You can cheat your kid in hockey. More ice than everyone else, more privates, hockey only, year-round, starting at seven. And it works -your kid is better at 10, 11, 12. Then 13 or 14 hits. Physical development kicks in, and the kids who can actually train hard start training hard. The ones who are fresh take huge leaps. The ones who've been grinding for six straight years find out they're running on empty. You didn't give your kid an advantage. You borrowed against their future.
A letter to the dad who thinks summer hockey is mandatory:
It isn't.
I know the anxiety. Everyone else is at camp. The other kids are getting private lessons. You're worried about falling behind.
Here's what I've seen: kids who burn out in summer sometimes don't come back. Kids who take a real break almost always do.
Let him breathe. The rink will still be there in September.
KIDS: Logan Stankoven is 5'8". I get asked a lot how a smaller player can advance to the higher levels of hockey. This clip is a perfect example.
To be a smaller player, you have to have what I call "Little Man Syndrome". An off the charts compete and belief in yourself that it doesn't matter how big the player you go into a battle with, you're coming out with that damn puck.
Check out this effort from Stankoven that completely changed the game for the Canes last night. It's a lost faceoff but he single-handedly, through pure will, won the puck back and scored. Amazing determination.
Stankoven also played four years of junior hockey. Three of those years he was a captain on the team.
To be a smaller player - your IQ, compete, and intangible leadership and life skills have to be off the charts to achieve this level of hockey. Logan Stankoven is a great example for all smaller young players with a dream.
@brim006 This is so awesome and rarely seen anymore, my dad hand pin striped almost all of the vehicles he ever painted, nowhere as intricate as that though 👏🏼
After selling the shop and their house my old man has more time on his hands than ever before, not sure if that’s good or bad yet. “Yeah….I bought a mustang” 😂