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USA Hockey

USA Hockey provides the foundation for the sport of ice hockey in America; helps young people become leaders, even Olympic heroes; and connects the game at every level while promoting a lifelong love of the sport.

10 Things Coaches Secretly Love
February 13, 2019
For younger players, the first step in good peer-to-peer communication is explaining concepts to their teammates – be it a drill, a small-area game or a situation that just happened in a game. Coaches love hard workers and good teammates. But what other traits and behaviors do coaches really value in their players? Ted Cheesebrough, […]
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Creating a Challenging Mite Program
February 12, 2019
“The kids who are more advanced are getting more challenged, and the lower end kids are still getting challenged but are getting more confidence as well.” Considering players in Mite/8U programs are often hopping on the ice for the first time, learning basic skills, interacting with their high school heroes and initially falling in love […]
Pro’s and Con’s of Puck Hogs
January 31, 2019
Another key aspect is explaining to players how their actions affect the rest of the team, as young players may not understand the ripple effect that occurs. At times, it seems like every team has one. That one kid who refuses to pass the puck, regardless of how open their teammates are. To say it’s […]
Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek
Matt Vernon Writing Own Legacy in Goal
January 31, 2019
Aberdeen Wings netminder with a famous last name coming into his own   Mike Vernon did not necessarily want his son to play goalie growing up.                Matt Vernon found himself pushed toward the position, not by his father, but because of his father, the 1997 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs […]
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Five C’s of Excellent Youth Coaches
January 30, 2019
Excellent coaches know how and when to provide feedback or support, to hold kids accountable and to do so in a manner that builds players’ motivation and confidence. Coaches are the face of every youth sport organization. They have the opportunity to lead, inspire and develop young players on a daily basis, and how they […]
Keys to Motivating Youth Hockey Players
January 29, 2019
When you set a goal, regardless of what it is, there has to be a willingness to do what it takes to get there. If the player is willing to do that, they’ve got a good chance of achieving it. “Getting up” for every single practice and game can be a challenge even for NHL […]
Youth athletes playing hockey at night on a frozen lake at U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
The Unwritten Rules of Pond Hockey
January 23, 2019
If you ask any hockey player in Minnesota where their game began, they will likely tell you about the pond they grew up playing on.
The Flinstones Vitamins Approach to Coaching
January 17, 2019
Coaches and parents can try these five tips to keep practices fun
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Small Town Hockey: A Minnesota Tradition
January 9, 2019
It’s a deep-rooted part of the culture that has been passed from generation to generation for over a century. Since the early days of hockey in Minnesota, small towns have played a big role in the culture and tradition in the State of Hockey. In fact, small towns dominated the first 25-plus years of organized […]
Learning the Art of Deception
January 6, 2019
“They can watch all the highlights and watch them over and over. Kids are doing things now we never used to do.” Deception is a tool used in almost every sport. A quarterback looks one way, getting a safety to move and zips the ball to the other side of the field. A point guard […]
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