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Out Coached

November 11, 2018 by David Breen Leave a Comment

I’m not afraid to say it. I have been outcoached at every Micro Ice game for the past four years. I don’t run systems. I don’t match lines. I don’t adjust in game. I don’t pull kids who mess up. I don’t even own a white board. I remind the players to skate fast and pass the puck. That’s it. The vast majority of the time I don’t even go to the games.

I’m 0-5 in the playoffs.

 I don’t care.

 Why?

I coach at practice.

I limit the number of kids on teams to maximize reps and limit down time. I do races, chases, battles, games, and competitions all practice long. The kids touch the puck more, pass more, shoot more, race more, skate more, and compete more. Could I make more money and bring on more kids? Sure. But that’s not what I’m about. 

I’m about development.

We work on scenarios, not drills, that are important for the growth and development of players. Try and make a move, see what happens when you stickhandle through 1, 2, 3 people. See what works. See what doesn’t. I provide feedback, I provide guidance, and I provide a positive environment. The players learn from failures, learn from mistakes, and learn from successes. 

 

Want to learn more about Micro Ice Teams? Click below.

 

Team Information

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Bruins Academy 2018

October 9, 2018 by David Breen Leave a Comment

The Bruins Academy is off to a great start here at Micro Ice! We’ve had 75+ new hockey players come through here and learn from Micro Ice coaches, Curry College hockey players, and Merrimack College hockey players too!

Last week Bruins alum Andrew Alberts came by to skate with some of the kids.

This week Bruins great Rick Middleton will be at Micro Ice!!!

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David Breen Returns to Merrimack College

September 18, 2017 by David Breen Leave a Comment

Micro Ice is proud to announce that Program Director David Breen has joined the Merrimack College Men’s Ice Hockey Staff. Breen will be the Video Coordinator along with Director of Analytics for the team. He will be using his years of coaching and skill development experience to help the Warriors this year in Hockey East. Prior to Merrimack, Breen was an assitant coach at Bentley University and Curry College. Breen also played for Merrimack College in the early 2000’s. 

He will also continue coaching the programs here at Micro Ice including the clinics, Micro Ice Mite teams, along with doing private lessons. Click the link below to see what Clinics are avaiable with Coach Dave!

 

 

 

Micro Ice Clinics

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Practice to Game Transfer

August 3, 2017 by David Breen Leave a Comment

Below is a clip taken from our latest checking clinic on 8/2/17. This is week 6 of the clinic, so we are working more on how checking/body contact matters in game like situations. We are playing cross ice, in a mini rink, 2v2 trying to score in a small net. The team that scores gets to stay out and play the next two in line, so there is an incentive to compete.

Why we do this:

The smaller area forces players to make quicker decisions with or without the puck. The player with the puck has to make a play with the threat of being hit. They can either skate the puck, pass it, or shoot it. Defensively the players need to decide if they are going to try and check the puck carrier, try and steal the puck, or try and block the shot. Since it’s in a small area, the decisions are constantly being made the whole time. In the thirty second clip there are: 3 Checks, 3 Passes/Pass Attempts/ 2 Shots/ and 4 Turnovers. These are high quality reps, that reinforce what is going to happen in a game. These are the types of reps that translate to success in games.

 

If you want to learn more about what we do here at Micro Ice, check out our clinics and see why Smaller Rinks = Bigger Skills.

 

 

Micro Ice Clinics

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Why is Cross Ice Training Best?

June 15, 2017 by David Breen 1 Comment

As a Program Director of a small rink in North Andover, MA, I get told all the time that “Cross ice is good for younger players… but not for my kid. He/She is ready for full ice.” And, while I know that it’s my job to sell the idea of a smaller surface, I am fortunate in the fact that science backs up my claims about the benefits of cross ice for players of any level. There is a reason why the NHL practices cross ice. There is a reason why we do it at the NCAA Division I level.

Advantages of cross ice training

If I ran one of these two practices…Which one would you want to sign your child up for? Same price, same amount of time on the ice.

 

Practice A Drill Practice B
10 Shots on Net 60
20 Passes Made 40
10 Passed Received 50
10 Battle  20
10 High Speed Changes of Direction 20

  

It would be safe to assume that you would want your child to participate in practice B. More puck touches/shots/passes/skating etc. All of the things that are useful and important in the game are emphasized in cross ice. (See picture below.) 

So, why would you be OK with a game being like that? When scouting and recruiting for NCAA scholarships, we look for players that can make plays. Not kids that rushed to the next level too soon.

Try cross ice training at Micro Ice

Your child gets better by doing those things. They need to practice those types of situation in game like conditions…And that is exactly what Micro Ice in North Andover, MA does. The smaller surface involves players more often, they are always “in the play.” It also forces them to make plays quicker. They need to process everything and execute shots, passes, skating faster; because they run out of time and space more rapidly than on a normal rink. When these kids go back to a full sized ice, the game is easier. They have more time and space the make plays and are better prepared for higher level of play.

Check out our programs in North Andover, MA and see why people love coming to our clinics.

Micro Ice Clinics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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