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'The Ultimate Newsletter for Minor Hockey'
Summer 2005 ISSUE 5
Click here for our archive of past "Well Said" Newsletters
WELCOME to WELL SAID! - 'The Ultimate Newsletter for Minor Hockey'. This Newsletter, along with The Hockey Source comprehensive website, television show and product lines is part of our vision to provide you with valuable information about minor hockey so you can make sound decisions and have more fun. Whether you are a Player, Coach, Manager, Official, Trainer, Scout, Agent, Parent or Fan, you are sure to find valuable information on hockey topics.
That odor is much more than smell!
Parents and Players, this is a must read! So you think it is lucky to never wash your hockey equipment? Get Real!
The Ministry of the Environment in the Province of Ontario stipulates that a bacterial count in any 4 square inch surface that exceeds 25 is considered a potential health risk. In laboratory testing of various pieces of hockey equipment used in recreational hockey (defined as up to twice a week) it was determined that the aforementioned pieces of equipment measured in a range of 480/4 square inch to 86000/4 square inch. That represents a range of excess over the acceptable safety level of 19 to 3440 times higher. These laboratory numbers clearly indicated that your family member’s hockey gear has ceased to be the protective device intended through its purchase. Rather, equipment evolved to being a breeding ground for molds, yeasts, mites, fungus, staph and other unsavory and unhealthy entities that could end up joining the category of health concern entitled MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
- Do your family members shower regularly? Do you wear the same clothes to school or work, day after day for months at a time, without washing them?
So what is this silly and dangerous position that the vast majority of those in minor hockey take as evidenced by the total disregard for the cleanliness of most pieces of hockey gear? Why do people focus on washing the long johns and towels, and probably even the jerseys, but never think about all the other articles (shoulder pads, helmets/masks, pants, elbow pads, body armor, jock, gloves, shin pads and skates), which are just as close to the body and just as wet after a game or practice?
There is clearly more than odor coming from the hockey bag that forces most families to find a very secluded location to air out the equipment.
If someone else were forcing such conditions on any of us or our children, we would certainly take a strong, protective and immediate position. The tragedy of cases that have lead to serious infections and potential losses of limbs are well documented. Thus, the complacency and acceptance of our own involvement and approvals is in comprehensible. What is further extraordinary is the fact that the properly equipped cleaners of sports gear offer the service for a very economical price. This is certainly a topic area that requires parents and players to become much better informed about the significant risks, the simplistic and affordable solutions, and the significant outcomes.
Disney a dud?
A newspaper editor once FIRED Walt Disney because he did not have any good ideas!
As those of you involved in minor hockey contemplate and formulate your goals for the upcoming season, remember that the opinion of those around you will be offered, whether you seek it or not. What you do with what you hear is up to you. You can listen and choose to live up to the expectations of others, or you can focus on your ideas and live up to your own expectations.
We're on TV!!
We did it! The Hockey Source TV show is now a reality. Make sure you watch our exciting series of 13 half-hour shows that premiered Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at 6:30 pm EST on the NHL Network in Canada. A night of networking was held at Grace O’Malley’s in the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district to celebrate the significance of this achievement. Each show will offer both on and off ice segments that intend to educate and inform are offered on a number of topics integral to minor hockey. The fast pace and professional presentation make this 30 minutes of information and excitement that you will not want to miss. Kevin V. Huhn, Executive Producer of The Hockey Source also announced that as of August 14 2:00 pm EST FOX Sports Net New England will carry the TV show in its entirety in the US.
And our group of Subject Matter Experts continues to grow. Since our last edition, we have confirmed the addition of two new SME’s in the persons of Dr. Mike Houston and Jamie McDonald. Dr. Houston is currently a professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise at Virginia Tech University. Prior to his return to role of professor, Dr. Houston has also served as Department Dean at both Virginia Tech and the University of British Columbia. His career started with 27 years at the University of Waterloo where he specialized in nutrition and performance specific to hockey, diving and track & field, and eventually becoming an author of internationally-used texts, as well as material on Nutrition and Performance for Hockey Development Canada. The Hockey Source is excited and pleased to have Dr. Houston join our team. Readers will want to watch as our website sections related to nutrition grows in information presentation.
Jamie McDonald is the former Director of Development, Manager of Coaching and the Initiation Program for Hockey Canada . Mr. McDonald, who managed the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers and also scouted for the NHL’s New York Rangers, will bring his expertise to the field of management and administration for the world of minor hockey.
During his ten years as Manager of Coaching at Hockey Canada, Mr. McDonald organized annual coaching seminars and looked after the preparation of the National Junior and National Under-18 coaching staffs, as well as the staff for the National Women 's team. “I’m happy to be a part of this venture – it’s a process, not just a project.” McDonald says, “It will complement the initiatives that have been started by Hockey Canada and USA Hockey”.
Is gender an issue in minor hockey?
Is it right for girls to play hockey on boy’s teams?
- Are there specific circumstances that affect this discussion?
- Is there an age factor in this discussion, and if so, what is the demarcation level?
- Are there special precautions that need to be taken, such as different dressing rooms?
- What about the “team” environment part of the game and practice preparation, and the need to have the team together?
- Is body checking a factor or concern?
- Does a team need different support staff, if girls play with guys?
- Should the team have a female trainer to address injury situations?
- Are there topics of communication that require female coaching staff to be a requirement?
- Are there differences in the learning styles of males and females that challenge co-ed activities?
- Are there specific coaching preparations that need to be made for gender-mixed teams?
- Should the decision be affected by what is available in the area, or is this a decision made solely on gender considerations?
And then… what about the reverse? Is it right for boys to play on girl’s teams?
Send us your opinion at info@thehockeysource.tv so that we can make this a feature story in a future newsletter.
Protect the player!
Products that help make your life in hockey more enjoyable.
Featured Product – FloorPAL
… where you can purchase products that help make your life in hockey more enjoyable.
Hey Players! Tired of getting your feet and socks wet? Hey Parents! Ever consider the number of germs on the floor of a change room in the average arena? Are you frustrated with having to buy several pieces of carpet remnants during the season? Then you need to look into the FloorPAL.
The FloorPAL is composed of a black, non-woven nylon fiber with a backing made of black nitrile, which is a soft, solvent resistant, latex substitute. It will not tear! It will not wear out! It will not unravel or disintegrate! And it is made to withstand 100,000 machine washes which means that it is always clean and germ free making the formation of mold impossible. You will never have to buy another piece of carpet.
Because of its flexibility, it can be rolled up or folded up and easily carried in your hockey bag. It can be used for any activity where protection of the feet is a concern, especially for those involved in figure skating or swimming.
The FloorPAL is exclusive to The Hockey Source and can be purchased for $39.95. So keep your corner of the room clean, warm and comfortable and do it in style. It makes for a great gift for hockey players of all ages.
To purchase your FloorPAL, go to www.thehockeysource.tv/sectionshop/shop.php
Soon you will be able to Shop the Source for the exclusive designed jersey worn on the TV Show.
A Goalie's Edge
Goalie skates are designed more like a shoe that other skates, since a goaltender’s stance and movement is more lateral in nature. The goalie skate also requires a thicker blade, and an outer protective boot. This helps withstand the impact of low shots from shooters.
By the age of 8, it is recommended for children who want to play goal that they wear goalie skates rather than regular skates. At young ages when individual growth is a reality, the purchase of good used goalie skates is a very realistic and economical approach and decision.
It used to be a practice that goalies sharpened their skates once per season, and then probably rubbed them against the boards or team bench “to take off the edge”. But this has changed. Goaltenders should maintain sharp blades to be able to have good edges to push off with and be able stop quickly over a short distance when doing lateral movements. The game is faster at all levels and the goalie needs to be in position quicker to make the save. .
So Goaltenders find a skate sharpener that understands the needs related to goalie skates to get the cut that is right for you.
And remember, it is easier to dull a sharp skate than it is to get a dull one sharpened minutes from game time.
Dear valued reader - we would love to hear from you!
If you would like to comment on anything that you have read in this or past newsletters; if you have some input or opinions on material you have viewed in our website; or if you simply have some valuable information or experience you would like to share with the rest of our readers, please write to us with your thoughts at info@thehockeysource.tv .
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