michiganhockey july 4, 2011

Michigan Hockeymichiganhockeyonline.com

V.22 : I.2 | July 04, 2011FIRST CLASS

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4 Michigan Hockey MichiganHockeyOnline.com

PAGE 19 PAGE 38PAGES 20-21

20th Anniversary SeasonMH celebrates 20 years

with a look back at 2007

USA HockeySummer

Congress and award winners

Red WingsInsider

Team adds skill and size

AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORTRochester Hawks win Onyx Spring Showdown League 6Rochester Golden Seals wrap up Spring Showdown Championship 6

MH BEATCompuware Arena named Quest for the Best contest winner 8MAHA Summer Meeting heads to Grand Traverse 10Ann Arbor Ice Cube to host USA Hockey Five Nations Tournament 22

SPEAKING OF HOCKEY Do you have any superstitions? 12

STATE OF THE GAME By Lyle Phair What’s a coach to do? 14

GET BETTER Goalies do off ice training too 15

YOU SHOULD KNOW Brighton’s Jon Merrill 16

REEBOK TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 17

HOMETOWN HERO New Jersey Devils’ Brian Rolston 18

TRYOUTS 28

JUNIOR HOCKEYOHL: Whalers and Spirit players get drafted 34

COLLEGE HOCKEY Wolverines and Huskies name new assistant coaches 36

PAGES 23-27PAGES 23-27

Table of Contents

July 4, 2011 Volume 22 : Issue 2

PAGES 23-27PAGES 23-27

Equipment Buyers GuideNew sticks, skates and protective gear

Don’t look now but players are getting ready to get back on the ice for fall tryouts. We’ll have some tips on making the team,

along with a feature on how much is too much training. We’ll also take a look back at the year 2008 in celebration of our 20th

season of Michigan Hockey.

Look for it on arena stands, at michiganhockeyonline.com and in your e-mail on July 1, 2011.

Contact Lucia Zuzga at (248) 479-1134 or [email protected] or Philip Colvin at (248) 479-1136 or

[email protected] for more information.

COMING IN OUR NEXT ISSUEFALL TRYOUTSFALL TRYOUTSFALL TRYOUTSFALL TRYOUTS

5Michigan HockeyMichiganHockeyOnline.com 5Michigan HockeyMichiganHockeyOnline.com

Summer fun

FROM THE EDITOR

As usual, summer is fl ying by and I hope you are enjoying it.In this issue our Equipment Buyers Guide starts on page 23 with a look at some of

the new skates and sticks on the market and how helmet manufacturers are working to design new products to help lessen the chance of getting a concussion.

Michiganhockeyonline.com’s “Only on the Web” has more equipment content, including a look at goalie gear, a Where to Buy store directory and a complete Q & A with equipment industry leaders.

Also in this issue, MAHA president George Atkinson checks in with a Be Our Guest column (page 10) on the merits of playing Cross-Ice and the ADM.

This year’s MAHA Summer Meeting (page 10) will be at the Grand Traverse Resort outside Traverse City, July 8-10. While the new location is a good enough reason to attend, this year’s gathering is shaping up to be very informative and productive. In addition to the discussion on the 8-Under Cross-Ice rule change proposal, the Friday Association President’s Meeting will feature multiple hot topics and Saturday’s symposiums include interactive presentations on implementing the ADM in your association and ways to attract more kids to hockey and keep the ones you already have.

In addition, Dr. Steven Norris, who works with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Winter Olympic teams, will give the keynote address and will be available for a Q & A session. He’s a very engaging speaker and has the answers to any questions you have about the ADM’s long-term athlete development principles.

Finally, this is my last issue as editor of Michigan Hockey as I am joining the Central Collegiate Hockey Association as the league’s communications director.

I’ve enjoyed every minute of covering youth hockey, talking to all of the volunteer coaches and administrators who make the game go in this state and watching all of the players who compete for the sheer love of the game and the chance to move up the hockey ladder.

Have a great summer,

5Michigan HockeyMichiganHockeyOnline.com

From the Editor

Cover: By Dave Reginek/DIG Photo

Photos at left: (from top, L to R): Detroit Red Wings locker room at training camp by Dave Reginek/DRW, Andy Miele by Tom Kimmel/USA Hockey and Tomas Jurco by Aaron Bell/OHL Images.

Cover reprints availableemail: [email protected]

EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob DeSpirt, Christine Szarek, Derek Blair, James Jenkins, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers, Linda HollandLisa Zarzycki, Mark Vansaw, Nyron Fauconier, Randy PaquetteRob Mattina, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY® welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and include the writer's full home address and day and evening telephone numbers.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY is published by SUBURBAN SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MICHIGAN HOCKEY®, 23995 Freeway Park Drive, Suite 200, Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829. ©2010 by Suburban Sports Communications. All Rights Reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of MICHIGAN HOCKEY or its advertisers. All editorial copy, photographs and advertising materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.

Editor-in-Chief Philip D. [email protected]

Advertising Lucia [email protected]

Database Manager Josh [email protected]

Design Chuck Stevens

Contributing Editor Kevin Allen

Josh Curmi

Distribution Lucia Zuzga

Administrative Director Amy Jones

MICHIGAN HOCKEY23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200

Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829(248) 478-2500 • FAX: (248) 478-1601

EMAIL: [email protected]: michiganhockeyonline.com

Goalie gear, where to buy store directory

and more

USA Hockey’s Ken Martel responds to

ADM questions

Michigan players earn invite to WJC camp

Prize winner will be announcedJuly 30th on our Facebook page

Winner willWinner willreceive a receive a CascadeCascade

M11 HelmetM11 Helmet

Winner willreceive a Cascade

M11 Helmet


Rochester Hawks win Onyx Ice Rochester Hawks win Onyx Ice Arena Spring Showdown LeagueArena Spring Showdown League

Rochester Golden Seals wrap up Rochester Golden Seals wrap up Spring Showdown ChampionshipSpring Showdown Championship

The Rochester Hawks Pee Wee squad went undefeated and took the Onyx Rochester Arena Spring Showdown title in the Silver Elite division.

The Hawks fi nished 13-0 and outscored opponents 107-15.The Hawks are: Grant Williams, Trevor Oberliesen, Tony

Neubacher, Alex Beck, Nick Yatooma, Zach Barrette, Nathan LaFalce, Matt Miller, Kurt Bedra, Jerry Calcaterra, Brennan Walsh and Joey Lindenfelser.

The head coach is Greg Neubacher and assistant coaches are Jim Oberliesen and Tim Miller.

The Rochester Golden Seals capped off their undefeated Bantam Spring Showdown League season with a championship game win over the Rangers 4-2 at the Onyx Rochester Ice Arena.

Trailing by two goals late in the second period, the Seals scored got two goals in 18 seconds from Aaron Griffi n and Connor Darrow to tie the game. Then in the third period the Seals added goals by Tyler Ashwell and Ethan Fuller for the win. Goalie Sante Bologna shutout the Rangers in the fi nal

period complete the Seals 12-0 perfect season. The Golden Seals are: Austin Angelo, Tyler Ashwell, Sante

Bologna, Lou Carabelli, Nick Costello, Connor Darrow, Jack Dimefski, Nick Farrar, Ethan Fuller, Nathan Garlick, Aaron Griffi n, John Krust, Jacob Maddox, Cooper Purdom, Drew Sorrell, Mark Vitale, and James Wisniewski. Coaches are: Mike Darrow, Jim Carabelli, Brian Fuller, Mike Garlick and John Angelo.

Rochester Hawks win Onyx Ice Rochester Hawks win Onyx Ice Arena Spring Showdown League

Rochester Golden Seals wrap up Rochester Golden Seals wrap up Spring Showdown ChampionshipSpring Showdown Championship

Make your player a "Star of Tomorrow"Every player appearing on Reebok's Stars of

Tomorrow will win a new Reebok hockey stick!

"STARS OF TOMORROW"

Hockey Player Age Hometown Height Weight Team Position Coach School Grade Favorite Team Favorite Player

Skyler Creed9 Eaton Rapids4' 11"76lbs. Lansing CapitalsLeft WingFrankie Dunn Greyhound Intermediate 5Red Wings Henrik Zetterberg

Hockey Player Age Hometown Height Weight Team Position Coach School Grade Favorite Team Favorite Player

Kurtis Skinner6 Eaton Rapids3' 6"46lbs. Suburban BruinsGoaltender Mike Rucinski Lockwood Elementary1Red Wings Jimmy Howard

Amateur Hockey Report

July 13th - August 17thWednesdays · 6 weeksJuly 13th - August 17thWednesdays · 6 weeks Ages 4-8 6:15 - 7:15pmAges 9-13 7:15 - 8:15pm

$95 per player rLimited registration

Full equipment requiredIf equipment is needed, the

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Emphasis on creating a fun,challenging environment for players

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Customer Appreciation

Day


Compuware Arena develops into Compuware Arena develops into year-round entertainment venueyear-round entertainment venue


BY PHILIP COLVINSince opening in the fall of 1996, Compuware Arena’s programs, amenities and

prime location have helped it become one of the busiest facilities in Michigan.The two-rink facility is home to the Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers,

Compuware AAA Hockey Club, Compuware House League and the Detroit Catholic Central and Plymouth Wildcats high school teams.

The arena also hosts hockey schools, concerts, the MHSAA state tournament, high school graduations and college graduations, birthday parties and a three-screen Drive-In Movie Theatre in the parking lot all summer long.

Michigan Hockey readers noticed and voted Compuware Arena as the best in the state in the 2011 Quest for the Best Arena poll.

“That’s very exciting and an honor,” said Denise Ronayne, Compuware Arena’s director of sales and marketing. “I’m glad the readers of Michigan Hockey cared enough to pick us. Our staff takes pride in making this a great place to skate and we appreciate the recognition.”

Built by Compuware Corporation owner Peter Karmanos, Jr. on a 30-acre parcel of land on the east side of Beck Road just north of M-14, Compuware Arena sits on the highest point of the property surrounded by woods and natural wetlands.

“After spending many years in rinks around the United States and Canada with his youth teams, Mr. Karmanos wanted to build a fi rst-class facility for parents and their kids in this area,” said Compuware Arena President Mike Vellucci. “With all the events going on here, we’ve become a big part of the community. People enjoy coming to Compuware Arena. ”

The 170,000 square foot facility has a large lobby with a concourse that runs between the two ice sheets and arenas. One side contains a NHL-sized ice surface with seating for over 3,500 (standing room capacity of approximately 4,500), private suites, a press box and is the home ice to the OHL Whalers. The other arena has an Olympic-size ice surface and seating for 800.

Compuware Arena includes 11 locker rooms, three dedicated locker rooms, video arcade, the Slap Shot snack shop and the Whalers Cove pro shop.

C.J.’s Brewing Company, a full service restaurant and bar with a meeting and party room, occupies a large spot in the front of the complex at the same level as the ice arena concourse.

The arena also runs Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Hockey classes, holds Open Skate and Sticks and Pucks sessions and fi gure skaters use the Olympic-size ice surface to train.

“We’ve really tried to get as many kids involved in the game as we can,” said Ronayne.With its seating capacity, numerous amenities and proximity to the multiple hotels

and restaurants of western Wayne Country, Compuware Arena is well equipped to host large gatherings.

A big weekend on the facility’s calendar is the MHSAA state tournament semifi nals and fi nals, held every March at Compuware Arena since 2003.

“We enjoy our relationship with Compuware Arena,” said Randy Allen, assistant director of the MHSAA. “It’s a perfect fi t for us. Right now, it’s the perfect place, the perfect size – and more than anything else – the people make us feel welcome and go out of their way to make it work for us.”

The facility has also hosted ice shows, trade shows, pro wrestling and several concerts.

“Compuware Arena is a perfect size for concerts, it has great acoustics and a location that can’t be beat,” said Dan McGowan of the Crofoot Ballroom, who moved a concert that had outgrown the Crofoot to Compuware Arena earlier this year.

“We’re looking to book even more shows,” said Mike Henry, Compuware Arena manager. “We’d like people to see that we are a good venue and have more acts start coming.”

And from June – September, the Compuware Arena parking lot transforms into a Drive In theatre that shows fi rst-run movie double features 7-days a week. With special kid’s pricing and Dinner-and-a-Movie promotions, the Drive-In has become a hotspot for families in western metro-Detroit.

“This is a very exciting time of year for us with the drive in movies,” said Henry. “And we’re looking forward to another great summer.”

The diversity of programming and events has helped Compuware Arena grow and evolve into a 12-month a year entertainment venue. And that’s not all - Whaler games have also been the setting for several wedding proposals.

“Our plan has always been to off er quality programs and events at an aff ordable price,” said Ronayne. “We want our customers to have a great experience.”

Compuware Arena develops into Compuware Arena develops into year-round entertainment venueyear-round entertainment venue

Quest for Best Arena

Compuware Arena develops into year-round entertainment venue

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M A R / A P R 2 0 0 6 � R I N K M A G A Z I N E . C O M

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F S T A R • V O L . 9 , N O . 2

Behind the scenes in Torino

Behind the scenes in Torino

>

The insider’s magazine on the rink industry.

Compuware Arena’s director of communications Pete Krupsky (left) and Denise Ronayne, sales and marketing director, pose with the 2011 Michigan Hockey Quest for the Best Arena banner.


Be Our Guest

George Atkinson, MAHA President

MAHA Summer Meeting heading to

Traverse City

Editor’s Note: Atkinson responds below to questions raised by District 4 about the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM). Those questions and ADM Program Manager Ken Martel’s answers to those questions can be found in the “Only on the Web” section at michiganhockeyonline.com.

USA Hockey’s ADM is based on proven long-term development principles, is used in many sports and in many countries for developing young athletes to be the best they can be, whether they want to be a recreational player or an NHL star.

Research and experience show that the ADM’s 8-and-Under cross-ice/half-ice games and station-based practice programs are critical building blocks to the development of the skills that will be the foundation for everything players need to achieve success in the future.

The ADM program for children 8-and-Under includes a practice structure that roughly doubles the active development time compared to a traditional practice on full-ice. The station-based practices provide a constant challenge to players of diff erent abilities. With 6-8 players in each group, coaches can adjust the diffi culty of a drill at each station based on the ability level of the players in that group. During games, players are matched against opponents of equal ability.

The smaller surface size keeps all players more engaged during games and concentrating on puck control, both a big plus for the ADM program. Players touch the puck more and learn better control than they would in a full-ice game. They also score more goals and have more fun, which is the ultimate goal.

Research also shows that players trained in small areas develop an ability to handle the puck in tight spaces, become more comfortable with body contact at an earlier age and are put into more situations that develop natural hockey sense and on ice awareness.

The Detroit Red Wings’ Henrik Zetterberg grew up playing in this type of system in Sweden.

“It is great to see that USA Hockey and MAHA have the best interests of developing young players in mind,” said Zetterberg. “I grew up in a system where playing games in limited spaces defi ned how we were taught the game. There is no doubt that it played a big role in developing my skills and abilities as a player.”

DOWNSIZED PLAYING SURFACE MAKES SENSEThe ADM, at the 8-and-Under level, has also outlined the playing surface size for

games that best fi ts our kids. The number of skating strides taken from sideboard to sideboard (cross-ice) for an 8 and under player ranges from 14 to 16 strides. The average number of strides for a quality adult player is 15 to 17 strides for the full length of the ice. This diff erence is attributed to limb length.

So, in essence, the cross-ice environment is the correctly proportioned, downsized playing surface for young players. Many other sports such as baseball, tennis, golf and soccer downsize their fi eld of play to improve player development and enjoyment for younger participants.

My daughter has played soccer since she was four-years old. We started on a very small fi eld playing three-on-three with no goalie. It wasn’t until this year, at the U13 level that she played on a full-size fi eld. I have never heard one complaint from soccer parents on this development strategy.

With all these benefi ts, I hope you can see why we don’t want to wait to implement this program. Procrastination will mean many young players will not be given the opportunity to take advantage of the development opportunities we now have at our disposal.

MAHA has actually been a leader in the adoption of the ADM Program. We instituted our Michigan OneGoal program ahead of the national announcement of the ADM. We were on the right track of using small ice games and practices to lower costs and

attract more players. We certainly were missing the huge development and training program that has now been provided by USA Hockey.

The fact we had a head start gives us the advantage to be able to implement this program faster than some of the other areas of the country.

A CONSISTENT APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENTLast summer the MAHA directors voted to transition toward the implementation

of the 8-and-under ADM by the 2012-13 season. I formed a committee with members from all areas of the state to come up with a solution. We took all input and drafted a rules proposal based on what the majority of the committee felt at the time was best, and put that rule change forward to be voted on at our Summer Meeting on July 10. As of today, I know of no other rule change proposals or amendments proposed by anyone other than the ADM Committee. We are certainly open to alternative proposals that better meets the needs of our members, but they must take advantage of the development model, not disregard it.

The ADM program is actually more challenging than the present curriculum and has elements built into it to continue to challenge the more advanced player with more diffi cult drills and assignments.

The facts show that 68% of our young players will play three years or less of cross-ice. If cross-ice practices and games are not implemented at ages seven and eight, 45% of our players will never be given the chance to develop their skills properly.

Michigan Amateur Hockey Association has been a leader in many initiatives with USA Hockey over the years. We have a history of success, but we need to continue to work to maintain that success in the future. The challenge is to build a consistent approach to player development. The implementation of a smaller ice surface and the ADM principles for age 8-and-Under players is the foundation of the future success of young players in Michigan.

We continue to look for a solution that implements the ADM in all facets and serves all of our members in the best possible way. We hope that District 4 will be part of that solution and provide meaningful alternatives if you wish, rather than seeking to delay the development of our players, and divide our organization on the issue.

Our minds need to be open about what gives our young players the best chance for success in their hockey future whatever that dream may be. The rest is for us as adults and leaders in our organization to fi gure out how to make that happen for them.

If all our focus is put on what is best for the development of the kids, I know we will fi nd a solution everyone can embrace.

ADM lays the foundation for ADM lays the foundation for success of young playerssuccess of young players

ADM lays the foundation for success of young players

The Michigan Amateur Hockey Association is trying something new this summer.

For the fi rst time, the organization’s annual summer meeting is set for July 8-10 at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, just outside of Traverse City.

In addition to committee reports, voting on rule change proposals and the annual Awards Banquet, this year’s gathering will also feature several informative sessions to help administrators improve their youth associations.

On Saturday, USA Hockey’s Courtney Welch and Pat Kelleher of the Membership Services Department will lead an interactive workshop to provide ideas and helpful tools to grow the game and increase player retention.

The pair will unveil this year’s new player retention strategy and will also share several new campaigns available for use to attract new players, including events during Come Play Hockey Month this November as well as Hockey Weekend Across America next February.

Also on Saturday, ADM regional manager Bob Mancini will lead a workshop on implementing the ADM into associations. Mancini will also unveil a new handbook for program administrators to use to implement the ADM in your association.

MAHA president George Atkinson will also review the changes to the Red Wing Premiere Program for the 2011-12 season and discuss the requirements needed to qualify and how to get your association signed up. Also included will be information on how to sign up for the Try Hockey for Free programs that have helped get so many new players on the ice.

Dr. Steven Norris, an authority on long-term athlete development, will give the keynote address at the MAHA Summer Meeting and will also be available at for a Q & A session on Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Norris, currently an adjunct professor in applied physiology at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alta., has worked with Hockey Canada for 15 years and was the director of sport physiology & strategic planning at the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary for the past three Winter Olympic cycles (2002, 2006 and 2010), focusing on Canada’s winter sport teams.

In addition to the Summer Meeting, the Detroit Red Wings will hold a Coach’s Clinic around their prospect Development Camp on July 10 at Centre Ice arena in Traverse City. The clinic runs from 1 – 5:30 p.m., and includes lunch with guest speakers Ken Holland, Executive V.P. and General Manager of the Red Wings and Jim Nill, V.P. and Assistant General Manager of the Red Wings.

Clinic attendees will observe the Red Wings Development camp conditioning, skill development and scrimmages and then have a Q & A session with camp coaches Jiri Fischer, Jim Bedard, Curt Fraser, Jim Paek and Tomas Storm.

Space is limited and the cost of the clinic is $95.By Phil ColvinByyy Phil Colvin

MAHA Summer MeetingGrand Traverse Resort in Acme

July 8-10


Speaking of Hockey July 4, 2011 Volume 22 : Issue 2

Any superstitions before games?Any superstitions before games?Any superstitions before games?

“I tap my stick on the boards.”“I tap my stick on the boards.”Wyatt Radakovitz, 12, Grand Rapids, West Kent Hawks

“I use one stick in warm ups and “I use one stick in warm ups and another for the game.”another for the game.”

Charlie Adams, 18, White Bear Lake, MN, Austin Bruins

“I take a cold bath “I take a cold bath the night before.”the night before.”

Andy Singerhouse, 20, Hudson, WI,

Owatonna Express

“I listen to music.”“I listen to music.”Niko Voutsaras, 13, Lansing Capitals Bantam B

“I chew three pieces of “I chew three pieces of gum and three tic-tacs.”gum and three tic-tacs.”

Michael Abels, 13, Troy Sabres Bantam B

“I smack the goalposts “I smack the goalposts with my stick.”with my stick.”Michael Fisher,

13, St. Clair Shores, Troy Sabres Bantam B

“I bang my skates on the boards.”“I bang my skates on the boards.”Andrew Peters, Troy Sabres Bantam B

“I eat two oranges, one apple and one “I eat two oranges, one apple and one banana.”banana.” Nick Widing, 19, Somerset, WI,

Owatonna Express

“I juggle.”“I juggle.”Collin Lemay, 19, Fairlawn, NJ, Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins

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Any superstitions before games?


Stateof the

Gameby Lyle Phair

Coaching a hockey team of kids can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. Or it can be a nightmare and the season can’t end fast enough.

How the season turns out for a team and the coaching staff is often determined by what the expectations are going in. Setting the bar too high can result in disaster if those results are not achieved, and makes for a very long season.

All too often the measuring stick of the success of a team, and its coaches, is the won-loss record. Win more than you were expected to and you are a great coaching staff . Lose more than you are supposed to and you suddenly couldn’t coach a 10-year old to eat a hot fudge sundae.

For professional coaches, winning is what it should be all about - the true measure of success. Everything in the organization is predicated on the won-loss record. As it should be. Professional coaches know, going in, that they are hired to be fi red, and eventually they all are.

But at the youth level, is that really how we should evaluate coaches? Is that really how we should measure them, by their won-loss record?

Competition is great. It is one of the main reasons why players participate in sports, and it can help them to learn how to approach or compete in all facets of life as they grow up. But in every game, one team wins and one team has to lose, which means that if we use the won-loss record as a barometer, at least 50% of coaches are going to be deemed failures. To take it one step further, only one team can win the championship, so does that mean that all of the rest of those coaches are not doing their job?

THE DEFINITION OF SUCCESSCoaching youth sports has changed a great deal in the past 20 years.

Activities are much more organized and leagues much more structured. The days of sending your kid down to the ballpark, or dropping them off at the local rink to practice or play are long gone.

Parents are much more involved nowadays and the society that we live in today dictates that they should be very involved in their kids’ activities. But how involved should they be? At what point do they stop becoming supportive parents, and start getting involved in the competition themselves?

As parents, we are all very proud of our kids and very passionate about what they do and how they do it. We want them to do well. We want them to succeed. And when they don’t succeed, at least under our defi nition of success, which is winning, we look for someone to blame. All too often, that is the coaching staff . Who wants to volunteer to coach under those circumstances, with that pressure?

Not all pressure is created by the parents. Many coaches bring it on themselves, particularly at the A, AA and AAA levels, where teams are formed by tryouts. In an eff ort to attract top talent to their team, they need to be perceived as a winner. So they advertise their success, listing

their playing and coaching accomplishments so players will want to play for them, to be on a winner. Raise the bar that high and you are only setting yourself up for failure. Unless you happen to win it all, which only one team can do.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD COACH?If winning should not be the sole indicator of a “good coach”, what

is? If you have played the game at a higher level, junior, college, or professionally, does that automatically make you a good coach? Maybe, maybe not. All that it really gives you is a beginning level of credibility. Playing a sport is entirely diff erent from coaching a sport. Many great players have learned and refi ned their skills over time, and have no idea how to break them down to teach them. More importantly, they often don’t possess the people skills to eff ectively communicate with parents, and most importantly, the players. And fi nally, the game, at those higher levels, is a completely diff erent game than the game the kids play. At the junior, college and professional level they are no longer kids, they are adults, with a much higher level of maturity, and are coached with a totally diff erent approach than kids should be.

Can someone who has little, or no playing experience be a good coach for kids? Absolutely. But right off the bat, they will not get that instant credibility and will have to be that much better than a former player. If they have solid communication skills, they will do just fi ne. Any adult can learn as much as they need to know about the game to be able to teach it to kids. It’s really not that diffi cult. Aren’t the bleachers full of experts? Seriously, any mature adult with good communication skills can coach kids, if they are willing to learn the necessary skills and concepts at each age level.

Many adults who would make great coaches often think they can’t get involved because they don’t have experience playing the game and don’t have the confi dence in their abilities on the ice to demonstrate skills in practices. While it defi nitely helps to have a solid command of skating and puckhandling skills, it is certainly not necessary. Coaches can utilize more skilled players to demonstrate skills to others on the team. Or teams can utilize student coaches, older players who really are apprentices, who have the physical skills to demonstrate in practice, and at the same time are training to be able to coach when they reach adulthood.

Of all youth sports, USA Hockey has long off ered the most comprehensive coaching education program to provide coaches with the knowledge to work with kids at each of the levels.

And while the coaching education program has been solid for years, to keep up with changing times the program is undergoing some changes for the coming season. While coaches will still need to attain designated coaching levels as they move through the system, they will also be required to take age-specifi c training modules on a regular basis to ensure that they are prepared to coach at each new age group that they reach as they move up the ladder. Like anything does, it will take some time to get used to, but in the long run it will provide coaches with the tools necessary to create a quality experience for the players on their teams.

REASONABLE EXPECTATIONSSo what really should we expect from hockey coaches? What are they

responsible to do? How should they be evaluated?Players need to learn how to win. They need to learn how to lose.

They need to learn to respect their teammates, their opponents, their coaches, the referees and the arenas they play in, and most importantly, to respect the game itself. They need to be challenged to improve their physical skills and their knowledge of the game. They need to learn that they have to play hard to succeed. They need to learn how to be part of a team and that it is not an individual sport, but a team sport and everyone on the team has to contribute in some way.

But most of all they need to have fun and enjoy the sport so much that they can’t wait for the next season to start. If a coach has accomplished that, it has been a successful season.

WHAT’S A COACH WHAT’S A COACH TO DO?TO DO?

WHAT’S A COACH TO DO?

State of the Game

MEALS forHockey Moms

COOK and stir bacon in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 5 min. or until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings from skillet.

ADD chicken to skillet; cook 5 to 6 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides and done (165ºF). Transfer chicken to plate; cover to keep warm. Add vegetables and 1/2 cup broth to skillet; cover and simmer 10 min. or until vegetables are tender.

STIR in broth and Neufchatel; cook, uncovered, 2 min. or until Neufchatel is melted and sauce is thickened, stirring frequently. Return chicken to skillet; cook 2 min. or until heated through. Spoon rice onto serving plate; top with chicken, sauce and bacon.

Contact Lucia @ 248-479-1134 if youwould like to sponsor this unique program.

4 slices bacon, chopped

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

4 large carrots (1 lb.), thinly sliced

1 large onion, chopped

1 cup fat-free reduced-sodiumchicken broth, divided

2 oz. (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.)Neufchatel Cheese, cubed

3 cups hot cooked brown rice

S M OT H E R E D C H I C K E N S M OT H E R E D C H I C K E N W I T H B R O W N R I C EW I T H B R O W N R I C E

Enter in our Hockey Mom Recipes contest on our Facebook page.Submit your favorite recipe. If selected to run in the paper you will

$win a $25 Restaurant.com card.


July 4, 2011 Volume 22 : Issue 2 Get BetterGet Better

BY DARREN ELIOTEvery goaltender needs to include off -ice training in the summer. The objective

is to get yourself in the best condition possible. Make sure you challenge yourself by setting goals to improve times and increase repetitions.

Summer dry land training may seem a long way from stopping pucks in January, but the correlation lies in the dedication to being the best possible goaltender at all times.

Weights: An important component of any dry land regimen. Goaltenders should focus on full range of motion and explosive moves, concentrating on leg development. Accordingly, bounding, leaping, standing long jump and jump rope training all should be part of the program. Strength and fl exibility are the targets, not bulk and beach-cut proportions. That means less weight and more repetitions.

Cardiovascular - aerobic: The base for endurance. Often overlooked by goaltenders as being unnecessary, strong aerobic training is vital to stamina late in games, especially as the season wears on. Long distance running always worked best for me. The time spent running provides an excellent opportunity to mentally go over various on-ice situations as well. That’s why timing video sessions to immediately precede a long run is a wise training idea.

Cardiovascular - anaerobic: The life-blood of goaltending is the ability to perform in bursts and recover effi ciently. Again, I favored running, going through sets of sprints of 50, 100, 200 and 400 yards and the shorter the distance, the higher the repetitions. Variations can include sprints followed by push-ups and sit-ups.

Stretching: Stretching before and after workouts is required and even on scheduled off -days, time should be set-aside for a rigorous stretching session. And it is not just about fl exibility. There is a strength derived from stretching that is of specifi c import to playing the position.

Jump Rope sets: Various sets of two legged, one-legged and alternate legged sets help coordination and quickness. If your younger players think jumping rope is for ‘sissies’, remind them boxers use jump rope drills all the time to train and improve footwork fundamentals.

Obstacle Course Racing: Any running drill through a made-up course (make it fun!) that involves sprinting, cutting, dropping to the ground and reversing fi eld is appropriate and eff ective method to strengthen pivoting skills.

Defensive Back Drills: Borrowing from football, any of the quick-cover shadow drills used by defensive backs and cornerbacks are terrifi c ways to work on both foot-speed and pivoting. Crossover running, lateral crossover sprints, back-pedaling and cutting all pertain.

Vertical Leap: The basic ‘how high can you jump’ drill done in sets against a wall. Make sure to alternate left-side, right-side and facing in relationship to the wall to ensure balanced development of all muscle groups.

Standing Long Jump: How far forward can you leap from a stationary position? This is one of the best and easiest drills to develop that quick burst capacity in the legs that is vital to goaltending.

Balance: Stand on one leg then the other. Then do the same thing with your eyes closed. Repeat until developing the calm to hold the position with eyes closed. Any kind of balancing apparatus can be used (footboard, pogo stick, even jump rope exercises).

Yes, goalies train too! Yes, goalies train too! Yes, goalies train too!

Off -ice workouts are an important part of a goalie’s training.

Source: Darren Eliot/Favorites - FlexCoach

SEND THEM TO US. WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT!

[email protected]

4 SKILL STATIONS 2Purpose: improve passing, receiving, skating agility, puck protection utilizing misdirection and cycling.Set-Up: Divide the rink up into 4 stations and divide the players evenly. Station 1 consists of Cycling with a high roll misdirect to create a scoring chance utilizing the space behind the puck carrier. Station 2 consists of puck control in a 1-on-1 situation in a tight area to teach the players to use your body to shield the puck using good positioning, balance and strength. Station 3 is a to develop good passing and receiving fundamentals with proper weight transfer for hard fl at and controlled passes tape to tape. Station 4 focuses on transition skating with proper pivots from forward to backward and backward to forward while maintaining control and passing the puck while in motion.

Nineteen-year old defenseman and Brighton

native Jon Merrill helped Michigan make the fi nal of the NCAA Frozen Four as a freshman.

He played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) and graduated

from Ann Arbor Pioneer. A second round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2010 NHL Draft, Merrill scored seven goals and 25 points this season and also won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2011 World Junior Championship in Buff alo, NY.

FAVORITE SPORTING EVENT:A Detroit Tigers game

FAVORITE BREAKFAST FOOD:Hash Browns

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CONCERT:Steve Miller Band

MUST SEE TV: Family Feud, Baggage and Lingo

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE:

Invisibility

FAVORITE MOVIE:Dazed and Confused

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE AN HOUR OF FREE TIME:

Sit in the dorm and watch the Game Show Network

IF YOU WERE GIVEN 1 MILLION DOLLARS, WHAT WOULD YOU

SPEND IT ON:Give it to my parents for all the hours and

money to let me play hockey

IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE WISHGRANTED, WHAT WOULD IT BE:

To win the Cup

PRE-GAME ROUTINE:I put my left shin pad, skate and elbow pad

on before the right every time

. n

JON

MERR L

Nineteen-year old defenseman and Brighton

native Jon Merrill helped Michigan make the fi nal of the NCAA Frozen Four as a freshman.

He played two seasons with the USA Hockey NationTeam Development Program (NTDP) and graduated

from Ann Arbor Pioneer. A second round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2010 NHL Draft, Merrill scored seven goals and 25 points this season and also won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2011 World Junior

JON

MERRILL

JON

MERRILL

JON

MERRILL

TOURNAMENT CALENDARGreat Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MISeptember 16-18Pee Wee AA and Bantam AAContact MYHockey Tournaments Toll Free US and Canada 855-898-4040myhockeytournaments.com

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COMPLETE and UP-TO-DATE TOURNAMENT LISTING ON WEBSITEmichiganhockeyonline.com

OUT OF STATEOUT OF STATEOUT OF STATE

JON

MERRILL

Left Wing Born: Feb 21, 1973 Hometown: FlintHeight/Weight: 6-2/214 Shoots: L

Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM1991-92 Lake Superior State CCHA 41 18 28 46 161992-93 Lake Superior State CCHA 39 33 31 64 201993-94 Albany River Rats AHL 17 5 5 10 81994-95 New Jersey Devils NHL 40 7 11 18 171994-95 Albany River Rats AHL 18 9 11 20 101995-96 New Jersey Devils NHL 58 13 11 24 81996-97 New Jersey Devils NHL 81 18 27 45 201997-98 New Jersey Devils NHL 76 16 14 30 161998-99 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 24 33 57 141999-00 New Jersey Devils NHL 11 3 1 4 01999-00 Colorado Avalanche NHL 50 8 10 18 121999-00 Boston Bruins NHL 16 5 4 9 62000-01 Boston Bruins NHL 77 19 39 58 282001-02 Boston Bruins NHL 82 31 31 62 302002-03 Boston Bruins NHL 81 27 32 59 322003-04 Boston Bruins NHL 82 19 29 48 402005-06 Minnesota Wild NHL 82 34 45 79 502006-07 Minnesota Wild NHL 78 31 33 64 462007-08 Minnesota Wild NHL 81 31 28 59 532008-09 New Jersey Devils NHL 64 15 17 32 302009-10 New Jersey Devils NHL 80 20 17 37 222010-11 New Jersey Devils NHL 65 14 20 34 34 NHL Totals 1186 335 402 737 458

19993999 -9999994 44444 AlAlAlbabab nynynynynyyyyy River Rataa s 19949999 -95 NeNeNeNNNNN w www JeJeJeJeJeeJeJJeersrsrsrsseye Deve ils 1994-9995 Alllbbbanynyyynyyyy RRRRivivivivererre RRRRRRRRRRaatatats ss ss 199959555-9996 6666 NeNeNNew JeeJeeeeeJeerseyee Devils 1191 96969696-9-99-977 NeNeNeNeNNeewwww ww JeJeeeeJeeeJerseyyy Deveeee ililili s 1911 97-98 New Jeeeeeerrrseyeeee Devevils 191111998888888-99 NeNew Jeeerrsr ey DDDDDevils 1999999-0-00 NeNeNeNeeNeNeeew JeJeerrrsr eyeyey DDDDeveeeeevillllllllsss sssss191199999999--0- 0 CoCoCoCoCoCColoraadodd AAAvalancncncche1999-0-0-00000 000 Bostttttonn Bruins 2000000 -00-00011111 BoBoBoooBoBoston BBBBBBBBBruinnns s200100101-00000002 BoBoBoBoBoBostonononn BBBBrururururur ins 20202002-03 33 BoBoBoBoBB stonoo BBBruins s2003-0-0004 44 BoBoBoBoBoB stonoono BBBBBruruurururuuuuins s s2020200050000500 -00006 66 MiMM nnesee oto a WiWW ld202020060600 -0007 77 MiM nnesee otototaaa WiWiWild200700 -08 88 MiMMiMinnnnnnnnnn esotoooo a Wiiildl200880808-0009 9 9999 NeNN w w w JeJJ rsey DDDDevils 20090909-1-1-10 00 0 0 Neeew w JeJ rsey DDevils 2022 100-11 NeNeNNNNeN w ww w w w JeJJJJJ rssey Devillss s

Graduated from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor… Played two seasons of college hockey at Lake Superior State University

(CCHA) and made the NCAA championship game in each season…Won the NCAA title in 1992 and scored the

championship-winning goal in title game as a freshman... Named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team in both 1992

and 1993... Named to the NCAA West Second All-Star Team and CCHA First All-Star Team in 1992-93…Led the Lakers in scoring with 64 points as a sophomore…Drafted 11th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1991 Entry Draft… Posted fi rst NHL point (assist) vs. Washington on 2/15/95 and scored his fi rst NHL goal vs. Montreal on 2/27/95... Won Silver Medal with Team USA at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City…Won Gold Medal with Team USA in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey... Wife’s name is Jennifer, has three sons, Ryder, Brody and Stone… Off season home is in Traverse City...Nickname is “Rolly”... Hobbies include playing golf, guitar and drums...Began playing hockey at age fi ve... Most memorable NHL moment is winning

the 1995 Stanley Cup with the Devils... Brothers, Ron and Greg, are the most infl uential people in his hockey

career...Grew up rooting for the Edmonton Oilers and his favorite player was Mark Messier...Favorite current

day athlete is Roger Federer... Favorite band is Red Hot Chili Peppers… Favorite road city is New York and Madison

Square Garden is favorite road arena...First job as a kid was mowing lawns...Favorite food is pizza...Favorite television

show is “The Offi ce” and favorite movie is Anchorman...Howard Stern is the person he’d like to meet.

BRIANROLSTON

BRIANROLSTON

BRIANROLSTON

BRIANROLSTON


After much discussion and debate, USA Hockey’s Board of Directors passed all aspects of the Progressive Checking Skill Development Program rule proposal during its 2011 Annual Congress on June 11 in Colorado Springs, CO.

The change means that beginning in the 2011-12 season legal body checking in games will begin at the Bantam age level (ages 13-14).

In addition, it tightens the standard of play for intimidation hits in the legal body checking age categories.

The program also encourages more legal body contact in the pre-body checking age categories by providing more training and support for coaches and referees.

“This program has taken several years of research and discussion to formulate,” said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. “USA Hockey has the training and support elements in place for our coaches and referees.

Also beginning in 2011-12, each USA Hockey coach will be required to take an age-specifi c training module which will provide training information consistent with long-term athlete and childhood development principles for the age category the coach will be engaged with. Each module will include training information for body contact and checking.

Referee clinics in 2011-12 will focus on allowing more body contact consistent with the rules in pre-checking age categories and a tighter standard of play for roughing, cross-checking, boarding, charging, high-sticking and other intimidation hits in the legal body checking divisions.

“Parents should know that this program will better prepare their children for the physical part of the game. It should produce less risk since we will be training players in body contact at an earlier age in a progressive manner,” said DeGregorio.

USA Hockey will monitor the on-ice management of games with regular reports from local referee-in-chiefs, coach-in-chiefs and Association Coaching and Education (ACE) administrators to USA Hockey’s national offi ce staff in Colorado Springs. The national governing body will also conduct research on the eff ect of the Progressive Checking Skill Development Program on risk reduction and skill development. The research will be published when completed.

The Board also passed rules that prohibit any check that comes in contact with the head or neck. The goal of this rule is to make the player more responsible for actions that make contact to the head or neck similar to rules now in place for stick infractions to the head.

Another goal of the Progressive Checking Skill Development Program is to enhance skill development consistent with the American Development Model (ADM) and its long-term athlete development principles.

“With the knowledge base we have on child development, this is without question the right way forward,” said Bret Hedican, former NHL player and two-time Olympian. “Today is a signifi cant one for our sport.”

In addition, while the Progressive Checking Skill Development Program received most of the attention at the Summer Congress, USA Hockey also voted to reinstate “tag-up off sides” at the 14 and Under Bantam level and above for the 2011-12 season.

Tag-up off side is a variation of delayed off side. In a delayed off side situation, if all members of the off ending team clear the defensive zone at the same time by making skate contact outside of the zone (including the blue line), then the delayed off side call is negated.

MICHIGAN RESIDENTS HONOREDThree Michigan residents were honored by USA

Hockey on June 8 at their awards dinner tabbed “A Night of Tribute.”

College Player of the Year Andy Miele (Grosse Pointe Woods), Disabled Athlete of the Year Alex Knapp (Shelby Township) and Bob Johnson Award honoree Ron Rolston (Ann Arbor) were all recognized during the USA Hockey Annual Congress.

Miele, a senior captain, helped lead Miami University to its fi rst-ever Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship, while becoming the fi rst RedHawk to capture the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation’s top collegiate player. Miele led the nation in assists (47), points (71), and points-per-game average (1.82). His 71 points in just 39 games were 11 more than any other player. The senior won the CCHA’s Player of the Year award after leading the league with 55 points in 28 league games – a league record.

After graduating from Eisenhower High School in Shelby Township, Knapp attended Michigan State University for two years before enlisting in the United States Army. On March 14, 2008, he and four other soldiers were severely injured in an explosion near Baghdad.

Following multiple setbacks and rehabilitation, Knapp decided to join his local sled hockey team, the Michigan Sled Dogs. Despite never having played organized hockey, Knapp quickly earned a tryout for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. He was then placed on the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team, where he participated in a camp with the squad in September 2010. The next month, Knapp began to experience chest pains during an exhibition practice with the Sled Dogs

and he passed away shortly thereafter from a heart attack. After sacrifi cing his legs in service of his country, Knapp ultimately lost his life playing the sport he had eagerly adopted as his own.

The longest-tenured and most decorated coach in the history of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, Rolston guided U.S. squads to championships in three international tournaments in 2010-11, including a gold-medal performance at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s U18 Championship.

Rolston, who had previously led the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 team to a gold medal in the 2005 and 2009 IIHF World Men’s U18 Championship and a silver medal at the 2007 event, helped Team USA collect its third straight world title in 2010-11.

USA Hockey votes to move full USA Hockey votes to move full body checking to Bantamsbody checking to Bantams

USA Hockey votes to move full USA Hockey votes to move full body checking to Bantamsbody checking to Bantams

USA Hockey

USA Hockey votes to move full body checking to Bantams Andy Miele (Grosse Pointe Woods)

had a big seaon: the Miami captain won the Hobey Baker Award and was named USA Hockey’s College

Player of the Year.

PH

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JANUARY APRILFEBRUARY MAYMARCH JUNE


The Plymouth Whalers ended the 2007 regular season with a 41-6-4 run, then swept Guelph in the fi rst round of the playoff s, took out Kitchener in the conference semifi nals in fi ve games, beat London in fi ve games in the conference fi nals and knocked off Sudbury in six games to claim the OHL title. The Whalers then went 1-3 at the Memorial Cup.

The Detroit Red Wings made Steve Yzerman’s the sixth player to have his number retired on Jan. 2 at Joe Louis Arena, joining the late Terry Sawchuk (1) and Sid Abel (12), plus Gordie Howe (9), Ted Lindsay (7) and Alex Delvecchio (10). Yzerman played with the Wings from 1983-2006 and is regarded as one of the great leaders in NHL history.

Compuware (12U Tier 1), Belle Tire (16U Tier 1) and the Michigan Jaguars (18U Tier II) all won USA Hockey National championships. Compuware beat the Colorado Thunderbirds in the fi nal in Buff alo (NY). Belle Tire beat Shattuck-St. Mary’s in the national title game at Great Lakes Sports City. The Jaguars beat Phoenix, 2-1, to win the nationals at GLSC.

Anaheim rookie Drew Miller, a former Spartan, returned to East Lansing on July 5 with the Stanley Cup in tow. After passing up his fi nal year at Michigan State to sign with the Ducks, Miller won the Cup in his fi rst pro season. He took the Cup to Sparrow Hospital, the site of the Spartan Buddies program he helped start when he was college player.

January 3rdFormer U.S. president Gerald Ford is laid to rest in Grand Rapids, Michigan

April 1stWrestleMania 23 takes place at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, setting an arena record of 80,103

May 5thFloyd Mayweather Jr., defeated Oscar De La Hoya in the highest grossing boxing match in history

February 11thThe Police reunite and perform for the fi rst time in the 21st century May 18th

Deep sea explorers retrieve 17 tons of colonial era silver and gold coins with an estimated value of $500 million

April 25thBobby ‘Boris’ Pickett, 69, American one-hit wonder singer of Monster Mash dies

June 10thThe Sopranos

ends

June 17thIce Road Truckers airs for the fi rst time on The History Channel

January 29thBarbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, is euthanized

after contracting laminitis

February 22ndThe O.C. airs for the

fi nal time on Fox

June 24thCharles Lindberg , last surviving American who raised the fl ag in

Iwo Jima, dies at the age of 86

March 27thCharlotte Winters, 109, last surviving

American female veteran of World

War I passes away

March 25thElton John plays Madison Square

Garden for the 60th time to celbrate his

60th birthday

March 28thMario & Sonic at the Olympic Games marks the fi rst time Sonic and Mario have ever appeared in a video game together

February 27thAre You Smarter

Than a 5th Grader premieres on Fox

Michigan Hockey Headlines

20 Years/20 Issues


August 12thMerv Griffi n, 82, American talk show host and creator of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune dies

September 8th‘Weird Al’ Yankovic performs his 1,000th live show at Idaho Falls

November 5thThe Writers Guid of America goes on a strike that will last until February 12, 2008

December 19thVladimir Putin, President

of Russia, is announced as Time magazine’s 2007

person of the year

November 14thHigh Speed 1 from London to the Channel Tunnel is opened to passengers

October 8thTrack and fi eld star Marion Jones surrenders her 5 Olympic medals she won in the 2000 Olympics after admitting to doping

December 10thLed Zepplin reunite in London for their fi rst show in 25 years

July 1stThe Concert for Diana takes place at Wembley Stadium in London

June 23rdDrew Carey is announced as the new host of The Price Is Right

July 25thJake, 12, American search and rescue dog for 9/11 attacks and Katrina loses battle with cancer

August 30thBig Ten Network launches

September 25thHalo 3 is released and

grosses $170 million in a 24-hour period

July 21stFinal book of

the Harry Potter series is released and sells over 11 million copies in

fi rst 24 hours

October 14thKeeping up with the Kardashians begins

JULY OCTOBERAUGUST NOVEMBERSEPTEMBER DECEMBER


Michigan Hockey 20th Season

Michigan State won the 2007 NCAA national title and became the poster child for what can happen when team goals supersede individual goals.

The Spartans’ character, grit and chemistry were on full display for four games in the NCAA Tournament. MSU defeated Boston University 5-1 and Notre Dame 2-1 in the Midwest Regional in Grand Rapids and followed it with a 4-2 victory over Maine in the NCAA semifi nals and a dramatic 3-1 come-from-behind win over Boston College to win the NCAA championship on April 7 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

“We’re a hard-working team that cared about each other all season,” junior defenseman Daniel Vukovic said. “We believed in ourselves, we went out and had fun, played great and won.”

Spartans’ coach Rick Comley said, “It’s amazing. Unreal. Every team that wins something gives up individual goals and puts team goals ahead of it, and that’s what happened with this team.”

The title was MSU’s third and fi rst since 1986, while Comley, who guided Northern Michigan to the NCAA crown in 1991, is one of only three coaches to win championships at two diff erent schools.

While Spartan players often said this season that they were a team without superstar players and it’s all about hard work and resiliency, that’s not really correct.

Jeff Lerg is defi nitely a superstar, a brilliant goaltender who is capable of stealing games or giving his team a chance to win. And MSU had a superstar captain in senior Chris Lawrence, a great leader and motivator and who is loved and respected by his teammates and coaches.

Lerg, a sophomore from Livonia, had an outstanding Frozen Four. In the semifi nal win over Maine, he kept his team, which trailed 2-0 early, in the game through the fi rst two periods before the Spartans tied it won it in the third with two unanswered goals.

In the title game, Lerg made several clutch saves with the Spartans trailing 1-0. He stopped a breakaway by the Eagles’ Nate Gerbe in the second period with a left

p a d save. But his biggest stop was a highlight-reel glove save on Brian Boyle early in the third period.

On a 2-on-1 rush while shorthanded, the Eagles Joe Rooney slid the puck to Boyle in the slot on the right. But Lerg moved to his left to snag the shot and it ended up on ESPN’s Plays of the Day.

That gave the Spartans a chance to come back and they did – on goals by Tim Kennedy on a breakaway to tie it with about 10 minutes left and Justin Abdelkader to win it with 18.9 seconds left. Abdelkader was named the Frozen Four most valuable player.

Lerg rebounded from uneven start and was back in top form starting in December.He was the MVP of the Midwest Regional, made the Frozen Four All-Tournament team and in four NCAA games, Lerg posted a 1.25 GAA and a .954 save percentage.

“This is what I’ve waited for my whole life. I’ve been too small for every level of hockey and I’ve been turned down by schools along the way,” he said. “I’m really fortunate Coach Comley gave me this opportunity.”

By Neil Koepke

Flashback: MSU WINS NCAA TITLEMSU WINS NCAA TITLE MSU WINS NCAA TITLE

MLB Champion Boston Red Sox NFL Super Bowl winner Indianapolis Colts

NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs

NHL Stanley Cup winner Anaheim Ducks

OHL Champion Plymouth Whalers

Memorial Cup Champion Vancouver Giants

CCHA Champion Notre Dame

NCAA Champion Michigan State

Jack Adams award- Top NHL Coach Alain Vigneault - Vancouver

#1 NHL Draft Pick Patrick Kane - Chicago

Art Ross Trophy - Top NHL scorer Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Vezina trophy - Best NHL Goaltender Martin Brodeur- N.J. Devils Hart trophy - NHL MVP Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh

Cost of a U.S. Stamp $0.41

Cost of a dozen Eggs $0.90 Cost of a gallon of Milk $3.72 Cost of a gallon of Gas $2.25

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Five Nations Tournament Five Nations Tournament coming to Ann Arborcoming to Ann Arbor

Five Nations Tournament coming to Ann Arbor

BY PHILIP COLVINThe home of the U.S. National Under 17 and Under 18

Teams is going international this summer.The Ann Arbor Ice Cube will host the 2011 Five Nations

Tournament from August 9-13 and will include Under 17 teams from Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

The U.S. entry is made up of players selected at the USA Hockey Select 17 Festival by festival coaches, directors and player personnel staff . While the team could include players that will play in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP), the majority of the squad will be comprised of players who play next season in junior and prep leagues across the country.

It’s a great chance to get another group of top players some international exposure,” said Scott

Monaghan, Senior Director, Operations for the NTDP.Each day features games at 3 pm and 7 pm, with Team

USA taking on Germany on Aug. 9, the Czechs on Aug. 10, the Slovaks on Aug. 12 and the Swiss on Aug. 13.

Two-game day passes are $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12 years old. A ten-game tournament pass is $40 for adults and $20 for children.

TIER 1 ELITE LEAGUE BECOMES AFFILIATE OF USHL

After much discussion, planning and consideration, the United States Hockey League (USHL) and the Tier 1 Elite League announced a national agreement in late May to make the Tier 1 Elite League the offi cial youth hockey affi liate of the Chicago-based USHL, the nation’s Tier I junior league.

The Tier 1 Elite League is comprised of top-tier youth hockey organizations throughout the U.S. competing in multiple age groups – from Squirt all the way up to Midget Major levels.

In addition to its base of 19 existing teams, the league recently granted membership to the D.C. Capitals, Milwaukee Junior Admirals, Oakland (MI) Junior Grizzlies, and the Thunder program based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two youth programs affi liated with USHL Member Club ownership will also now join the expanding league, bringing the number of teams preparing for the 2011-12 season to 25. The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders program, based in

Westminster, Colorado, is operated by Tony Sdao, owner of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The team will open play this upcoming season along with the Las Vegas Storm, operated by Kirk Brooks, the owner of the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.

In the initial phase of the agreement, the USHL will bring its marketing, public relations, player development and organizational assets to the Tier 1 Elite League, and will work with the league’s nationwide web of youth programs to develop enhanced standards of coaching, training, academic progress, cost controls, and stability – refl ecting the standards observed by USHL Member Clubs.

The USHL will have a consistent presence at the Tier 1 Elite League’s schedule of national showcases, and the two organizations will enter into a planning phase for more and enhanced events.

“This represents the culmination of a lot of hard work with some of the most important development partners in youth hockey in the United States,” said USHL Commissioner Skip Prince. “As with any partnership of this potential magnitude, we want to walk before we run, and see where we can be most eff ective with each other – but as you can see, this represents not only a commitment by the USHL to elite youth hockey at the league level, but the direct participation of our owners in Tier 1 League competition.

“This is the most eff ective way we know to implement USA Hockey’s education-based development model at the elite level. We’re excited about what this can mean for the growth of hockey in the U.S.”

The strength of the Tier 1 Elite League programs was refl ected in the recent 2011 USHL Entry Draft, where 56 players were selected from the league’s programs, representing 26% of the 216 players drafted.

“The Tier 1 Elite Hockey League could not be more excited, as this affi liation has been in the planning stage for almost a year, said Larry Johnson, Commissioner of the Tier 1 Elite League. “Our goal is to move our players to the very best junior program in the United States, and this will improve our player’s chances to make that next step. A great number of our players move on to the USHL now but this should open a great opportunity for the parents and the players to learn what to expect and what is expected of them to move to this level.”

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Equipment Buyers Guide

Technology continues to help make Technology continues to help make skates lighter and better fittingskates lighter and better fitting

Technology continues to help make Technology continues to help make skates lighter and better fittingskates lighter and better fitting

Technology continues to help make skates lighter and better fitting

BY ALEX DIFILIPPOJust like in other pieces of hockey equipment, new technologies have allowed

skates to become more lightweight and form fi tting, thus improving players speed and mobility.

“Skates have taken the most modern route as far as using the technology that’s available,” said Paul Boyer, the Detroit Red Wings equipment manager. “New skates are being made with composite materials, which are much lighter than plastic and leather. The skate manufactures aren’t sparing anything and they are creating great skates.”

While protection is still important in skates, new options like Skate Fenders (see story on page 27) are allowing skate manufactures to focus on creating a lightweight product that provides great fi t and feel for the player.

“I think skates and sticks are the two most important pieces of equipment for hockey players,” Boyer said. “The skates should fi t like part of the body and be an extension of your leg. Wearing skates should feel like you are in bare feet.”

This year’s skate models raise the bar from previous models, most notably due to improvements in fi t and the lightweight materials being used.

IMPROVED FITEaston has long been known for creating some of the most

advanced sticks on the market. However, the company is using what it learned while

developing sticks to advance its new l i n e of skates.

Easton’s newest skate model, the Synergy EQ50, was designed to

eliminate the time and hassle of breaking in skates by utilizing carbon fi ber, a material most often

found in sticks.“We’ve talked to kids and

professional players and we’ve really realized how

uncomfortable and difficult it

can be to break in

skates,” said Chris Norqual, Easton’s director of skates. “We made a skate that’s easy to break in right out of the box and allows the player to be comfortable as soon as possible. It’s a hybrid skate that’s designed to make you faster by fi tting better.”

The EQ50 is made with a fusion foam quarter, which makes the entire boot completely moldable after a few minutes in a skate oven.

“There are skates out there that limit how much you can mold because there are certain materials needed for the structure,” Norqual said. “But with our EQ50, every area of the skate is moldable, including the heel and ankle. It allows 360 degree customization and we’ve had really great comments about our fi t in the new line.”

The new EQ line features fi ve diff erent models, with varying degrees of moldabiltiy.

“Since we launched our EQ50’s on April 1, we’ve really tried to get out there and put them on players’ feet,” Norqual said. “We aren’t the biggest brand in skates, but I think the EQ line is really going

to keep the ball rolling.”

Reebok CCM has also focused on improved fi t with their 11K Pump skate. Similar to Reebok’s widely popular pump basketball shoes, the 11K Pump Skate features a pump to eliminate the amount of air in the internal chamber of the skate, thus eliminating natural gaps around the ankle and providing a customized fi t.

Reebok uses a strategic integration of a lightweight core and durable outer shell to better protect the skater’s foot, and increase their skating ability at the same time. Emphasis in the spinal zone supports the player’s Achilles tendon, which controls

fl exion and torsion. Meanwhile, the fl exion zone and abrasion zones help with energy transfer from body to ice, and increase the durability of the skate.

EVEN LIGHTERRoughly 70 percent of the players in

the National Hockey League wear B auer skates. The large number of professionals who prefer Bauer may be a result of the company’s

commitment to make one of the lightest

boots on

the market.This year, Bauer launched its Vapor line of skates, headlined by the

Vapor APX. The APX boot is made with CURV Composite, which makes up the majority of skate boot and results in the lightest Vapor skate Bauer has produced.

“Reductions in weight have a direct relationship to skating effi ciency and energy saved throughout the game,” said Keith Duff y, Bauer’s senior category manager for skates.

“In developing a new line of skates, Bauer spends a tremendous amount of time talking to our core customer to ensure the projects and technologies we are working on will not only benefi t the player, but are desired by the player.”

Along with a lightweight boot, the Vapor APX also features the TUUK LS Fusion steel blade, which is 27 percent lighter than Bauer’s LS2 stainless steel blade, previously the lightest in the industry.

While Bauer prides itself on the number of professionals wearing their skates, they provide a wide-range of products designed for players at all levels of the game.

“We focus on innovation and technologies that will help players perform better and for their specifi c fi t and skating style,” Duff y said. “We have also become quite profi cient at providing a very light weight elite skate that maintains all the structural support and durability demanded by those playing at the game’s highest level.”


Equipment Buyers Guide July 4, 2011 Volume 22 : Issue 2

Balance of feel Balance of feel and durability and durability

driving new stick driving new stick designsdesigns

Balance of feel Balance of feel and durability and durability

driving new stick driving new stick designsdesigns

Balance of feel and durability

driving new stick designs

BY MARK BURNS

Year after year stick manufacturers strive to produce a product that is light and has a great feel. In 2011, stick makers have come another step closer to creating the “model” stick for the modern era.

In an eff ort to combine light weight, feel and also provide the added toughness for the rigors of such a demanding sport, stick manufacturers are implementing high density foams, carbon fi bers and other technological advancements to give players the best stick possible.

“The core demographic - the 15-year-old crazed hockey kid, the kid who is playing travel hockey, summer hockey and going to camps - he lives and breathes the game,” said Mike Mountain, Easton’s director of sticks and blades. “You get to know him, and you understand what he’s looking for in a stick - what he’s happy about, what he’s disappointed with.”

CCM’s U+ Crazy Light has a shaft made of aerial grade carbon, and at 425 grams, is one of the lightest sticks available. Players can select from a variety of models, patterns and fl exes, and the stick includes the company’s True Spear technology, with the blade featuring Dual Bridge technology to maximize accuracy.

If you like a little extra weight, there is the U+ Crazy Light’s big brother, the U+ Crazy Strong. Similarly constructed and geometrically shaped as the U+ Crazy Light, the U+ CS off ers multiple layers of resistant carbon fi bers to provide added strength. Among the NHLers using these new pieces of technology are San Jose’s Joe Thornton and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

Bauer has kept its Supreme TotalOne model on the market as its signature weapon of choice. With a “minimum eff ort, maximum output”’ philosophy, the TotalOne is geared toward players looking to unload a heavy shot without having to exert a huge amount of energy.

“At Bauer, we feel we make the most technologically advanced and best performing sticks in the industry,” said Evan Baker, Bauer’s category manager for sticks. “The feedback about our sticks from hockey players around the world has been nothing more than glowing and we feel like we can continue to push the envelope to impress them and keep coming them back to Bauer.”

The TotalOne blade is composed of a Dual Density Aero Foam for a softer feel when a player is corralling the puck in traffi c or receiving a cross-ice pass at top speed through the neutral zone.

While power is a heightened emphasis with the TotalOne, the two inserted pieces of foam minimize the amount of puck defl ection off the blade as well as give the TotalOne an improved, balanced feel.

“Some guys like a crisper blade feel, while others like a softer feeling blade with more energy absorption,” Baker said. “Either way, what the player is trying to maximize is their ability to know where the puck is on their blade at all times and have the ability to confi dently get off a quick shot or pass.”

Baker also said that Bauer will be releasing a new Vapor family of products, and changes to the colors of the current Supreme sticks.

“Bauer’s two premier sticks currently in the line are the Vapor X:60, out since October 2009, and the Supreme TotalOne that was launched in October of 2010,” Baker said. “Both sticks incorporate specifi c fl ex profi les for the needs of the diff erent types of shooters in the game as well as a very specifi c blade core material and shaft shape to best work in coordination with that fl ex profi le.”

Easton’s Mountain believes that a stick’s pattern and fl ex are two main components that players examine when deciding on purchasing a new stick.

Following the introduction of the Stealth S19 in 2010, Easton will launch a revamped model this October called the Stealth RS. Built after feedback from professional players as well as a handful of amateurs, the RS’ goal is to be one of the most accurate sticks on the market.

With “incredible balance” according to Mountain, the Stealth RS is the “ultimate sniper stick.”

“When we talk to kids, we ask them a simple question. ‘What goes through your mind when the puck hits your tape and you’ve got a shot on goal?’ You hear, ‘Don’t miss,’ ” Mountain said.

In addition to the Stealth, Easton’s Super Tough model has proved popular with players all across the age spectrum.

“The ST is just one of those products that has a loyal following,” Mountain said.With resin transfer modeling in the blade, the puck has a softer feel on the center

of the blade and will stay on the blade longer during a player’s shooting motion. Mountain added, it’s “the most durable stick on the market.”

The Widow, Warrior’s new top of the line stick, features a ‘true-1’ seamless construction, and their ‘Dagger Taper Technology’, which gives the shooter a 12-inch fl ex from the blade to the shaft, creating a lower kick point.

Warrior also found that mix between lightness and feel with the Dolomite Spyne. Warrior’s research and development team reinforced the heel of the stick with high-density foam, giving the Dolomite Spyne added durability. Additionally, a newly-improved grip on the shaft allows for easier movement when releasing a pass or shot.

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Equipment Buyers Guide July 4, 2011 Volume 22 : Issue 2

Sept 9 –11 Fort Wayne Pre-Season Blast Fort Wayne, IN

Oct 7 –10 Whitby Minor Thanksgiving Whitby & Oshawa, ON

Nov 25 – 27 Florida Jr. Panthers Thanksgiving Tournament Coral Springs, FL

Nov 25 – 27 Fort Wayne Thanksgiving Classic Fort Wayne, ON

Nov 25 – 27 New Jersey Thanksgiving Classic Vineland, NJ

Dec 2 – 4 Florida Sunshine Showdown Coral Springs, FL

Dec 27– 29 New Jersey Christmas Classic Vineland, NJ

Jan 13 –15 Martin Luther King Tournament Coral Springs, FL

Jan 13 –15 Martin Luther King Tournament Fort Wayne, IN

Feb 17 – 19 President’s Day Challenge Coral Springs, FL

Mar 9 –11 St. Patrick’s Tournament Vineland, NJ

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Equipment makers spearheading Equipment makers spearheading innovations to make the game saferinnovations to make the game safer

Equipment makers spearheading Equipment makers spearheading innovations to make the game saferinnovations to make the game safer

Equipment makers spearheading innovations to make the game saferBY LARRY O’CONNOR

Consider the shear plastic contraption that NHL centerman Red Berenson wore during a majority of his 17-year pro career. The iconic CCM-branded head piece merely consisted of a pliable plastic outer shell adorned with a thin foam liner inside.

“That was a good little helmet,” Berenson said of his now comparatively prehistoric lid. “It saved me a number of times.”

Wistful recollections aside, Berenson’s iconic bucket pales in comparison to the Canadian company’s signature Vector helmet line of today.

Legacy companies like CCM and Bauer, as well as newer equipment suppliers Reebok and Easton, are spearheading innovation to make the game safer from head to toe.

However, the rash of concussions on the amateur and pro level has shone a glaring spotlight on helmets. Headgear that players like Berenson once wore on a voluntary basis have come under increased scrutiny.

In the end, though, a helmet can only prevent the most serious of head injuries, product managers say.

“The expectation of a helmet is to protect and prevent against head injuries such as hematomas, skull fractures, contusions and lacerations,” said C.J. Ficek, Bauer product manager. “Mandatory certifi cation testing must be done on all helmets to ensure they pass the relevant national standards. The main goal is to help prevent these types of focal head injuries from occurring.”

Concern over the alarming rise in concussions has led not only to modifi cations to protective headwear, but has prompted some retooling of shoulder and elbow pads.

For instance, Warren-based Warrior has incorporated a two-layer shock absorption system into its shoulder pads. The company is releasing new protective shoulder gear under its Franchise, Bonafi de, Bully, Bentley, Koncept and Rukus product lines this season.

“There is usually a thin layer of high-density foam that sits between the outer shell and the plastic cap,” said Chris Jenkinson, Warrior product manager. “The idea is really just to diff use a lot of the stinging blows that are taken in the head area.”

BUCKET BRIGADEThe Bauer 9900 helmet is the Cadillac of the venerable hockey equipment

supplier’s line. The helmet’s low profi le and snug fi t also appeals to players in terms of aesthetics and comfort. The updated version of the Bauer 9500 is 10 percent lighter than its predecessor and is the company’s fi rst helmet to incorporate PORON XRD technology, which “is built to absorb maximum impact without adding stiff , constricting bulk,” Bauer’s Ficek said.

The CCM V 10 bears the hallmarks of a state-of-the-art helmet. The aerodynamic shell is designed for easily ventilation while allowing for an extended fi eld of vision. The Expanded Polypropolene (EPP) liner is complete with heat-activated memory

foam, which enhances comfort and instills protection.“Our Vector helmet has had amazing acceptance at the pro level,” said

Reebok-CCM product manager Laura Gibson. “It’s a very safe and very comfortable helmet, but it also has

a low-profi le look.”Th e R e e b o k 1 1 K

helmet touts a 5-Point Safety System, which incorporates high-impact

resistance, repeated impact resistance, maximum travel extension (to fit a wide variety of head shapes and sizes), lightweight composite reinforcement and stable anchoring technology.

The 11K ensures a comfortable fi t through its Microdial II technology, which eases pressure points and keeps the helmet in place. The 11K’s fi t clips also allow for tool-free adjustments.

Easton S-19 Z-Shock debuted last season but remains the group’s signature helmet. The Z-Shock protective system absorbs impact through a combination of EPP foam and a singled-laminated polycarbonate structure.

“That’s the technology that we believe in,” said Terry Serpa, Easton Bell Sports product manager. “It’s what we’re basing future developments on.”

Easton Bell Sports includes renowned football helmet makers Riddell and bicycle headgear specialists Giro. Bell is famous for its motorcycle helmets. Combined, the

companies produce more than 11 million helmets a year.“The beauty of it is that we can kind of take the technologies from the diff erent

sports and then start to implement them into what works for us,” Serpa said. “There’s a lot of sharing of technologies. That will allow us to make better hockey helmets in the future.”

NECK ON DOWNEaston’s Jeremy Doherty explains the conundrum faced by hockey equipment

manufacturers when producing protective gear.“Players are always looking to be lighter and faster,” the Easton product manager

said. “It’s a challenge on our side to make the player lighter and faster while giving them the adequate amount of protection.”

In Easton’s case, that meant developing sling technology for its elite Synergy EQ30 and EQ50 shinpads, which cradle the leg and leave an opening between the shin and guard to make it less vulnerable to high velocity shots or wicked slashes.

“It actually gaps your leg from the actual shinpad,” Doherty said. “So on impact from a puck or a stick you have a sling in there that helps prevent impact.”

The Synergy line includes a calf wrap, which protects the lower hindleg. Manufacturers have tried additional padding to shield the Achilles tendon from injury with little success.

“A lot of times players will remove that padding and it’s hard to get something into the back of the skate because of the extension,” Warrior’s Jenkinson said.

Warrior’s Franchise shin guard has been retooled with new knee and shin caps. The anatomically shaped and vented guard also features a hyperlock kneecap system to minimize hypertextension.

The anti-microbial shinpad liner can also be removed for washing.“We make sure we meet the three criteria: management of perspiration, anatomical

shape and hyper extention protection,” Jenkinson said.

KEEPING THE CHICLETS IN CHECKThanks to innovative mouthguards from companies like Shock Doctor and Pro-Tekt,

the image of a hockey player’s gap-toothed grin is relegated to the past.Shock Doctor’s custom mouth guard remains the industry standard for dental

preservation. Players buy a kit to make a dental impression, which is then sent back to Shock

Doctor, where the mold is used to design a personalized mouthguard. The piece can be tailored to include the player’s name and even team colors.

The process takes about two weeks after the mold is returned to the company.“The key to maximum mouthguard protection is fi t and retention,” said Jay

Turkbas, Shock Doctor vice president of product development. “The Shock Doctor custom mouthguard stays comfortably in place to keep athletes protected – without aff ecting their ability to breathe and speak normally.”


Equipment Buyers Guide

Value, performance Value, performance and more: Q & A with and more: Q & A with

equipment industry leaders equipment industry leaders

Value, performance Value, performance and more: Q & A with and more: Q & A with

equipment industry leaders equipment industry leaders

Value, performance and more: Q & A with

equipment industry leaders Michigan Hockey asked six hockey equipment industry

leaders - Kevin Davis (Bauer Hockey President/CEO), Philippe Dubé (Reebok-CCM Hockey President/General Manager), Mike Mountain (Easton Director of Sticks & Blades), Chris Norqual, (Easton Director of Product Management), Jay Turkbas (Shock Doctor V.P. of Product Development) and Neil Wensley (Warrior Director of Marketing-Hockey) - four questions about the state of the industry in 2011:

Michigan Hockey: What are the hockey equipment industry’s biggest challenges today and why?

DAVIS: “The biggest challenge we continue to face is making sure new participants have access to the sport. While some regions have adequate facilities and opportunities to introduce newcomers to the sport, there are still several areas where access is limited. There also continues to be a misconception that in order to play hockey a player must play 50 or more games and travel across the country. As an industry we need to do a better job of promoting the existence and importance of house leagues and other opportunities for kids to start playing the sport simply for the fun of it.”

DUBÉ: “To provide value and the right performance products to new entrants in order to energize the game in the U.S.”

MOUNTAIN AND NORQUAL: “To make safer products while improving the player’s experience. We have technologies that service both needs. The challenge is ensuring that the player knows what the facts are so that he or she can get the right products tailored to his or her needs, not necessarily just the newest.”

TURKBAS: “Creating lightweight protective solutions that maintain and improve protection levels. Safety and performance that keep players on the ice and keep them playing.”

WENSLEY: “The industry’s biggest challenge continues to be the resources required by a family to play our sport. Cost of ice time and registration and travel cost and time are the major factors that may deter a parent from introducing hockey to their child. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada have done a great job at exposing more kids to the game but, until the cost and time commitment are reduced, we’ll continue to

struggle to keep the registration numbers up.”

MH: What developments do you expect in hockey equipment will be most important and why?

DAVIS: “On the protective equipment side, we see a continued focus on making products lighter without sacrifi cing

protection. In sticks, ultimate feel, balance and durability continue to be a focus for all manufacturers and as a company, we continue to explore new materials in order to deliver the best possible stick to our consumers. Helmet technology will continue to evolve and as the industry leader, we continue to push innovation in the helmet category in an eff ort to develop a helmet that is built to handle the impacts suff ered during hockey. Finally, a trend we see is delivering a higher level performance at every price point. In the past, the innovation and technology advancements were typically reserved only for the top few price points, but due to consumer demand, we are driving technology advancements throughout the entire line. It’s a key focus for us moving forward.”

DUBÉ: “Performance drives product brands and brands need to be true to their performance story. Hockey players are very loyal to brands that deliver on their performance promise. We at Reebok-CCM hockey pride ourselves in ensuring that our claims are justifi ed and we continually strive to make hockey the best it can be for all levels of play.”

MOUNTAIN AND NORQUAL: “More minimal, explosive and protective designs and materials will allow players to get faster and play more confi dently.”

TURKBAS: “New materials that allow for higher level of performance, either through body temperature management, increased but lightweight protection and new helmet developments that provide greater impact

protection.”

WENSLEY: “Customization of equipment continues to be one of the hottest trends in the industry. As the industry leader in custom gloves and bags, we are excited to have recently introduced a custom stick program. Players can now go on-line and build their own custom, pro level stick. Flex, shaft shape and texture, blade pattern, 1000’s of graphic options and personalized name plate. The initial feedback has been overwhelming which would indicate that consumers will embrace this model for any product category.”

Skate Fenders designed to Skate Fenders designed to add lightweight protectionadd lightweight protectionSkate Fenders designed to Skate Fenders designed to add lightweight protectionadd lightweight protectionSkate Fenders designed to add lightweight protectionBY ALEX DIFILIPPO

As hockey skates become increasingly lightweight and form fi tting, the gap between performance and protection is widening.

However, a new product developed by Michigan native Frank McClelland is designed to close the gap.

McClelland designed Skate Fenders, a lightweight piece of clear impact resistant polycarbonate plastic that fi ts around the outside of the skate and attaches with two Velcro straps to provide protection for the foot without sacrifi cing the fi t of the boot.

“I’ve been playing hockey for 58 years and I’ve discovered there are few things worse than getting hit in the foot with a hard shot,” McClelland said. “Our main focus was to design a product to protect the feet of players and prevent injuries. So far, we’ve been really happy to see a reduction in foot injuries with players wearing our product and the feedback has been really positive.”

Skate Fenders have become commonplace in the NHL to add protection to the skate if a player is recovering from an injury. However, last season the Skate Fenders were popping up on the skates of the professionals in a much more proactive manner.

More than half of the equipment managers in the NHL have Skate Fenders on hand, and fi ve players on the Detroit Red Wings sported the new protective device for long stretches of last season.

“In this day and age, the skate doesn’t have to be made to protect,” said Paul Boyer, Red Wings equipment manager. “Instead, the skates can be designed solely to perform. Then a Skate Fender can be added for protection and there will be nothing to worry about.”

Two years ago, after a fi rst round of prototypes were not exactly what he was looking for, McClelland took his concept to Lake Superior State University’s Product Development Center (PDC) for assistance. The PDC’s project managers, along with LSSU engineering students, helped create a mold to produce the Skate Fenders.

“The priority was protection fi rst and then we worked on it being lightweight and easy to put on and take off ,” said McClelland.

At the end of this season, 17 NHL teams were using Skate Fenders. Because of the popularity at the professional ranks, mass production of Skate Fenders began last year in Gaylord.

While McClelland said he’s very happy with the advances in his product, he plans to continue working on new models to improve durability and fi t. According to Skatefenders.com, the product is currently available in two models that fi t most

adult boot sizes and styles. The company is also considering a youth size that would fi t sizes 3-5 and another to fi t really big skates (size 12 and up).

And, importantly to McClelland, he said he will keep production in Michigan while exploring new ways to keep Skate Fenders aff ordable for players at all levels of the game. Currently Skate Fenders are available at most hockey equipment stores in Michigan and online for $60-80 per pair.

“We’ve been distributing our product all over the world and the feedback has been very well received from professional and youth players,” McClelland said. “It’s still a new product and we are trying to catch up with the demand and make them as available as possible.”

WARRIOR HOCKEY ACQUIRES SMITH HOCKEY, INC.

In May, Warren-based Warrior Hockey acquired Smith Hockey Company, Inc., a leading niche player in the goalie protective category for the past nine years. Pete Smith, company founder and one of the most highly respected and infl uential product developers within the Goalie Protective category during the last 20 years, will join the Warrior Hockey team to lead its Global Goalie Protective Category as Strategic Business Unit Manager.

“Pete has been a visionary in the goalie category for many years and his fi ngerprints can be found on many of the most popular pads in the marketplace today. He has built a very successful direct to consumer business strictly through word of mouth and outstanding product and we are very fortunate to have him join our team and bring his experience to our goalie protective business”, says Lorrie Owen-Turner, General Manager for Warrior Hockey.

Warrior Hockey is excited to bring Smith’s craftsmanship and innovative design to the masses. The “new” team is at work to bring goalies of all ages and skill levels game-changing goalie protective equipment. Through this new collaboration, Warrior plans to create a new industry standard in the goalie category.

“I am humbled by the incredible brand loyalty I have developed with my customer base during the last eight years,” said Smith. “The opportunity to join Warrior Hockey and leverage their resources, commitment to building outstanding product, and their unique brand positioning is an exciting opportunity.

“The goalie protective category has been relatively stagnant and I believe this alignment with Warrior will provide the platform necessary to accelerate and commercialize innovative design and product ideas to help the brand become the #1 Goalie Protective Company in the world.”

Lightweight, form-fi tting Skate Fenders fi t over skate boots to provide added protection.

MichiganHoc

Concussions,

player safety

and more

REGISTER NOWHOUSE B PROGRAM

DIVISIONS OFFEREDMite-players born in 2003 and younger

Squirt-players born in 2002 & 2001all games played in house

Pee Wee-players born in 2000 & 1999Bantam-players born in 1997 & 1998

LEARN TO PLAY HAA OCKEY PROGRAMDIVISIONS OFFERED

Mighty Mites: players ages 4 – 6Recommended as a first step for beginning hockey players

who have attended a Learn to Skate class

Mini Mites: players aged 5 – 9Introduction to team play with practice sessions and small sided games

Program runs 25 weeks from September through March. No skates duringholiday breaks! Great schedule and excellent ice times. Commitment to the

development of skills, knowledge of the game and FUN! Each player receives: jersey/socks, year end party and trophy. Sessions run by Suburban instructional

staff with the help of parent volunteers

Limited enrollment! Remainder fees billed in installments.

TM

MIMITEE A – 04 MAM VERICKSAA JJohn Fenech [email protected]*PEPENDING JULY 10 MAHA VOTETuesesday, July 12 6:15-7:05pmWednnesday, July 13 6:15-7:05pmTuesdaday, July 19 6:30-7:20pm6:30-7:20

MITE AA – 03 MAMM VERICKSVERICKSAADon StoneStone 586-596-8495 [email protected], July 12 6:30-7:20pmTThhursday, July 14 7:00-7:50pm

SQUQUIRT A - 02 MAMM VERICKSAA Sean n Kolodge [email protected]@gmail.comSaturday, June 25ay, June 25 10:00-11:05ammTuesday, June 28 6:15 76:15-7:20pm

SQUIRT AA - 01 MAM VERICKSAACCraig Lisko [email protected], July 8 7:00-7:50pmMonnday, July 11 7:15-8:05pmWednnesday, July 13 7:15-8:05pm

PEE WWEE A - 00 MAM VERICKSAAChris SoltC ltman 586.630.6129oltmancmso [email protected]

PEE WEE AA - 9WEE AA - 99 MAMM VERICKSAAKevevin Potter [email protected]

BANTAAMTT A - 98 MAMM VERICKSAABob FluenB nt 9586.484.4249fluent@corfl comcast.net

BAANTNTAMAMTTT A AA - 97 MAMM VERICKSAAMarark Alexandrowicz [email protected]

INQUIRE WITH COACH FOR ANY OPENINGS

MACOMB, MI 48042

2003 Hawks July 14, 2011 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

July 15, 2011 5:00 PM—6:30 PM

July 17, 2011 12:00 PM—1:30 PM

Coach: Brad Martin (248) 804-5158

New Team

2002 Hawks July 12, 2011 7:30 PM—9:00 PM

July 15, 2011 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

July 22, 2011 7:30 PM—9:00 PM

Coach: Keith Suggs (248) 763-1499

2001 Hawks July 14, 2011 7:00 PM—8:30 PM

July 17, 2011 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

July 19, 2011 7:30 PM—9:00 PM

Coach: Kirk Grant (248) 755-2896

2002 Falcons August 4, 2011 6:00 PM —7:30 PM

August 7, 2011 11:30 AM — 1:00 PM

Coach: Craig Iverson (248) 996-4843

New Team

1998 Hawks LCAHL 2011 Smythe Champions

July 19, 2011 9:00 PM—10:30 PM

July 21, 2011 9:00 PM—10:30 PM

July 23, 2011 1:00 PM—2:30 PM

July 24, 2011 1:00 PM—2:30 PM

Coach: Hugh Pobur (248) 672-3777

July 15, 2011 8:30 PM—10:00 PM

July 17, 2011 1:00 PM—2:30 PM

1997 Hawks Check website for latest information.

2000 Hawks June 5, 2011 11:00 AM—12:30 PM

June 8, 2011 7:30 PM—8:30 PM

Coach: Brian Dicker (248) 391-9007

2001 Falcons July 20, 2011 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

July 21, 2011 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

July 23, 2011 4:30 PM—6:00 PM

Coach: Jeff Seyka (810) 533-0979

New Team 1999 Hawks LCAHL 2011 Smythe Champions

July 13, 2011 7:30 PM—9:00 PM

July 21, 2011 7:30 PM—9:00 PM

July 22, 2011 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

Non parent coach: Jeff Clark

email: [email protected]

2000 Falcons July 7, 2011 7:00 PM—8:30 PM

July 9, 2011 4:30 PM—6:00 PM

July 16, 2011 4:30 PM—6:00 PM

Coach: Mike LaBlanc (313) 304-6484

New Team

1999 Falcons July 23, 2011 10:00 AM—11:30 AM

July 24, 2011 11:30 AM—1:00 PM

July 25, 2011 6:00 PM—7:30 PM

Coach: Bob Sereno (248) 396-8523

New Team

All tryouts $15 per skate,

goalies are free ———

Lakeland Ice Arena 7330 Highland Rd

Waterford, MI 48327

WWW.LAKELANDHOCKEY.ORG

2011 FALL TRAVEL TRYOUTS

Lakeland Hockey Association offers programs to fit all levels

Learn to Skate HouseTravel

Professional InstructorProgram available to all

players and coaches.

Ask us about how you can save up to 75% off your

monthly ice bill.

8U Program — Bring a Friend Small team sizes

Jamborees

7330 Highland Road Waterford, MI 48327

Phone: (248) 666-2090 Email: [email protected]

—————————-For general questions

regarding registration please contact league registrar

Brenda Soderlund at [email protected] or phone (248) 622-1719

—————————-

For the latest news and events please visit us on the

web atwww.lakelandhockey.org

248248--666666--20902090

PLEASE VISIT WWW.LAKELANDHOCKEY.ORGFOR ANY LAST MINUTE SCHEDULE CHANGES

The Canton Victory Hockey Association is proud to announce the 2011/2012 coaching staff and fall

tryout schedule:

Victory Honda Tier II A & AA Travel Teams 04 Mite AJuly 14th, 2011 6:00-7:00pmJuly 19th, 2010 6:00-7:00pmJuly 21st, 2010 6:00-7:00pmHead Coach: Ron Wantuckemail: [email protected] 03 Mite AAJuly 22nd, 2011 6:30-8:00pmJuly 23rd, 2011 11:30-1:00pmJuly 26th, 2011 7:00-8:00pmHead Coach: Paul GoleniakPhone: 734-395-3169email: [email protected] 02 Squirt A July 21st, 2011 6:00-7:00pmJuly 26th, 2011 6:00-7:00pmJuly 28th, 2011 6:00-7:00pmHead Coach: Don MasseyPhone: 313-304-6199email: [email protected]

01 Squirt AAJuly 12th, 2011 6:00pm-7:30pm July 14th, 2011 7:30pm -9:00pmJuly 21st, 2011 7:00-8:30pmHead Coach: Joel Roachemail: [email protected]

00 Pee Wee A July 12th, 2011 8:00-9:30pmJuly 14th, 2011 6:00-7:30pmJuly 19th, 2011 7:00-8:30pmHead Coach: Larry Fuciarelli email: [email protected] 99 Pee Wee AAPlease contact: Head Coach Peter Lamourexemail: [email protected]

98 Bantam APlease contact Head Coach Dane BarunzziniPhone: 734-262-2024 email: [email protected] Skates on the following dates from 10-11:30 am7-10, 7-17, 7-24, 7-31

97 Bantam AAJuly 14th – 8:30 – 10:00pmJuly 16th – 4:00-5:30pmJuly 17th – 1:00-2:30pm 96 Midget APlease contact Head Coach Greg Summerville734-658-4329 Email: [email protected] Skates on the following datesfrom 8:00-9:30 pm7-5, 7-19, 7-26

Canton Victory Hockey Association is also proud to announce the following

house conditioning and draft skates.

Please visit www.cantonhockey.org

to learn about lower fixed ice bills for the

2011/2012 season.

Conditioning Skates August 11th, 2011 Mite - 6:00- 7:00 pm Squirt - 7:00 - 8:00 pm Pee Wee - 8:00 - 9:00 pm Bantam/Midget - 9:00-10:00 pm

Conditioning Skates August 16th, 2011 Mite - 6:00-7:00 pmSquirt - 7:00 - 8:00 pm Pee Wee - 8:00 - 9:00 pm Bantam/Midget - 9:00-10:00 pm

House Draft Skate August 20th, 2011 Mite - 12:00-1:00 pm Squirt - 1:00 -2:00 pm Pee Wee - 2:00-3:00 pm Bantam/Midget - 3:00-4:00 pm

98 BANTAM A ROYALS SUN 7/10 6:30- 8:00 PMTUES 7/12 7:00- 8:00 PMFRI 7/15 8:00- 9:30 PM$15 for 1 1/2 hour skates $10 for 1 hourContact: Stan Racinski (248) [email protected] All tryouts @ Farmington Hills Ice Arena

99 PEE WEE AA REDFORD ROYALSWED 06/29 5:30-7:00pmMON 07/11 5:30-7:00pmTHUR 07/14 5:30-7:00pm $15 a skate, Contact Head Coach Brian Judd @[email protected] with questionsFormer NHL players will be helping out with the on/off ice practices for the season.All tryouts @ Novi Ice Arena

2000 REDFORD ROYALSFRI 07/15 6:30-8:00pmWEDS 07/20 5:30-7:00pmTUES 07/26 7:00-8:30pmContact Head Coach Jim Miller email [email protected] or call 734-788-9905 All tryouts @ Novi Ice Arena

97 REDFORD KINGS FRI 07/15 6:30-7:30pm

FRI 07/29 6:00-7:00pm

FRI 08/05 6:30-7:30pm

SUN 08/14 11:30am-12:30pm

Head Coach: Roman Andrys

Associate Head Coach: Terry LucasFor more info email [email protected]

All Kings tryouts are @ Cranbrook

98 REDFORD KINGS Head Coach: Roman Andrys

Associate Head Coach: Dan IsraelFor more info email [email protected]


99 REDFORD KINGS

FRI 07/22 7:00-8:00pm

SUN 07/24 10:30-11:30am


Associate head coach: Alan Sassonfor more info email [email protected]


2000 REDFORD KINGS Head Coach: Roman Andrys

Associate Head Coach: Brian SongFor more info email [email protected]


2002 REDFORD KINGS FRI 07/15 5:30-6:30pm

FRI 07/22 6:00-7:00pm

FRI 08/05 5:30-6:30pm

SUN 08/14 10:30-11:30am


Associate Head Coach: Kevin Shannonfor more info email [email protected]


www.redfordkings.com

Redford Township Hockey Association Fall Tryouts

www.michiganicebreakers.com

GIRLS FALLTEAM TRYOUTS

VE FUN - PLAY HAAVHAAVAVVE VE FUFUFUN UN - PPLPLLAYLAAY AY HHOCKEY OOOCOCCKCKKEYKEY EY CCCLINICSLLLILINICICS CSAUG. 20 10:30 - 11:30 AM GIRLS ONLY

AUG. 20 12:30 - 1:30 PM 8 & UNDER

AUG. 27 10:30 - 11:30 AM ALL AGES

MUST PRE-REGISTER / NR EW PLAYERS ONLY

HAVE FUN - PLAY HOCKEY CLINICS

FREE

TM

2003 StarsCoach: Todd Waldo

[email protected]

2002 StarsCoach: Vicki Crimmins

[email protected]

2001 StarsCoach: Cal McGowan

[email protected]/12 – 7:30-9:00 PM7/16 – 6:30-8:00 PM7/18 – 7:00-8:30 PM

2000 StarsContact: Cal McGowan

[email protected]/13 – 7:30-9:00 PM7/16 – 5:00-6:30 PM7/19 – 7:00-8:30 PM

99 StarsCoach: Mike McCullough

[email protected]

98 StarsCoach: Steve Wood

[email protected]

97 StarsCoach: Mike McCullough

[email protected]

Midget ACoach : Dan Cesarz

313-212-5836

ICEBREAKERS TRYOUTS INFO - ALL SKATES AT SUBURBAN ICE FARMINGTON HILLS

22004 Birmingham RangersSteve Carrel, (248-495-4012), [email protected] Duncan ,(248) 645-7240, [email protected]

2003 Birmingham Rangers “2011 Little Caesars Adams Playoff Finalist”Chris Jelinek , (248) 303-8813, [email protected]: July 21st 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM @ CranbrookJuly 28th 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM @ Cranbrook

2002 Birmingham RangersBryan Smolinski, (248) 721-0601, [email protected]:July 18th 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM @ CranbrookJuly 23rd 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM @ CranbrookJuly 25th 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM@ Cranbrook

2001 Birmingham RangersJeff Wardlow, (248) 821-8001, [email protected] Siver, (248) 302-3304Tryouts:July 11th 6:30 PM - 7:50 PM @ CranbrookJuly 18th 6:30 PM - 7:50 PM @ CranbrookJuly 25th 6:30 PM - 7:50 PM @ (If needed)

2000 Birmingham Rangers“2011 Little Ceasars Norris Division (Yzerman) Finalist”Todd Antenucci , (248) 321-7222, [email protected]

2000 Birmingham TravelChris Kantgias, (586) 596-8722, [email protected] Galligan, (248) 761-4884, [email protected] Coaches : Fred Perlini, Vicki Perlini, Tim Galligan, Jerry Reinhart

1999 Birmingham Rangers “2011 Little Caesars Smythe Division Finals”Paul Dunbar, [email protected]: Anatoliy Buliga & Petr TichyTryouts:June 27th 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM @Troy SportsJuly 15th 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM @ CranbrookJuly 17th 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM @ Cranbrook* Make ups upon request – call to inquire1998 Birmingham RangersJohn Duncan, (248) 514-5229, [email protected]:July 12th 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM @ Cranbrook (*X-Ice Tournament Style Skate)July 16th 10:30 AM– 12:00 PM @ Cranbrook (*X-Ice Tournament Style Skate)July 19th 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM @ Cranbrook July 23rd 10:30 AM– 12:00 PM @ Cranbrook * RSVP Required

1998 Birmingham LibertyPaul Apap, (248) 464-4207, [email protected]:July 23rd 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM @ CranbrookJuly 24th 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM @ Cranbrook

1997 Birmingham Rangers:Jerry Reinhart (248) 705-5050, [email protected] Coaches: Bill Christie, (H.C. Bro. Rice JV), Jerry Reinhart, Jack LeavyTryouts: July 23rd 1:30 PM - -3:00 PM (Cond. Skate) @ CranbrookJuly 24th 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM @ CranbrookJuly 30th 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM @ CranbrookJuly 31st 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM @ Cranbrook

1996 Birmingham RangersBruce Hulsher (248) 318-4842, [email protected] Gentile, [email protected]

1995-96 Midget A Birmingham Rangers Spring/Fall (Ranked)Steve Bester, (248) 842-9580, [email protected]:July 20th 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM @ CranbrookJuly 27th 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM @ CranbrookAugust 3rd 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM @ Cranbrook

1994-93 Midget AA_Birmingham Rangers Spring/Fall (Ranked)Bruce Gilgallon , (248) 303-0051, [email protected]:July 26th 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM @ CranbrookJuly 29th 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM @ CranbrookJuly 31st 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM @ CranbrookAugust 2nd 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM @ CranbrookAll skates $15. All positions open including goalie. Out of district openings available

Birmingham Rangers U10 and U12 Girl’s Hockey Coach: Terry Brooks, (248) 765-0242, [email protected] Manager: Robert McMurray, (248) 701-5271, [email protected]

2011 Fall Travel TryoutsFor General BHA Travel Hockey Information contact

Tim Opie, BHA Travel Director 248-822-0020

e2 Hockey Training, 248-346-4506Anatoliy Buliga and Petr TicheGoalie Coach: Matt Gadladge, [email protected]


Junior Hockey July 4, 2011 Volume 22 : Issue 2

BY MATT MACKINDER

Two seasons ago in Plymouth, Stefan Noesen was a sparingly used rookie forward. Last year he suddenly found himself as a top off ensive force for the Whalers and a frequent target of NHL scouts at Compuware Arena.

On June 24 Noesen found himself on stage at the NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn. as a fi rst round pick of Ottawa.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to get drafted,” Noesen said, who went 21st overall to the Senators. “It’s been a fun year and a lot has happened. I’m excited for this next step.”

Noesen said his breakthrough 34-goal year in 2010-11 with the Whalers (after three in ’09-10), was more than numbers and more what Whalers coach-GM Mike Vellucci instilled in the 18-year-old from Plano, Tex.

“My confi dence shot up, but it all had to do with what Mike brought,” said Noesen. “He expected a lot out of me and when I started to produce, I was able to have his confi dence and it too brought mine up.”

Noesen attended the NHL Combine in Toronto before the draft and realized that maybe the NHL wasn’t a far-fetched dream after all.

“(The Combine) was tougher than I expected,” noted Noesen. “I had 28 diff erent teams that wanted to talk to me and I believe 30 interviews total, so it was a long tough process, but it was fun. Teams would tell me that they like my work ethic along with my skill set on the ice.”

Forward Rickard Rakell, a linemate of Noesen’s much of last year, was picked by the Anaheim Ducks at No. 30.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had the 30th pick, but traded it and the 39th pick to Anaheim during the fi rst round in exchange for the 22nd overall selection. Anaheim executive VP Bob Murray said trading down was a move that paid off in spades.

“(Rakell is) a good two-way player and a smart player and he can play center or wing. We’re very happy he was still there at 30,” said Murray.

In the fi fth round (123rd overall), the Colorado Avalanche snagged Plymouth forward Garrett Meurs and then goalie Matt Mahalak went to the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round with the 163rd overall pick.

“He’ll be given lots of time to develop,” Carolina director of amateur scouting Tony MacDonald told CanesHockey.com. “We feel we’ve got a pretty good stable of young goalies and this

man gives us some depth at that position. We’re pretty happy to have him. He’s a big kid, and as he gets stronger, he’s a pretty formidable presence when people are coming down the wing and looking at that big body.”

The four draft picks for Plymouth were the most since 2005 when James Neal, Dan Collins, Ondrej Otcenas and Ryan McGinnis were selected.

WHALERS SIGN ILLINOIS FORWARDThe Whalers signed 16-year-old left wing Danny Vanderwiel,

their eighth round (144th overall) pick in the 2011 OHL draft, on June 22.

Vanderwiel, who goes 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds, scored 10 goals and 21 points in 33 games for the Team Illinois U-16s last season.

“Our scouts have a history of fi nding good players later in the draft and we really like what we’ve seen from Danny so far,” said Vellucci. “He’s strong on his skates and competes hard.”

“Danny’s a good skater who plays a physical game in all areas of the rink,” added Plymouth assistant GM Brian Sommariva. “He provides grit and has a skill set that we like in all of our players.”

SAGINAW NOTEBOOKThe Saginaw Spirit had a franchise-high four players

selected at the NHL entry draft. Forward Brandon Saad was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round, (43rd overall), the Florida Panthers chose forward Vincent Trocheck in the third round, (64th overall) and the Boston Bruins picked forward Anthony Camara in the same round (81st overall). In addition, Josh Shalla was a fourth round (94th overall) selection by the Nashville Predators. Saginaw expects Saad, Trocheck and Camara to return for next season while Shalla, an overage candidate, most likely will turn pro… A couple of former Spirit players also heard their names called. Mark Scheifele, who was traded to the Barrie Colts last season for goaltender Mavric Parks, was selected seventh overall by the new Winnipeg Jets and Alex Lepkowski went 137th overall to the Buff alo Sabres… Saginaw traded center Ray Huether to Barrie for a third round pick in the 2014 OHL priority draft. Huether saw action in seven games this past season for Saginaw and had one assist.

With a fi le from Carl Chimenti

ggsee NHL dreams get closerFour Whalers and four Spirit Four Whalers and four Spirit see NHL dreams get closersee NHL dreams get closer

Four Whalers and four Spirit see NHL dreams get closer

Plymouth forward Stefan Noesen was selected 21st overall in the

2011 NHL Draft by Ottawa.

TM

42400 NICK LIDSTROM DR.NOVI, MI 48375248.347.1010

noviicearena.com

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TRAIN LIKE THE

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College Hockey

After Mel Pearson took the head coaching job at Michigan Tech, Michigan head coach Red Berenson tabbed a former player to take his spot on the Wolverines staff .

On June 9, Michigan hired assistant coach Brian Wiseman, a four-year letter winner (1991-94) and former Hobey Baker Award fi nalist under Berenson. Last season, Wiseman was an assistant coach for the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League.

“I am looking forward to getting back to Michigan and the Ann Arbor community,” Wiseman said. “It a place that is special to me. I can’t wait to get up there and get to work.”

In his lone year with the Aeros, Wiseman helped Houston fi nish second in the AHL’s West Division and make the Calder Cup fi nal. Before coming to Houston, Wiseman served as an assistant coach at Princeton University in 2003-04, and as video coach for the Dallas Stars in 2002-03.

Wiseman played in 166 games at Michigan and recorded 348 points – good for third place all-time in the Wolverines’ record book. He recorded 164 assists – good for second place in U-M history – and he was named a Hobey Baker fi nalist as a senior captain in 1993-94 after posting 69 points. Wiseman is one of only seven Wolverines to notch 50 assists in a single season.

Michigan’s new assistant coach was a member of the school’s fi rst CCHA regular-season championship (1991-92), and fi rst CCHA Tournament championship (1994). As a freshman, Wiseman was a member of the squad that started the Wolverines’ 21 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances - a national record.

Wiseman also worked for two years as an administrative assistant for the Wolverines’ hockey team, from 2000-02.

“I am looking forward to getting to know the current student-athletes and getting out on the road and developing relationships with the junior hockey coaches and identifying the next wave of talent to come through the university,” Wiseman said.

Wiseman also brings professional experience to the Wolverines’ program. He was a 12th round selection of the New York Rangers in the 1991 NHL Draft, and appeared in three NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996-97. In 446 career minor league games, he recorded 515 points and 145 goals. Wiseman was the IHL’s leading scorer and most valuable player for the Aeros, helping lead them to the Turner Cup.

Wiseman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical

education during his time at U-M. From 2005-10, he worked as an account manager for M-I SWACO, a Houston-based oil and gas supplier.

MUCKALT HEADS NORTH TO HOUGHTONNext season, multiple former Wolverines will lead the

Michigan Tech Huskies.New coach Mel Pearson announced that Bill Muckalt

would be joining his staff as an assistant coach on June 10.Muckalt spent four years playing for Pearson and Berenson

in Ann Arbor and won two national championships in his time with the Wolverines. As a senior, he was named a Hobey Baker Award fi nalist and a fi rst-team All-American, leading U-M to the 1998 NCAA title.

“I am very excited to be a part of a program that has such a rich history,” Muckalt said. “The chance to work with Mel, who has had a big infl uence in my life both in hockey and personally, was a very easy choice. I have seen the commitment that the University administration has made to the hockey program, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Muckalt, a native of Surrey, British Columbia, played fi ve seasons in the NHL after graduating from U-M with a degree in sports management and communications in 1998. In his rookie season with the Vancouver Canucks, he recorded 16 goals and 36 points in 73 games.

Last season Muckalt was the head coach of the New Mexico Mustangs, an expansion team in the Junior A North American Hockey League. He recruited, scouted and coached the team from behind the bench. The Mustangs, with a roster of 21 rookies, fi nished 19-35-4, but won 15 of their last 27 contests.

“I had the opportunity to recruit and coach Bill, and he was an outstanding player,” Pearson said. “He has a great work ethic and tremendous passion for the game. His experience gives him a good network for recruiting and a keen eye for talent. Bill will be a great addition to our staff .”

Prior to coaching the Mustangs, Muckalt posted a 20-16-3 record behind the bench of the Valencia (California) Flyers of the Western States Hockey League. He also worked as the head instructor for Summer Hockey School at Ice Station Valencia during that time. Prior to that, Muckalt served as the assistant coach for Eastern Michigan University’s club team in 2006-07, and was promoted to head coach of the Eagles in 2007-08.

Michigan Tech also announced that Pearson would retain Damon Whitten as the team’s other full-time assistant coach.

Wiseman named new assistant at Wiseman named new assistant at Michigan; Muckalt joins MTU staff Michigan; Muckalt joins MTU staff Wiseman named new assistant at Michigan; Muckalt joins MTU staff

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PRE-SEASONCLINICS

MONDAY-THURSDAY, AUGUST 22-25, 2011

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WAWAFUN PROMOTIONS!

HUGE SELECTION!

Red Wings Insider

BY DAVE WADDELLFor once the Detroit Red Wings can be absolutely sure about one thing in assessing

this year’s draft class.It’s big, not only in terms of numbers, but size.Making nine selections for the fi rst time since 2005 when they grabbed Darren

Helm, Justin Abdelkader and Jakub Kindl, the Wings took only one player under six foot.“Where we’ve been picking, to get skilled players, there has to be something

missing,” said Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill, who runs Detroit’s draft table. “That something is usually size.

“We knew we needed to get bigger. We’ve talked a lot about it and it was a point of emphasis on that.”

Of course when you can get size with skill, it’s all the better.That’s exactly what Detroit feels it got with its fi rst selection when the Wings

took six-foot-two, 187-pound winger Tomas Jurco (St. John’s Sea Dogs) with the 35th pick overall.

Jurco fi nished last season with 31 goals and 56 points in 60 games and was tied for the lead in goalscoring with four at the Memorial Cup tournament.

“He’s got high-end skill,” Nill said. “He’s going to end up being six-two, six-three and 210 pounds.

“We just love his skill. I think he got to us because he got a little buried on a great St. John’s team.”

Jurco is already a YouTube sensation for his highlight reel stickhandling and goals. Jurco was compared to Marian Hossa by his St. John’s coach and former Red Wing

sniper Gerard Gallant. However, Jurco lists Pavel Datsyuk among his favorite players and his dangling skills draw a certain comparison.

The Wings ended up with three second-round picks after making a deal with Ottawa. In return for Detroit’s 24th pick overall in the fi rst round, the Sens shipped the 35th and 48th choices to the Wings.

After taking Jurco with the fi rst of their three second-round picks, the Wings grabbed defensemen Xavier Ouellette (Montreal) and Ryan Sproul (Sault Ste. Marie).

Ouellette is six-foot, 174 pounds while Sproul is six-three, 175 pounds.“Ouellette is a typical Red Wing,” Nill said. “He’s very good with the puck. He’s a

smart player. He plays a real sound game. He’s got a real head for the game.”Nill said Sproul is raw, but rapidly improving.“He kept getting better and better and you like to see that,” Nill said. “He’s got

a big shot.“He scored the most goals by a defenseman in the OHL in the second half of the

season other than (Windsor’s) Ryan Ellis.”Detroit took fi ve blue-liners in their nine picks.“Where we’re picking, you always take the best player,” Nill said. “You can never

have enough defensemen.”The Wings also needed to replenish their pool of defensemen with Brendan

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Size and skill are targeted at NHL DraftSize and skill are targeted at NHL DraftSize and skill are targeted at NHL DraftSize and skill are targeted at NHL DraftSize and skill are targeted at NHL Draft

Smith and Jakub Kindl both looking decent bets to fi nd regular employment in Detroit this season.

In the third round, Detroit took speedy Peterborough center Alan Quine (85th overall).

Quine was an eighth overall pick in the 2009 OHL, but it wasn’t until he was traded to Peterborough last season that he began blossom. He had 22 goals and 42 points in 50 games for the Petes.

“He has Helm-type speed,” Nill told Booth. “He’s on the puck, he’s tenacious. He’s an energy player.”

The fi ve-foot-eleven, 178-pound Quine is also the smallest player the Wings drafted.

The Wings took a bit of gamble with their fourth-round pick in taking Slovakian winger Marek Tvdron in the fourth round (115th overall).

The six-foot-two, 210-pound winger came over to play with Vancouver of the WHL. In 12 games he had six goals and 11 points before a severe shoulder injury ended his season.

“We had his shoulder checked out, so we know he’s okay,” Nill said. “We scouted him as an underager, so we got a real good look at him.

“We had decided if he was still there in the fourth round, he was too good to pass up. He’d have been a high second-round pick if he’d stayed healthy.”

In the fi fth round, Detroit took forward Philippe Hudon, who was playing high school hockey in Connecticut and is bound for Cornell University next fall. The six-foot, 190-pound winger is a Quebec native.

The Wings fi nal three selections were all defenseman of substantial size.For the 17th straight year the Wings took a Swede in Mattias Backman (six-

two, 169 pounds) in the sixth round. They followed that up with hulking six-four, 205-pound Richard Nedomlel. The Czech blue-liner played for Swift Current of the WHL last seven and thrives in the nasty stuff .

Detroit went back to Russia for the fi rst time since 2004 for their fi nal pick. Six-foot-two, 183-pound Alexei Marchenko played for CSKA Moscow last season

and is expected to be a member of the Russian World Junior Team this winter. “Our Russian scouts know him well and he says he wants to come out in a year,”

Nill said. “We feel we have the ability to get him (to North America) if we need to.“He’s going to be a top pairing defenseman on the Russian World Junior team

coming in as defending gold medalists.”

Detroit selected Slovakian forward Tomas Jurco of the Saint John Sea Dogs with their fi rst pick in the 2011 NHL Draft.

MICHIGANICE HAWKS

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