable than that. They are our children. I encourage you to forward this to all hockey parents on all clubs. This issue is not only ours. We all want the same things; improved safety, more accountability, and less harm.


Gary

Huskies Sink Navy 7-5 and Hand Them Their First Lost

Wow. The Huskies fought hard. Anytime you walk into someones backyard and take home a win, that's an accomplishment. When you take down an undefeated team that's impressive. When you do in the face of reckless players on the other team... (well I'm taking the 24 hour rule).

Three cheers to the Huskies for the win. A round of applause to AJ with not 3 but 4 goals. And let's not forget Lizzy's big saves that keep the momentum on the Huskies bench.

Every line contributed. Some lines put the puck in the net other lines shut down Navy and kept them from scoring. It takes a whole team to defeat the undefeated. Way to go HUSKIES!

Reduce Injuries By Letting the Referee's Address the Benches

One key to reducing injuries in hockey is education. It is very easy for all parties involved, to get lost in large debates about checking and major changes. These debates and discussions take time and often end without action. The problem with delaying action is that more kids get hurt while we wait. One problem that often causes delay is that we want to change to much in one swoop. Rather then making small changes while looking at larger changes, we choose the latter only. Both can be done. Tweak the existing systems with small changes.

Here is a simple way to help reduce injuries. USA Hockey and the Referee Associations need to agree to a single change. It is an educational change. Referees need to address the benches before each game for about 45 seconds. The coaches and players need to be directed to fully listen to the referees.

The referees need to remind the players of the following items. Below is an example of how a referee would address the bench.

You are all hockey players and I expect you all to play with respect. I will remove any player from the game that is hitting recklessly. I won't tolerate hits to the back and will penalize you. I expect you to play with 100% respect toward other players and check legally. I intend to make sure the game is played safely and fairly. If you want to end up in the penalty box or get ejected, start hitting players the wrong way.

Let me tell you this. Don't hit the player in the back. Don't hit the player in the head or neck. Don't cause a hit that puts another player in harms way. You are all hockey players. Play hard and play safe.

You might ask yourself isn't this understood. No it isn't. Education is about repetition and you are dealing with kids not adults. Every game, every time, every bench needs to be approached by the referees and given the content of the above example. It has to be a mandatory part of the game.

The goal is to reduce injury. The goal is to get the information in the youth players head of what not to do. This is a very easy change that will reduce injuries by making safety a routine part of the game.

Reminding the kids on the bench also reminds the referees about their responsibilities.

Making this a routine part of youth ice hockey would cost about 2 minutes of time. It is time well used.

The referees could also take 30 second between periods to address problem and reiterate the above. This is youth ice hockey not the NHL. Referees can be used differently.

Huskies Win Key Game: Everyone Contributes

The Huskies beat Montgomery 6-4 on Sunday. It was a battle. The Huskies struct first scoring 3 goals. Montgomery battled back, eventually tieing it at 4-4. The game had importance for the play-off standings. With 6 minutes left, the Huskies fought hard. Alec P, Jimmy B, and Matthew R combined for the game winning point. Montgomery kept up the pressure but the Huskies responded with a 6th goal by Andrew P (unassisted). Here is the game winning goal (2nd goal in video). Notice the positioning and the pass.

A Very Good Huskies Power-Play

The power play is about positioning, passing, and shooting. After months of practice, this group of Huskies put it all together. Credits given at the end of the video.

Crosby's Concussion and What the Symptoms Might Feel Like

Here is a snip of an interview with Crosby. It talks about the symptoms. And the feeling of just being off.

Q. Can you describe what the symptoms were?


CROSBY: It's hard to explain. I guess anybody that's kinda gone through it will be able to explain it too. You just feel off, headaches, a little sick. That's basically the symptoms. That's kinda been what it's been like the last couple of days.


Q. Have you had a concussion before in your NHL career?


No. No, so it's something new. That's probably the best way to describe it.

Q. There's such a strict protocol in all the sports in terms of concussions. Do you feel they're going to monitor you?

That's important for me, especially. I don't want to come back too soon. I know they won't allow that to happen. It's a little bit different than a shoulder or different things like that, that you can play through in the course of the season. It's pretty serious. You want to make sure that you're completely clear from doing it again.


Q. What were your thoughts on both of the hits this week, with all the focus on Steckel and then Hedman?


I didn't like them. You talk about headshots and dealing with them, and that's been something that's been a pretty big point of interest from everybody -- GMs and players. When I look at those two hits ... when we talk about blindside, that's a big word. Unsuspecting player. There's no puck there on both of them. Direct hit to the head on both of them. If you go through the criteria, I think they fit all those.


I know it's a fast game. If anybody understands it's a fast game ... I've been hit a thousand times. When you get hit like that, there's nothing you can do. There's no way to protect yourself. Those are things that hopefully they pay more attention to. It's easy saying that, being in this situation; but those are two hits, looking back, that I can't say I should have done something different or had my head down. I wouldn't change anything.

NHL Head Shot Issues and Greg Wyshynski Misses the Point

Wyshynski's Blog talks about a head hit that broke the jaw of a player. It talks a bit about the new rules and how technically the hit doesn't fall into the rule. I cut a piece below in italics for my point. Read his article but it is full of much of what I talked about in youth hockey. The bravado of it was a legal hit. Though I write about youth hockey, the same issue come up in the NHL. Issues of excessive force, hiding behind "legal hits", and the like. I find it funny that in Wyshynski's case he takes the time to ammend the rule to make it better but closes with the statement -

"It's better then a total ban on all hits to the head"

Maybe I read the blog wrong... Better then a total ban on all hits to the head? Is this guy for real? Does he feel hitting to the head brings something positive to the game?

If you want to protect players be it youth players or NHL players. The rule should be simple... No hits or contact to a players neck or head.

I'll go one step further as say my ammended rule is better then allowing any hits to the head.

But under NHL rules, its illegality, beyond the roughing call, can be debated. Had there been a total ban on contact to the head, then yes, this is illegal. But there wasn't. So once again it appears they're just applying unwritten rules when they're useful or when the aggrieved party makes a large enough stink.
The fix is easy: Amend Rule 48 to read "A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principle point of contact, or a hit to an unsuspecting and vulnerable player in which the head is targeted and/or the principle point of contact, is not permitted."
Cover the bases. It's better than a total ban on all hits to the head.

"Hey Ref... You Missed the Elbow My Kid Threw."

You know it isn't about winning. We won both games this weekend. It isn't about fair calls. It is about controlling the game. The referees this weekend were not calling hits to the neck, head, or back with any regularity. And guess what happened? All the kids picked up their hitting to the level that WASN'T being called. This failure puts all the kids on the ice at risk. The Huskies were guilty for blatant elbows to the head that weren't called as were the other teams. The two games were poorly called and the safety of all the kids was jeopardized. The referees were not doing their job. And you know what... there is nothing we can do about it.

We can't complain. We can't yell. We can't get a small survey card that instructs us to rate the referee's performance. We can sit back and watch hits to the neck, head, and back continue without penalties. As I explore ways to reduce the risk of injury, the more frustrating it becomes at times. It does seem like change is simple but simply is not aggressively addressed. If referees can't call the most harmful hits with consistentancy, what are we left with? The answer is more injured children.

When I hear a coach yell at the referee for missing a blatant hit into the back of a player and the response from the referee is, "SHUT-UP! and mind your players on the bench.", what are we to do?

Parents need to change their voice and speak up and ask for ways to submit complaints directly to the referee association. The good refs need raises and the bad refs need instruction. Why is that so hard to do?

Anyone have an answer?

Great Start to the 2nd Half of the Season: The Team Rises!

First off... Welcome back Tucker. We had a full team for the first time in months. Tucker immediately contributed to the team. He showed little if any rust coming back, after nearly 2 months off, to play defense.

The Huskies won both games this weekend. They beat the Sabers in a non-league game 4-3. And they beat Fredrick in a league game 5-3. Victories are always nice but seeing an entire team progress is even better.

Watching the Huskies play this weekend, I noticed many big changes. They looked different. Each player stepped up their game within their capacity. Some were faster up and down the ice. Some were faster along the boards. Some passed with acuracy and power. Some cleared the puck with authority. Some played physically. Some improved their fore-checking. I could go on. Each player improved a piece of their game. And when players do that, the added effect for the team is greater then summation of all the parts.

Summation of all parts... what is that? It means the team has stepped up the level of their play. Their individual efforts propelled the team to a higher level. They, in my opinion, are where they need to be come January. It was evident on the way they used the points. It was evident on the passing. It was evident on their choices to pass or shoot. It was evident by the increase number of smart hockey plays.

It was most evident in a very dominant power play where 5 players held the puck in the zone for nearly two minutes. They worked hard on that, as a team,  in recent practices. I am waiting to post the video of that power-play. Several lines controlled the flow of the game, keeping the puck in the offensive zone for almost the entire time they were on the ice. The Huskies dealt with pressure and supported each other through every hit, injury, and moments of frustration. Congrats! not only on winning but on raising the bar for the team.

Mental Aspects of Ice Hockey: Player Awareness and Movement

As we look into building a clinic for between seasons, one of the challenges is defining what will be taught. Two words that struck me in a conversation were Awareness and Movement. I think these are the key words to define the mental aspects arena of youth ice hockey.

Awareness on the player's part to all things around them like;  where their teammates are, where they are positionally, where the other team is, where the puck is going and the like.

A youth player should have a field of vision and awareness that protects them. They need to know and be taught a lot more then racing for the puck and going to the goal. Awareness has to be clearly taught. Youth player's pick up a lot of this over time but it can be enhanced, and more quickly achieved, with formal teaching by coaches and parents.

As the youth player waits to grow, the can practice and develop a strong mental awareness of the game. Their bodies will naturally mature, the mental game won't without instruction.

Movement is the other key and it might sound like it goes with moving the puck. True, the key is to move the puck up the ice. But the mental piece is involves the player understanding their movement on the ice and how to use it. How the anticipate, stop, start, crash, and go are built around mentally understanding the game and their positional role.

So the question left to us is... How to best teach this in a manner that is both fun and effective? The goal is to create better players and players that can better protect themselves on the ice.

Mental Aspects of Ice Hockey: Courtesy of Bruce Boudreau - Dump It!

I couldn't find the link. Coach Boudreau was interviewed between periods, at the Winter Classic, and asked how he thought the Capitals were doing. This isn't his exact quote but it was something like this:

"Well if they would quit screwing around on the blue line and dump the puck in deep they would be doing a lot better."

This quote had me thinking and at my son's practice the next day, I noticed issues with players goofing around the blue line with the puck and I saw what it did. The question is why is that a problem? What deeper issue does it cause for a team when players try and stick handle into the offense zone once they cross the red line verses passing it or dumping  it?

The answer is a mental aspect of the game. At the Peewee level the team begins to truly form. If things are going pretty well the forward with the puck is supported by the other two forwards and the defense. The team is pushing up the ice following the player with the puck. Sounds good. Good - until the player with the puck fails to pass or dump it. What happens?

This is a good question to discuss with you son because it isn't just about him losing the puck. It affects the whole team. I have seen it happening a lot but never really understood what I was seeing until Coach Boudreau's interview.

The team stops. That is the short answer. The speed and movement the team ends when the player with the puck fails to dump it in deep. You end up with one player goofing around with the puck at the blue line, the other two forwards have to stop and wait. The defense is pushing up and typically ends up near the center red line. The whole team is stopped and in one small space. They are waiting for the puck to cross the blue line. They can't move essentially.

Now... the other team has two defensemen moving forward with speed attacking the player with the puck. The puck gets taken by the other team and they NOW have speed and the puck. What happens? The team gets a two on none breakaway and typically scores.

Why did this happen? Ask you son or daughter to think. This is the mental piece.  The game of hockey is about speed and advancing the puck forward. In this case the team's speed is stopped or greatly slowed by the player with the puck failing to advance the puck. The player fails because they try to go east west and stick handling through several players. It takes to long. The rest of the team ends up flat footed and bunched up in the the neutral zone waiting for the puck to cross the blue line. The other team pokes the puck away and has speed. The flat footed team can't respond to get them and thus a breakaway occurs.

The right play is always to advance the puck quickly and maintain the skating speed of the team. That means dump the puck in deep or pass it up to the advancing player that has a clear opening. Trying to stick handle through several players in the neutral zone does nothing but make the rest of your team - standing spectators. It is a bad hockey play and it puts the player with the puck at risk of get checked hard. It also puts fellow teammates at risk, that are standing, if the puck gets to them. Flat footed players with the puck become targets.

Once a player enters the neutral zone they should be thinking about the pass or the dump. Once the open space closes the puck needs to leave their stick. This is a mental aspect of the game.

Safety, Skills, and Scrimmage Clinic: A Between Seasons Activity.

We are closer to developing a clinic that focuses on player awarness for safety, mental and physical skills, and scrimmaging. This will fall in the off-season and probably run for about 10 weeks. It will use the Zero Tolerance rule for hitting a player in the neck, head, and back during practice or scrimmages. We believe the player is responsible for controlling their actions. The player will have to sit out. That being said, players will be fully reminded of the rule and will be taught how to check appropriately.

The clinic won't be just about skating or shooting. Each skill will be modified to not only teach the physical skills needed to play hockey but also the mental aspects and ice awareness skills. The players will learn to anticipate, plan, and make decisions before the puck even comes to them. Ice awareness and strong mental skills will better protect players.

Players will learn skills during the week and be instructed to use them in the scrimmage. The scrimmage teams will compete for the right to hold the weekly Golden Scrimmage Cup. The winner of the game will be based on standard play and number of goals and modified goals. In order to help players use the weeks lesson plan, showing off what you learned in the scrimmage might pay dividends for the player's team.

We are currently determining weight and age requirements, developing the weekly lesson plans, securing ice, and looking for a paid coach and unpaid volunteers.

Our hope is to create an off season activity for the youth players that helps them improve on their mental and physical game skills, teaches them how to have greater ice awareness (for safety), and provides them with a competitive scrimmage that they all will enjoy.

This is are pilot. We hope it grows.