What I had this past year was an opportunity to spend more time with my Families, the one at home and the one at the rink. I didn’t have to split my time and was able to enjoy the rink a bit more. I had the opportunity to spend more time with My Brother Coaches and accomplish more in less time. I had more opportunity to spend with the Initiation players, getting to know the families of our “Future” and the players themselves. Having my heart stolen by a little girl with a big smile who would not go onto the ice unless I was out there waiting for her, as if she was the only player on the ice. And for her and the others, I was. I along with Coach Danny, had the pleasure to coach the youngest of the players, the ones that couldn’t skate nor play and were falling all over the ice. Believe me they were skating by the last session and laughing and having fun and making a couple of coaches feel like a million bucks for just being in their presence. If you ever want to remember why you coach, try coaching initiation where the innocence of what our game is all about is evident. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, and those smiles and the laughter. A child’s laughter, it touches the soul.
I will miss My Pee Wee team that had big heart and guts and competed. This is more than you can ask from a team that needed to find themselves and developed into a real strong unit. Sometimes you have a team that just makes it fun for a coach to go to the rink and these guys were it. They won some big games and competed in all.
I will miss my Junior development team who played against bigger and older and sometimes a heck of a lot stronger teams than them and showed that they are here to stay. Won some big games at some big times. Great Bunch of players who made their coaches feel proud.
So where does that leave us, well I can tell you where it leaves me. It puts me in the position to here from my in house critics who will hit me with ” This is what you write after going so long without a snippett!” Well c’mon, give coach a break here it’s been a long year and going to be a long spring as well.
A big Thank You!!! to the parents of all of my players this year for all of your support. (Even those who were critical, at least you said something..) A special Thank You to those folks behind the scenes that worked very hard and truly did not get the credit they deserve. The Managers, Associate Manager (who became a Grandpa this year),The stat Men (great job boys), My Coaches Jimmy, Rob and Danny. With special mention to Eddie,Robo,Billy F. And of course our administrator Chris W who was just the best and so dashing. I also thank My Families, Both at Home and at the Rink, the best people anywhere, truly. So Goodbye, So Long, Farewell last season….Fire Up!! Here We go again!!

next snippett on the way……

I am happy that My Parents supported My Hockey addiction as a child for without them someone else would be writing this. At the beginning of each season My Parents would give me a $20.00 bill to go and buy sticks. The smell of the new equipment would overwhelm me as I would open that door and marvel at all the sticks,gloves,jerseys,helmets….wow, how cool was this. As I searched for the right stick (always a Koho) I would find the number one, a custom pro 221 and hold onto it like there would never be another quite like it or someone else would take this twig away from the home that it really and truly belonged in. Perish the thought, this one is mine! Then the search was on for the number two, a pro hook. One day a player brought a CCM stick to the rink and was the coolest thing since sliced bread, where everybody gathered around him and praised him as if it was going to make him a star in the game. After my mission was complete I was left with enough money to take the bus home and hit the grocery store for a yoohoo and a bag of dipsey doodles. Hockey heaven here. Then there was the issue of my gloves that no longer had any palms in them and my pleading letter to Santa Claus that since Hockey was the only sport I played during the Winter time, I couldn’t live (or play) without a new pair. And since we were on the subject I could use one of those really cool CCM helmets that the older players are wearing. A Hockey Jersey that wasn’t either the Maple Leafs or Canadiens and a Bobby Hull Hockey table Hockey game. Why I was probably one of the only Brooklyn kids that didn’t ask for a BB Gun, a Bicycle (last year’s request) a new Baseball mitt or anything else that had to do with something else beside Hockey. Mind you only my Mother came to watch me play, but Dad was the ride to the hospital a few times. Although they were depression era children they always made sure that their children were always happy around this time of the year. Now I am by no means a Grinch here, but let’s look at what we had here or didn’t have. There was no cable TV, no internet, nothing more than 7 TV channels. Hockey games on channel 9 (NY) in black and white and I believe that there must have been one or two cameras being used to show the game. No, there weren’t any dinosaurs roaming my neighborhood thank you! But we played and played and played and had to be dragged in to the house when the sun went down. I had to go on a mission for the chubby man in the red suit a couple of days ago and had to buy a stick, that cost $150.00 and that was before tax. I bought a couple of pairs of gloves, one pair cost more than 5 times what it had when I was a kid. Well you all know the rest, but for our kids well, they’re priceless. Hockey tends to instill many qualities that you simply do not find in other sports. Most Hockey players that you meet are polite, respectful and mature. This is what our game breeds. For this I am thankful for I have had the opportunity to coach some very good players that are even better people. Families that are every bit of the fabric of all that is good with the world. For this I am thankful. For a sport, a game that has kept My Family together through some very hard times and has been the common denominator to our happiness and well being. For this I am thankful. To have the opportunity to develop young players to move to the next level and for the older ones who always wanted to play the game they love but never had the chance, for this again, I am grateful. A group of coaches that are top notch, an understanding and supportive Hockey Director and a young group of players that make it a pleasure to go to the rink. This has been a great present for me throughout the year, and again I am thankful.

Just in case you are curious, I got the table Hockey set with every team in the NHL at the time (hint, there wasn’t 30) the gloves ( cooper pro, no colors then all tan) and a Cooper Helmet, not a CCM,ugh… a new pair of pants, red like the Rangers, a Ranger hoody and a North Stars Toque, Hockey Heaven.

So another year has run by us like a blinding slap shot from the point and we are all a year older and wiser, I would like to say to you all Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. May all your dreams and wishes come true this Holiday Season and Your Families be safe. Until We meet again in 2011, keep your head up and skate hard!

Whenever I go away, yes once in a while I actually leave the rink, I am always reminded by some clown that I am home by the ritual “cut ‘im off” that I get when I cross the city line. It’s as if the dope was waiting and on cue pulls in front of me without signaling as if I am invisible. I hit the brakes, wish them well and off I go squeezing the steering wheel like a tube of toothpaste down to the last drop. If only I wasn’t so cheap and went for the “laser package” that GM offers.  Anyway, I get reminded that I am involved in “Youth Hockey” once in a while as well and have to deal or not with some of the more colorful characters that inhabit but are not always indigenous to rinks all over North America and parts east. Just last week I had another coach, I’ll be kind here, come up to me and introduce himself to me as “Coach Timmy” ( not his real moniker). I said hi Coach Timmy, shook his hand and walked away rolling my eyes. I wondered if he has “Coach Timmy” monogrammed on his Hockey PJ’s. Do you think at the dinner table his kids say, dad, sorry, Coach Timmy would you please pass the butter. Then after going to our respective benches I noticed or should say heard his assistant coach, whom I will call big-mouth yelling at the players from the bench without Coach Timmy telling him to put a sock in it. Not only did this guy yell out coaching directions, he also did play-by-play as well. Oh joy, another guy who slipped through the stringent screening process of his organization. I am sure that they haven’t watched one blessed game with these guys on the bench or paid close attention to what they are teaching the kids that play for them. I have never allowed such a person to coach my own children and cannot believe that anyone would purposely seek out a grown man who introduces himself as Coach Timmy.

Act 3. the game is in full swing, the coaches are doing their best to annoy me into insanity when lo and behold, it gets better. A player from the other team gets a penalty and while junior is sitting in the box, a parent goes over to start coaching the kid in the penalty box. Some Hockey parents should come with warning labels for heaven’s sake. Before I slip into to the twilight zone, My young warriors put the score up to a respectable pre-blowout and Coach Timmy calls a time-out. With the team around me, I tell them “Boys, this is where the stupidity starts and keep your discipline. No more scoring and gain the red line dump it in the corner. If someone gets in your grill skate away because some losers are sore losers. When the final buzzer sounds, no celebrating to embarrass the other team. Act like you’ve won before and shake hands.” They did and I got a second chance to say goodbye to Coach Timmy. I shook his hand and thought to myself, this is not the best representation of our game. Parents, let the coaches coach and stay away from the playing and coaching surface at all costs. If you need to coach so bad, go to the USA Hockey coaches classes and learn something. Watching Hockey on TV your whole life does not make you an expert. Neither does playing NHL 2010 or playing in the street with your friends growing up. It takes years to develop as a coach and learn the game the right and proper way. And to teach this complicated game to a young impressionable mind is an honor that is not for the incompetent who has not learned properly themselves. And of course, having the word “coach” monogrammed on your jacket doesn’t make you one either.

Until we meet again, skate hard and keep your head up!

Now this is an example of biblical proportions and it makes me squirm repeating it,but here goes. In overtime in  a game 7 of a sectional final in 1986, Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames, a rookie defenseman named Ryan Smith put the puck into his own net on a clearing attempt. He was behind the net facing out and inadvertantly shot it off the goalies heel into his own net. To see this kid ( at the time ) cry like a baby while skating like he was lost and no one to put their arm around to tell him it’s o.k. and on top of that a packed arena in shock and awe,well I believe you get the picture. But the ultimate reward here was he had a whole summer and off season to rid himself of this black cloud, play a great season and be on a Stanley Cup winning team. Wayne Gretzky handed the cup to him first by the way, so his perserverence paid off. He was able to recover his game and his confidence to get back on track. Now while this is a greater analogy than what would be at the travel level, it still stings no matter what. The only difference here was that he probably didn’t have his parents in the car on the ride home telling him such ditties as,” You stink so much,we should open the windows” or “why don’t you just give it up,you’ll never get anywhere playing sports” and so forth and so on. The two players were able to adjust their game after a mistake,recover and move on. Put the miscue away and concentrate on finishing the game as mistake free as possible. Yes mistakes will happen and that’s with even the most talented or seemingly savvy players playing ther game. It’s the ability to let that bad moment go as to not ruin the rest of your performance. Both of these players had outstanding finishes to their season and have been strong performers in games and practices as well. And yes, I spoke to their parents as well…

Parents, a word to the wise. Lay off..don’t let your own pride get in the way of a developing athlete, especially when it’s your kid. This is why we have coaches,let them do their job to get this player(s) on the right track especially with some positive parental help. Nothing gets me more than a parent coaching from the stands not knowing what the coach just told the player. I had an incident while coaching in my first year as a head coach, where the stands were directly behind the players bench and the parents were especially vocal. A father yelled for his son to do something during a power play to which without turning around I said in a loud voice, “that’s enough! You don’t know what I just told him to do and if he makes a mistake here, it’s your fault not his”.. coach 1,parent 0. The other parents chirped him and he apologized afterward. Well enough from me, enjoy the spring and the Hockey that follows. Skate hard and keep your head up!

And last but not least, I got to spend it with my sons with whom I enjoy every minute of everyday. Hockey has been the great equalizer in our lives and has kept us strong as a family (you too Tiang Ne) making us part of another large and supportive family.The new season is dawning and showing itself ever so slightly even though the old one isn’t finished yet and we still have practices, playoff and state tournament prep and of course the awards dinners. Gotta love those award dinners!! A lot of smiles go with a lot of trophies. I once had a coach, I’ll be nice and call him this, disappoint some players by telling them that trophies are worthless, sorry chum the smiles on the players faces show that the achievement and their sacrifice was worth it. But let’s not lose sight and get complacent before the try-outs. You still have to get ready for them, so…..Get to the rink as often as you can, play hard, and most of all have fun. Thank You for all of your support all season long and good luck at tryouts. Remember, skate hard and keep your head up.

Dear Santa/ Chanukah Harry, this is my Holiday list for this year;

1. One game where the coach actually coaches from the bench and not from the stands
2. a player that nods their head during between period instructions and actually hears what I just said
3. more goalies, ’cause there never seems to be enough
4. a coaching lounge,complete with a lazy boy,remote control flat screen, Jacuzzi and a satellite dish
5. Pucks that don’t disappear
6. I get to drive the Zamboni at least once in my lifetime
7. A parent/player that mistakes me for Scotty Bowman
8. a mute button for when we are on the road and the home teams parents are more than obnoxious

…well, this list could go on and on but there is only a limited amount of space,lucky you.

But on a more serious note, enjoy this season and what your player has accomplished. Enjoy the best of health and the best of friends ( your Hockey family ) and all the success along the way. And Thank You for being part of what we truly are, and most of all “Happiest of Holidays”, From all of us,to all of you.

I had the opportunity years ago when I was coaching Squirt level to watch Junior A and B practices during my practice days. It’s nice to see how other coaches differ in their approach to a team and believe me good coaches always have something new to learn. I would be shocked at how many players lacked in certain areas such as stopping on both side with proficiency,being able to settle a cranky puck down or simply being able to cut to one side properly .I found that this was a case of a decent player that either never truly practiced well or just was socially promoted by a coach or coaches that weren’t paying attention. Yes, and they do exist in the pros as well. In a recent interview on MSG with Al Trautwig, Rangers Head Coach John Tortorella stated that ” There are players that think because they are in the N.H.L. don’t have to practice their skill properly,because they know it all,well they don’t.” So yes,it does exist at that level as well. I look at the beginning players and beginning parents as the root here. Overkill is a good word for it. Why send a player to too many voices,too many opinions and too many clinics that do not provide, and here is the key word Ladies and Gentlemen, consistency.Yes,it’s that simple.

I consider myself a skating coach building foundational skills first before I bring in the theory. My reason, if ya can’t skate ya can’t play, which kind of sums it all up. But what about my players stick-handling, shooting, checking, etc.,etc.. In a previous snippet I introduced you to Eric Valcin, who is our resident Goalie Guru. For shooting I send my students to Jimmy Iucci, who is by far one of the premiere shooting coaches around. My younger son trains with Jimmy,yes you want to go to the doctor that doctors send their kids to. I also send my students to Danny Wicke, who is a very patient coach for younger students and Chris Robinson who is a checking specialist and an excellent Defenseman with great knowledge and pro experience. So choose whom you send your child to carefully and you will be pleased by their progression. Overkill and you will get a confused player who will eventually get burned out and not want anything to do with our beloved game. Whatever way we can help you,remember that all you have to start with is a question. Skate Hard and keep your head up!

And of course now I will read to you what I tell my players and their parents at my team meetings or aka “The Riot Act”;

I welcome everyone and describe what I do and why I do it. I thank them for their desire to play for our team and what I expect from the players and their parents. We play Hockey from September to March and if you’re lucky April as well. If you desire to take a vacation, I suggest that you do so without interfering with our team, for it is not just your child here there are others that are sacrificing their time and effort. Of course I cannot tell someone what they can and cannot do, but what I can do is decide who plays on this team and if it comes to that, we are going to miss you. All uniforms and equipment will be taken care of  by the player not the coach. Do not walk up to me and tell me that you forgot something due to the fact that is your responsibility not mine. I will teach you how your bag will be packed and how I expect you to act when you are with the team. No sideways hats, over abundance of jewelry and no “stupidity” while you are representing the team and the organization. Practices and games are mandatory, practice 45 minutes prior to session, games 1 hour prior for warm up and final game preparation. I will not tolerate a player that ignores school to play sports. School must be a priority due to the fact that I do not want to lose a player because they are failing in class. We usually will do 3 tournaments and sometime there is a circumstance where a player might miss a day to attend a Friday game. It happens and this is a part of being a travel Hockey player. There of course is more, but I think you get the point by now. Oh, sorry, I forgot the closing part where I give them an out. This is your opportunity to leave, if you cannot abide by this you are free to go. In last 7 years as a head coach, I have only had one parent get up and walk out.

So here we go again getting ready to start the new season count down stuffing some last minute camps or vacationing in before we get back to work in the “World of Hockey”. It is said that Hockey is life and for good reason too. Skate hard and keep your head up.