Jimmy Cox asked:


This game is going into overtime, as many of your games will when the offense and defense have been about equal. The team that puts out that little extra in overtime will usually win, and the player who knows some little extras will certainly have a start in earning his place on the team.

You and Your Position

At team tryouts, most coaches will ask a player what position he prefers to play. Then as the team takes shape, some changes may have to be made. Maybe you started out as a center but are asked to switch to left wing. Your attitude is being tested. If you tell your coach that you will play any position he says and if you pitch in and try to learn all about playing left wing, you are hockey material!

If asked to switch positions, you should understand that, as you grow older, larger, and stronger, you develop certain hockey skills that may fit you better for a position other than the one you used to play. Also, in forming the team, your coach can see where your strong points best fit into the style of play he plans to use.

Besides, it is good for boys in their early playing days to get the experience of playing two or three different positions. You learn more about positional play this way; you also get training in the different skating techniques of wings, centers, or defensemen.

It might help you to have an idea of what a coach looks for in selecting players for the various positions.

GOALTENDER. A coach usually starts his search for a goalie by screening players on the basis of their quickness and their catching ability. To be quick, a boy must have good balance on skates first and fast reflexes next. Size is of no importance, provided the player has these assets.

DEFENSEMEN. Traditionally, the two defensemen were the big, heavy body checkers, who were the slowest skaters on the team. This is not true any more. Against modern power play offensives, these men have to be very mobile skaters, who handle the puck well. They also should be rugged and aggressive, with the ability to check hard.

WINGMEN. The right and the left wings are the workhorses of the offensive line. They must be fast, hard skaters since they will be called upon to do more straight ahead, stop-and-go skating than other players on the team.

CENTER. This man is the key to a good offense. He should have the knack of passing both accurately and at the right time. He should know the styles of his wingmen - what moves they like to make when breaking over the blue line or going around the opponent’s net.

Above all, the center should be the production man of both goals and assists. He should have a good sense of position play and the ability to shoot quickly and straight.

A valuable skating skill for this position is the ability to whirl into fast turns either way with no loss of time. The center should be a figure in perpetual motion, skating, circling, breaking, and turning constantly.

Many coaches like to assign the chief job of fore checking to the center. He then must be able to check well before his opponents have a chance to break out of their own end.

A hockey coach faced with the job of picking a team once asked another coach how he would go about the task.

“I’d choose my goalie first and then pick the 18 best hockey players from the rest, regardless of what positions they played,” the second coach replied.

“On what basis do I do that?” asked the first.

“Pick them on the basis of speed, desire, and hockey brains,” answered the second, ably summarizing the most important qualities of an outstanding hockey player.



Cody

Amy Nutt asked:


When a hockey player or coach goes overseas for a game in another country, they need to seriously consider getting proper medical insurance before leaving on their trip. Athletes of any sport are faced with many dangers when they travel outside of their home country however; hockey players tend to be exposed to more than most because of the rough nature of the sport that they play.

Falling unexpectedly ill or having an accident may result in medical services that are not properly covered by existing insurance because of territorial limitations or high deductibles. Depending on where they are traveling to, a serious illness or injury may require them to be hospitalized or air evacuated to another country where the medical services are better. Air evacuation tends to be very pricey and may easily exceed $25,000. Even if the hockey player and coaches are making a lot of money in their field, improper insurance may result in a massive financial burden.

There are several different kinds of insurance that all coaches and especially hockey players should get before they decide to hit the road and travel outside of their country. They include medical, emergency dental, emergency evacuation, emergency reunion, and repatriation of remains and of course lost checked luggage. Medical should include inpatient and outpatient hospitalization, surgery, anesthesiology, physician’s fee, dressings, diagnostic procedures, oxygen, prescription drugs and emergency local ambulance.

Emergency dental is one of those things that every hockey player should have no matter what seeing as many hockey players loose teeth in fights and on ice antics. It should include emergency dental treatment and emergency dental surgery if necessary to replace or restore teeth. Emergency evacuation is something that is also highly recommended for hockey players and coaches because it will help in the event of the host countries civil unrest or in the event of an accident. In the case of an accident, there may need to be emergency ground or air transportation to the nearest hospital.

Emergency reunion is in case of the event of an accident so that one of the injured person’s relatives can be flown in to be with them while they are in the hospital. It usually includes one round trip economy ticket to wherever the injured person is receiving treatment.

Repatriation of remains is in case of the event that a hockey player or coach dies as a result of their injury or illness so that their body is flown back to their home country. Another great thing for all hockey players and coaches to get is the lost checked luggage insurance. This is an important one because all athletes need to have their equipment with them or at least have a way of replacing it if they don’t have it. In the event of lost luggage, the insurance company will pay to have the luggage replaced or at least the equipment rented so that the game can still go on. Airlines have similar policies but many times it takes a day or two or the funds given are inadequate. When you are flying into a new country to play a game that night, you don’t have time to wait for the airline to give you a little bit of money to replace your stuff.

So whether you are a coach or a player, it is always a good idea to be prepared and have proper insurance before leaving the country. You never know when it might save your life.



Leroy

Joe Goertz asked:


Besides being a lot of fun, by wearing your favorite hockey team’s clothing you can advertise for your favorite team and meet others who recognize your clothing, stop you and chat about the team whenever you’re wearing the clothing. It’s a great way to make friends out of other hockey fans.

Wearing your hockey team’s colors is probably the best way to display team support and identify you as a big fan. No matter whether you wear just a baseball cap or go the route of wearing a regulation jersey, people will know who you think is the best hockey team out there.

The greatest tribute to your team is the hockey jersey. You can get them in both home colors and away colors; the price depends on whether you go for a knock off or buy an authentic jersey from the NHL. They look great in the arena or anywhere you want to show off your team. You throw on a pair of jeans or shorts, a hockey jersey and maybe a baseball cap and you’ll look great in the stands, rooting for your team at the game of your choice. It looks nice to see a lot of people wearing the team colors in the stands at home games.

One interesting twist on hockey jerseys is to buy one of the jerseys that sport the name and colors of a team that no longer exists or has moved to another location. Take, for example, the old Minnesota North Stars team. They’ve moved to Dallas and are called the Dallas Stars but people still remember the old team and appreciate seeing and wearing their colors and old logo. Some of that kind of hockey apparel has some actual value beyond just being nostalgic. If you wear a jersey that isn’t made anymore, it has a fair amount of collector’s value.

Don’t just restrict yourself to the jerseys, either. There are emblems on things like T shirts, ball caps, sweatshirts and just about anything you can wear. They often sport both the team’s emblem and their colors. Some places where you can get these things include NHL stores, the Internet, sporting goods stores and sometimes at the arena itself. Some are higher priced than others but I’d go for whatever you like that fits within your budget. Don’t forget the minor league teams, high school teams and even college teams. They have their colors and apparel, too. You can mix and match or change your attire depending on who’s playing at the time or on a particular day.

If you actually play hockey, you can have your team all wear the same items with the team logo on them. You don’t have to wait until game time to promote yourself and to promote the team you’re on. It can really change the popularity of the team you play for.



Julio

Shaun Parker asked:


Ice hockey is a dangerous game. The surface of the ice is hard, the ice is full of players putting their full force into moving around the ice and the pucks can reach up to 100 mph when hit well and all of this is before a brawl kicks off. It is no wonder that there is a vast range of high quality ice hockey equipment that has been developed to secure the safety of ice hockey players.

There are items of equipment available to help protect every inch of an ice hockey player and still enable the player to move freely around the ice hockey rink. There is also a wide range of ice hockey equipment that is designed to help improve the quality of the performance of the competitor. Typical performance enhancing equipment includes items such as skates and hockey sticks whilst safety gear includes helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guards, protective gloves, shin pads, chest protector and a neck guard.

The type of equipment that the players utilise is often dependent on the position that they play for the team. The kit that the goal tender wears differs greatly from the outfield players.

The main area of difference between outfield players and goal tenders is in the style of skates that the goaltender wears. The skates that the goal tender wears are generally a lower, flatter style of skates. This style of skate lends better to lateral movement and can help the goaltender remain steady on the ice. The role of the goaltender is obviously very different to the role of a normal player and the goaltender does not need to achieve speed and quick turns.

The goaltender will often also wear a considerable amount of padded protection to make it safer for them to get in the way of the puck that is heading goal wards. The goaltender is allowed equipment that is different from other players on the team. The equipment generally has more protection for impacts from the front and the clothing generally has little protection for a goalie’s back. This is typically because the goalie is less likely to be impacted from that direction. The main benefit for the goaltender is that he or she is able to use a larger stick than other players. The stick has a wider blade and can be a great help for preventing the puck from entering the goal.

The equipment used by regular players is designed to help the player cope with the needs of the game and maximise the performance. The main item of kit being the shirt that is worn over the protective clothing and helps the team players recognise team mates and opposition with ease. These shirts are usually very thin and are supplementary to clothing that is worn underneath. Arguably the most important piece of kit for the players is the helmet which is designed to keep the head safe and also often includes a face cage or visor to keep the face safe but also allow for maximum visibility so that the wearer’s site is not impeded.

The hockey stick that regular players use is often thinner than that of the goaltender and it usually has a curvature that is designed to help cup the puck and subsequently flick it effectively. There are a number of sticks that are made out of composite materials but wooden sticks remain very popular in the professional game.



Anita

Amy Nutt asked:


Ice hockey has been around since 1800, when it was called “Hurley on ice” up in Nova Scotia. However, the game was played on frozen over ponds. There was no such thing as an ice hockey rink. It was something that didn’t occur until 1875, which was when the first organized indoor game of hockey was played. This happened in Montreal at the Victoria Skating Rink. And then it was 1893 when the first Stanley Cup was won, so hockey definitely has quite the amazing history.

But there is a business that has taken off throughout the years and that is ice hockey arena rentals.

The ice hockey arena rental business consists of the ice hockey arena renting out their space for individuals and groups to enjoy some skating time.

When did ice hockey arena rentals begin?

The truth is that it is hard to say when the ice hockey arena rental business began. Back in the late 1800s when there were more than 100 ice hockey teams in Montreal alone, most of them were skating on frozen ponds and lakes. Nevertheless, some of these teams began actually playing rather large tournaments, hence the first Stanley cup in 1893. Since there was a shortage of ice hockey rinks, it is fair to say that the indoor rinks that were established were renting out their spaces. It is also possible that rentals began before that in the pond and lake days because many of these ponds and lakes resided on private property. The owners were not going to let these individuals use their property for nothing, so they most likely let them use it at a cost. This is when everyone on the teams would pull in their money to pay the owner so that they could use their property for the day.

It is really hard to say exactly when ice hockey arena rentals began because there are no official records to go by. Many of the owners would rent based on their own discretion and would just let it go from there. However, it is fair to say that this is something that has been occurring for quite some time.

Modern day ice hockey arena rentals

Now you can rent virtually any ice hockey arena for a price. They are not cheap, but you can rent them to practice if you are into figure skating, if you just want to have fun with your friends, or if you want to have an ice skating event.

For instance, many companies may have ice hockey teams and they will play the ice hockey teams of other companies. When they do this, they need the entire arena staff to help them conduct their game because there will be people watching. This also means operating the concession stands in many cases. This is a great way for the arena to make even more money and it is a great way to make a company look great to all of those who hear of and attend the event.

So although it is hard to tell how long ice hockey arena rentals have been going on, they are definitely a great thing. This means that you don’t just have to be on a professional hockey team to experience the rink. You can be anyone with the cash to rent the arena and give a lot of people a good time. So check with the ice hockey arena in your area and see if you can arrange something for your business, your church, or for personal use. The individuals at the ice hockey rink will quote you prices and you can take it from there.



Adrian

Robert Riles asked:


The NHL hockey jersey, apart from being witness to the colorful unfolding of our favorite hockey league’s history, is also one of the most popular pieces of sports merchandise being sold today. Almost every sporting and sport memorabilia and collectibles store worth its salt carries a variety of NHL memorabilia, especially NHL hockey jerseys. However, at times it happens that in spite of the huge glut of NHL hockey jerseys in the market, you might not be able to find the exact jersey that you are looking for.

This might be because you are in search for an antique jersey that is no longer very popular amongst NHL fans today. Another reason could be that you do not like the detailing on the jerseys being sold, because one or more small, yet crucial details are missing from the jerseys. One more reason why buying NHL hockey jerseys might become a problem could be because of the prohibitively high prices that some jerseys come with, especially if they carry brand names and logos of any major sporting brand in the world.

One great idea that comes to everyone’s rescue when it comes to situations like those presented above is that of getting custom made NHL hockey jerseys. All the problems mentioned above can easily solve themselves when you start getting your jerseys custom made. There are a large number of professional jersey makers, who can create the perfect NHL jersey for you, complete with all the large and small details and that too for a lesser price than what you would have to pay for a model with a brand icon and lesser details.

Going to a custom jersey maker is also a good idea if you have given up on finding the jersey you are looking for because of its unavailability in all kinds of stores. A good custom jersey maker will be able to create a jersey for you even if it is what your favorite team was wearing thirty years before or if it belongs to a team that is not playing league hockey anymore. On top of this, most jersey makers should be able to put in all the little details that you want on your favorite jersey.

Another good thing that a custom jersey maker might be able to do is put your name on your NHL jersey, so that you actually feel like you are a part of your favorite hockey team when you wear it. So if you are really serious about your NHL hockey jerseys, then locating a good jersey maker who can create all kinds of NHL hockey jerseys is a good idea. In case you can’t find one in your town or city, then do not despair, because there are a number of good online jersey making companies that let you customize and design your jersey on their web pages and later on make and ship that jersey to you. Wearing a jersey that you have designed yourself will increase the pleasure that you get from sporting your favorite team’s colors, so why not go and locate a good jersey maker asap?



Wanda

Stanley Degeorgio asked:


Artificial turf, also known as synthetic turf, has found a prominent place in sports today. Manufactured from synthetic materials, this man-made surface looks like natural grass. With the international sports associations and governing bodies approving the use of artificial surfaces, sports like football and hockey, which were originally played on natural grass, have moved to these artificial sports pitches. So, next time, you find players playing on an artificial hockey pitch, do not be surprised.

There are primarily three different categories of artificial turf: unfilled, sand dressed and sand filled. The renowned hockey associations located in different countries generally opt for unfilled or “water-based” artificial turf for playing hockey. As the name suggests, such a hockey pitch features unfilled pile. These pitches are perfect for playing hockey as they minimise the abrasive effect, a common feature of sand-filled turf. An unfilled hockey pitch, however, requires wetting at regular intervals. For this, the groundsman makes use of pitch side water cannon. Sometimes, depending on the weather conditions, showering can be done even during the half-time of the play.

Some artificial hockey pitches may also be sand-dressed. Often confused with unfilled pitches, the sand -dressed pitches consist of pile that is filled with fine sand. The sand is filled within 5-8mm of the tips of the fibre. The third variant, the sand-filled artificial turf is not generally used as a hockey pitch. In this case, the carpet pile is filled with sand almost to the top, making the pitch rough and harder. While, on one hand, such pitches can cause injury to players, on the other, they make the ball speed across the surface at a slower pace.

The introduction of synthetic pitches has changed the game of field hockey significantly. The use of shorter fibres in these pitches has increased the speed of the ball across the surface. As a result, the game has become much faster. Artificial surfaces have also brought about a change in the shape of the hockey sticks to allow for different techniques, such as reverse stick trapping and hitting.

The only concern regarding the use of artificial turf for playing hockey and other sports like football, tennis, and many more, is the initial cost involved in their installation. However, the cost involved is only one-time cost. These synthetic surfaces require minimal maintenance compared to natural grass surfaces, after installation.



Jesus

Scott Kavanagh asked:


I was recently asked the ultimate hockey question: who my favorite hockey player of all time was. I was stumped. How could I choose from such a vast group of qualified players? Were there any criteria? Which years? Which team? Forwards? Defensemen? Goalies? The list goes on. Seriously, how could anyone name one player?

I was born and raised in Montreal, the best hockey team and town, ever. Thus, I have been a hockey fan since birth. My family introduced me to the love of the game so early on that I can’t even remember the first game I saw. I did know that I was a Canadians fan from the get go.

I fondly remember watching the Hab’s practice at Loyola arena and standing right up beside the boards (Without the Glass) and watching Gump Worsley play without a mask. I think that’s what developed my love for goalies.

When I moved to Vancouver back in the early 90s, I still kept my loyalty to the Canadians. Why wouldn’t I, the Vancouver Canucks ******.

Living here, I quickly learned that it was very disappointing to be a Canucks fan. There was no consistency. Everyone put their faith into Pavel Bure at the time. I insisted to all who would listen that no team can win the Cup with only one good player (I wasn’t about to admit to them that I thought Bure sucked). Beyond that, my disappointment mostly had to do with Vancouver’s goaltending. Vancouver had Auld, then Roloston, Cloutier and a few others I can’t say left any impression. I had left the land of plenty when it came to goaltenders. The 80s were a great era for the Hab’s. They won several Stanly cups, and in my opinion, were a great team anchored by a great goalie named Patrick Roy. Having grown up die hard Canadians fan, I took for granted that other teams had the same outlook. Unfortunately here in Vancouver, there was no one who could be counted on in nets. Some goalies were good for a couple of games, then fell into a slump, time and time again. How can anyone be loyal to a team that just never had a chance at winning the Cup. There was so much hope in this town, but with little reason.

That is until Roberto Luongo came to town. Everything changed here in Vancouver, in the fall of 2006. The Canucks acquired Roberto Luongo, a Montreal native (surprise, surprise), who was being compared to a young Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur. I had heard of him previously because he helped Canada win back to back gold medals for the World Championships.

Luongo was and still is, a classic butterfly goalie with great size, speed, and reflexes. In his first year in Vancouver, he was named as a finalist for the Vezina trophy, Hart Memorial trophy, and the Lester B. Pearson award. Then in September 2008, Canuck general manager Mike Gillis named Luongo team Captain. It was the first time a goalie had been named captain since the Canadians named Bill Durnan back in 1947.

Having said all this, today, at this very moment, I’m picking Luongo for the greatest hockey player. The ‘ever’ part is questionable, true. I am still a hockey fan now living in Vancouver, so I am hopeful for their cup standing this year. Many will be upset, even argumentative, about my choice. Let them be, tomorrow’s another day and my attention might be elsewhere, maybe Rocket Richard, Gretzky, Lafleur or even Roy.



Debra

Al Terry asked:


Hockey tickets are one of the most popular stocking stuffers of the holiday season. Once the snow starts to fall, it means that it’s time to strap on the skates and hit the ice for some hockey, one of the most popular sports in the country.

Once Upon A Time In Canada

The actual beginnings of ice hockey have been traced back to the 17th century. But professional ice hockey as we know it today was started in Montreal, Canada in 1875. A number of students from McGill University officially codified the rules and the game caught on like wildfire. In just a few years, the first world championships were held and the oldest hockey rivalries were born. In 1893, the first Stanley Cup was awarded.

Though the National Hockey League would be active in both America and Canada, it was the latter country that seemed to have more of an affinity for the game and a higher demand for hockey tickets. This may be due to the fact that Canada is more suited to winter sports. In any case, Canadian teams have dominated the major league in the past with teams like the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs notching up multiple Stanley Cup wins. These two teams have also hosted a number of the league’s best players.

Famous Fights

Like football, ice hockey has been known for its violence. In fact, some sports fans buy their hockey tickets to see some good fights as well as good plays. While football violence simply uses the body, hockey players also use their sticks and some have even used their skates to inflict violence. While a certain amount of roughness is allowed in the game, there have been times when things have simply gotten out of control. While some fights were the result of hot blood between the teams, some were the result of international politics.

In the world of professional hockey today, it is not unusual to have certain players on the team who are there to protect more valuable players. These players are unofficially known as enforcers. In the old days, during the time of legends like Gordie Howe, players often acted as their own enforcers. Howe himself was known for both scoring and taking part in fights. But players like Gretzky usually had a number of enforcers assigned to them to ensure nothing untoward happened on the ice.

While fights may be entertaining some times, the majority of fans buy their hockey tickets because they want to see a good game. Recent changes have been made to the game to bring the focus back to scoring and speed. Ice hockey is a risky game but the risk factor lies in the speed element, not in the violence. Players need to be able to think and move quickly, with an ability to maneuver the puck in the swiftest way possible. This is what makes a great hockey game.

If you’d like to catch some cool ice hockey action but are worried about how to get tickets, you can book them using the internet. Just log on to an authorized online ticket vendor and order your hockey tickets.



Jonathan

Robert Riles asked:


The New Jersey Devils hockey team has traveled a long way from its humble origins to become one of the most popular ice hockey teams in the country. The New Jersey Devils Hockey Club, then called the Kansas Scouts, which was formed in 1974 as a result of the NHL expansions has seen a whole lot of ups and downs, name and ownership changes to last any decent hockey team more than two lifetimes.

Due to an extremely dismal performance in the first two years of their inception, winning only 27 out of 160 games, the team moved to Colorado in 1976 with the aim of making a fresh start altogether and was re-christened the Colorado Rockies. However, while the team’s performance definitely improved in Colorado over what it was earlier, it was still nothing much to write home about. The final move came when the team was bought by New Jersey shipping tycoon John McMullen and shifted to New Jersey. The team had now moved amidst the tigers, and had to contend with the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York rangers and the three time Stanley Cup Winners, New York Islanders, who were all baying for the blood of the new team to join the tri-state hockey circuit of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The Devils have displayed a particular style of playing and have always been known as a defense first rather than offense first team. The team places an emphasis on speed and alacrity and have patented their own style of run and gun ice hockey. Today, the team is one of the most popular in the country, with a number of Stanley Cup trophies and Atlantic Division titles under their belt. While the club faces almost all of the country’s professional ice hockey teams as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the NHL (National Hockey League), its arch rivals are still the neighboring teams of the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers.

Some of the most popular players of the New Jersey Devils hockey team till date have been Patrik Elias, John Madden and Brian Gionta, who have been responsible for taking the team from strength to strength. Other popular players, especially among the younger lot are Travis Zajac and Zach Parise.

The New Jersey Devils hockey team, which has been playing their home games in the Continental Airlines Arena ever since their move to the city of New Jersey in 1982, will be switching stadiums in October 2007, when they are slated to play their first game at the Prudential Center in Newark, which will be the home ground for the team henceforth. The Center, which was under construction for some years, will finally host the New Jersey hockey team’s inaugural match against the Ottawa Senators, with whom they played their last home game in their old stadium.



Louis