Coming To You With High Hopes

Hockey... That's what I do... Pretty close to 24/7, as the saying goes.

A typical day finds me writing a lot -- either for a video script, an audio lecture series, or for one of my advice columns (in "Pure Hockey Magazine" or "Hockey/USA").

There's also a lot of lesson (or practice) planning to do...

I run a small but unbelievably effective off-ice training facility dubbed "The MOTION Lab". (It looks nothing like your typical gym, instead loaded with gear that most of you wouldn't even recognize.) I'm usually found there in the Lab on weeknights, helping some dedicated athletes become better skilled, and leaner and meaner than they could have ever become from traditional on-ice training.

I also coach two teams under my New England Hockey Institute banner... One is a teen group I spend 7-months with, prepping them for the high school hockey season that usually begins right after Thanksgiving. The other squad is composed of junior high school aged players who'll be with me from May through the end of next April. The beauty of both programs is that I'm able to take a fairly patient, methodical, long-range approach to training, with our relatively long time together making it possible for me to really change the kids' athleticism, skills and knowledge of the game.

So, what are my hopes for this current undertaking?

Number One, I look forward to sharing my experiences from the above endeavors, especially as I work with and troubleshoot the needs of my players and Lab students. I use methods that are unheard of in most hockey circles, so I suspect parents and coaches are going to enjoy gaining some fresh ideas. (There's also a good bet that I'll be teaching a Learn-to-skate/Learn-to-play clinic this winter, as well as working with some adult men and women.)

Secondly, while my work and studies keep me current with the sciences, I know that most players, parents and coaches -- rightly so -- prefer a simplified, common sense and plain talk presentation. Then, like you, I get around the rinks plenty, and I hear the same nonsense you likely hear -- about this or that form of training being the best thing since the advent of sliced bread. And, nearly every week someone comes-up with a new training aid that promises to turn Little Johnny (or Janie) into the next Ovechkin. Of course, some of the new training ideas and gadgets are really good, while some just aren't. So, a major aim here will be to help you sort through the good, the bad and the oh-so ugly.

Number Three -- and you can file this under "Little Known Facts"... Believe it or not, hockey gear -- like skates, pads, sticks, gloves and even tape -- can have a HUGE impact on a player's skill development, speed, agility and so much more. And, although the game appears to be the same from one tier to the next, I'm going to suggest that the things required to be successful at one level can be drastically different from what it takes to do well at another. Really, these are just samples of some need-to-know things, they're things that cause some kids to become discouraged and quit, and they're things that I promise to share as time goes along.

Fourth, as I intimated earlier, I'm into video -- big time. As a matter of fact, I'm into the use of all sorts of media. So, I plan on sharing some tips in this area. And, if Google and I become a little friendlier, I might ultimately be adding some video, audio and other media to this project.

Number Five, you'll likely discover over time that I'm a free thinker and somewhat (or even more than somewhat) opinionated... One reason for this is that I ultimately tired of traditional methods not working to my satisfaction, so I set out to devise ones that would. (Honest to God, some of the drill methods I was forced to invent years ago are now used by pro and National Team coaches, and by so-called powerskating instructors around the world.) Even today, hardly a month goes by that I don't concoct some new training aid to suit a special purpose, and hardly a week goes by that I don't create a new drill or strategy to help my players. So, needless to say, I'm going to share some ideas in those areas, and perhaps even give you the confidence to think for yourself when others can't (or won't) help you.

Finally, I'll start the ball rolling tomorrow with my first real installment. Thereafter, I won't mind if others dictate the path.