Apologies to those who’ve received a message containing a spam link. Please do NOT click the link as it wasn’t me sending! Thankfully I am pretty sure I managed to save the account. Having the same password for 10+ years might not be the smartest play. Apologies to all!
Coaches: If you want to be good as a team defensively, “tight and above” is a saying your team has to buy into in the neutral zone.
Here’s a perfect example from Jaccob Slavin. Gapped right up on the PHI forward as Drysdale rounds the net. Because of his great gap he created the turnover and CAR transitions fast for the series winner.
Tight and above with gaps is HARD TO PLAY AGAINST. Great job by Slavin and the Canes!
“The thing I learned while I was up there (the NHL) was how much everybody loves hockey. You have to love hockey to get to this level because you have to work so hard, and the only way you work hard is if you love it.”
Amen, Josh Dunne, amen.
If you want to support your kid in their dream to play at the highest levels of this game, the most important thing you need to do is create an environment where they will continue to fall in love with the game.
Please take a moment to read this post from Topher @HockeyThinkTank!
I love all their stuff (especially the pod) but this summary of Canadian Hockey is SPOT ON. Gone are the days where ‘elite’ hockey programming started at 13/14/15 and meant something.
Hopefully something changes at the grassroots level sooner rather than later.
#HockeyCanada
Thoughts on Team Canada at World Juniors:
There's been a lot of discourse today about Canada's performance after bowing out to Czechia again. I've read a lot about roster construction, team toughness, how players were used during the tournament, and other things related to the team's inability to get the job done.
These things may have been an issue, but reality is the problem runs way deeper.
Here is the biggest thing that people aren't talking about:
Canada has WAY fewer youth boys playing hockey than it did a decade ago.
Looking at Hockey Canada registration and membership data, it's mind-boggling to see the numbers.
And the numbers in the biggest provinces (Ontario and Quebec) are especially egregious.
So why is this happening? Hockey is Canada's sport. It shouldn't be like this.
It's what we hear every day from families all over North America:
Costs are too high. It's professionalized at too young of an age. The stress of the youth hockey experience is too much for kids and families.
Community programs have been replaced by for-profit entities leading to higher costs and more pressure. Development has been replaced by super teams and rogue/outlaw leagues outside of Hockey Canada even before kids are 8 years old. At the older ages, hockey academies have become what families believe is the only way their kids will make it - shelling out INSANE amounts of money to send their kids to do so.
Ontario just got rid of residency rules which will only lead to less accountability and more club-hopping than there already was in the nation's craziest and biggest youth hockey market.
The reason why Canada was the hockey superpower for so long is because it was part of the fabric of the country. There was such a pride and passion for the game and what the game meant to the flag. There was such a sense of playing the game for something bigger than yourself.
Now rather than playing for the love of the game, hockey in Canada is like a job for many of these kids in the environment they're being put in. It's less about pride and passion and more about the path to making it. When in all honesty, it's the pride and passion for the game that is the biggest consistency in the kids that do end up making it.
If Canada wants to restore its hockey dominance, it better take a long look in the mirror at the grassroots and what is going on in youth hockey. If you have tens of thousands of fewer boys playing the game, you should probably look at that first. The bigger your pool of athletes, the more elite athletes you can develop.
"As many as possible, for as long as possible, in the best environment possible". That has to be the guiding principle.
There's a lot of great people in Canada doing incredible things for the game, but the system itself is fundamentally broken. If Hockey Canada is serious about getting back to the top, it has to start at the bottom.
BREAKING: @SunDevilHockey coach Greg Powers has sign an endowed, 5-year contract extension through 2030.
In 10 seasons in D1, Powers played a major role in getting Mullett Arena built, getting ASU into the NCHC, & and luring major recruits to the desert.
https://t.co/UrgiWTYfR6
Rush Principles
- Attack Middle Ice
- Diagonal/Angled Entries
- Manipulate Opposition Rush Coverage
- Weakside D Join & Connect To Rush (4 Up)
- Fill Lanes (Width & Depth Of Attack)
- Drive Off Heels
Just saw a great stat from a @BrandonNaurato presentation @TheCoachesSite. In NHL OZ Play, in stride shots account for the least goals at 7%, whereas off pass shots account for 53% (7.5x). Most youth coaches I see work solely on in stride shooting. Time for that to change.
The Coquitlam Express are proud to announce that Cooper Wilson has been named the 25th Captain in franchise history!
A proud Lower Mainland native, Wilson is entering into his third BCHL season—and second with the Express. Known for his character, work ethic, and dedication to the team’s culture, Cooper was a clear and unanimous choice among Express management, coaches, and teammates.
Please join us in congratulating Captain Cooper Wilson as he leads the charge into the 2025-26 season!
Congratulations to Cullen Potter! We are so proud of you!
He’s picked in the first round on the shoulders of so many who built the tradition here, especially @asucoachpowers.
Monumental moment for Sun Devil Hockey.
Sucks to have unfinished business but big things are ahead for the fellas in Red. Thank you to Chris Pimblott, Jason Vinet & the entire Red Lake community. #redvegas ⚫️⚒️🟡
THANK YOU | We’d like to thank Lee Stone for his contributions to the organization over the past two seasons.
The Miners are accepting resumes for the HC/GM position via email to [email protected].
🔗: https://t.co/x2wLsJVjzZ
#MinerFamily | #TheHardWay ⚫️⚒️🟡
President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Tali Campbell has announced the hiring of Lee Stone as the club's new Associate Coach and Director of Player Development.
Stone joins the Express following two seasons as Head Coach and General Manager of the Red Lake Miners Jr. A Hockey Club and prior to that he spent ten years as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Campbell River Storm in the VIJHL where he led them to three VIJHL Championships, one Cyclone Taylor Championship and one Keystone Cup.
"I am incredibly excited to welcome Lee Stone to the Coquitlam Express as our new Associate Coach and Director of Player Development. I have had the pleasure of knowing Lee for over 10 years, and throughout that time I’ve seen firsthand the passion, professionalism, and leadership he brings to the game. His proven success in developing players and building winning programs speaks for itself, and I have no doubt he will be a tremendous asset to our organization both on and off the ice."
— Tali Campbell, President of Hockey Operations & General Manager, Coquitlam Express
The club is also actively engaged in ongoing discussions with Kyle Johnson and Brett Sonne regarding their return for next season.
@Hockey_Robinson As someone who has really only started paying close attention recently, his current draft ranking makes no sense. Have to imagine W playoffs & U18 slides him up several draft boards.
COMMITMENT | We are thrilled to announce Nathan Dann has committed to Fitchburg State University NCAA D3.
🔗: https://t.co/4d1yNkh5m8
#MinerFamily | #TheHardWay ⚫️⚒️🟡