NF Hockey

One Zone (1 v 1) Net Front Battle

2012-01-21T15:48:00.000-06:00

This drill is great for teaching forwards to compete hard for scoring opportunities and teaching defenseman positioning in front of the net, and to watch the puck and look away from the puck at the same.

The key emphasis in this drill is for the defenseman to own the house (area in yellow). The defenseman focuses on the forward’s chest, stick checks the forward frequently, and clears all loose pucks into the corner.

The drill starts with the coach moving around with a puck behind the net. He looks to make a pass to the forward while the defender tries to cut off the pass, while at the same time keeping an eye on both the passer and receiver.

Encourage the forward to move around and keep his stick on the ice. If the forward gets a shot the rebound is alive and the players battle for the puck.

Once the coach has attempted 3 passes the drill is over. Do not let players compete beyond 35 seconds.

REGISTRATION OPEN

2012-01-04T21:51:00.001-06:00

Registration is open for 2012 PA Days, March Break, and our program in July. Registration will be open soon for our Spring program and August programs. Check out the tabs at the top of the website for more information.

NF Hockey's Upcoming 2012 Programs

2011-12-11T20:47:00.001-06:00

Check out the 2012 Programs page to find out what we are offering in the new year. After just over a year in the Halton area we are excited to offer more programs in 2012. Some of the programs include:

PA Days (Feb 3 and Apr 27)
2 March Break Programs (Mar 12 - 16)
2 Saturday Spring Programs (Apr 14 - June 23)
3 Summer Programs (July and August)

Whether you are returning or new please contact me with your questions at phil@northernfreezehockey.com or by calling (905) 582-6603.

Forward-Backward Passing with Shot

2011-12-05T21:23:00.000-06:00

This drill is great for teaching puck support during passing, pivoting and timing, and a net drive. It is a half zone drill but ideally you want to run this at both ends as only 2 players are involved at a time.

Instructions

X1 starts the drill backwards facing X2. X1 starts skating backwards towards the centre circle and trades passes back and forth with X2.
Once X1 reaches the centre circle area he pivots towards the net and receives a long pass from X2.
Encourage the players to stay on-side and receive the puck before the blue line.
As players become familiar with the drill add a coach just below the blue line as an obstacle for the players to get around.
The players finish the drill with a shot on net and stop in front of the goalie for a rebound.

Quick Passing and Timing Drill

2011-11-27T22:04:00.000-06:00

This drill is ideal for practicing passing, timing, and going to the net. It can be used for half-ice practices for 10 - 14 players or full ice practices with your team split in half.

Instructions

· X1 starts the drill by making a pass to X3. Then X1 skates around his line and cuts across the neutral zone.

· X2 and X3 pass the puck continuously while X1 skates through the neutral zone. Once X1 crosses the blue line the player with the puck (X2 or X3) passes to X1.

· X1 receives the puck at full speed and drives to the net for a quick shot and stops in front of the goalie for a rebound.

· Encourage players to make crisp passes and to be aware of where X1 is skating to ensure a good pass.

Half Zone Net Drive with Multiple Pass

2011-11-20T19:17:00.000-06:00

This drill is great for practicing a quick net drive and long crisp passes. This drill is ideal for half zone practices or setting up at both ends on full ice.

Instructions

X1 starts the drill by driving hard to the net and releasing a quick shot. X1 stops in front of the goalie for a rebound.
X1 then picks up a puck in the corner and makes a long pass to X5. X5 passes to X2 who then drives the net for a quick shot.
After X1 makes a pass he hustles around the players through the neutral zone and ends up beside X5.

Key Points

Make sure the shooter always stops in front of the goalie for a rebound.
Encourage crisp and accurate passes. The players receiving the puck must always be ready.

Other Options

As players become familiar with the drill add new challenges. For example, in the above diagram X2 can receive the puck in motion and try to one-time the pass.
Another option is to have X1 go to the front of the net for a rebound after passing to X5 and then leave after the second shot.
If you are looking for more net drive drills try net drive attack, outside-in attack, fun rebounds.

Appropriate Hockey Shift Length

2011-11-09T06:04:00.000-06:00

Generally speaking the appropriate minor hockey shift length is about 40 seconds. If a player is on the ice for 40 seconds and competes at 100% of his physical capacity he should be exhausted at the end of the 40 seconds or even sooner. A hockey shift combines aerobic with anaerobic (short bursts) activity – the longer the shift the less likely the player is competing at maximum capacity during those most important short bursts.

If you’re a parent or coach there are a few considerations to factor for shift length. Never let a shift go too long, especially early in a game. Shifts longer than 40 seconds early in the game can kill your team’s energy and momentum. Players need sufficient recovery time early in a game to ensure they have the stamina to compete at 100% of their capacity for the full game.

When do you want shorter shifts (40 seconds or less)?

On a penalty kill – even if players aren’t tired they need to get off to avoid being stuck in their zone
Early in a game – get everyone on the ice and into the game sooner than later
More frequently when a team is in tournament play and has multiple games in a day

When are longer shifts most beneficial (around 1 minute)?

While it is not often, there are a few occasions where a 1 minute shift has benefits
When your team has momentum and is pressing hard at the end of a game to score a goal – usually when your team has consecutive scoring chances
When your power play has scoring momentum – usually when you have puck control and continuous scoring opportunities in the offensive zone

When to cut a shift even shorter?

If a team or group of players (e.g. forward line, d-pairing) is performing poorly - staying on the ice longer discourages improved performance
If the other team scores a goal that could have been prevented with more effort

PA Day Program Sold Out

2011-11-03T21:23:00.000-05:00

The Friday November 18 PA Day program is sold out for player spots. There are 2 goalie spots available and goalies attend at a discounted rate. Click HERE for more info or email phil@northernfreezehockey.com or call 905-582-6603.

How to Score More Goals

2011-10-24T05:55:00.000-05:00

Too many people (including young hockey players) assume scoring is about taking a great shot in the top corner. You can actually teach kids and forwards to score more goals. The majority of goals scored in games take place in the one-zone. The spot right in front of the net labelled ‘1’ in the diagram below.

There are 3 key requirements for scoring more goals.

1. Shoot five-hole frequently

2. Get to the front of the net

3. Stop in front of the goalie

Shoot five-hole frequently

You never miss the net when you shoot five-hole. Sometimes the puck gets through the goalies legs and most of the time a rebound comes out – that’s when most goals are scored.

Drive to the front of the net

This is a tough task for most forwards. Getting to the net means you have to beat back checkers and fight through defenders to get there. Avoid the perimeter - the only way to get there is in a straight line. It’s tiring and requires pure grunt work. When you get there rewards will be found. Click here for drills.

Stop in front of the goalie

This is the toughest requirement of all. I continuously see players skate past the net after a shot - after working hard to get to the net. Stop in front of the net always. Stopping in front of the net is a challenge, and the bigger challenge is taking punishment from the other team’s defenseman while pursuing a rebound. More often than not a rebound is available after a shot and the only place to pounce on the rebound is in front of the net. Click here for drills.

If you think about this as a forward before each game and practice you will score more. Scoring goals is hard work because most of that skill is based on getting to the right places and practicing good habits. You have to be thinking about scoring when you are on the ice. Spend countless hours working on your shot.

Post Hockey Game Discussion with Your Child

2011-10-19T06:25:00.000-05:00

So your child just finished his game and you have a lot to tell him about his performance. There are a few things you want to ensure when you speak to your child about game performance. No matter how you approach this situation your feedback to your child has the most influence of anyone. What you say matters, even when you think they don’t care or even listen – they’re listening.

You know your kid best, so think about how he reacts to your words before rushing into the post-game discussion. Here is some advice to consider:

Be consistent about when you have the discussion (e.g. driving home, at home during the post-game snack, next morning etc.).
Be consistent in your approach. Ask how they felt about the game and listen to it – it sets the stage for your feedback, and they may say something that surprises you.
Always identify a few positives.
The last part focuses on your recommended improvements and corrections for next time.

When you get to the critical part of the discussion pick no more than 3 things you want your kid to work on. Be clear whether you are discussing a concept or a skill. Examples of concepts are work ethic, on-ice awareness and decision making, and positional play. Examples of skills are aspects of skating, passing, shooting etc.

Use the same approach whether your kid played poorly or great. Discussions after a great game are opportunities to understand from your kid’s perspective why they played so well. He felt good after eating something, or maybe his skates were sharper than usual. Ask him what went through his mind during a certain play. There are cues and patterns that you can pick up for preparation and positive reminders for the next game.

Save Oakville Arena

2011-10-16T21:19:00.000-05:00

The Town of Oakville is deciding what to do with the site and future of the Oakville Arena. In my opinion the Town of Oakville needs to seek a heritage designation for the Oakville Arena. Information in a recent local survey to residents in the area indicated it is one of 3 remaining barn-style arenas in Ontario. So why keep this arena and designate it as a heritage building? From a long-term perspective it is significant to our local history and our national sport’s history, it suits the neighborhood, and it can still be utilized in a city that has an incredible demand for ice time.

A heritage designation will ensure the structure and overall appearance of the facility remain intact. Preserving a classic barn-style arena like the Oakville Arena is significant to our national and local history, especially if only 3 remain in the province. Thankfully for me this is a hockey mad nation. We obsess over the sport and everything about it, including our hockey and figure skating history. The Oakville Arena is like your favorite antique - full of character, charm, and mystery. You sometimes look at it and wonder about its journey. If you have ever walked into the Oakville Arena you get that feeling, especially if you have spent time in different arenas.

The outside of the Oakville Arena may not be the most appealing structure however I believe the right designer or architect could give it a face lift. Overall it blends in well with the neighborhood and surrounding parks giving that corner a real community feel. Arenas are community hubs where people socialize, cheer, and come together for a variety of reasons. I believe operating this facility is costly and renovations would be expensive, but even in its current conditions it effectively serves local community and recreation needs. This is important for me because as a hockey instructor and local resident I find there is minimal availability of public ice, especially south of the QEW.

So designate it a heritage building, keep it operating as an ice rink, and if the budget permits a retrofit to make it more appealing on the outside and efficient on the inside.

Halton PA Day Hockey Clinic

2011-10-03T22:21:00.000-05:00

Can you believe that Friday October 7 is already Halton's first PA Day. It's almost here and we are running a full day program at River Oaks. The program starts at 8am and goes till 4pm. We are on the ice for 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.

The program is for the age group 8 - 11 years old. Players will learn and refine their skating, agility, stickhandling, and shooting skills. They will have fun competing in games, races, and scrimmages. Lunch is also provided at this action packed day. Click HERE for more information or email phil@northernfreezehockey.com or call 905-582-6603.

Best Hockey Drill Book

2011-10-01T14:55:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for a great hockey drill book try Dave Chambers' The Hockey Drill Book. This book is a great resource for coaches and trainers. It provides a comprehensive overview of drills for all zones of the ice and for all skills from basic to advanced. The diagrams and explanations are clear and easy to follow. It also provides advice on how to run a practice. If you're looking for some quick drills right now check out my drills 101, 201, 301 and advice on How to Prepare a Practice.

Great Quotes from Dallas Eakins

2011-09-20T21:53:00.001-05:00

Dallas Eakins provides meaningful quotes and insightful answers to media questions. Since the start of the Leafs rookie camp I’ve turned into a big Dallas Eakins fan. Eakins is the coach of the Toronto Marlies (Leafs AHL affiliate) and was the coach at the 2011 Leafs rookie camp. I'm hoping it's only a matter of time (preferably short time) before he replaces Ron Wilson of the Leafs.

If you look at Eakins playing history you’ll see a scroll of a hockey journeyman who played extensively in the minors combined with some limited NHL action (120 games over x years). At 44 he’s experienced North America’s arm pits and finest strips. He’s positive, but not annoyingly positive, and accurately describes the game and player’s potential and abilities.

Here are some of my favourite quotes from the 44 year-old coach coming out of the Leafs rookie camp:

SEP 9

In reference to him and his players… “They walk in there in the mornings and I’m usually just getting off the bike. Or, after practice, they see me going to get on it. ... If I’m going to be a guy who’s hammering on my players about what they eat and what they drink and how they train, for me, I can’t be overweight and unfit and go in there telling them that. I just can’t do it. So, listen, if I’m going to talk the talk, I’d better be ready to walk the walk. I’m doing my best, at my age, to be the best I can with that.”

SEP 11

On Leaf prospect Gardiner… “And what happens is, a lot of times, you get a defenceman that can really skate well, everyone deems him, ‘He’s an offensive guy.’ . . . There’s a lot more to being an offensive defenceman than just being able to skate."

SEP 13

On Leaf prospect Blacker “He loves hockey, it’s crazy… I know this kid totally expects to play in the NHL and I like that, I like to see kids who wear it on their sleeves.”

SEP 14

In reference to undrafted players… “Listen, when you’re a draft pick, you kind of know you’re going to go to the main camp, but good on these tryout guys, they came in and worked their butts off and now it’s something really special for them. Some of the kids are local guys and that’s a really big deal.”

On Leaf prospect Gardiner… “It’s part of the learning process… I’d rather he make his mistakes now. Let’s push the envelope too far and we’ll see the line where we’ve got to pull him back. He’s a smart kid.”

On Leaf prospect Frattin “It’s an inspirational story. A lot of times when a kid gets himself into trouble and makes a couple of bad decisions, gets suspended by his team, they usually disappear and we don’t talk about them again. They’re gone…. “I’m glad to see him here. To be honest when he got into trouble, I thought he was done.”

Hockey Stick Lie

2011-09-18T20:33:00.000-05:00

The lie of a stick generally ranges from 5 to 6. The lie may seem to be the least relevant of all specifications of a stick but it’s somewhat important. The lie indicates how much of a blade ‘lies’ on the ice. The higher the lie the more blade on the ice.

Your preferred lie depends on your blade curve, stickhandling skills, body height, and skating style. A lower lie is less common and more appropriate to skilled players and arguably shorter players.

A higher lie is more common as most players want more of their blade on the ice, especially when they have the puck on their stick. It’s kind of like a smaller and bigger baseball glove. Everyone can catch the ball with a big baseball glove but if you want something more nimble under pressure you go with a smaller glove. Similarly shorter players or nifty stickhandlers may choose a lie closer to ‘5.’

And no, none of this is a lie.

Hockey Slang in the Workplace

2011-09-08T21:12:00.000-05:00

Now that the hockey season is here I expect to hear over use of hockey terms in the workplace across Canada. I would imagine at some point all of you have heard the terms below and wondered what it could mean at the office, and of course many of you know them.

Ragging the Puck - in the office this means to drag something out or buy time to hold out on a decision. From a hockey perspective I'm not sure that in today's fast game anyone is capable of ragging the puck anymore but it was possible in the 70s.

Stickandle - in the office this means take a tough task and navigate through it on your own. From a hockey perspective it's about the same thing. Whatever you do don't pass the puck because no one wants it. This is an ideal task for a puck hog.

Killing a Penalty - this one may not get the credit it deserves. Simply put it usually means an office team is over worked and down an employee or two. Same thing in hockey but you took a penalty to get in this situation.

The Proper Hockey Stick Length

2011-08-31T22:33:00.000-05:00

The appropriate stick length is somewhere between the chin and nose when a player is standing on bare feet. Hold the stick upright with the toe of the blade on the ground and place the stick knob against front of the face. Look straight ahead.

How do you know what is the right length for your child? An upright skater needs the stick length closer to the nose. A lower skater needs a stick length closer to the chin.

Also keep in mind that children have significant growth spurts. If you notice your child holding his stick with his hands too close together this is usually a sign your child has outgrown their stick.

Practice Good Hockey Habits

2011-08-29T21:48:00.000-05:00

I feel like I have written or talked about this too frequently, but good hockey habits are essential for developing hockey players and need to be instilled and practiced early on.

Starting as early as 5 years old and onwards the following habits are essential to proper development:

skating with the stick on the ice (one hand or two hands)
holding stick shoulder width apart with 2 hands
skating with head up
skating with knees bent
lifting feet after each skating stride (don’t drag feet)
keeping feet parallel when turning (don’t drag feet)
never stand still when scrimmaging or playing in a game

September NF Hockey Clinics in Oakville

2011-08-28T07:10:00.000-05:00

Get a head start on the season with NF Hockey's 5 one-hour training sessions in September for 2 different age groups (7 – 9 and 10 – 13 year olds). Classes are limited to 15 players and the cost is $37 + HST. Spaces are filling up quickly. Click HERE for more info and registration.

NF Hockey Knee Bender

2011-08-26T22:15:00.000-05:00

We’re always innovating and trying new training tactics and devices in our R&D room at NF Hockey. The latest device we tried was the Knee Bender or affectionately referred to as the ‘Clothes Line’ by parents in the stands. The Knee Bender is a 42 inch high construction pylon with rope tied across between the pylons.

The Knee Bender worked really well and essentially forced big and small players to stay low when turning and transitioning from one skate to another. We also used the Knee Bender as a fake defender for stickhandling drills.

We’ll be using the Knee Benders at our PA Day and summer programs, and some of our specialty clinics. Additionally the R&D room has come up with another purpose for this device which will be tested at a private session sometime in the fall.

Team White Wins Northern Freeze Cup!

2011-08-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

It was quite the battle all week at NF Hockey's summer program at Sixteen Mile in Oakville. The White Team prevailed over the Blue Team 20-19 by winning their final point in the final scrimmage Friday afternoon.

All players improved, competed hard, and hopefully had some fun too.

NF Hockey Line Leaders

2011-08-02T21:56:00.000-05:00

At our summer programs we identify students who excel at our drills and lead by example. These students are known as line leaders. Line leaders have the privilege of being first in line and wear a different jersey colour during specific skill development hours. The first line leaders are assigned after the Monday of each week and then at various times throughout the week.

There are 2 benefits to the line leaders concept. It creates an incentive for students to be recognized as line leaders. Also, students learn from line leaders who generally have grasped drills and are working through perfecting them.

NF Hockey Evaluations

2011-07-25T21:34:00.000-05:00

Players attending the summer programs will receive a comprehensive written evaluation of their performance. Players are graded in the training areas of skating, agility & turning, stickhandling, shooting, and checking.

Grades range from 1 to 5 where 1 means a skill was acquired and 5 means the player excels at the skill. Grades are based on performance at the program and measured against other players at the program for that week.

Along with the grades are written comments that identify strengths and areas to improve. Parents will receive the evaluation on the Saturday after the week's end.

Northern Freeze Cup

2011-07-24T21:44:00.001-05:00

Players attending NF Hockey's summer programs will compete for the Northern Freeze Cup. This trophy has been in existence since 2001 and has travelled across North America including major stops in Eagle River, Wisconsin and parts of Illinois. Next stop is Oakville.

At the summer programs there are 2 teams. A blue team and a white team. Teams earn points throughout the week to accumulate the most points to win the Northern Freeze Cup. Points are earned during relay races, passing and shooting competitions, and mostly during the final hour of the day which is a refereed scrimmage.

NF Hockey Digger Award

2011-07-23T21:42:00.001-05:00

Players at this summer's hockey programs will be eligible for the NF Hockey Digger award. The Digger award goes to the student exemplifying a positive attitude, hard work, and improvement. This award is handed out twice per week - on Tuesdays and Fridays.

There are a couple of spots left in each program. Please call Phil at 905-582-6603 or email phil@northernfreezehockey.com for more information or click here.

Saturday Morning Clinics Return

2011-07-03T21:29:00.001-05:00

Join us Saturday mornings at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex for our skating, agility, and stickhandling drills. These clinics focus on improving striding technique, side-to-side movement, and using agility when stickhandling. Class size is limited to 15 players and any class with over 12 players has 3 instructors. Click here for full details.

For more information email phil@northernfreezehockey.com or call 905-582-6603.

NF Hockey Pool Big Winners

2011-06-16T05:59:00.001-05:00

Well it's been 2 months and we have our winners! What a finish - it was a true tie for first place! Steve D and Team C finished with 135 points. Team C mounted an incredible come back in the final round and last game. So who won?

Steve D wins the tie breaker which was based on the contestant choosing the total number of goals scored by all teams in the playoffs. Seeing that it was Price is Right rules the contestant closest to the total and under the final amount wins. Steve D took 200 goals and Team C went with 750 and the total number of goals scored this year was 499.

Amidst the tie breaker excitement our commanding third place winner was Liam B who ended up with 122 points and 5 points ahead of fourth place Bruins Dragon Jackie. Thank you to all contestants who participated and congratulations to the winners.

Importance of Hockey School Demonstrations

2011-06-04T13:38:00.000-05:00

At NF Hockey we use a balanced approach to teaching. Within the approach the two main teaching tactics are a clear and concise explanation followed by a skilled demonstration. We use this approach to ensure that students who learn mostly by listening, and those who learn mostly by watching, have a chance to absorb the drill concept. With most explanations students benefit from the explanation and the demonstration. Here is an example of a synchronized demonstration by Phil Simeon and John Di Renzo caught on tape by a parent!

Final Round for NF Hockey Playoff Challenge

2011-06-01T05:44:00.000-05:00

The Stanley Cup finals are here! It's hard to believe the season is still going in June and here we are in the middle of a heat wave in the hockey hotbed of Ontario. I love hockey but there's no doubt the NHL season is too long and brutal for its players.

With the finals comes the deciding round for the top 3 spots in the NF Hockey Playoff Challenge. It looks like first place is essentially locked up for Steve D. He loaded up on Canucks. The real competition is for 2nd and 3rd with a 9 point spread from 2nd (Team C) through 4th (Bruins Dragon Jackie - great name!). Good luck to all contestants and I know I'll be seeing you on the ice soon!

My own take on the finals is that too many Canadians are asserting the Canucks will crush the Bruins. Come on, the Bruins are talented in every position plus they're a formidable force with their speed, strength, and size. I say Bruins in six! Don't fret I haven't made one right call this playoffs.

Summer Hockey School in Oakville

2011-05-24T22:19:00.000-05:00

There are 2 great full day hockey training programs being offered by NF Hockey over two weeks in August. These programs are for players between the ages of 7 to 11. Each day consists of 5 hours of ice time, snacks and nutritious lunches, and off-ice activities including classroom sessions and scavenger hunts.

Your child will have a great learning experience and come out of the program with significantly improved skills. Areas of skills focus include skating, agility, turning, shooting, stickhandling, and passing. There will be fun and competitive games and the final hour of each day will consist of a controlled scrimmage. Click here to learn more.

Skate Sharpening for Youth Players

2011-05-24T22:00:00.000-05:00

Players under the age of 13 should generally not have their skates over sharpened. You may hear your kid complain their skates are too sharp. Extra sharp skates can slow a youth player down, cause them to twist their ankles on sudden stops, and reduce glide as the skates sink into the ice heavily.

Skate blades are too sharp when the hollow (space between inside and outside edge) is too deep. In the above photo a 9 or 11 would be considered too deep a hollow for a youth player.

Extra sharp skates are meant for older players with stronger legs and ankles. They are also meant for harder ice (e.g. in the deep of winter). Youth players should be using a medium to shallow hollow somewhere between a 13 to 18 from the above photo. Which one depends on their skating ability. Stronger and older skaters should use a medium hollow.

Sharpening is an art and science. It takes a well trained hand and eye to sharpen a skate properly. When you take your kids skates to the sharpener next time as the sharpener what type of hollow is appropriate for your kid. If they give you an opinion on it you're in good shape, if not, you better run to the next guy before you end up with a pair of butcher knives.

Hockey Shooting Tips & Technique

2011-05-07T18:13:00.000-05:00

Check list for proper shooting technique:

good knee bend
hands are just under shoulder width apart on the stick
pull the puck behind the back leg and follow through forward to the front leg
weight transfer from back to front leg
complete follow through and point stick at the net
look at the net when following through

Signs of bad habits:

pointing too high at the end of the shot follow through
straightening legs during the follow through
hands too close together
head down

Interesting Notes from the NF Hockey Challenge

2011-04-18T23:15:00.000-05:00

Out of 23 contestants there were some interesting trends. 14 people picked both Sedins... 7 contestants really believe Sidney Crosby will return... only 9 people took Alex Ovechkin - is his popularity fading? 2 people believe in Danny Cleary of the Red Wings.

It's been a great start to the playoffs with a lot of close and emotion packed games - even the Canucks/Hawks series is closer than the 3 - 0 lead suggests. The most surprising thing from this year's playoffs are the number of suspensions already handed out. You can see the standings by clicking here.

Enter the NF Hockey Playoff Challenge

2011-04-12T22:23:00.000-05:00

The second annual NF Hockey Playoff Challenge is here! It's free to play, easy to sign up, and some great prizes. Click here to learn more and pick your Stanley Cup roster in less than 5 minutes! Deadline is 11pm on Wednesday.

My thoughts on this year's playoffs...

You win in playoffs with amazing goaltending, team defense, and clutch scoring. Be careful, the most offensive team is not always built for playoff success.

If you take that simple formula Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh are contenders in the East. Vancouver and San Jose are contenders in the West.

But anything happens in the playoffs especially when you think about all of the 8th place upsets in the past few years. If I had to take sleeper picks I would go with Tampa Bay in the East and Anaheim in the West.

My top playoff pool picks are the Sedins (VAN), Ovechkin (WAS), Perry (ANA), and St. Louis (TBL). The sleeper picks and late round steals are Clowe (SJS), Leino (PHI), and Gagne (TBL)

Good luck!

How to Master a Hockey Skill

2011-04-06T21:36:00.000-05:00

The first step in mastering a skill is grasping the concept and practicing correctly. I often see young players going through skill motions incorrectly. Whether a beginner or intermediate player you will not improve if you are not practicing a drill as perfectly as possible.

I know this sounds intense, but perfection early on is critical to later development and mastery of a skill. When I teach I take a lot of time with a new student to ensure that all skating, stickhandling, and shooting skills are taught with attention to detail.

Grasping a skill or technique may take up to 50 attempts. Once a student grasps a technique the next phase is repetition. You will often hear me stress the importance of repetition. Once a skill is acquired by a young player the next step is to master the skill through heavy repetition.

Heavy repetition means practicing the same skill up to a 1,000 times - yes that's right. That can be over the course of a season or multiple seasons. You might wonder what difference should you see between the 200th and 800th repetition?

Based on my experience I would expect a student in the 200th repetition to be free of awkward movements, gaining confidence, and increasing their speed. By the 800th repetition I expect the student is doing a drill without thinking about it, at maximum speed, and recovering from any minor errors instantly without instruction.

So how do you know when a student has truly mastered a hockey skill? You see them taking what they've practiced at least a thousand times and are now using that skill in a game and it looks natural. It could be multiple cross overs, a quick turn, skating fast when they're tired, stickhandling through a player, and shooting quickly.

Saturday Morning Oakville Hockey Clinics

2011-04-04T20:10:00.000-05:00

This early Saturday morning clinic will focus on 2 core skills over 80 minutes. The first 50 minutes will focus specifically on skating (striding and agility techniques). The final 30 minutes will focus on puck control (moving puck control and creative stickhandling). Players attending this clinic will definitely improve their stride efficiency, speed and agility, and stickhandling skills.

There will be 9 sessions every Saturday morning at River Oaks starting at 7:30am going from April 16 to June 18 (except May long weekend). Students may attend all sessions or any session. Click here for more details.

What are the Most Important Hockey Skills

2011-04-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

One of the most surprising comments I hear from parents with players under the age of 14 are that their children only need to work on stickhandling and shooting. The emphasis is on 'only.' First, let me start by giving these parents credit for admitting and seeking training for their kids.

What surprises me most when I work with these kids is that their skating, agility, and turning are not quite as good as I would expect for a player only seeking stickhandling and shooting work.

My point to this post is that parents should never assume their kids no longer require skating improvement or training. Yes it's important to improve stickhandling and shooting skills but never stop improving skating skills.

Your kid can always become a smoother, more efficient, more agile, and faster skater. Skating speed and agility are what get most players noticed and to the next level. Keep in mind as your kid grows his stride will have to correctly adjust to his bigger frame.

In my opinion always practice and master the following skills in order of importance:

Striding technique - become as efficient as possible by lengthening the stride
Maximize speed - quick foot recovery and arm movement
Agility - crossing over and side to side movement
Turning - deep knee bend and ability to change directions instantly
Puck Control - holding on to the puck while maintaining maximum speed
Stickhandling - being deceptive by moving your hands and shoulders
Shooting - weight transfer and follow through for accuracy
Moving Shooting - feet moving and less predictable
One-Timer - quick release and shot placement

Practice everything and remember, if you can't skate, you won't get very far with the puck, and if you don't get very far, you won't be taking a lot of shots.

Alternatives to Power Drinks

2011-03-18T18:11:00.000-05:00

As a parent you most likely spend a good chunk of change on power drinks like Gatorade and Powerade at the snack bar or vending machines. These drinks are costly when you buy them one at a time and I am not sure the benefits are worth the cost.

There are natural juice boxes that offer similar content at a much cheaper price. Oasis natural juices offer the same benefits or arguably more compared to a power drink and they are much cheaper. Check out the comparison of contents of 500ml of Oasis juice drink compared to Gatorade.

Contents	Gatorade	Oasis
Calories	130	220
Fat	0	0
Trans Fat	0	0
Cholesterol	0	0
Sodium	210mg	40mg
Carbohydrate	32g	56g
Natural Sugar	0	52g
Added Sugar	30g	0
Vitamin C	0	25% DV*
Calcium	0	2%
Iron	0	2%

The main additive in power drinks is sodium. This is to replace the body's salt lost from sweat during and after exercise. Most kids do not require an intense replacement of sodium compared to an adult. Power drinks are suited to hard working athletes starting around the age of 14 and onward. Oasis includes some sodium and probably enough to offset the amount lost from sweat with a youth player.

The other additive in power drinks is sugar whereas in natural juices the sugar is derived from fruit. Juices also include vitamins and minerals. If a juice is too sweet dilute it with some water.

My main point is you do not need to spend money on power drinks. Instead purchase cheaper fruit juices with natural ingredients as an alternative to power drinks. You will save money and get the same benefit.

What to Eat and Drink Before a Hockey Game

2011-03-01T20:36:00.000-06:00

As a youth hockey player (under 18) there are some general rules to follow prior to games:

When to Eat?

Ideally eat a solid meal 3 hours before a game - never eat a solid meal less than 2 hours before a game.
3 hours before a game is ideal and will leave a player almost hungry before a game which is the ideal state (at this point bananas, low sugar snack/protein bars are good to eat).

What to Eat?

A solid meal includes the following:

Chicken and lean beef (no oil, cheese, or cream based sauces)
Rice, kidney beans, chic peas
Pasta (with light tomato sauce, no heavy oils or cheeses)
Vegetables including potatoes, carrots, corn, broccoli, beans, bell peppers, and a light salad (no heavy dressing)

How much to Eat?

If a meal is 3 hours away from game time the portion size can be large
If a meal is 2 hours away keep the portion size small

What Not to Eat?

fast food
heavy sauces on the above foods
cheese, oily meats, chili etc.

What to drink?

Always drink water and start early in the day - water is the best and most important
Drink Gatorade/Powerade for the pre-game snack and also after the game
Do not drink high sugar or caffeine drinks (e.g. pop, sweet juices, red bull etc.)

Upcoming NF Hockey Programs (8 - 11 Years Old)

2011-02-28T19:27:00.000-06:00

Click on any of the program titles to go directly to the details page.

Pre-Tryout Clinics

Tues Mar 29 (6:30 - 8:30pm) Sixteen Mile

Thur Mar 31 (6:00 - 8:00pm) Sixteen Mile

Tues Apr 5 (6:00 - 8:00pm) Joshua's Creek

Thurs Apr 7 (6:00 - 8:00pm) Joshua's Creek

Father/Kid Clinic

Tues May 10 (6:00 - 8:00pm) River Oaks

Summer Programs at Sixteen Mile

August 8 - 12 (8:30am - 4:00pm)
August 15 - 19 (9:00am - 4:30pm)
Supervision is available from 7:45am to 5:15pm.

Private Sessions

Weekdays before 8am after 6pm

Weekends before noon

NF Hockey Supports Halton's Live Free Campaign

2011-02-27T17:35:00.000-06:00

As you may know I am participating in Halton's Live Free Campaign in support of Halton Food For Thought. HFFT ensures hungry kids are fed at school and given a better chance to learn.

I'm participating in the Live Free campaign. The point of Live Free is to give something up for a day. Most of you know I really enjoy coffee and consider this a pretty big sacrifice given that I’ll be a parent any day now (I'll keep you posted on that too).

Please consider donating and know that your money will go directly to purchasing food to feed hungry kids at Halton schools. You can support me in my coffee free day by contributing here. Don't worry I'm not teaching any classes that day!

Finding an Arena Location

2011-02-26T17:41:00.000-06:00

Do you often find you want a simple site that provides maps for all arena locations? There is one and it's called Arenamaps.com. This site is great and provides a quick view of all arena locations. If you want to save even more time go to Google and type in the arena name plus arena maps and it will come up immediately.

How to Prepare a Hockey Practice Plan

2011-02-17T22:10:00.000-06:00

As a minor hockey coach you usually have limited time on the ice for your practice. That means you need to be ready and have a plan to get the most from your ice time. In most cases a one hour practice is 50 minutes on-ice which is not a lot of time for developing players.

When you plan a practice you need to think about where you are in the season. Early in the season you want to spend some time on skills, resistance drills (e.g. 1 v 1), and fitness. After the first couple of weeks you want to introduce team concepts usually starting with positional play in your own end, neutral zone, and then the offensive zone.

The key practice planning themes with advice are provided below.

Number and Timing of Drills

In a 50 minute practice you should be planning 5 - 7 drills. If it's a skills practice try 7 drills and if it's a team concept practice try 5 drills. An important consideration is the time needed to explain each drill. Plan for up to 2 minutes for new drills and 1 minute for repeat drills.

Staff Support

If you have coaching staff use them. Before each practice take 7 - 10 minutes to walk them through each drill and let them know what they can do for each drill. This includes anything from giving them a chance to explain a drill, participate in a drill, or put pucks and cones in certain places. Using your coaching staff is essential to your time management.

Equipment

Make sure you have a marker board. A marker board is essential for walking your coaches through scenarios and also explaining drills to your team, especially new drills. Also ensure you have a bag that includes pucks, cones, whistles, extra equipment, and a hockey TUL. If you have everything in one bag you won't forget anything and you can bring it out on the ice all at once - another time saving technique.

Communication

Think about where you are in the season and what you want to tell your coaches and players prior to the practice and the mood you want to set on the ice. As a coach you are the one that sets the tempo and tone of the practice. Your energy level and messages effect the mood and performance of the players - never underestimate this importance.

Take time to explain drills clearly and allow players to ask a limited number of questions. This will clarify any confusion and minimize the number of times you interrupt a drill in practice.

Want More

NF Hockey offers team instruction and works with coaches to design practice plans. There are also a number of drills available on this site (Drills 101, 201, and 301).

Hockey Drills: What to do in The Offensive Zone

2011-02-12T21:15:00.000-06:00

The purpose of this drill is to encourage players to stay composed under pressure when they have the puck in the offensive zone. Players tend to want to throw the puck away blindly when they are under pressure. This drill introduces the puck handler to a few options while also encouraging the other players to get open and give the puck handler passing or outlet options.

F1 handles the puck in the corner while X1 and X2 skate around him
After 15 seconds coach blows the whistle and X1 and X2 stop
F1 on the whistle looks to pass to D1 or F3 or potentially fires the puck around the boards to the opposing D2
Discourage player from passing to F2 or D2 as these areas are usually congested with opposition players

Time to Fire NHL Executives

2011-02-10T21:23:00.001-06:00

It's time to get rid of Gary Bettman. I reluctantly admit that he has done a couple of good things for the league including the salary cap and introducing rules to open up the game to encourage more skating and scoring.

Like many corporations you need change when an executive is incapable of bringing business into a new era. Let's briefly talk about Bettman's failures. Failed NHL expansion, a shut down season in 2003/04, a poor relationship with the NHLPA, too close to owners and GMs, and no consistent punishment policy for dangerous play and head shots. Also, his attempt at making his own Bobblehead.

It's also time to get rid of Colin Campbell. I cannot really identify anything he's done beneficial to the league. As senior VP of operations he has done nothing strategic and continues to make inconsistent decisions on league punishment, suspensions, and referees. Campbell has made some serious blunders including wrongfully dismissing referee Dean Warren based on a conflict of interest situation that involved his son. Read more.

What's Needed...

The league's stars are in danger because of the inability of both executives to come up with a dangerous player punishment policy. The league needs a consistent policy for intentional dangerous plays starting with head shots, hits from behind, and other vicious plays.

Any time a player intentionally attempts or injures a player there is an automatic suspension without pay of 20 games. Any plays that are not clearly intentional but have a vicious outcome are assessed a minimum 10 games suspension without pay. Also, players are not allowed to practice while under suspension and must go through some type of psychological assessment and anger management training.

Severe consequences should shift player behavior and if not, those causing all the damage won't be on the ice.

Give up on league expansion and reduce the number teams. Get rid of Atlanta, Phoenix, Nashville, and Florida. Make sure Toronto gets another team as well as any other Canadian city that proves their financially viable.

Hockey Drills: Neutral Zone Transition Offensive Attack

2011-02-10T21:23:00.000-06:00

This drill is good for teaching players how to transition in the neutral zone. As a coach you want to teach players to fill lanes and support the puck to provide passing options. It's important for players to keep moving and not stand still.

Point of this drill is to keep players in position and moving as the puck transitions in the neutral zone
Position players as shown in the diagram before starting
The drill starts with C passing to D1, at that point all 3 players skate quickly to the blue line and regroup and look for a pass from D1
Always start with keeping positional play simple on the regroup – as players understand the concept allow them to fill the lanes
Once the regroup with D1 takes place, the player who received the pass from D1 passes to D2
Players regroup with D2 and return up the ice on a 3 v1 with D1

Hockey Drills: Breakout Concept with Pressure

2011-02-04T21:03:00.000-06:00

This main purpose of this drill is to encourage defensemen to make decisions in their own end under pressure. The defenseman is required to look and make a decision to pass to a forward while opposition players (or sharks) skate around him. If you are looking for breakout positioning click here.

Set up F1 and F2 as shown in the diagram
Use one of the d-zone circles to start the drill
All 3 players stay in the circle
D handles puck and moves around while X1 and X2 skate around him
Coach blows whistle in about 15 seconds, at that time X1 and X2 stop
D looks to pass to either F1 or F2, either way F1 cuts across ice to support passer
C (Coach) acts as point defender
Forwards break out of the zone and attack the opposition net 2 v 0
As players adapt to the drill you can continue to add more players and have the drill end 2 v 1, 2 v 2, and 3 v2

Hockey Drills: Neutral Zone Basic Flow

2011-01-30T10:21:00.000-06:00

This drill encourages player movement throughout the neutral zone. Players learn to maximize space and create passing lanes for the puck carrier. While it's important to encourage accurate passes it's equally as important ensuring players create passing options.

Drill Explanation

X2 starts the drill and skates through the face off dot to the middle line
Once X2 skates through the dot X1 takes a few strides and looks and makes a pass to X2
As X2 is receiving the puck X3 takes off through the neutral zone towards the boards
X2 looks for X3 cutting across the ice (from boards to mid-line) and makes pass
X3 drives net for a shot
X1 becomes X2, and X2 becomes X3

Sign Up for Halton's PA Day Clinic

2011-01-19T21:57:00.000-06:00

When: Monday January 31

Where: Sixteen Mile Sports Complex

Time: 8:00am - 4:30pm

This is a great program for players who love the game! We are on the ice for 5 hours and cover all skills while still having fun too. This program includes a jersey, a nutritious lunch, and off-ice classroom activities.

To register and find out more about this program click here. Or email phil@northernfreezehockey.com or call 905-582-6603.

Hockey Drills: Half Zone Multiple Pass with Shot

2011-01-09T20:50:00.000-06:00

This drill is great early on or later in a practice. This drill encourages quick puck movement with multiple passes in a give an go format. Another important concept is puck support for the player leading the drill. You can use this drill in a 1 v 0 or 2 v 0 format.

The drill starts with X1 making a pass to the closest stationary player in between the hash marks. He moves toward the stationary player to support the puck and receive a pass, once X1 receives the puck back he snaps the puck back to the next stationary player, receives and then passes to the stationary player at centre.

While the player at centre holds the puck X1 skates to the opposite side of the ice, goes wide and receives the pass on side. It's important for the player to stay on side, drive the net hard, and look for a rebound.

2011 Canada World Jr Roster - League Representation

2010-12-31T20:39:00.000-06:00

Team Canada's junior roster has the following league representation on its roster:

WHL - 9

OHL - 7

QMJHL - 4

NCAA - 2

Hockey Drills: Net Drive Attack with Options

2010-12-27T22:33:00.000-06:00

Teaching players to drive the net takes time. It's a mentality that develops over years of practice and drilling into player's minds. Driving the net is a gritty skill and something that is referred to as 'paying the price.' If you are looking for more information on the importance and value of a net drive click here. I have also posted a drill similar to this one which you can compare by clicking here. These drills are simple but as a coach you want to emphasize that players jam the middle of the ice when attacking the net (i.e. no one stays on the perimeter).

The best method for teaching players to drive the net is to move through different drills without resistance first. The outcome of driving the net is a scoring chance. A scoring chance most commonly comes from a direct shot on net followed by a rebound. This drill simulates a hard net drive with the coach deciding whether to shoot or pass.

As a coach encourage your players to skate to the net as fast as possible and stop in front of the goalie. You can fire a crisp low shot towards the net for a tip in, fire a hard shot at the goalie for a rebound , or a make a pass to one of the players driving the net. Force players to think and make sure they stop in front of the goalie before the drill ends.

Skills and Practice: Hockey Face Off Technique

2010-12-14T20:55:00.000-06:00

Here are some key tips for face offs before the puck is dropped:

Have a strategy and look around before entering the face off circle
Number one rule is to watch the puck in the referee's hand.
Keep hands at least shoulder width apart and farther apart if shorter
Keep a deep knee bend and feet wide apart
Turning your bottom hand on the stick is an option however learning to take face offs with your hands in their natural position on the stick is preferred.

Have a look at the photos and check out the players' stance. They are low to the ground and heavy on their stick. Once the puck is released from the ref's hand there are different methods for defeating the other centre man:

Using straight up speed and hand-eye coordination to win a clean face off (this happens less than 25% of face offs
Slap the other centre man's stick blade as the puck is dropping and pull the puck away as it's dropped, or spin your body into the other centre man's body as the puck is dropping
Lift the other centre man's stick as the puck is dropping, spin your body into the other centre man and use your feet or stick to gain possession of the puck

Sign up for Oakville Christmas Hockey Clinic

2010-12-10T17:05:00.000-06:00

This clinic is about a week away! Are you looking for extra ice time and training for your kids? This clinic offers 5 hours of ice time per day for a total of 15 hours in 3 days! It’s for ages 11 – 14 and runs from Monday December 20th to Wednesday December 22nd. You can go for 1, 2, or all 3 days. Find out more by clicking here or email phil@northernfreezehockey.com or call 905-582-6603.

The program includes a nutritious lunch, a jersey, and off-ice activities that are informative and fun. The purpose of the program is to provide players with a full range of skill development over 3 days. The skill sets taught include skating, agility, passing, stickhandling, and shooting. There are also periods of competitive games, and 3 on 3s.

Hockey Drills: Give and Go with Shot

2010-12-08T22:33:00.000-06:00

This drill is great for teaching the give and go skill. Let players know the puck moves faster than the player.

X2 starts the drill and calls for a pass from X1. Once X2 receives the puck from X1 he stops at the pylon. X1 does not take off until X2 has stopped. Once X2 has stopped X1 takes off and calls for the puck, once he receives the puck he stops. X2 waits before taking off.

X2 takes off and calls for the pass from X1. This time X1 takes off right away and goes around the neutral zone pylon and drives through the centre lane. He receives a pass from X2 (try to stay on side) and drives the net for a shot. X1 follows him for a rebound after making the pass.

Be patient, this drill will take a few attempts before players understand the concept. As they improve, have them turn around the pylon instead of stopping before their pass - this keeps them in motion.

Hockey Instruction Video: Proper Stops and Starts

2010-11-30T20:56:00.000-06:00

Check out the instructional video clip from NF Hockey's Phil Simeon. Each week Phil offers a tip of the week. This week's tip focuses on the proper techniques for stopping and starting. The resolution improves when you press play.

2010/11 NHL Player Nationalities Breakdown

2010-11-27T21:40:00.000-06:00

Do you know where Thomas Vanek is from?

Check out the chart below with the 2010/11 breakdown of player nationalities in the NHL which includes player notables. Canadians make up 54% of all players, Americans 23%, and next are Swedes 6%. The nation that is surprisingly low is Russia with 3%. The KHL has definitely made a negative impact on the number of Russians playing in the NHL.

Nation	2010/11	Player Notables
Canada	390	Crosby PIT, Stamkos TBL, Sharp CHI
USA	166	Kane CHI, Gionta MTL, Kessel TOR
Czech Republic	34	Hejduk COL, Plekanec MTL, Havlat MIN
Sweden	46	Sedin x 2 VAN, Backstrom WAS
Finland	19	Koivu x 2 MIN ANA, Selanne ANA
Russia	22	Ovechkin WAS, Semin WAS, Malkin PIT
Slovakia	10	Hossa CHI, Gaborik NYR, Chara BOS
Germany	6	Ehrhoff VAN, Goc NSH, Seidenberg BOS
Denmark	5	Nielson NYI, Regin OTT, Hansen VAN
Austria	3	Vanek BUF, Nodl PHI, Grabner NYI
Belarus	4	Kostitsyn x 2 MTL NSH, Grabovski TOR
Latvia	3	Skrastins DAL, Ivanans CGY, Bartulis PHI
Switzerland	3	Niederreiter NYI, Sbisa ANA, Weber MTL
Ukraine	3	Fedotenko NYR, Ponikarovsky LAK, Babchuk CGY
Kazakhstan	1	Antropov ATL
Lithuania	1	Zubrus NJD
Norway	1	Holos COL
Poland	1	Wolski PHX
Slovenia	1	Kopitar LAK

Stats are from NHL.com

Understanding Shooting Percentage and Goal Scoring

2010-11-26T22:28:00.000-06:00

Is Saku a Sniper?

There is no doubt the more you shoot the greater your chances of scoring. Shooting percentage counts the number of goals scored out of the number of shots that hit the net. Missed shots or blocked shots do not count in that tally.

Quick calculations from NHL.com show that the top third of all players score in the 10% range - basically scoring once in 10 shots. There are two types of scorers - heavy shooters and those who shoot selectively.

What's the difference? Heavy shooters - shoot at every opportunity and have a knack for hitting the net. Generally they have a goals to assist ratio of 1:1 or less. The selective scorers look to shoot when they are in a position that increases their chances of scoring. Generally they have a goals to assist ratio of 1:2 or more.

What's the point? Shooting more does not necessarily make you a better goal scorer. Pure goal scorers are accurate shooters and put themselves in positions to score. A combination of being in the right place at the right time and accurately firing the puck at the net.

I would never have guessed but at the time of this posting the NHL's sharpest shooter is Saku Koivu of Anaheim. He is scoring on 27% of his shots (9/33). Definitely, a selective scorer.

The heavy shooters in 2010/11 are Patrick Sharp at 13.5% (14/104), Ovechkin at 9.8% (10/102), and Jeff Carter at 11.5% (11/96). You would most likely be surprised to hear that Ovechkin only scores once out of every 10 shots.

The selective scorers in 2010/11 are Steve Stamkos at an incredible 24% (21/88), Milan Lucic at 23% (10/43), and Daniel Sedin at 22% (13/58).

If you want to see the most recent top shooters click here.