The FIRE

Florida Youth Hockey Report
The FIRE
JANUARY 2011
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7
The Cost of Youth Hockey
hockey, but I wonder if
anyone does anything
about it.
•
Like the weather,
people talk about
it...does anyone do
anything?
•
The FIRE wants to
hear your thoughts.
E-mail the Editor
with your story or
comments.
A loyal reader reached out
to me after the last issue
and brought up an idea.
His was a good one, but—
like many things—there are
plusses and minuses to be
considered. As we chatted
and I offered an alternative,
the matter of cost arose.
Time and time again parents talk about the cost of
•
This season and last
we had a team—
different programs—
take three out of state
trips. For MITES.
A qualifier was held in
Florida for International Silver Stick,
meaning the winner
would go on to Michigan or Canada. Almost all our state’s AA
teams entered.
Rather than get together for scrimmages,
many programs enter
$1,400
tournaments...where they
often play mismatches.
I’ll concern myself more
with cost when I see
hockey families doing the
same. My friend then said,
“I think people just go
along with what everyone
else is doing.”
Exactly.
As the season winds down
and you think toward the
off-season or next year,
remember this is the time
to communicate your wish
list or goals. In each program there is no doubt one
family that would play 100
games if they could figure
out how to do it.
(Recommended is 35 for
Pee Wee and 25 for Squirt.)
Is that who you want making your schedule?
Chances are many others
feel like you. My personal
preference is a “less is
more” approach.
By
scheduling less you include
more families, and those
wanting more can find it.
SAHOF Announces 2011 State Games Sites
The 2011 SAHOF State
Games will be held from
February 25th through the
27th. Unlike older ages
where teams need to qualify, the Mite and Squirt
divisions are open to all
eligible teams playing in the
Statewide Florida Hockey
League, Florida Amateur
Hockey League, and Central Florida Hockey League.
Teams will be placed in the
division the Tournament
Committee feels will provide the most competitive
and enjoyable experience
for all participants.
Mite—Olympic
Space Coast Iceplex
Mite—Collegiate
Glacier Ice & Snow
Squirt—Rookie
Tampa Bay Skating Acad.
Squirt—Collegiate
Ice Sports Forum
Squirt—Olympic
RDV Sportsplex Ice Den
Registration is due before
January 17th, but prod your
Team Managers to enter
Hall of Fame Bits of Tid:
♦ Syl Apps had only 56 minutes of penalties in a 10year career
♦ Maurice “the Rocket”
Richard was born 15 years
before brother Henri
♦ Toe Blake got his name
because a sibling couldn't
pronounce Hector
♦ Doug Bentley once
played on a line with his
two brothers
Inside this issue:
Cold Sport/Warm State 2
sooner as hotels can be
tough to come by that time
of year in the Sunshine
State!
Blue Pucks
3
Tourney Recap
4
With a four-game guarantee and low entry, the State
Games offer a great value.
In addition, the high participation makes it easy to
produce competitive
matchups. Hopefully all
eligible teams look to conclude their season by participating.
Hockey Weekend
4
Advice for a Mite
5
Photos
6
Jets AAA
7
In Their Own Words
7
League Standings
8
To learn more, please visit
www.usahockey.com/sahof
THE FIRE
Page 2
Cold Sport in a Warm State
3 teams gathered
for a jamboree in
Ellenton
...and everybody
wins!
We decided to
hold a cookout
and have a
50/50 raffle.
The ticket was
drawn and...
Yes!
My wife just won the 50/50!
When a person thinks of ice
hockey, rarely does the Sunshine
State of Florida come to mind.
Outdoor sports like football,
baseball, and soccer dominate
the landscape and children can
be found in nearly every park
playing some form of these
sports. Mixed up in this funloving sports community, there
is a small group of oddballs that
choose a road much less traveled. We are the ice hockey
families. We are the families that
drive great distances (60 miles
one way for some), to get our
kids to the only local rink around
(Ellenton) and watch them play
ice hockey.
In the small world of Florida ice
hockey your team becomes your
family. The choice of a team is
usually the closest rink. Families
are bonded rather quickly, as
their children climb the ranks
together and compete against
other clubs around the state.
This can lead to some pretty
healthy rivalries, and the term
“hockey mom” takes on a whole
new meaning. In the stands
parents go crazy “encouraging”
their children and the referees,
and for some of us that aren’t
from the cold north, we are just
trying to learn the game.
Recently something happened
that warmed up our icy rink.
Our team organized a Jamboree
to play against three other teams
from around the state. One
team, the Golden Wolves came
up from Miami and while planning the games we found out
about their tragic story.
Knowing what a small community Florida ice hockey is, each
organization usually has a coach
that is the heart and soul of a
club. The Golden Wolves had
Rob Kenny, a great coach with
young children. Tragically he
died in a car accident earlier this
year and left his family and the
Golden Wolves to mourn and
pick up the pieces of their upcoming season. We decided as a
team that we would like to have
a cookout and do a 50/50 raffle
to benefit the family Rob left
behind.
The Golden Wolves organized a
team bus and left at dawn to
come across the state to play in
Ellenton at our Jamboree. It
was a great success, and during
their first game I smiled when
Rob Kenny’s son Sean scored
the first goal of the game. I
didn’t mind the fact that it was
against my own son, who was in
net at the time as goalie. It was a
great game the Golden Wolves’
kids played their hearts out and
won.
Afterward we all went out to the
parking lot and feasted together.
Kids that had just played ice
hockey against each other played
soccer and football together
by Danielle Nutten
while parents mingled and chatted. It might be the small size of
the teams, or commonality of
being the oddballs playing ice
hockey, but it was easy and fun
getting to know their club. The
best was still yet to come as the
Golden Wolves had another
game to play against the Jr. Bulls
from Tampa.
The kids headed inside to dress
for their game. Meanwhile we
made one last drive to sell some
50/50 raffle tickets to the Jr.
Bulls team. The game started
and it was a close one. The
score went back and forth the
entire game with plenty of goals
scored. Once again the Golden
Wolves prevailed and were ready
to go back south with two wins
safely tucked away.
Before they departed we still had
to draw for the 50/50 raffle. We
sold a bunch of tickets and
looked forward to seeing who
the lucky winner was. The ticket
was drawn and as luck would
have it, the wife of Tampa Bay
Lightning hockey star Martin St.
Louis won! She graciously donated her winning share to the
family of Rob Kenny. It could
not have been a better day. Our
team felt great, and we all realized that our little community of
ice hockey isn’t really so “cold”
in our warm and sunny state of
Florida.
Eels to host Memorial Day event
Ft. Myers will again offer a
cool break over a hot weekend with the South Florida
Mite/Squirt Showcase
In the past two years the Eels
have hosted an exciting Memorial Day event. It began with
Mites in 2009 and expanded to
Mites and Squirts for 2010. The
format will be decided based on
interest level. Interested? Please
contact Tournament Director
Brian Butland at:
bbutland15@yahoo.com.
Spring/Summer events allow an
opportunity to play with your
regular team, or put together a
group of friends from other
areas for a tournament team.
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7
Page 3
(Rewind) Black, or Blue?
Many subscribers have been added
since inception. Most missed the early
feature articles. This piece ran in the
November 2009 issue.
What kid that plays baseball
doesn’t dream of hitting a home
run?
Hockey’s equivalent is
probably picking the upper corner to score a goal. In order for
that big hit to be a home run, the
fence needs to be moved in considerably. Most Mites need a
similar accommodation and that
is the Blue Puck.
About five years ago, USA
Hockey issued a suggestion that
the Blue Puck be used for
Squirts and a requirement that it
be used for Mites. So just exactly what is a Blue Puck, and
why don’t we see more of them?
A regular puck weighs six
ounces; the blue one is 25% less.
For kids that are still a few years
away from getting their strength,
a Blue Puck is easier to handle,
easier to pass, and much easier
to shoot. Going “top shelf”
becomes possible.
The idea
behind USA Hockey’s recommendation is that making the
game more fun for more players
at the beginning levels will result
in accelerated skill development
and increased retention.
ing lots of outdoor hockey with
no gear. As a result, there were
no “lifters”.
Sometimes we
would mix it up and play with a
tennis ball or ultra-light
“sponge” puck. These too have
far different playing characteristics, but I can assure you it was
just as much fun.
Followers of the NHL know the
league isn’t just for North
Americans like it was through
the 1970s. Rosters today include
scores of Scandinavians, Russians, and Czechs. Finns and
Swedes play Blue Puck through
age 10, and Czechs use it too but
it is not required.
USA Hockey terms this a mandate and not just a recommendation. Recently they have made it
a point of emphasis to monitor
use of the Blue Puck at the Mite
level. It is still unclear what
penalty will be for noncompliance, but don’t be surprised if
you see more of the Blue Puck
in the future. Our sport’s national governing body has asked
that everyone give it a chance, at
least long enough to let the kids
decide if they like it.
Critics cite tradition (“we don’t
have any problems with the
black puck”) and logistics (“just
one more thing to keep track
of”), but usually focus mainly on
the different playing characteristics of the Blue Puck. Simply
put, it bounces. I grew up play-
A blue puck weighs 4 to
4.5 ounces, versus
6 for a black one
Easier to handle,
easier to pass,
and much easier
to shoot. USA
Hockey says use
of blue pucks
EDITOR’S NOTE:
will increase
Mites at the 2011 SAHOF State
Games will use blue pucks.
retention.
Orlando MLK Tournament Preview
“I have a dream!” My dream is
for great hockey action with
competitive games involving
teams from all parts of the state
and beyond. Thanks to the Orlando Knights, this dream becomes reality in mid-January.
A very strong Mite field involves
five teams, all owning winning
records in league play. From
Boston, the North Shore Raiders headline a group that includes the Jr. Everblades, the
Titans, the Jr. Panthers, and
the Hurricanes. With twothirds of the expected field, the
tournament will serve as a preview of the Olympic division at
the SAHOF State Games.
There are two divisions for the
Squirt age group. ‘AA’ teams are
the 00 Raiders from Massachusetts, the Blackhawks, the Jr.
Panthers AA, the Jr. Everblades, and Lightning 01.
‘A’ teams are the host Knights,
the Hurricanes, Blackhawks
Minor, the Golden Wolves, and
Jr. Panthers A.
One special feature for those not
able to attend is Knight Vision.
Select games will be broadcast
via an internet feed on the
OYHA website (found at
www.jrknights.org).
Archived
games can be accessed after they
are shown live.
Hailing from the outlying Northeast Boston area, the Raiders are
a AAA program that competes
in the IJYHL with other area
teams.
They are bringing 5 teams in all
from Mites to Bantams, and the
Knights MLK tournament has
been a highlight of their season
calendar. In addition to hockey,
they have an excursion planned
to Universal Studios.
Ex-Buffalo Sabre Scott Thomas
is the Raiders’ Coaching Director. Former Division I player
Joe Purtell leads the Mites. At
most ages, the Raiders are the
dominant team in their league.
We know they’ll get out of the
cold, but are they ready to
play some hockey?
The Raiders hail from traditional hockey country:
Massachusetts.
THE FIRE
Page 4
11th Annual Germain Holiday Recap
Mites
For the big kids in the
NCAA division, st. Cloud
beat Miami despite being
outshot 31-11
The Panthers
won the Mites,
while the top
trophy for both
Squirt divisions
left the state.
Squirt A
Semis
Panthers 3—Everblades 1
Eels 4—Pelham Panthers 1
Eels 7—Flames 5
Flames 5—Panthers Minor 3
Scorpions 2—Panthers 1
Cyclones 4—Scorpions 3
Golden Wolves 6—Eels 1
Columbia Cyclones 5—Wolves 0
Everblades 5—Panthers Minor 0
Flames 3—Everblades 2
Panthers 5—Eels 0
Eels 5—Panthers 1
Golden Wolves 10—Flames 9
Scorpions 6—Pelham 1
Blackhawks 7—Everblades 2
Everblades 4—Golden Wolves 1
Flames 8—Golden Wolves 3
Thrashers 4—E. Coast Eagles 3
Panthers Minor 2—Eels 1
Cyclones 5—Everblades 0
Blackhawks 7—Thrashers 4
Panthers 7—Flames 5
Cyclones 7—Flames 2
E. Coast Eagles 6—Everblades 3
Golden Wolves 3—Everblades 2
E.C. Eagles 5—Blackhawks 1
Panthers 2—Pelham 0
Thrashers 5—Everblades 0
Consolation
Panthers Minor 6—Eels 1
3rd Place
Flames 6—Golden Wolves 0
Championship
Panthers 3—Everblades 2
Eels 3—Scorpions 1
Consolation
Pelham 5—Everblades 0
Panthers 5—Golden Wolves 1
Championship
Cyclones 7—Eels 2
Squirt AA
Semis
E. Coast Eagles 5—Everblades 0
Thrashers 3—Blackhawks 2
Championship
Thrashers 3—E. Coast Eagles 2
Hockey Weekend Across America: February 18-20, 2011
Wearing it to work or for
Show ‘n Tell at school,
HWAA is a time to celebrate the greatest game
Dave Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey, explains the
4th Annual Hockey Weekend this
way, “It is something that those
involved in our sport look forward to each year. It’s important
that we take time to celebrate.”
Friday, February 18th is a day to
“Wear Your Favorite Hockey
Jersey” and Saturday the 19th is
“Bring a Friend to the Rink”. In
2010, over 3,000 kids participated at 140 rinks in Try Hockey
for Free clinics. The goal for
2011 is at least 4,000 at over 200
locations. Locations that hold
an event will receive jerseys to
commemorate the day.
In early December, five Florida
venues are set: Space Coast Iceplex, Tampa Bay Skating Academy, Jacksonville Ice, the RDV
Sportsplex, and Daytona Ice
Arena. If you aren't busy, do
your part and take a friend to
Try Hockey on the 19th!
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7
Page 5
Advice for a Mite… from a College Star
Congratulations to all Florida
Mites for participating in the
greatest team sport! I have
formed many lifetime friendships with my youth hockey
teammates. I played multiple
team sports, and don’t know
why, but hockey teams always
had the closest bonding and
camaraderie.
does not make perfect, perfect
practice makes perfect. If you
are taught (and practice) the
proper skating techniques you
will be well ahead of your peers
who continue to ingrain poor
techniques into their muscle
memory, and as they get older it
is difficult to impossible to correct poor habits.
Growing up in Minnesota, I was
lucky enough to have my dad
build a rink in our backyard.
More hours were spent playing
hockey outdoors than playing
indoors.
Don’t rule out learning to skate
by figure skating. When I was a
Mite, the power skating guru was
Dick Vraa. Dick worked with
hockey players ranging from
Mites to the NHL. Guess what
type of skates Dick wore? Black
figure skates! Figure skaters
have phenomenal edge control
and balance, both so important
to skating. People say you don’t
have to be a great skater to be a
great hockey player, look at
Wayne Gretzky.
I disagree,
Gretzky skated hunched over
and didn’t look like much, but
nobody had better edges and
turned sharper than #99.
Luckily, or unluckily if you are a
hockey player, the Florida
weather won’t allow for an outdoor rink…so play the next best
thing - Street Hockey. Countless
hours of street hockey was
played on the driveway or at
school recess and looking back,
without knowing it, street
hockey develops ice hockey
skills, sometimes better than on
ice practice.
Stick handling,
passing, shooting, puck protection, and moving to open space
all translate to ice hockey. Street
hockey is similar to “small
games” before coaches were
talking about “small games”.
You will improve all these skills
while having fun and competing.
Although street hockey complements ice hockey in many ways,
there are some limitations such
as skating – unless you are rollerblading.
I can’t emphasize
enough the importance of gaining the correct skating fundamentals at an early age. Practice
Playing high school hockey in
Minnesota, we had 2 hockey
players transfer from California.
It was amazing the high skill
level they exhibited, and I wondered how they honed their skills
coming from a warm climate.
(Note to editor: next article
material!) I’m excited that players are now coming out of Florida. I look forward to seeing you
develop and hope you enjoy the
game as much as I did.
I coach a top girls U12 team and
am unimpressed by their skating
fundamentals. Shame on us as
coaches. These girls have played
for several years and have been
through countless repetitions on
drills designed to make them
good skaters. Kids, my advice is
to really pay attention on your
form when doing skating drills.
Perfect practice makes perfect,
not practice alone. (In fact, what
I’m seeing proves that all we’ve
forged are sloppy habits.)
Your coaches hopefully get creative on ways to make these skating drills more fun. Also, at
young ages they should avoid
overdoing it. Too much edge
work and Mites aren’t going to
want to go back to the rink.
Really committed to getting better? Skating classes given by the
rink’s figure skating instructors
will pay dividends as you advance and technique becomes
more important.
Finally, play street hockey! The
more you have a stick in your
hands the better your skills will
be. Work with your parents to
arrange for time at the rink before practice or a gathering with
some of your friends from the
team. You don’t have to be on
the ice to improve your hockey
skills.
Pete grew up on this small
patch in his backyard
Perfect practice
makes perfect.
Pay attention on
your edges when
doing
repetitious
skating drills.
Peter Hankinson was a 1st Team
All-WCHA performer for the Minnesota Gophers. He served as team
captain as a senior and played several
years in the AHL. The winter ice
rink in his backyard was featured in
the movie “Pond Hockey”.
1992-93 with the san
diego gulls of the ihl
THE FIRE
Page 6
Photos
Squirt Anthony VaN
Steenkiste shows his
game face
Barracuda Mite Coach Gregg Everett
enjoys a sundae with his girls
Knight Mite Jimmy George flips a wicked
wrister
Some pictures
from around the
state’s rinks,
including recent
action from the
Germain Holiday
Classic
Dylan Lugris with exWolverine Ryan Sittler at
Michigan’s “Big House”
On the ice anything goes, but we’re all friends off:
A Hurricane shown with buddies from Miami to Jacksonville
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7
Page 7
Jets AAA Announce 2011 Plans
The Jets AAA Selects Program
has been around for over 15
years and is one of the most
respected Summer programs in
the country. The program originated as the Nassau-Suffolk
Selects in 1995, morphed into
the Apple Core Selects, and with
continued momentum and
achievement has evolved into
what is proudly known as Jets
AAA.
We take great pride in building
the most competitive Spring/
Summer teams possible. Our
staff and coaches scout many
youth hockey games throughout
the season and work hard to
identify top players at their specific age level. These scouts are
putting these players through a
very detailed evaluation to make
sure they are fit to play for the
Jets AAA. We put together the
most competitive teams we can
to compete at some of North
America’s top tournaments.
These Spring/Summer tournaments will give each player an
opportunity to compete at a high
level and get scouted by many
Junior teams, Prep schools, college, and even pro scouts. While
not many scouts will be out for
Squirts and Pee Wees, this is the
ultimate way to measure your
skills and knowledge against
some of North America’s top
players. The Jets AAA program
endeavors to give players not
only a new and exciting experience, but also build a long-term
relationship with them for years
to come.
Jets AAA are extremely proud
of all of our alumni players,
many of which have gone on to
play at the college and pro levels.
For a partial list, visit our website and click on the alumni list
to check out some of the Jets DI, D-III, ACHA and professional
players.
by Shawn Ray
For more information, please log
on to www.jetsaaa.com. Interested players can contact Shawn
Ray at daoust5001@aol.com.
We look forward to another
successful year and wish you the
best of luck as you head in to the
final stretch of your 2010-11
hockey season. Here is a preview of our 2011 calendar. Rosters will change from one event
to another and interested players
may be invited to one or more
tournaments.
April 8-10
Minuteman Flames Spring Classic –
Marlborough, MA
May 6-8
Reebok Cup – Hooksett, NH
May 28-30
Eels Invitational – Fort Myers
June 10-12
North American Prospects Showcase –
Buffalo, NY
July 8-10
In April 2010 the Jets played
in Marlborough, mass. Outside
of boston
Past members of
the program
include
Floridians Kevin
Goumas (UNH) and
Ryan Carpenter
(committed to
Bowling Green)
Hub Cup – Bridgewater, MA
In Their Own Words—New Year’s Resolutions
What’s your hockey goal in 2011?
5 goals each game.
Kyle Gonzalez—Hurricanes
I want to score the most goals in the
league!
Tyson Nutten—Flames Mites
To be stronger on my skates and score a
lot of goals.
Don’t score on my own goalie.
More shutouts.
Eric Hambling—Everblades
Alexander Dunn—Everblades
I want to win S.A.H.O.F. versus the
Everblades or the Panthers. Go
Canes!
To become a better skater, use long
strides!
Jack Conley—Hurricanes Mites
Owen Arend—Flames Mites
Check my older brother.
Get better at passing, skate harder,
work on shooting.
Colin Maag—Everblades
Derrick Hambling—Everblades
I’d like to keep getting better and
hopefully move up to a higher team.
Dominic Tallone—Everblades
I want to make the Olympic team!
To win the Silver Sticks North American Championship in Michigan against
Canada. And be my very best.
Jack Greene—Flames Mites
Jet Lee Swift—Raiders Mites
Avery Winslow—Raiders Mites
I want to be the captain of my team,
and be the best.
Hannah Levi—Hurricanes
Score more goals and assists and skate
even better.
Thomas
Everblades
Filoramo—
Writing down goals
makes you more likely
to attain them
Florida Youth Hockey Report
Published by:
John Conley
Oviedo, FL
Phone: (407) 542-6943
E-mail:
floridamitereport@gmail.com
The Florida Mite Report was founded in Summer 2009. After a very successful one year run, the newsletter was rebranded to include Squirts for the upcoming 2010-11 season. Subscriptions are FREE; issues
are released monthly during traditional hockey season and less frequently during Summer. Communicate
program information and promote events here by contacting the Editor/Publisher.
JOHN CONLEY WAS ADDED TO THE S.A.H.O.F. BOARD IN EARLY 2010—OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE FIRE DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF S.A.H.O.F. OR USA
HOCKEY.
392
Subscribers
Just announced!
Girls Ice Hockey Clinic & ADM Presentation!
Florida Youth
Hockey Report
Sunday, January 23rd.
Open to the first 60 girls age 12 & Under.
RDV Sportsplex Ice Den near Orlando.
following youth
hockey in the
Sunshine State
Hosted by Scott Paluch & Michele Amidon from USA Hockey.
To register, visit www.USAHOCKEY.com/sahof after January 10th.
SFHL Squirts
League Standings
CFHL Squirts
Flames
Scorpions
Titans
Knights
Everblades
Raiders
Bulls
Lightning
Colts
Into the home stretch for
league play
12
12
9
6
5
5
4
2
0
0
0
3
8
7
8
7
11
12
2
2
0
0
2
0
1
1
0
Raiders
Barracudas
Blackhawks
Bulls
Everblades
Lightning
Panthers AA
Panthers 01
13
11
7
4
5
2
0
0
2
5
5
7
12
11
1
2
3
3
7
9
6
7
1
1
1
4
1
0
1
1
CFHL Mites
Everblades
Raiders
Titans
Flames
Bulls
Knights
11
9
6
6
2
2
1
2
3
6
12
12
1
1
4
2
0
0
FAHL Mites
FAHL Squirts
Eels
Hurricanes
Panthers
Blackhawks
Toros
Breakers
Golden Wolves
9
9
6
5
3
3
2
1
1
1
2
5
1
0
2
Hurricanes
Panthers
Toros
Golden Wolves
Barracudas
Panthers Minor
Breakers
8
6
4
2
2
2
1
0
2
3
4
5
5
6
0
0
1
2
1
1
1