Posted: Wednesday, May 2nd Filed in: General
This is the 8th Annual Junior Placement Showcase (JPS). This is the oldest running showcase in the western United States.
http://www.jps-hockey.com/
JPS is a great opportunity to get noticed for your skills and to further your career in hockey. In attendance will be 50-60 coaches/general managers representing Jr. A (US and Canada), Prep Schools, Midget AAA and Colleges (Division I and Division III). The exposure from this showcase gives the participants a great experience along with excellent opportunities to be seen by numerous coaches and scouts. Hockey players whose birth years are between 1992-1997 are invited to attend.
With exposure from JPS along with Coach Buetow’s coaching contacts a large majority of the participants have been offered positions in a higher level of hockey. According to Coach Buetow, attending JPS is like attending over 60 individual camps, thus saving money and yet maximizing player’s exposure!
Posted: Tuesday, May 1st Filed in: General Leadership
Most of the time, when there is change in culture, it starts with youth - not necessarily people of big influence.
President John F. Kennedy challenged us all when he said, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” From that youth started the Peace Corp, which has made a huge impact on the world! If you set your mind to making a difference and making a contribution to society, no one can stop you!
Click the blog title above to watch today’s Minute with Maxwell, by leadership expert, John C. Maxwell.
Posted: Wednesday, April 18th Filed in: General
People always ask me about the so-called “intangibles” that we (and our kids) take away from sports. And most of the time, I rely on the usual platitudes: teamwork….setting and reaching goals…sportsmanship…and so on.
But of all the life-long lessons that sports provides, I truly think that the one lesson that stands above them all is that sports forces all athletes to come to terms with adversity. That is, all athletes come face-to-face with adversity in their careers.
Posted: Monday, February 6th Filed in: General
FHIT and Legend Hockey are teaming up to throw a 3 day hockey experience for female hockey players. With this event we hope to enhance the level of play and overall concept of athletics. Although this is an event geared towards ice hockey, we are providing information and athletic situations that will help in all facets of the athletes life.
Over the course of the next couple months we will be breaking down The Combine for you. Thank you for joining us in changing how female hockey players prepare for higher levels of play.
For now check out the companies involved:
www.legendhockey.com
www.fhitplayers.com
www.megagoaltending.com
Posted: Thursday, January 19th Filed in: General
Learning to skate does not happen “right now.” Rather, it is a series of skills that are accomplished, each one getting more difficult than the next. The key is to have the right progression so we have a better chance at succeeding at each new skill rather than getting overwhelmed and frustrated.
Everyone needs to understand that skating just takes time, practice and a bit of patience. Enjoy learning and enjoy improving. Skills will come, some easier than others but the more quality repetition put in, the more the skater will get out of it. Remember to not put the cart before the horse, and always make sure your young skaters have fun.
Posted: Tuesday, January 10th Filed in: General
Eight days after a check sent the Benilde-St Margaret’s hockey player into the boards breaking his spinal cord and paralyzing him, Jablonski moved his arms. In an interview with several media members prior to Benilde-St Margaret’s hockey game Saturday night, Jack’s mother Leslie delivered the encouraging news.
Click the article title above for full article and video.
Posted: Thursday, January 5th Filed in: General
Benilde hockey player Jack Jablonski had ‘irreparable’ damage. Click on title to read the entire article.
Posted: Wednesday, December 21st Filed in: General
Discussions on concussions, symptoms and protocol. Check out the following video:
http://vimeo.com/6089854
Posted: Wednesday, November 23rd Filed in: General
Lately, you can’t go anywhere without hearing about the scandal that has rocked not only Penn State, NCAA athletics, but society as whole.
Through all of this, it has reinforced that we are not just judged only on who we are and what we do, but we are also judged by the company we keep. As member of a team, program or profession, it is important to surround yourself with people who will help make you better. You cannot turn a blind eye to a situation and deem it as someone else’s problem or just not care because it doesn’t affect you at that moment.
Posted: Thursday, November 10th Filed in: General
by MIAC Player X
There I was, two-thirds down the bench, stationary. Yes, I was indeed serving as my team’s grocery stick. For those of you who don’t know what a grocery stick is, it is the player who, just as a grocery stick separates your groceries from another’s in the checkout line, separates the defensemen and the forwards on the bench. I came upon this realization the start of the second period of my first MIAC hockey game. I must admit, it humored me at first, being I thought the term was a joke. However, I learned first hand that grocery sticks do, in fact, exist, and I was one of them.
The transition from South Dakota club hockey and collegiate hockey has been significant, nonetheless my transition from being a defenseman to a forward. Everything is faster, harder, and stronger. Even after putting in hours and hours of training this past summer and a team of people around me helping me achieve my goals, it hasn’t been easy. Despite the challenge, I have loved every second of it. Everyone on my team chose to be here because they love to play hockey, so it makes playing the game so much more enjoyable than in high school. Playing on the Bethel University Women’s Hockey Team has been such a blessing, and I am so thankful to be a part of this team, on and off the ice.
The team environment is quite different than what I experienced in my past 8 years of hockey. Bethel University is a private Christian university, and as a team, we play for the glory of God, not for ourselves. I see being a part of this team as an opportunity to serve my Lord through serving my team by contributing whatever I can, even if that is by encouraging others. Although being a grocery stick isn’t exactly how I had envisioned my first two college games, I see this as an opportunity to work harder than I ever have before and to not only grow as a player, but as a person.
I once heard that it isn’t fear that will kill you, but complacency. I am by no means complacent with where I am right now; however, I do realize I am in the process of learning a new position, while also adapting to a much faster pace. What more of a perfect opportunity to develop character and improve time management than this? I have recently set goals for myself and know the action steps I need to take with discipline to achieve them. The hardest part of all of this is controlling my thoughts. I find myself listening to myself rather than talking to myself. Sometimes discouragement creeps in and is near impossible to dissipate, but it is my decision whether to give up or get up. With the right perspective, right people, right words, right expectations, and right decisions, I can overcome discouragement with a positive attitude.
In all honesty, if you would have asked me if I wanted to play college hockey eight months ago, I would have said no. Not because I really didn’t want to play, but because I didn’t believe that I could. Joining this team has been one of the most challenging and influential experiences of my life, since it has been entirely out of my comfort zone. I completely put myself out there with the possibility of rejection, and that in itself, for me, is an accomplishment. Now, all I can do is move forward from here, working hard to have intensity, confidence, and skate hard each shift I earn.
“Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13
Posted: Thursday, October 27th Filed in: General
The Mind Game
I was always thankful that my office in Maine had a couch, and not just for the post morning practice naps. The only thing that should have changed on the door was the title from Head Coach to Head Psycho Therapist.
In recent weeks, I have several conversations and seen some face book posts about the job of a “Hockey Coach”. From the outside it looks like the greatest job ever. Dealing with hockey, the greatest game ever, 24/7/365. Almost like one of those old ESPN commercials with mascots hanging around, your house made of ice and your kids born with skates on.
The reality of the situation for coaches at the college level – especially Head Coaches, is that hockey is only a small fraction of your job. There is the paper work for budgeting, the administrative meetings, recruiting and most of all, trying to manage not only your staff and family life, but also 20-25 young women who all have different needs.
My favourite line to hear form players (and sometimes upset parents) is “The Coach is just playing mind games with me.” Bottom line is, after teaching individual skills, tactical play and scouting reports all that is left is the mind game. As a coach you are always searching for ways to get the most out of your players. Is it the pat on the back or the kick in the pants. And each one of those needs to be used differently with each different player at different points in the season or different points within a game. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. That is the true test of a coach or as I call the, the team’s head psychologist.
Check out the rest of the article >>>>
Posted: Monday, August 15th Filed in: General
GimmeHockey was founded by Omaha, Nebraska native Brett Bruneteau. The idea came to Bruneteau after years of struggling to find quality and specific hockey camps to meet the goals he had for himself on the ice rink. This perpetual struggle to find the places that could allow him to further his development in the game would eventually take him to Shattuck St. Mary’s preparatory school which is renowned for turning out players such as Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise, Drew Stafford, Jack Johnson, and Kyle Okposo. After his time there, Bruneteau played in the country’s only tier I junior league, the United States Hockey League (USHL). During that time, Bruneteau was named captain for both the under 17 and 18 United States national teams that won gold and silver in the world championships. After his exposure on an international stage, he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals. Bruneteau went on to play for the University of North Dakota in the WCHA where he won two Broadmoor trophies (Playoff championship) and one McNaughton Cup (Regular season championship). He was also a part of the Sioux’s frozen four berth this past year.
GimmeHockey will provide a unique service to both camps and users that is currently unmatched and unrivaled. GimmeHockey will use a complex and detailed, yet simple and easy template for each camp to design. Camps will have the ability to market in their own language using an array of features, such as photos, videos, and testimonials, to better connect and appeal to their customers. They will be able to set camp capacities, monitor registration more effectively, and receive automatic payment upon user registration.
GimmeHockey.com will be up and running October 1st!!
Check out GimmeHockey.com on Facebook and ‘Like’ their facebook page.
Posted: Saturday, July 30th Filed in: General
Ice Skating Lessons
August 1-19, 2011
M, W, F 11:45am-12:45pm
Larson Ice Center
Brookings, SD
$120
Ages 3 - Adult
Whether you have been skating for years or never laced up skates before, step in from the heat this summer into a non-intimidating environment and enjoy ice skating lessons.
Coaches will split participants into groups based on ability levels and teach core fundamentals of skating that even the pros work on daily including focus on technique, stride, and balance.
Figure Skates & Hockey Skates available for rent from Larson Ice Center
Remember to dress appropriately: pants, sweatshirt or coat, socks, & gloves
To Register: Call 605-691-9932 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or Register Online: www.legendsi.com
Posted: Tuesday, July 26th Filed in: General
EVERYTHING RISES & FALLS ON LEADERSHIP ~ John Maxwell
Tune in for a Minute with Maxwell & learn what it means to be a COACH from the leadership guru himself, John Maxwell.
John has been a mentor in leadership for us, so we love the opportunity to pass on his wisdom to our hockey family.
What does it mean to be a COACH?
by John C. Maxwell
Do you find yourself in a situation where you need to coach someone? As I said in the video, one of the most important gifts a coach can give is perspective. Because we all tend to make decisions based on our perspective and attitude, it’s important for the coach to…
Click the Blog title above for the full article & video!
Posted: Thursday, July 21st Filed in: 2011 Camps General
Well, it’s the time we’ve all been waiting for, our boarding camps in Brookings, South Dakota! Legend Hockey is proud to say we’ve brought in the sweetest staff yet.
Last week, we hosted our Girls Elite, U10, and U12 boarding camps. The girls really enjoyed their time here at Larson Ice Center where they were pushed out of their comfort zones. Their week consisted of intense ice time, dryland, stick handling, and classroom. Legend staff did an outstanding job running the ice times, which included small games, skating fundamentals, and core drills. University of Wisconsin goalie, Becca Ruegsegger, spoke to the girls via Skype for classroom one day. Becca spoke with the girls about how she uses her ability and the sport of hockey to glorify God and also the hard work and sacrifice required for such admirable accomplishments she has attained. Private lessons were held twice last week with players ranging from first time skaters to seasonal skaters. Legend is proud to have Christina Lee, Jennifer Kranz, Emily Kranz, and Justin Kirchhevel on our team. On one end of the ice, Noelle and Justin worked with U18 boys, while Christina, Jennifer, and Emily ran private lessons on the opposite end. The profound results proved it a success.
Legend is pleased with the results of week one of boarding camps, and is looking forward to another three weeks of hockey in Brookings!
Posted: Thursday, July 14th Filed in: 2011 Camps General
Before heading home for boarding camps in South Dakota, Legend Hockey makes its last stop in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. All the U12 and U10 campers were ready to hit the ice and work hard.
As several parents watched, we provided intense, fast-paced ice sessions. Battle drills were a favorite for the girls as they enjoyed the high intensity. The U12 girls improved dramatically from day one to day three, especially in one specific drill. It honestly looked like an entire different group with the accuracy of passing and overall flow of the drill. The U10 girls definitely impressed us with their focus and drive with the ice sessions and stick handling. We were thoroughly impressed with all the girls’ hard work throughout the three days and were thrilled to see such immense improvements. By the end of the camp, parents were so enthralled that they were on the ice taking pictures of the group.
We really appreciated the feedback we received from parents. It was great to hear the girls had a blast. We definitely had a great time working with them and being able to see all the improvements made due to the effort they put forth. Legend Hockey is thrilled to return back to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan again next summer! Now, our boarding camps are in full blast here in Brookings, South Dakota!
Posted: Tuesday, July 5th Filed in: 2011 Camps General
Legend Hockey hits ice again, this time in Cheesehead Nation! The girls in Green Bay, Wisconsin were full of energy and eager to improve.
Being our first year in Green Bay, we were able to create a more one-on-one environment. We spent time working in tight spaces during small area games, as well as working on a lot of fundamentals with the girls such as inside and outside edges and practicing tight turns and pivots. The improvements made were just remarkable. One parent could barely recognize her daughter due to her tremendous improvement as a skater. The girls enjoyed the camp, not only because it was fun, but also because they had to work harder than they ever had before. The players felt great with the effort they put forth throughout the three days and their resulting improved performance.
In classroom, the girls learned to set goals. One player aspires to be an Olympian soccer player. Dryland one day was soccer outside, and these girls had some skill! Soccer was definitely a favorite activity for the girls in Green Bay. It was fun watching them enjoy activities other than just hockey, as it is so crucial for young athletes to participate in a variety of sports. Doing so increases athleticism and helps the athlete to become a well-rounded player.
Legend Hockey thoroughly enjoyed bringing personal, leadership, and physical development to Green Bay and is looking forward to returning again next year!
Posted: Sunday, June 26th Filed in: 2011 Camps General
Well, our first camp was a success! After a twenty-hour trek, the friendly people of Ann Arbor, Michigan welcomed us into their program. The girls were eager to improve, and we were ready to train.
The improvements we saw not only in the girls’ camps, but also the women’s private lessons were incredible. Everyone worked hard, and it definitely showed. It was such a blast getting to know these ladies. We had such a variety of personalities, which made it that much more fun. One of my favorite parts about the camp was off-ice goal setting with the girls. The goals ranged from something as simple as reading thirty minutes once a week to more challenging and long-term as playing on the Women’s Harvard Hockey Team to being an entomologist and discovering a new species in the jungle of Madagascar. I will say this, we learned a lot about bugs that week! I was so impressed with the intelligence and participation of the girls, especially in classroom when we discussed respect, being a good teammate, and goal setting.
We had the pleasure of meeting with a couple of the coaches in the girls’ program. Their passion for hockey was evident, as was their dedication to the girls and the program. Legend Hockey is excited about the growth of their program, and cannot wait to be back next year in Ann Arbor for another great week of hockey!
Posted: Monday, June 13th Filed in: General
Series: My trip to NCAA hockey
The Hockey Barn
By: LH 26
I was fortunate enough to grow up on a ranch in South Dakota. It was undoubtedly the best place for my parents to raise a family and ended up being the best training environment for me too. Even though I played and attended school at Shattuck-St.Mary’s for 6 years, coming home for summer vacation was anything but ordinary. Buffalo Ridge Ranch is beautiful and old school, which was perfect because there were no distractions. Money didn’t mean anything to us, wins in the hockey barn did.
My mom and dad tore a part an old barn used for grain storage and turned it into a hockey rink. We had boards, music, painted lines on the cement and nets at both ends. All of our old hockey gloves that had bit the dust were screwed on the wall in a line and circled the arena. This barn wasn’t regulation size, it had the measurements of one zone length wise. All four corners were rounded off, providing a place for a stereo to sit in one corner and a chair for my mom to sit and regulate our 2 v 2 games.
With AC/DC blasting, my entire family spent hours out there every day. My brother and I shot 500-1000 pucks a day, would spend 1-2 hours stick handling and passing and then every evening we played 2v2. Me and Nick vs my Dad and Vince. This lasted 2 hours in the evening and was brutal. Very few nights did someone not come out of the hockey barn bleeding, upset and crying (I have an ultra competitive family).
As USA Hockey is beginning to push small games and small space utilization with the ADM, I think about those countless hours spent in that old school barn on roller blades or sneakers in small spaces working on shooting at every angle of the barn, stick handling and being creative, quick transitions and most of all, an enhanced competitive spirit. It is good to know that what USA Hockey is preaching works and produces results.
What do I recommend to every hockey player? Practice! Take it old school and use your imagination. The things that you learn on the pond, in the hockey barn, on the street or in your basement can’t be taught.
Posted: Tuesday, June 7th Filed in: General
Performance of the Playoffs, 2011:
The NHL playoffs always provide great drama, some intriguing stories and, as always, some heroic performances. This year is no exception.
Two teams battle back from 3-0 holes to force game 7’s, only to lose out. Alex Burrows scores twice to eliminate Chicago after taking a bad penalty in OT and almost handing the series away. Pekka Renne backstops Nashville into the 2nd round for the first time ever and Tampa Bay finds their stride at the right time of the year to advance to the conference final.
But for me, the best performance so far has be that of Boston rookie Tyler Seguin. I am not talking about the 4 point night (all in one period) that lead the Bruins to their game 2 win against Tampa, but rather his post game press conference.
In a day and age where players feel like they are owed the world, Seguin, the 2nd overall pick in last year’s draft, had been a healthy scratch through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Only until Patrice Bergeron was sidelined with a concussion in Game 4 against Philly, did Seguin get a chance to even be in the line-up. He responded with 2 points in his first playoff game, then followed that up with the game 2 gem.
Through those first 11 games, Seguin could have pouted. He could have blamed his coach. He could have folded up when it was time to perform and he could have had all sorts of excuses as to why he didn’t do anything.
Instead, he worked hard at practice, he watched the games intently, he leaned on his veteran teammates, and he waited patiently. And most importantly, he proved himself when he got an opportunity and he EARNED more ice time with his play.
I’m not sure which team will hoist the cup at the end of this year’s tournament, I’m not even sure if Seguin will get another point. But he has proven to me that the art of being a professional is still alive and well and his actions on and off the ice show what a great team the Bruins can be and have made me a fan. See you at the rink - Coach Dan
*Dan Lichterman has coached at the D1 women’s level, as well as youth and AAA hockey. He now is in leadership development working with teams all over North America. To contact Dan you can e-mail him at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted: Tuesday, May 24th Filed in: General
By: Joe Wells, Max Muscle CEO & Founder
Protein seems to be a hot topic these days among young athletes. It does warrant the interest it generates as protein is a vital component in building lean muscle mass. We hear about the steroid infestation of athletes. The temptation is high as scholarships and dreams of playing sports at the professional level fuel the desire to win at any cost. Some kids figure the quick fix of taking a steroid will fuel them to the next level. The truth is that I have seen many great athletes do it naturally. I know you can accomplish great things naturally and protein is a vital factor in accomplishing that.
In this day and age everyone is looking for the quick fix, the magic pill. We at Max Muscle advocate a back to the basics approach. Anyone who knows me is aware that I benched more than 500 pounds in college. I never touched a steroid in college and simply used the exact same formula that I have taught young athletes for three decades now.
So what is this magic formula?
Posted: Wednesday, May 18th Filed in: General
Three NHL teams have come back from 3-0 deficits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs; the Detroit Red Wings are still not one of them. But they sure came close.
This was Detroit’s 20th consecutive playoff appearance, the longest streak in professional sports. In that time they have won four Stanley Cups. Yet in the last few seasons, analysts, fans and critics have begun questioning the Red Wings ability to win, their goaltending, their age and their toughness. With an injured Chris Osgood no longer starting in goal, the team turned to Jimmy Howard this season and trusted him to play above his pay grade in the playoffs. Veteran leaders like Captain Nicklas Lidstrom have threatened retirement in recent seasons, and may finally hang up his skates this summer. With the famed Grind Line out of commission for so many years, the team has struggled to keep up with younger, physical teams.
Posted: Tuesday, May 17th Filed in: General
I get so many questions on off season training and immediately most parents and kids assume they need to be in a state of the art training facility to get better. To be honest, most training facilities where the best trainers and instructors are can be found in an ordinary building with an old school atmosphere. In places like that there are no distractions, just focused athletes that are in the zone.
What most players and parents miss though, is that going to a gym or training facility is just a small piece of the puzzle. It is the work that goes on at home, behind the scenes, when no one else is working on their game. It is the hundreds of pucks shot into a net, barrel, old t.v.‘s or at pop cans. It is the time spent stick handling in the morning and again in the evening. Sprint and quick feet workouts are never missed because that is where the priorities lie. All of this stuff has to do with skill development, passion and a focused work ethic.
Posted: Tuesday, May 3rd Filed in: General
With freshman year of college nearing its end, it’s been quite a deal of fun reflecting back on my first year in an Ivy League College. Princeton is a top school in the country academically and because of that fact it was extremely difficult getting into a rhythm at the start of the year.
Posted: Thursday, April 28th Filed in: General
Skill development and maintenance is crucial to constantly improving. Getting stronger and faster are so important in route to being a good hockey player, not to mention that working out is good for your overall health….In the words of John Wooden, “Earn the right to be proud and confident.”
Posted: Monday, April 25th Filed in: General
The U.S. Women’s National Team won its third straight world title with a 3-2 overtime victory against Canada here tonight at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship at Hallenstadion. Check out the full story on www.usahockey.com
Posted: Monday, April 25th Filed in: General
Watch live today as the USA faces off against Canada for the Gold!
Posted: Thursday, April 21st Filed in: General
Click on link to listen to the reasoning behind the Checking Rule Change:
Posted: Wednesday, April 20th Filed in: General
Passport stamped, a truck filled with clothes, a hockey bag and a couple of sticks with a number engraved with a black sharpie. So began my journey to Weyburn, SK to play for the legendary program: The Weyburn Redwings, coached by Dwight McMillan.
Posted: Thursday, April 14th Filed in: General
After spending three years at The Taft School, I was awarded a full scholarship to attend the University of Connecticut where I bled blue and white for the next four years as a Husky.
Posted: Tuesday, April 12th Filed in: General
DO YOU WANT TO PLAY PREP SCHOOL, MIDGET AAA, JUNIOR’S OR COLLEGE HOCKEY? Check out JPS prospect camp: www.jps-hockey.com
Get the exposure to get you to the next level.
Posted: Wednesday, April 6th Filed in: General
So the season is over. You are either basking in the glow of your championship or sitting in the dark wondering where you and your team went wrong. Either way, the offseason provides us with a great opportunity, the opportunity to improve ourselves for next season.
Posted: Tuesday, April 5th Filed in: General
Blogs, rinks, teams, etc. You can find it all on www.hockey-community.com
Posted: Thursday, March 31st Filed in: General
National Tournament week is here! This is what teams buy into at the beginning of the season and train for in the off season. I love this week!
Posted: Wednesday, March 30th Filed in: General
Playing all of our games against Canadian teams makes the game more physical, but it’s fun. Playing those teams, there is a lot more body contact and stick work.
Posted: Monday, March 28th Filed in: General
NHL players pay attention to detail and are disciplined to 30-45 second shifts.
Posted: Wednesday, March 23rd Filed in: General
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have a total hockey family? Read below as our anonymous author gives readers incite to her family and hockey culture.
Posted: Wednesday, March 16th Filed in: General
Welcome to the LEGENDHOCKEY blog! This blog is going to capture every aspect of the hockey world. The entries provided will be straight from the NHL to Hockey Parents to Coaches and everything in between. Posts entries will be anonymous, but will show the league they are associated with. For example: Gender: Female - League: WCHA – Roster: Player. We don’t need any name dropping, these posts are legit. We want to bring you the inside scoop, opinions, new techniques, equipment reviews, stories and discussion from every angle. Love Hockey? Then make this blog a daily web surfing pit stop because you are going to be hearing from people involved in this sport that have crazy stories and knowledge to share. If you want to hear about a certain topic, let us know! There will be new blog posts every Wednesday unless we come across something so awesome we can’t wait to throw it up here. Enjoy!