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SPECIAL TO THE STAR, NOV 19, 2007
It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the pilot project which permitted body-checking to begin in competitive hockey at the Minor Atom age level in the Ontario Hockey Federation and Saskatchewan began. Obviously an emotional issue with some and common sense reasoning with others in this Country, it appears that Hockey Canada will be finally releasing its report this coming weekend in Calgary at the national body's Semi-Annual meeting.
One thing however that is likely not to change is that no matter what conclusion Hockey Canada arrives at, is that it likely will continue to be a controversial topic for the next 25 years.
GOALTENDER'S EQUIPMENT
Out with the old, in with the new. All of a sudden, it appears that the reduction in the width of the catching and blocking gloves and goal pads that has been warned about for the past couple years by Hockey Canada is causing parents who have purchased new goalie equipment this season some concern. Chances are that the new size regulations will likely have no effect for young goalies under the Bantam age. It will only affect larger goaltenders over the age of 14 who currently are using the full size equipment. The one inch reduction in the widths of these equipment items takes effect for the 2008-2009 hockey season. No exceptions.
Shame on those sporting goods retailers who have sold the larger gloves and goal pads to parents without warning them of the new, narrower size requirements that will be the standard for next season. You can be sure that referees will be carrying tape measures to handle any protests from opposing teams. If you want information on the specific measurements, best to go to www.google.ca on your computer and type in Hockey Canada New Goal Equipment Measurements.
COACHING SKILLS
While this not a mandatory item, hats off to the coaches who concentrate using positive communication and motivation as essential ingredients to get the best out of their players. Little if anything is gained by those coaches who persist in negative yelling and screaming on the bench be it directed at their own players or the game officials. This sort of nonsense only frustrates players and more often than not, ends up having their team assessed more penalties and a good possibility of losing yet another game.
Coaches should consider developing a tip of the week for their players to work on. One common sense example is to encourage the lead player carrying the puck over the opposing blue line to accelerate rather than slow down be it to pass the puck to line mate or shoot on the goal. Too many players slow down to line up their pass or shot which only gives the opposing defence a greater opportunity to intercept them. Besides goaltenders do not like having an opposing player accelerating on them as it doesn't give them as much time to line up the shooter. Try it sometime in a practice session.
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