Delta School District

South Delta Secondary Hockey Academy December 2011 Newsletter

As we approach the Christmas break I would like to update you on the objectives and outcomes of our programming to date. I would also like to outline the program direction when we return in January.

On Ice

Everybody experiences three different on ice training sessions. Each week we have group skates at the midget and bantam levels. Here base fundamentals of skating, passing and puck control are targeted. Drills are selected by the coaches to best simulate game like scenarios. Such repetition creates vision in the player that should increase the overall player IQ, thus making them more effective game to game.

The second skate of the week is position specific. Here specific fundamentals of various positions are practiced. Forwards have done a lot of net drive, net presence, and transition work. In the second half of the year more second phase work will be done. Creating scoring chances off the rush is what happens first. When this fails, pucks must be retrieved and funnelled to the net again; we will push this after Christmas. Defenders have worked on defensive zone work and offensive zone second phase hockey. {Getting pucks through to the net} In the second half of the year, neutral zone counters and defending the rush will be the focus.

The third skate of the week is for goaltenders and shooters. Our Goalie Coach, Paul Fricker, works on stance and crease movements each session, as well as positioning within the net in relation to the puck and attackers. Proper preparation before the shot allows for both the initial save and solid rebound control. The skaters on the ice at this time are working specifically on shooting. Lately we have put shooting into the context of the power play; players release pucks after executing a set play which should help with the transfer of this skill to game execution.

Quantum Speed is returning for their second and final visit of the year. They will be here the final week of skating before the break. [Dec 12-15] The focus of the first visit was technique and edge control; this session speed and agility will be emphasized. We will follow the same format as our first power skating sessions. Group 1 and group 2 will skate every day for 45 minutes. Refer to the monthly calendar on the Delta School District Academy website for details.

Off Ice

We all know extra skates with elite coaches are beneficial but so too is the time players spend conditioning their bodies.  So far we have had three specific objectives to dryland training. The first has been on strength; being strong through the core and training the large muscle helps create stability in the player {key to injury prevention}and add functional mass. In so doing skating, passing, and shooting should all improve.

Our second focus is on movement. Being an athlete means you are able to negotiate your body in space with speed, power and efficiency. Every week our players work on movement skills. The gymnastics facility does nothing but reinforce the need for these skills to be developed.  Whether it is at the gymnastics center, the school gymnasium, or the track, movement is a big focus of what we do.

The discipline of yoga is the medium we employ to enhance our third objective of flexibility. Although it is only one class every second week, I strongly recommend the player practice these postures at home. Having full range of motion around the joints is another key component of efficient and safe movement. A solid flexibility program is key to keeping the body injury free and fundamentally sound.

Classroom

As an educator the time we spend with the players in the classroom is both enlightening and rewarding. In this environment Mrs. Jobke and I get a sense of where the players are emotionally. From here we promote self-awareness and new knowledge to best allow them to meet daily challenges. Whether it is in the sport, with their school work or around their home, we want to promote healthy thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours.  So far we have discussed player identity as it relates to filling a role on team. We have talked about both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation; making students aware of these forces should give them a better understanding of what helps them achieve and what prevents them from doing so.

We also covered the concept of maturation as it relates to physical, intellectual, and emotional health. Growing in all three areas is what our program is about. We have studied Jerry Rice’s You-tube video called “Jerry Rice - the Hill”. This is just one example of an achiever who got there through his commitment to self-growth and team.

Lastly we examined a recent article from Time Life Magazine. This edition focused on the Navy Seals and special operation events. The article discussed the six secrets of success. I thought these lessons could be applied to our daily practices and we would all be better for it. I encourage you all to have your player articulate some or all of these lessons to you. It can do nothing but promote a deeper level of understanding.

Glen Hanlon, Assistant Coach of the Vancouver Giants, will be our guest during classroom sessions from December 5 – 9th.  Nutrition and on ice video analysis will be our topics. Specifically we will cover daily nutrition for the athlete and game day nutrition; “Scoring-it’s not an accident;” defending “Six guys prevent goals;” and Transition - “ How to get on the attack.”

Congratulations

We are now seven years into this program. It gives us all tremendous joy to experience the success of Academy members  past and present. Watching Brandon MacMillan with the Anaheim Ducks. Seeing Colten Teubert play his first NHL game with the future champ Edmonton Oilers[lol]. Having four past members play together in the recent Canada- Russia Subway Series (Colten Jobke, Luke Seimens, Josh Nichols, Brendan Gallagher). Following the numerous NCAA and WHL grads on a weekly basis is all truly rewarding!

Recently we went around the room to celebrate individual  class  accomplishments so far this year. Adam Musil and Mathew Barberos won the Medicine Hat Bantam tournament. Adam made the Allstar team. Matt Bradley and Jake Fletcher were also in that tournament and lost in the quarter final after going 3-0 in round robin Play. Delaney Duchek’s team won the Midget AAA tournament they entered in Prince George. The South Delta boys lost in the final of the Tim Jardine Tournament to Seafair in a hard fought 5-4 battle. Brandon Kennedy, Tyler Andrews, Colin Grannary, Nick Wicks, Gavin Tinsley, Ryan Jones, Hugh Taylor, and Nolan Gallagher represented the community in that event. Similar results were had by our Midget A boys in the recent Prince George tournament event. Matt Dawson, Phoenix Worth,  Luc Soares,  Jarret Saggert, Mark Trotman and academy grad, Jordan Andrews, finished second after also losing in the final game.   Monica is returning to Austria to play for her country at an international U-18 tournament. Mitch Walters made team BC’s U-16 team which competed in Moose Jaw for a national championship.

These are just a few of many successes past and present that we celebrate. Keep up the good work and keep moving forward with your school work, your athletics, and your overall well being.

Best of the season to everyone,
Ian Gallagher