HockeyStars Blog

Junior - a look behind the scenes of the junior leagues

The HockeyStars Team — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:02:58 -0800

Filmmakers Isabelle Lavigneith and Stéphane Thibault embedded themselves in Baie-Comeau, Quebec with major junior hockey league Drakkar, to make a feature documentary called Junior. Described by the NFB as, "a vivid picture of behind-the-scenes life in a sporting world where teenagers prepare to become the stars of tomorrow." The film promises to examine the pressures faced by teen athletes. They go on to say, "Hockey becomes a rite of passage to adulthood – one through which the players are driven at high speed. These developing athletes are subject to a rigid training schedule. At the same time, they are employees of a private company concerned with its profits.

Willie O'Ree the first black man to play in the NHL

The HockeyStars Team — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:29:52 -0800

Willie O'Ree started playing hockey in his backyard at the age of 5 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He was a 22 wing man playing for the Quebec Aces when he got the call to play for the Bruins in game against the Montreal Canadiens. O'Ree didn't tell them that he was 95% blind in his right eye - a fact that might have hampered his chances of being recruited. So on the night of Jan. 18, 1958, he turned pro donning jersey #22 on ice at the Montreal Forum, and earned the distinction of being the first black man to play a game in the NHL. He went on to play a total of 45 games with the Bruins, and countless more for the AHL, EPHL, QHL and WHL - where he played for 14 years.

Hot Shots

The HockeyStars Team — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:47:56 -0800

HockeyStars are fluent in the four basic types of shots: the shovel shot, slapshot, the wrist shot and the backhand shot. A fifth vital shot, the snap shot, is a combination of the wrist shot and the slapshot. Players who master these shots are prepared to meet the challenges of the game and increase opportunities for scoring. All of these shots can be practiced off ice. Try using a sheet of hard plastic (like a plastic toboggan) on a flat surface at least 4 feet by 1 foot wide and shoot against a cement wall for a target. Here are a few video samples to demonstrate the techniques of each shot.

Kim’s 4 Top Nutrition Tips for 2009

Coach Kim — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:24:37 -0800

I am making some big changes in the way I eat for 2009 to increase my performance (going from very good to excellent). But I don’t recommend players make any big changes until you have taken care of these 4 simple changes first.

1. Eat Less Sugar
Not all sugars are created equal. You need carbohydrates in order for your brain and muscles to function optimally, and all carbohydrates are sugars. Some sugars are better than others though. Stay away from the processed and refined sugars (aka anything white) and eat carbohydrates with more fiber. Fiber helps to keep you full and are typically present in healthier foods with the complex carbohydrates you need for sustained energy.

Eating a lot of sugar before hitting the ice will take your energy levels through the roof for a short time, and will then send you crashing down faster than you went up on the sugar high. You’ll feel great for the 3 minute warm-up and your first few shifts, and then you’ll feel like the energy just got sucked right out of you.

2. Eat Less Salt
I recently read a research study showing that kids who eat more salt tend to eat more refined sugars (see why that’s bad in #1). Eating too much salt also has a tendency to make dehydrate the body, which decreases mental and physical performance (see tip #4 below). I was never a big fan of salt myself (I am much more of a chocoholic) but here are a few tips on how to reduce your salt intake. First, don’t add extra salt to your food. Second, try to avoid fast food. These restaurants use salt not only to flavor the food, but to help preserve it as well. The food may not taste overly salty, but trust me, it’s in there.

3. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Did you know you are supposed to eat between 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables per day? Are you even close to that amount? I definitely didn’t eat enough fruits and vegetables as a young hockey player. I had the occassional apple and the odd salad here and there, but I was no where close to getting 7 servings, let alone 13! An easy way to start getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet is to eat a piece of fruit with every meal (maybe afterwards as a sweet treat) and to have a BIG salad loaded with a bunch of different vegetables. I won’t go into all the science of why you need to eat more fruits and veg, but trust me, you will feel better and play better if you do.

4. Drink More Water
This is my #1 nutrition tip for 2009. Most people are chronicially dehydrated and it has negative effects on all aspects of their lives. Water makes up about just over 60% of your body, 75% of your muscles and 80% of your brain. Poor hydration adversely affects both your physical and mental performance. Symptoms of mild dehydration may include fatigue, reduced alertness and an inability to concentrate. None of which you want when you want to perform your best on and off the ice. Carry a water bottle (with water in it) at all times and drink from it consistently throughout the day. Don’t wait until you are thirsty - by that point, you are already dehydrated. Being adequately hydrated is easiest way to increase your performance so drink up!

Start using these nutrition tips today and take your performance to a whole new level in 2009.

What changes can you make to your current nutrition plan to incorporate these tips?

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim

Originally published on Total Female Hockey Club.

Your Hockey Nutrition Goals

Coach Kim — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:07:25 -0800

When it comes to improving your hockey nutrition, setting specific goals is absolutely critical.

And so is being realistic.

Saying you are going to “eat healthier” is a good goal to have for the second half of the season. But it’s even better to say that you are going to eat 5 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables per day to achieve that bigger goal.

Saying that you are going to drink more water is an great goal, but saying that you are going to drink 2 liters of water a day is even better.

Saying that you are going to avoid junk food is an OK goal, but is it realistic for you? If you only have the occasional cookie or bag of chips, it might be. But if you are a junk-food-aholic (like I was until the age of 14), going cold turkey is going to be really hard. Instead of saying that you are going to avoid junk-food completely, allow yourself to have 2 treats a week.

When you are going to have a treat - be conscious of it. Are you having it just because it is there or because you really want it? Maybe you see it as a reward or a treat that you have each night on the weekends. Just don’t find yourself laying on the couch throwing back chip after chip just because they are there.

What are your specific (and realistic) nutrition goals for the second half of the season?

Share them below and start taking action toward your goal of eating healthier.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim

Originally published on Total Female Hockey Club.

Your Hockey Workout Goals

Coach Kim — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:48:22 -0800

The majority of adults who set a new year’s resolution probably said that they were going to exercise more in 2009. Even though most hockey players don’t have a problem with not exercising enough, they still need to set off-ice training goals for the second half of the season if they want to take their game to the next level.

You might already be on the ice almost every day of the week and may think that you don’t need to get any more exercise to be fit for hockey.

Wrong.

Off-ice training will dramatically increase your on-ice performance, even when you start it half-way through the season.

Unlike what happens on the ice, you usually have complete control over what you choose to do (or not do) off the ice. Ten years ago, girls hockey players who trained off the ice were hard to find. Now it is a necessity if you want to get to that next level.

Setting your goals for off-ice training for the next 12 weeks are just as important as the on-ice performance and nutrition goals that you may have already set for yourself. In fact, they can have an even more dramatic effect than you might think, since most girls hockey players don’t do any off-ice training during the in-season. You can set yourself apart from your competition simply by dedicating yourself to working out off the ice in the second half of the year.

So what will your workout goals be for the second half of the season?

- To be able to hold a perfect front plank position for 2 minutes?
- To be able to do 20 perfect push-ups?
- To do your first chin-up?

If you set your weekly goals properly, you should be able to achieve any of these BIG goals in the next 12 weeks. You aren’t just wake up one morning and be able to rattle off 5 chin-ups.

You are going to have to work for it.

Set a deadline for when you are going to achieve your workout goal and then put together your action plan to get there.

That might mean that you shoot for doing 5 perfect push-ups this week.

And then 10 in 2 weeks.

And then 15 in 4 weeks.

I guarantee you that getting stronger, faster and fitter off the ice will move you closer to any of the BIG goals you have set for yourself on the ice.

Set them and then work hard to achieve them.

What is your off-ice training goal for the next 12 weeks?

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim

Originally published on Total Female Hockey Club.

Why 2009 Will Be Better Than 2008

Coach Kim — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:25:03 -0800

I recently spent three days snowshoeing in the middle of nowhere with my best friend in the whole wide world. We have known each other since we were 5 years old and were teammates for almost 15 years. We always pushed and inspired each other to be the best we could be on and off the ice. Neither of us play elite women’s hockey any more, but our desire and drive to be the best hasn’t changed one bit.

Many girls hockey players learn all about the importance of hard work on the rink, but it transfers over to absolutely everything else we do in life.

It was my focus and determination to be the best female hockey player possible that helped me to go from a non-skating 13 year old to a Division 1 player in five years.

It was my tireless work ethic and positive attitude that allowed me to go from being buried on the fourth line to skating on the first line in three years at Dartmouth.

Now that I have stepped away from that high-level of hockey, I am using all those attributes I learned on the ice to help me to reach my goals on my bike and in my business.

2008 has been a year of “firsts” for me:

=> I finished my first season of mountain bike racing by winning a title, breaking my bike and sustaining only a minor concussion. What can I say, I ride my bike like I used to play hockey - with reckless abandon and a huge smile on my face.

=> I started Total Female Hockey and feel completely blessed to be in a position where I can help aspiring players move closer to their dreams.

2008 was amazing and my 2009 is going to be unbelievable.

In fact, it is going to be the best year of my life.

Because I have decided that I am going to make it happen.

I have set my sights high and I have a plan of how I am going to get there.

Do you?

The “secrets” to success are simple:

=> Know what you want.
=> Plan how you are going to get there.
=> Believe that it is possible.
=> Work Hard and Dream BIG.

Looking forward to a great 2009.

~ Coach Kim

Originally published on Total Female Hockey Club.

The Magic of Chocolate Milk

Coach Kim — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:52:30 -0800

Mmmmm…chocolate milk. I drank way too much of the stuff when I was a kid - always trying to pass it off that I was really drinking “milk”. Deep down inside, I knew it probably wasn’t what the commercials had in mind when they said, “Milk - It Does A Body Good”.

But…As it turns out, chocolate milk does do a body good. Scientific research has shown that chocolate milk is one of the best recovery drinks for athletes to have after they finish a tough workout or game.

1% chocolate milk has the perfect blend of:

–> Simple sugars (carbohydrates) from the chocolate that will get absorbed by the body quickly in order to immediately replenish lost energy stores

–> Protein from the milk that will help the muscles recover from the wear and tear of the on-ice (or off-ice) session.

Athletes ideally need a carbohydrates-to-protein ratio of 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 after exercise. Chocolate milk has that ratio; unflavored milk doesn’t. It turns out that I was on to something when I was a kid - except that I drank it by the jug and definitely did not restrict my consumption for after practices and games.

Chocolate milk just might be the perfect hockey recovery drink. It tastes great and helps players to recover faster.

Sounds pretty perfect to me.

Until next time,
~Coach Kim

Originally published on Total Female Hockey Club.

Which Habs book is for you?

Joe Pelletier — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:25:32 -0800

It comes as no surprise that there are several high quality books out this year on the Montreal Canadiens. Hockey's greatest team is celebrating it's centennial, after all, and authors, publishers and book sellers are playing a big role in giving fans a taste of Montreal history to take home with them.

There are four main titles for you to consider, plus a DVD:

Habs Heroes: The Definitive List of the 100 Greatest Canadiens Ever
Ken Campbell/The Hockey News
THN senior writer Ken Campbell polled a panel of experts to come up with a definitve 1-through-100 ranking of the top Montreal Canadiens players of all time. Campbell then goes about writing brief biographies for this action packed book. There's plenty of colour photography to compliment the great writing. Published by The Hockey News/Transcontinental Books.

Honoured Canadiens
Andrew Podnieks
When the Montreal Canadiens and the Hockey Hall of Fame got together to work on this joint project, they instantly sought the services of hockey super author Andrew Podnieks. With Podnieks' great research and writing abilities, and the Hall's amazing and exclusive photography, this book looks at each of the 54 Montreal Canadiens players, coaches and builders who have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The design and layout are spectacular, with the imagery unmatchable. And Podnieks does a good job of covering each enshrinee with great detail. The only thing more noticeable than the striking cover is the shrink wrap around it that prevents you from peeking inside. Publisher HB Fenn authorized a sneak peek inside here at HockeyBookReviews.com

The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory
D'Arcy Jenish
This book appears to be the early popular favorite, appearing on the Globe And Mail's best seller list earlier this season, one of only two hockey books to do so this fall. Jenish retraces Montreal's long history through the words of Montreal's sports writers over the years. He must have spent countless hours researching and compiling this work, but it pays off big time. He offers a unique, thorough, and honest history of the Canadiens, warts and all. It is not a history written through nostalgia-coloured glasses like every other Habs history title.

Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else
Michel Roy
This Patrick Roy biography, written by his father Michel Roy, is the English release of the 2007 French mega hit Le Guerrier. Roy remains in the news despite retiring from NHL competition, so this book will be of great interest to many fans, and not just Montreal fans. The book is a little long-winded, but you get an honest look into one of hockey's leading personalities. Roy was at times mysterious and at other times down right controversial. This book looks into it all.

So which is the best?

1. The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory by D'Arcy Jenish
2. Honoured Canadiens by Andrew Podnieks
3. Habs Heroes by Ken Campbell/The Hockey News
4. Patrick Roy: Winning, Nothing Else by Michel Roy

There is another book coming in January 15th, 2009. Wiley is reproducing the classic Lions in Winter by Chrys Goyens and Alan Turowetz. It's actually the third edition of this blast from the past.

Oh yes, about that DVD. It's called Montreal Canadiens Greatest Games. Here's the disk lineup:

1. 2/19/08 vs. Rangers (Habs come back from 5-0 down)
2. 11/23/03 vs. Oilers (Heritage Classic)
3. 3/11/96 vs. Stars (Last game at the Forum)
4. 6/9/93 vs. Kings (Habs win 23rd and last Stanley Cup)
5. 5/24/86 vs. Flames (Habs win 22nd Cup)
6. 4/20/84 vs. Nordiques (Adams Division Final, Game 6)
7. 5/10/79 vs. Bruins (Too many men on the ice. Semi-final Game 7)
8. 5/14/77 vs. Bruins (Habs win 2nd of Four Cups in a row)
9. 12/31/75 vs. Red Army (Tretiek puts on a show vs Habs on New Year's Eve)
10. 4/14/60 vs. Maple Leafs (Habs win 5th consecutive Stanley Cup)

Give me back my mask!

Joe Pelletier — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:07:33 -0800

As we all know goalies used to play every game without a mask. That all changed by the 1970s as the new generation of goalies all donned facial protection. They wouldn’t even think of stopping pucks without their mask.

So that makes one particular incident in the playoffs of 1971 very interesting. A line brawl broke out in game two of the series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. A long delay ensued because one of the Rangers forwards, Vic Hadfield, threw Toronto goalie Bernie Parent’s mask into the crowd of Madison Square Gardens.

New York fans are renowned for their antics, so you knew right away they were not going to give the mask back to the opposition’s goaltender. Toronto executive King Clancy, still as fiesty as he was when he played the game decades earlier, stormed into the hostile crowd after the mask. This got the police involved on the search but that mask was never to be seen again.

In those days it was too expensive to create and carry spare masks. With the game already out of hand, Parent took to the bench and let back up goalie Jacques Plante finish the game.

Leave a comment.

Hockey: a game of mistakes

Coach Kim — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:24:04 -0800

When was the last time you watched a game and saw one of the teams execute a perfect breakout or score a tic-tac-toe powerplay goal? There is a reason that when you see it happen on TV, the announcers get so excited about it…because those “perfect” plays happen so infrequently.
A coach of mine used to always say, “The ice is slippery. Take advantage of it.”

Mistakes are going to happen and it is those teams and players who recover quickly that are going to excel. You can be focused and confident before you head out of the dressing room - but how do you react when those mistakes happen on the ice? You have to regroup quickly and refocus on the task at hand. It is the ability to regain your composure quickly that separates the “great” teams and players from the “good” ones.

Let It Go

The most critical thing to do after you have made a mistake during a game is letting it go and to forget about it as quickly as possible. This is often “easier said than done” - especially when you score on your own net or miss a sure goal on an open net. No matter how big you think the mistake was, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to change it. It is now in the past and you can't go back in time and make it go away.

But you do have control over how you react after a mistake.

When you react negatively to a mistake, whether outwardly (like slamming your stick against the boards) or inwardly (by telling yourself that you can't do anything right), you let that mistake take control of you. And you need to stay focused on what you can control. You can't control what happened in the past. You have the choice to either let the mistake get to you or to move on. Since there is absolutely no benefit to dwelling on the mistake, the choice is clear: you have let it go.

One tool that has always worked well for many players is to think about “flushing” their mistakes down the toilet. I know, it sounds a little strange -
but trust me, it works. When you get back to the bench after a tough shift, just take your mistake and “flush it”. Once you “flush it”, it is gone forever - or at least until after the game when you want to take the time to re?ect on both the positive and negative aspects of your performance.

The most important thing is that you move on immediately. Because in hockey, a few seconds can change everything. And your ability to control your mental game can completely transform your physical game.

Until next time,
~Coach Kim

Originally published on Total Female Hockey Club.

World's largest hockey stick

Miss 604 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:35:31 -0800

In 1986 the Canadian Government paid for a large hockey stick (207 feet long to be exact) to be put into place in Vancouver for our world fair, Expo 86. When it was all over, the town of Duncan, BC over on Vancouver Island, won a contest and became the permanent home of the stick.

It's been deemed the "World's Largest Hockey Stick" although there is a city in Minnesota that has the "World's Largest Freestanding Hockey Stick" outside the US Hockey Hall of Fame. This other stick is 110 feet long and weighs over 10,000 pounds.

Some say that Duncan's stick shouldn't count since it's just a "sculpture" and the one in Eleveth, Minnesota is actually a "real stick". No matter the dispute, it's just kind of fun to see hockey commemorated this way.

There are also others, such as Tim Schmalz, who actually think that there should be something more commemorative and permanent for all of Canada to enjoy. He's on a mission to make a 50-foot sculpture in the name of Canadian hockey, giving us all a national monument for the sport.

He started out on the East coast earlier this year and by this time next year he should reach BC. He's crossing the country, sculpting, and adding to the piece bit by bit, while collecting donations from Canadians to keep it going; this way it will be our monument and not something built by a corporate sponsor. By the end he hopes it will reach the goal height and then it will be cast in bronze. It also hasn't been decided where it will be placed, but several cities have already expressed an interest.

Hockey evolved in Canada and to many it's more than simply our national (winter) sport. It's a lifestyle, a community-builder and something to be proud of. Any structure, sculpture, or giant puck (or maybe even net) in honor of this dedication and camaraderie is a good thing in my books.

Brady Brady's bunch of hockey books

Joe Pelletier — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:09:30 -0800

I love children's hockey titles. Not only do these books introduce kids to the great sport of hockey, they also, and far more importantly, get kids hooked on reading. I consider it a great duty to pass on information about kid's hockey books because of this.

Reviewing kids hockey books is not easy though, because different stories are better for some kids than others. I really encourage all parents to thoroughly screen each title before buying, as no one knows their kid better.

I completely admit that I can often have trouble reviewing kids books because a) I'm not a kid and b) the kids that came into my life are teenagers, not little ones. There are no shortage of kid's titles to choose from in 2008, but I could never really suggest a book that would be perfect for every kid.

Until now.

I was recently introduced into a series of books called Brady Brady. The kid in me was instantly taken by the cartoonish illustrations and the brilliant use of colour. It is sure to catch anyone's eye. And better yet I was then wowed by the fun story telling complete with strong moral messages. Fun plus a good message is the necessary equation for any kid's title that I am going to endorse, and Brady Brady tops the list!

Aimed at boys and girls ages 4 through 8, Brady Brady is about a boy named Brady and his love of hockey. With his family, his friends, and his dog Hat Trick, Brady Brady goes on all sorts of adventures and learns great lessons on and off the ice.

Each 32-page book makes reading a fun experience, and promotes common themes such as sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play. That is the biggest reason why school boards across Canada and the United States recognize the series and include it in libraries and curriculum.

To top it all off all the books are extremely reasonably priced, with the jacket price at $7 Canadian! All titles are available at Amazon.ca and Chapters. You can also order copies individually or in multiples at www.BradyBrady.com. Of course, the books are available in any of Indigo/Chapters stores, as well as independent book sellers and select sporting goods stores.

The best selling Canadian children's series is written by Mary Shaw, who began writing when she was dismayed with the lack of engaging reading material for her son, Brady. Co-created with illustrator Chuck Temple, the two have created a growing Brady Brady empire, complete with their own publishing company, spinoff deals and, coming soon, animated media projects.

Brady Brady has also been recognized by big league hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets have created customized Brady Brady programs to promote grassroots hockey in their communities. And several stars endorse the books, including Bobby Orr, Steve Yzerman, Scott Stevens, Haley Wickenheiser and Cassie Campbell. USA Hockey has also signed on with a licensing agreement.

Here's a complete listing of Brady Brady books. You can't go wrong with any one title, but you will soon be hooked and looking for more. My personal favorite has to be The Great Rink.

Brady Brady And the Great Rink

When Brady tries to build the greatest backyard rink ever, he finds out it’s harder than he thought. But his hard work is about to pay off in a way he never imagined!

Brady Brady And the Most Important Game

When Brady Brady and the Icehogs lose a big game to a rival team, they think it's the end of the world - until they realize what is really important on the ice.

Brady Brady and The MVP

Brady's friend, Kev, learns that it's not only the goal scorers who are valuable members of a team.

Brady Brady and the B Team

Chester's loyalty to the Icehogs is questioned when he misses games and is overheard talking about joining the B Team.

Brady Brady And the Puck on the Pond

Just when Brady thought he had all of the makings for a fun game of shinny on his great rink, his friends are invited to play on an even greater rink! Friendships are tested - will the Icehogs stay together?

Brady Brady: And the Super Skater

When the newest member of the Icehogs encounters some bad luck, Brady helps his teammate see that it will take more than "super-skating" to improve her game.

Brady Brady And the Runaway Goalie

When the Icehogs’ goalie goes missing before the big game, Brady Brady saves the day!

Brady Brady And the Twirlin' Torpedo

Tes is a great player who loves hockey almost as much as Brady. So, when she is teased for being a girl, Brady and the other Icehogs back her up with a picture-perfect plan!

Brady Brady And the Singing Tree

Brady comes to the rescue when his friend Elwood almost quits hockey because of his dad.

Brady Brady And the Big Mistake

Brady's friends are coming to play shinny, and everything has to be perfect - more than perfect. If only he had something he could impress them with. Then it hits. The great idea the turns out to be a big mistake!

Brady Brady And the Great Exchange

When his friend has growing pains, Brady decides to help, and in the end everyone is a winner.

All hockey titles are also available in French, courtesy of Scholastic Canada.

The Brady Brady franchise has also begun to branch out and tackle football with Brady Brady and the Cranky Kicker, and hit home runs with baseball with Brady Brady and the Ballpark Bark and Brady Brady and the Cleanup Hitters

If you're looking for a fun book with great moral lessons to help you pass on the joys of both sports and reading to your little boy or girl, look no further than the Brady Brady series.

2008 Hockey books for kids

Joe Pelletier — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:15:52 -0800

Are you looking for a quality gift for the hockey-loving boy or girl in your life? Look no further!

Just One Goal

by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko

Perhaps the world's most prolific children's author has dreamed up an amazing story about a little girl who loves hockey. She builds the community a rink on the frozen river, but her team never wins. She's determined to score her team a victory, even as the thawing rink presents great danger. It does not get better than this - Hockey and Robert Munsch!

This highly acclaimed book from 2006 makes it's paperback debut in 2008. The Hockey Tree is a great story about a father, son and daughter enjoying Canada's great game on a frozen lake. But they run into a problem when their puck falls into an ice fisherman's hole.Have no fear, dad has a plan to keep the hockey going, but he needs the kids to help him find the perfect tree - The Hockey Tree

It's a great story folks, but the illustrations really make this book perfect. Using soft tones illustrator Brian Deines perfectly captures the great Canadian dream of hockey in it's purest form.

The Hockey Tree

by David Ward, Illustrated by Brian Deines

This highly acclaimed book from 2006 makes it's paperback debut in 2008. The Hockey Tree is a great story about a father, son and daughter enjoying Canada's great game on a frozen lake. But they run into a problem when their puck falls into an ice fisherman's hole. Have no fear, dad has a plan to keep the hockey going, but he needs the kids to help him find the perfect tree - The Hockey Tree

It's a great story folks, but the illustrations really make this book perfect. Using soft tones illustrator Brian Deines perfectly captures the great Canadian dream of hockey in it's purest form.

Wendel and The Great One

by Mike Leonetti, Illustrated by Greg Banning

After misfiring in 2007, Mike Leonetti returns in 2008 with his annual children's hockey history title. In Wendel and The Great One he mixes hockey history with the story of a boy who is trying to figure out what it means to be a leader. He turns to his heroes, Wendel Clark and Wayne Gretzky, to discover how to be the best captain he can be.

It's a good book and it teaches great values.

Xtreme Hockey

by Stephen Cole

A flashy and colorful title aimed at 6-12 year olds. Inside this book, which features the thickest pages you'll ever find in a book, is a collection of amazing stories presented in flashy presentation reminiscent of those Ripley's Believe It Or Not titles.

There's some great pictures in here too. It's the kind of book you will enjoy flipping through with your children, especially if you are a trivia buff or passing along that trait to your children.

Peril at the World's Biggest Hockey Tournament

by Roy MacGregor

The long-awaited addition to a series that has sold one million copies.

The Screech Owls have come to Ottawa, the capital of Canada, to play in the world’s biggest minor league hockey tournament — more than 500 teams gathering from all over the world! Little does Nish realize, as he befriends the hilarious, daring mascot, that he is about to embark on the most terrifying adventure of his lifetime.

The Bell Capital Cup is a tournament that brings together 25,000 kids and more than 510 teams. Published to coincide with the next Cup over the 2007/2008 winter holiday, this new Screech Owls book is a grand re-entry for this outstanding series.

Hockey Trivia for Kids 2

by Eric Zweig

A spin off from 2006's Hockey Trivia for Kids, Eric Zweig offers another pocket book packed full of hockey stories, pictures and cartoons. If you have a seriously hockey infatuated youngster on your Christmas list, this book will keep them entertained and educated with fascinating factoids that will make them the hockey expert of their school!

Either of Zweig's juvenile trivia offerings would make for a perfect stocking stuffer.

Hockey Now

by Mike Leonetti

Veteran hockey author Mike Leonetti returns with the fifth edition of the popular Hockey Now! franchise.

A book for all hockey fans with richly illustrated two page biographies of 74 of the greatest players today. Beautiful layout and high quality production.

The fifth edition is fully updated. Profiles include Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Jarome Iginla, Vincent Lecavalier, Dion Phaneuf, Zdeno Chara, Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur.

Hockey Superstars 2008-2009

by Paul Romanuk

For 20 years now broadcaster Paul Romanuk and Scholastic have been churning out his Hockey Superstars series. It must be a big hit with the kids to have run this long. I know the books drew my attention 20 years ago when the series first started.

Romanuk has not really changed his successful formula. He profiles 15-20 of today's top NHLers with a color photograph and the briefest of biographies. He throws in the same usual interactive pages where you can keep track of the unfolding NHL season or learn the referee's hand signals.

This is a solid choice for someone aged 6 through 10. The books a little thin for a fan much older than that.

Slapshots: The Complete Series: Books #1-4

by Gordon Korman

Gordon Korman is another prolific children's author, penning dozens of books. Wikipedia lists over 60 titles.

One of his most popular series of books is the hockey-themed Slapshots. There are four titles in all, starting with Slapshots #1: The Stars from Mars and progressing through Slapshots #2: All-Mars All-Stars, Slapshots #3: The Face-Off Phoney, and Slapshots #4: Cup Crazy.

Instead of buying all the books individually, you can now buy all the books in one volume: Slapshots: The Complete Series: Books #1-4

The series is hardly breaking new ground. In fact, it is downright formulaic, a la the Bad News Bears. It's about a bunch of misfits put together trying to become a team. Korman does a nice job of creating interesting characters and his passion for hockey shines through brightly.

SpongeBob's Slap Shot

by David Lewman

SpongeBob amazes an ice-hockey scout with his skills while sweeping up the Krusty Krab, and he soon finds himself playing professional hockey! But when he realizes whose team he is playing for, and who he must play against, SpongeBob starts having second thoughts. Does he really have what it takes to be an ice-hockey superstar? Hockey enthusiasts and SpongeBob fans alike will delight in this full-color, sports-themed story, ideal for young readers between the ages of 4 and 8.

Inside Hockey!: The Legends, Facts, and Feats That Made the Game

by Keltie Thomas

Keltie Thomas is an experienced children's author, also authoring How Hockey Works. In this book Thomas introduces lots of hockey history to the newest generation of puck fans. Good job!

The Farm Team

by Linda Bailey

For fifty years the animals on Stolski's farm have played their hearts out for the Stolski Cup -- the dream of every hockey team all over the northland. And every year the Farm Team has lost to the nastiest, smelliest, snarlingest bunch of varmints ever to don skates -- the Bush League Bandits. As soon as the puck drops for this year's playoff game, the Bandits, playing as dirty as ever, take an early lead. A Bandit porcupine named Needles starts ramming Farm Team players, while the weasels slash and spear. But the Farm Team's goalie Big George blocks some tough shots, while Billy the goat and Vera the goose net three goals to tie things up. Then the Bandits bring in a bruiser of a substitute player so big and mean that these plucky underdogs could be in for a serious mauling. From the award-winning team of Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin and packed with on-ice action and laughs, this is the picture book hockey fans of every age have been waiting for.

HockeySticker Stories

by Sean Tiffany

We shoot We score! Hockey Sticker Stories on ice Kids will love learning all about hockey positions, rules, penalties, game food, and other fun hockey facts as they add stickers to every spread.

Originally published September 30, 2008 on on HockeyBookReviews.com

Hockey opportunity of a lifetime

Coach Kim — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:50:24 -0800

Last October, Canadian Women’s National team goalie, Kim St. Pierre, got that opportunity when she joined the Montreal Canadiens on the ice for practice. And she took it all in stride.

Kim described her experience at practice as being, “Priceless”. A pretty clever play on words, since she not only got to realize her dream of testing her skills against NHL players, but she was also filling in for the Canadiens No. 1 goalie, Carey Price, who missed practice with the flu.

Can you imagine what getting that phone call would be like? First you would think it was a prank call from one of your friends, and if you didn’t hang up the phone immediately, your brain would all of sudden start going a million miles an hour thinking about how fun/hard/scary/amazing that couple hours on the ice would be.

You would hang up the phone, pick it up again and call every single person you know and try to explain to them that an NHL team just drafted you for practice. After spending the next hour trying to convince them that you weren’t lying, you would grab your gear and rush out the door.

At some point on the way to the rink, reality would set in. You would realize that you were going to be spending the next couple of hours having Alexei Kovalev and other NHL superstars fire shots at you and your head. If you are a skater, think about playing the same game, but doubling or tripling the speed and size of the players you were on the ice with. Yikes.

You would be excited, scared, nervous, terrified, and in awe all at the same time. But I can guarantee that you would rise to the challenge.

When awesome opportunities like this arise, you’ve got no time to think - you just react. At some point during the long hockey season, every girls hockey player gets mentally lazy. As you settle into your routine for the season, you might find yourself starting to go through the motions mentally. Your excitement for playing dies just a little bit, until the next big game or tournament comes along, and you get to rise to the challenge again.

When asked about how she felt at this once-in-a-lifetime practice, St. Pierre said, “I wasn’t scared, because I was so into it. I don’t get to practice with the Montreal Canadiens every day.”

You don’t get the chance to practice with NHLers every day, but you need to do everything you can to get as excited as possible for every practice and game you play. Sure, you may be in your dingy local rink at 10pm on a Tuesday night, instead of under the bright lights of the Bell Centre, but both of those practices will give you an amazing opportunity to learn.

Every time you hit the ice, you have to find a way to rise to the challenge on both a physical and mental level. How do you get yourself ready for the biggest game of the season and for the late-night run-of-the-mill team practice? Is your preparation different? Do you think it should be?

~ Coach Kim

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Originally published September 22, 2008 on Total Female Hockey

Hockey fuel

Miss 604 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:41:44 -0800

Early morning practices can sometimes means scarfing down a banana or a bowl of cereal while the car warms up then heading to the rink, however is that enough food fuel to keep you going?

According to some nutritional resources, those *are* actually a really great ways to start your day.

An active hockey player's diet should consist of carbohydrates (found in cereals) even though they've got a bad rap in recent years. They are the perfect fuel and source of food energy that you can and will burn off during practice or a game.

Carbs can also be found in breads (like having a slice of toast, crackers, a granola bar), vegetables or fruit (dried or in soups or salads), or in dairy products (like milk, yogurt, or even chocolate milk).

Although, you can't survive on those carbohydrates alone, you'll also need to combine them with proteins like nuts or eggs, cheese or milk, and lean cut meat, chicken or fish.

According to The Hockey Source, there are six types of nutrients for top performers: Carbohydrates, fat (good fats, like vegetable fats), protein, vitamins, minerals (calcium and iron) and water. Being hydrated is a huge part of staying healthy and fit. Not only does your body need a lot of it during the day, if you're active you're going to be sweating out moisture that you'll need to get back.

Power-Fuel Nutrition also has some great recipe suggestions for meals before or after games and even some snacking options.

Nutrition is a big part of being a good athlete and you'll find that at most hockey schools or programs they'll promote it, just like they would stick handling or shooting.

There are different ways to make sure your body can keep up with your activity, especially for back-to-back games or road trips, so making sure it has the right nutrition is key.

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You're from where?

Joe Pelletier — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:07:23 -0800

Hockey is said to be the most global sport amongst North America’s big sporting leagues. Players not only come from Canada and the United States, but from all over Europe and Russia as well.

But there have been a few players who were born in the most unlikely of countries. Here’s a complete list:

Brazil – Mike Greenlay, Robyn Regehr
Brunei – Craig Adams
Haiti – Claude Vilgrain
Indonesia – Richie Regehr
Jamaica – Graeme Townsend
Lebanon – Ed Hatoum
Nigeria – Rumun Ndur
Paraguay – Willi Plett
Republic of Korea – Jim Paek, Richard Park
South Africa – Olaf Kolzig
Taiwan – Rod Langway
United Republic of Tanzania – Chris Nielsen
Venezuela – Rick Chartraw, Don Spring

Most of these players were born in these countries while their parents worked abroad in various business, military or religious endeavors. Others immigrated to North America with their families at a very young age. All these players were introduced to the sport of hockey in North America.

So don’t worry! Your favorite Olympic team does not have to worry about the new power house from the Carribean or South America just yet.

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Hockey player for life

Joe Pelletier — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:08:21 -0800

Shapiro, who wrote Hockey Days in 2007, continues the story of 13 year old Tom Leonard. This book is a full juvenile novel, offering 127 pages of Tom's youthful dreams of big league hockey.

In this story Tom gets invited to try out with an all star junior team in Toronto. That can only mean the NHL is not far away, right?Well, not exactly. While his dream may not have played out like he wanted to, Tom learns more several important lessons of life from his mom and dad and best friend Terry. Through these lessons he learns what it truly means to be a hockey player for life.

It is these lessons of life that are the true value of Shapiro's offering. The message and morals passed on in this book will be eagerly welcomed by any parent looking to give their kids a Christmas gift of quality reading. The book is aimed at the 11-15 year old demographic.

The book features a touching forward from former Philadelphia Flyers captain Keith Primeau. The book is also strongly endorsed by ESPN's John Buccigross and Growing Up Hockey author Brian Kennedy.

Shapiro's Hockey Player For Life website is also excellent, and offers this interesting "speed painting" YouTube promotional video:

Shapiro is equally passionate about writing for children as he is about hockey. He's got a great product and message here. I would highly recommend this book for the aspiring hockey hero in your family.

There's a good chance you parents/former aspiring hockey heroes out there will quite enjoy the fast read, too.

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Originally published September 30, 2008 on on HockeyBookReviews.com

Reflections 2008: The NHL Hockey Year In Photographs

Joe Pelletier — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:03:14 -0800

So I finally got my hands on Reflections 2008: The NHL Hockey Year in Photographs today. After flipping through the 160 pages of some of the most amazing hockey photography you will ever see, I have decided I need to go back down to the bookstore and get a second copy!

Why would I would want two copies of the same book? Because I want one to proudly display on my coffee table and share with guests. And I want a second copy so I can cut out the pictures, frame them and display them proudly on the walls of my hockey room.

The photos are just that amazing. I think my favorites have to be the cover image featuring the outdoor game, Eric Staal's determination on page 45, Joffrey Lupul's jump of ecstacy on page 122, and most of the body check action shots, especially Dion Phaneuf getting a taste of his own medicine on page 59 and Marc Staal stapling brother Jordan Staal on page 138.

The photos capture the highlights of the 2008 season, starting with NHL Premiere in London and working its way through to the awarding of the Stanley Cup champions. Along the way there are some great memories to relive.

All without words. That's right, there are no words once the photos start. In 2007, the first of what I sincerely hope is truly an annual publication, I commented on how it might have been nice to have captions with the photos. But again they are tucked into the very back of the book.

Hey, it's a pretty nitpicky complaint to have for this truly spectacular book.

And the best part is that part of the proceeds from sales of this book are donated directly to Hockey Fights Cancer, a joint charity initiative undertaken by the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association.

See, now you have even more reason to go out and buy Reflections 2008: The NHL Hockey Year in Photographs. It's an amazing book that truly is worthy of your coffee table space. And you are helping to make a difference and fight cancer too.

Maybe you should pick up two copies.

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Originally published October 23, 2008 on on HockeyBookReviews.com

Inspire your hockey performance

Coach Kim — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:39:28 -0800

Do you ever feel like all of the time, effort and hard work you’re putting into taking your game to the next level is just not worth it?

If you’re like most people, I’m sure you answered “Yes” and can admit to often feeling that it’s just too hard and that you’ll never achieve your goals.

The next time that thought enters your mind, I want you to watch this video.

‘Superdad’ Dick Hoyt and his son Rick have completed 85 full length marathons and 8 Ironman triathlons. That's just amazing - pure and simple.

Dick Hoyt, age 65, has spent the last 25 years pushing his son in a wheelchair though marathon after marathon with their best time of a stunning 2 hours 40 minutes. He’s towed Rick for the 2.4 mile swim phase in a rubber dinghy and cycled the 1123 mile bike phase with his son in a specially adapted bicycle chair. How have they been able to achieve so much when so many of us fall by the wayside?

--> They stick with it.

Not exactly rocket science is it? Most of us fail to achieve our goals simply because we do not stick to it until it’s done.

We give up early. We stop paying the price.

But if you just stick with it...Amazing things can happen.
And if you ever find yourself doubting that they can, watch this video again.

Until next time,
~ Coach Kim

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Originally published September 22, 2008 on Total Female Hockey