Two of our skaters were recently featured in USA Hockey’s magazine. They play different styles of games, but constantly push each other to be better. This summer they will be in a private HS group that works on skating, edge work, and high speed puck handling. We also battle and compete on the smaller sheet at Micro Ice.

 

Full article here

Check out some of their goals at Nationals this year. 

 

Want to train like they do? Check out our summer programs: Register Now for Clinics

When I first started at Micro Ice, we have 2 mite teams. I had never coached mites before, and had no idea what to do and/or expect. Then I started thinking…If I had a child that wanted to play hockey, how would I design the program? (I didn’t have children at the time.)

 

1. I would practice practice practice. The kids who have access to more ice, get better. It’s not a magic formula, it’s actually an easy formula. Get them out on the ice more often, in practice situations.
2. Have great practices. Deliberate practices. Game like practices. Whatever terminology you want to use, the kids need to be out there, doing things that happen in games. No flow drills. No 3v0 back door passes on goalies. Drills, or what I like to call, scenarios, that force them to “read, plan, and do.” That’s where development really happens. I’m there to guide them, not tell them the answers.
3. Limit games. Besides the travel, time investment, and lack of actual playing time/development in games, I didn’t want there to be game fatigue. Mites play the same amount of games as NCAA Division III teams. Squirts play more than NCAA Division I teams. 8 year olds are playing a college schedule. I want the kids to compete and have fun at the rink. Not just go through the motions. That’s why I politely decline scrimmages.
4. Take a long term approach. Expect mistakes. Let them learn why not to pass the puck in front of their own net. Let them try to stickhandle through people and turn it over. Let them over-pursue the puck. Force them to get involved instead of hanging back. Force them to look and make a play, rather than firing the puck away. Let them try goalie, see how hard it is.
5. Value the process, not the results. I want to win, I am a competitive guy. I attribute my success as a player and coach to the fact that my hatred for losing is greater than my love of winning. HOWEVER, that’s where I am currently at. To expect the same from kids 6-12 is wrong. So I want their best effort. I want them to compete every shift, every drill, and every game. I want them to learn from mistakes, not constantly make the same ones over and over again. But most importantly, I need to emphasize the important things: being a great teammate, bringing a positive attitude, and consistent improvement. The longer they play, the better they will get.

 

What I am most proud of is the excitement the kids have throughout the whole season. The kids are lined up raring to go to practice from September through March. We had a skate with the mites two weeks after their season ended and the kids stayed out there for two hours. That’s when I knew the season was a success.

After learn to skate, the next progression is into Learn to Play. Adding sticks and pucks is exciting, but adds more layers of difficulty. We want to continue to build on their skating foundation, but incorporate basic hockey concepts.

Our sessions run for 50 minutes, with limited kids in the class. We strive the keep the kids active, learning, and having fun the entire time. We split the group into two sections: one is skating focused, the other is hockey focused. They spend equal times with each section, and switch back and forth twice.

Skating: Work on and reinforce the basics: edges, stopping, backwards, pivots, learning crossovers, etc. Our drills are simple and fun; have them moving and working on things that actually matter in hockey. Races, chases, and other games help them compete, push their boundaries, and go faster than they normally would in practice.

Hockey: We introduce carrying the puck and making simple plays. We want them to get in the habit of carrying the puck away from their feet and body, so that they can skate fast with the puck. We talk about basic hand positioning, but for the most part we want them to be in control of the puck while they skate. No sliding it out in front and chasing after it, not a million stickhandles that slow them down. Instead they carry the puck in a position where they can skate, stickhandling, pass, or shoot all from the same spot.

We then add in races, where they need to skate fast, be aware of their opponents, and have a little friendly competition. We slowly push them out of their comfort zones so that they will improve.

We then end with some sort of game. 3v3/4v4/2v2 full ice, cross ice, etc. We get them skating, scoring goals, making plays, and most importantly having fun.

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

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!!!