Players,

1st of all: The Blue - White Cup game starts at 8:30 not 7:30. Sorry about that.

Also, with all of your great responses to my last Coaches Corner, we will have Two Sheets of Ice for Session 8. And, one sheet of ice for Session 9. Most of you preferred just one sheet but, some would like to see two sheets. During the scrimmages on both sheets of ice, we will conduct a 'controlled' scrimmage providing instructions and chance to 'catch your breath'.

Session 9, I would like the coaches, Lee & JD to begin preparation in a 'game like setting' for the Blue - White Cup game.

Sound fair enough to everyone?

Stick N Puck: I plan to attend the early session on all three days this weekend. Many of you have plans to attend at least one so, I hope to see you most of you. We can work on some individual skills or what ever.

Also, one more thing;

I am going to the UK - EKU Football game on saturday night - leaving after Stick N Puck. I don't have a ticket but, there are plenty available. If anyone is interested in joining me, let me know!

Players, I am extremely impressed with the ‘much improved’ skill of all of you! These last two sessions of practices & scrimmages have shown remarkable progress!

There are some areas that need some work:

· Positioning – particularly with the Wingers
· Too long of shifts (on several occasions).
· Break-Outs need some work

We have some excellent ‘chalk talks’ scheduled for the next two sessions with emphasis on positional play along with ‘The Role of the Forward’. We will also discuss: Transition, Forechecking, Break-Outs, Neutral Ice play, etc. Chalk Talks will start @ 8:30

These skills are difficult to practice with this many players unless we had lot’s of hours of practice time. As a youth coach for many years, I would only practice and have very little scrimmage time. But, with adults, I feel that good ‘chalk talks’ with some ‘ice’ demonstrations AND real scrimmages are the best way to continue your development & enjoyment.

In saying this, I personally recommend that we continue in Session 8 & 9 with ONE sheet of ice for 1.5 hours to continue our progress (instead of two sheets) We would practice for 20 – 25 minutes, then scrimmage. With two sheet of ice, scrimmaging with 7-9 players per team defeats the purpose of continued development. It’s your call! So, please share your opinion.

BLUE – WHITE CUP GAME

The game is from 8:30 – 10:00. We are expecting a very large crowd – a LOUD one, I hope! If any one is interested, I will help coordinate a Blue Committee and a White Committee to make Posters for the game. We can hang some of them on the glass at the ends of the rink and hang some on the walls. Any volunteers?

Also, Bocce’s will begin serving food around 7:00 pm for the families to have dinner. Plus, there will be plenty of food after the game.

The “Winning Team” will have there names engraved on the Blue – White Cup. So, get your ‘game face’ ready!!!

NEXT ‘NEVER EVER’ SESSION:

We can expect the next Session to start (10 weeks) on October 8th. Some of you are already playing in the C League. Many of you are ready. The C Leagues get started on Sept 10th. And, there are openings. So, we need to determine who is moving to the C League and who is not so, we can begin preparation for the next Never Ever Program and promote more new players to fill the slots.

So, please reply to this email ASAP and let me know what you personally want to do this Fall:

A – I already play in the C League and will continue in the Fall. I would like to participate in some type of Hockey Instructional Program in addition to playing in the C League

B – I have never played in the C League but, feel that I may be ready to start this Fall??? But, would also consider some additional Hockey Instructional Program

C – I am playing only in the C League this Fall.

D – I am not interested in the C League. But, plan to return to the Never Ever Program. But, would also consider some additional Hockey Instructional Program

E – I am only interested in the Never Ever Program this Fall

F – I think I have had my ‘fill’ of ice hockey for now. Thus, I don’t anticipate returning this Fall. (But, I do plan on coming to Bocce’s on Mondays to enjoy the beer and pizza!)


Labor Day Weekend – Stick n Puck schedule: I am available this weekend so, let me know if you are planning on attending any of these and I will share with everyone and I will try to make it.

Friday: 12:15 – 2:15 & 4:30 – 6:30
Saturday: 12:15 – 2:15
Sunday: 1:15 – 3:15

SUMMARY:

Should we have two sheets of ice or ONE sheet of ice for Session 8 & 9?
What are your plans for ice hockey this Fall?
Are you planning on attending any Stick n Pucks this weekend?


GOLDEN RULE # 5

A WINNER makes every concession he can, short of sacrificing his basic principles; a loser is so afraid of making concessions that he hangs on to pride while his principles go down the drain.

GOLDEN RULE #4:

A WINNER knows when the price of winning comes too high; a loser is overly eager to win what he cannot handle or keep.

GOLDEN RULE #3

A loser is envious of winners and contemptuous of other losers; a WINNER judges others only by how well they live up to their own capabilities, not by some external scale of worldly success.

GOLDEN RULE #2 - A WINNER goes through a problem; a loser goes around it and never gets past it.

GOLDEN RULE #1 - #1 - When a WINNER makes a mistake, he says “I was wrong”. When a loser makes a mistake, he says “It wasn’t my fault”.