Michigan Hockey October 26, 2009

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V.20:I.07 | October 26, 2009FIRST CLASS

Amateur Hockey ReportSend your news, photos and stats and be recognized in Michigan Hockey!

Winners' CircleIndividual achievement awards and

recognition in Michigan Hockey for hat tricks, playmakers, shutouts and high grade point.

Hustler of the GameIndividual awards based on effort with

recognition in Michigan Hockey.

Stars of TomorrowIndividual photo and biographical information

in Michigan Hockey, plus sponsor gift.

Behind the BenchRecognizing youth coaches with a photo and biographical information in Michigan Hockey.

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2009-2010 LCAHL Operating Rules and BylawsThe updated LCAHL Operating Rules and Bylaws,

as approved by the LCAHL Operations Board and the corporate legal department, have been posted on the LCAHL website at lcahl.org.

These rules were updated by the LCAHL Operating Rules Committee chaired by Dale Stauffer and composed of members: Joe Lafata, Liz Sullivan, Jim Sheridan and Todd Lynn. This committee will continue to review the rules and update them annually. If your team should come upon situations where the rules are not applicable or are conflicting, please document the issue and refer it in writing to any member of the Operating Rules Committee.

Information can be found on the league website under “Contacts”.

GENERAL REVISIONSEvery team in the league is responsible for reading

and adhering to all rules in this document. Below are some highlights of the changes.

* Improved readability and clarity of the entire document, including Guiding Principles and Definitions

* Improved document structure and organization end to end

* Removed content that clearly overlaps with MAHA or USA Hockey Rules and Regulations

* Removed sections that no longer pertain to LCAHL charter [i.e. JV section]

* Added new sections for Boundary Rules, the Annual Face-off Meeting, etc.

* Restructured critical sections: League Play, Game Rules, Scoring, Competitive Divisions, Division Winners & Playoffs

RULES UPDATESThe following are some of the updates that were

made to the rules. Teams should be sure to note this information and check the rules throughout the season.

* The annual Face-off meeting is a mandatory league meeting that must be attended by a rostered coach or team manager. Teams not attending or sending someone other than a team official are subject to referral to the Discipline Committee (Section 8)

* To participate in League Playoffs, players must be rostered with the team by December 31. (Section 11.2)

* Period Length information has been updated. The home team will determine the length of the periods. (Section 12.10)

* Forfeits are not allowed in this league. All games must be played. Any team attempting to forfeit a game should immediately be referred to the Division Director. (Section 14.5)

* House team rules have been updated to reflect current practices. (Section 18)

* Boundary rules have been added. (Section 19) * Competitive Divisions section has been updated.

(Section 20) * Division Winners and Playoffs documentation has

been changed to reflect current practices. Divisions may have co-champions. (Section 21)

* Playoff rules have been added. (Sections 22 and 23)

Any questions regarding Operating Rules should

be referred to any LCAHL official.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

4 October 26, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

FROM THE EDITOR

Lots of really good playersFROM THE EDITOR

While researching our Top College Prospects feature in this issue (page 21) it struck me how lucky we are to have so many great players in the state to watch in person.

In addition to talented high school players who will hit the ice on November 2, Michigan has top-end midget, junior, college and professional players all skating near you.

Michigan center Louie Caporusso is a Hobey Baker Award candidate, Northern Michigan’s Erik Gustafsson is one of the best defensemen in college hockey and the Plymouth Whalers’ speedy forward Tyler Seguin is leading the OHL in scoring and is a top rated prospect for next summer’s NHL Draft.

Ann Arbor’s U.S. Under-18 Team is full of top college prospects (page 22), several of which will be drafted by NHL teams next summer. The NTDP teams now compete in the USHL, whose teams are stocked with some of Michigan’s best young talent.

This issue of MH also contains features on a pair of local boys who have made good at the highest levels. Defenseman Cam Fowler of Farmington Hills, himself a lock to go high in next summer’s NHL Draft, is lighting up the OHL in his first season with the Windsor Spitfires (page 25). And Grand Rapids’ native Luke Glendening (page 23) has found a spot in the Michigan Wolverines’ lineup the old fashioned way: he earned it.

The fourth installment of our Navigating the Frozen Waters educational series takes a look at the Tier III Junior B and Junior C levels (page 14). And in addition to a preview of the Adrian College teams (page 24), we have a feature on Score4Kids, a non-profit organization that is collecting and redistributing hockey equipment to help keep kids in the game (page 19).

Have a great season,

HEALTHY MEALS for Hockey Moms

submitted by Hockey Moms

1 lb. extra-lean ground beef

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 jar (16 oz.) Thick ‘N Chunky Salsa

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen corn, thawed

12 corn tortillas (6 inch)

1-1/2 cups 2% Milk Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided

HEAT oven to 375°F.

BROWN meat with peppers in large skillet; drain. Return to skillet. Stir in salsa, tomatoes and corn.

SPREAD 1 cup meat mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with 6 tortillas, overlapping as necessary. Cover with layers of half each of the remaining meat mixture and cheese; top with remaining tortillas and meat mixture. Cover with foil.

BAKE 25 to 30 min. or until heated through. Top with remaining cheese; let stand 5 min. or until melted.

LAYERED FIESTA CASSEROLE

Submit your recipe & photo to:[email protected]

Recipe submitted by Lucia Zuzga

Contact Lucia @ 248-479-1134 if you would like to sponsor this unique program.

Advertise it inAdvertise it inMichiganHockeyMichiganHockey

or onor onMichiganHockeyOnline.comMichiganHockeyOnline.com

Call Lucia atCall Lucia at248-479-1134248-479-1134

Advertise it inAdvertise it inMichiganHockeyMichiganHockey

or onor onMichiganHockeyOnline.comMichiganHockeyOnline.com

Call Lucia atCall Lucia at248-479-1134248-479-1134

14 NAVIGATING THE FROZEN WATERS• The fourth installment of our educational series takes a look at

the Tier III Junior B Great Lakes Junior Hockey League (GLJHL).

19 MH BEAT• Score4Kids helps keep players on the ice

• Four from Michigan make U.S. Select Team• Tier I Elite League players hit the road (p. 20)

• Frozen Four at Ford Field gets new seating configuration (p.20)

12 REEBOK TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

6 AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT • Livonia Kings Bantams, Squirt A Woodhaven Leafs and Belle Tire Midget B win •

Big Bear Flatwater Tournament• Hockey Day in Michigan set for January 30 (p.7)

8 GET BETTER• Coaching drills and the case for playing everyone

10 STATE OF THE GAME• The Tournament by Lyle Phair

INSIDE 10.26.09

DEPARTMENTS

MICHIGAN HOCKEY23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200

Farmington Hills, MI 48335-2829(248) 478-2500 • FAX: (248) 478-1601

EMAIL: [email protected]: www.michiganhockeyonline.com

Cover: Clawson’s Shane Berschbach of the Indiana Ice by John and Kelly Wikman/Whiteshark Photography; Brighton’s Jon Merrill of the U.S. Under-18 Team by Dave Arnold and the Red Wings Nick Lidstrom by Dave Reginek/DRW.

This page (from top): Hockey Day in Michigan fun by Michigan Hockey; S.S. Marie’s Kyle Jean of the Traverse City Northstars by Robert Meyer/NAHL and Goodrich’s Kevin Kissaw of the Marquette Rangers by Meyer/NAHL.

Cover reprints available: email [email protected]

AdvertisingLucia Zuzga

Editor-in-ChiefPhilip D. Colvin

Design EditorChuck Stevens

28 NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE REPORT

• Standings, leaders and Marquette’s Kevin Kissaw backstops Marquette to the top of the North Division of the Tier II Junior A League

STAFFContributing Editor ........................... Kevin Allen

Advertising ......................................Lucia Zuzga

................................................... Philip D. Colvin

................................................... Lauren Kovacs

Subscriptions/Distribution ...............Lucia Zuzga

Administrative Director ............. Peggy A. Griffi n

Controller .................................. David J. Klavon

Administrative Assistant ...................Amy Jones

Circulation: Weekly press run of 8,000-10,000 with an

estimated readership of 24,000-30,000.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Bob Despirt, Christine Szarek,

Derek Blair, Don Dales, Julie Pardoski, Kirk Vickers,Linda Holland, Lisa Zarzycki, Lori Yarnell, Mark Vansaw,

Randy Paquette, Susan Bottrell, Tim Wilson, Todd Krygier

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: MICHIGAN HOCKEY®

welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be signed and

include the writer's full home address and day and evening

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materials remain the property of MICHIGAN HOCKEY.

21 TOP COLLEGE PROSPECTS• Michigan continues to produce good

collegiate players

• Where are they now? Former top college prospects all over hockey world

• U.S. Under-18 Team is chock full of prospects (p.22)

30 NHL INSIDERS•Waddell: Lidstrom joins exclusive 1000-point club

• Allen: Franzen’s injury tests Red Wings depth

Become a fan on Michigan Hockey‛s Facebookand follow us on Twitter

Attention Holiday ShoppersMichigan Hockey’s Holiday Gift Guide

is coming in the November 9 issue!Note to advertisers: Ad deadline is Oct. 28 for the Holiday Gift Guide

– call Lucia at (248) 479-1134 for more info!

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

NEW FOR X-MAS 2009!Bd’s Mongolian Barbecue /

Puckmasters Christmas Break 3 ON 3 Tournament

2001 MITE, 2000, 1999 SQUIRT, 1998, 1997 PEEWEE, 1996 Bantam

December 28th, 29th, & 30th 2009

COSTS - $250.00 PER TEAMPuckmasters is Detroit’s premiere hockey training facility. We specialize in one on one progressive skill development training for all positions and ages. Our program consists of on-ice instruction, stride mechanics and endurance with

our hockey treadmill, shooting mechanics, goalie training, as well as off-ice core

from the beginner to the elite professional athlete. Give us a call to schedule

Bantam Livonia Kings win Big Bear Flatwater Tourney

The Livonia Bantam Kings went 3-1 to capture the Big Bear Flatwater Tournament in Chelsea on October 4.

After losing to the Chelsea Bulldogs, 3-1, in the opener, the Kings notched 11 straight periods of shutout hockey to win their first tournament of the year. The Kings beat the Cleveland Skating Club, 1-0, Plymouth Sharks, 2-0, and Cleveland Skating Club 5-0 in the championship game. After his third straight shutout, goaltender Cody Bartlett was the unanimous tournament MVP, though the scoreless streak was a clearly a complete team effort.

The Kings are: Jack Hoover, Garrett Sculthorpe, J.R. Kalil-A, Evan Thompson, Jordan Cutting,

Brian Sexton-A, Jimmy McGrail, Scott Kardel, Matt Vanhulle, Kevin Kerpet, Craig Rizzolo-C, Justin Melville, Cameron Mount-Cambell, Matthew Byrne-A, Cody Bartlett and Joey Donavan.

Kings coaches are Mike Thompson, Phil Sexton, John Kalil, Bill Rizzolo, Bob Vanhulle, Pat Hoover and Ron Kerpet-Manger.

The Woodhaven Leafs (below) took the Squirt A division of the tournament with a 6-4 win over the Toronto Aces. In the Bantam AA division the Henry Ford Hurricanes (bottom) took the title with a 4-2 win over the Leafs and Belle Tire won the Midget B title with a 2-0 shutout of the Glenbrook (IL) South Titans.

7michiganhockeyonline.com | October 26, 2009

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

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MH BEAT

What is about hockey that makes players get up early on cold winter mornings to go to the rink and fans to go to great lengths to follow their favorite team?

That’s the idea behind Hockey Day in Michigan, a statewide celebration of the game. This year’s fifth annual event will take place on January 30 – and the CCHA, FOX Sports Detroit, the Detroit Red Wings and the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association are teaming up again to bring the coast-to-coast celebration to current and new participants and fans all across the state.

Hockey Day in Michigan celebrates the passion of the game and honors the contributions of the thousands of volunteers, coaches, officials, managers and players who give countless hours to the game. The day is also an opportunity to bring special attention to the sport so that more people might consider watching it and trying it.

Michigan has over 61,000 players, coaches and officials registered with USA Hockey, which is the second most of any state in the nation.

Ken Holland, the Vice President and General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings, says Michigan is one of the best places to live if you love hockey.

“The state of Michigan, year after year, continues to be an elite part of the hockey world at every level and age group,” Holland said. “Michigan is currently home to the 11-time Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings, the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, seven top-notch Division I NCAA programs and outstanding

junior hockey, not to mention the numerous high school and youth teams across our great state. It’s exciting to live in a part of the world where the game of hockey means so much to so many people.”

George Atkinson, the President of the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association, believes that Hockey Day helps grow the game of hockey in the state of Michigan.

“Hockey Day in Michigan helps to highlight the fact that the sport of hockey is part of Michigan’s heritage,” Atkinson said. “Hockey Day helps to provide exposure to people who may not be aware of the hockey programs offered in their area. The increasing participation in Hockey Day by MAHA associations and teams has enabled new players to experience the thrills and fun a player can have while playing hockey with their friends.”

Greg Hammaren, the Vice President and General Manager of FOX Sports Detroit, said FOX Sports is proud to provide coverage of the traditional CCHA Hockey Day in Michigan doubleheader. Hockey Day 2010 features Western Michigan at 2009 national runner-up Miami at 5:05 p.m. followed by “College Hockey’s Fiercest Rivalry”, as Michigan takes on Michigan State at 7:35 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena.

“The CCHA doubleheader on Hockey Day in Michigan has become a signature of our network,” said Greg Hammaren, Senior Vice President/General Manager, FOX Sports Detroit. “It’s an honor to be associated with this annual celebration of hockey – a sport that is so near and dear to participants and spectators throughout our

great state.”FOX Sports Detroit’s coverage of Hockey Day 2009 involved more

than just the traditional CCHA doubleheader. It included features on the history of hockey in Michigan, the Wheelchair Hockey League of Michigan, Hockey Day in Michigan Clinics in Novi, instructional pieces from former Red Wing and current FOX Sports Detroit analyst Larry Murphy (“Lessons with Larry”), and fun facts about other types of hockey like bubble hockey, air hockey and video game hockey. Area youth teams got a chance to give “Happy Hockey Day” greetings to the Fox Sports Detroit viewers as well.

And coast-to-coast doesn’t just mean Muskegon to Port Huron and Monroe to Houghton. This year’s Hockey Day in Michigan will again coincide with USA Hockey’s third-annual “Hockey Weekend Across America” celebration of the game on January 29-31, 2010.

“We are proud and excited that Hockey Day in Michigan, launched in 2006, is now part of a nationwide celebration whose scope continues to expand each year,” said CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos. “It’s a great way for everyone involved in hockey to show their passion for the sport and share that passion with others who might consider trying it or watching it. We encourage everyone to get involved and celebrate in their own way.”

To get involved or to have your event included in the list of happenings around the state on CCHA.com, contact the CCHA at [email protected] or (248) 888-0600.

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Hockey Day in MichiganHockey Day in Michiganis set for January 30is set for January 30Hockey Day in Michiganis set for January 30

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


GET BETTER

800-667-5141www.coachmate.com

To recognize and promote the commitment of youth coaches in the state, Michigan Hockey would like youth coaches to tell us a few things about yourself and why

you coach youth hockey.

S U B M I T T O W I NCOACHES, SEND US THE FOLLOWING INFO FOR A

CHANCE TO WIN A COACHMATE BOARD AND BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING

ISSUE OF MICHIGANHOCKEY IN THE BEHIND THE BENCH SECTION.

Please include:YOUR NAMEWHERE DO YOU LIVETHE LEVEL, TEAM AND ASSOCIATION WHERE YOU COACHNUMBER OF YEARS COACHINGWHY DO YOU COACHMOST MEMORABLE COACHING MOMENTCOACHING PHILOSOPHY/STYLEFAVORITE DRILLCOACH YOU ADMIRE MOST AND WHYONE THING YOU’D CHANGE ABOUT YOUTH HOCKEY

PLEASE ATTACH A DIGITAL PHOTO OF YOURSELF WITH YOUR ANSWERS

AND EMAIL EVERYTHING TO: [email protected]

Equal playing time helps develop the whole teamGET BETTER

On most youth teams, there are players who are physically ahead of their teammates in size, speed or strength. These players often form a core of talent that coaches can use to their advantage to win games.

The temptation for many coaches is to use this talent more during a game to go for the win. While this method is appropriate at the highest level of athletic competition, it seldom has any place in youth sports.

Here is why playing everyone is a good strategy for having a fun and successful season:

Good enough to play - If they’re good enough to make my team, they’re good enough to play. It’s a coach’s job to ensure that everyone has improved from the beginning of the year to the end. If that doesn’t happen, you need to re-evaluate your roles as a coach.

Early in the season you can mix and match your lines, and allow everyone an opportunity to be a part of the power play and penalty killing units. As the season hits its full stride and your No. 1 power play and penalty killing units take shape, it’s even more important to find enough ice time for all your players.

A coach who shortens his bench may somehow think he’s advancing his career, but even if that were true, would it be worth it?

Maximizes player development - Without playing time and opportunities to play in special situations, players cannot learn.

Plans for the future - Injuries and illness are a part of every team’s season. That’s why it’s important to get everyone involved early in the season. If you don’t improve your entire team, how do you expect a fourth-line player to step up and contribute at a crucial point in the season?

Many coaches will tell you that winning seasons and championships take a back seat to seeing a former player years down the road and he or she says how much you helped them as

both a player and a person.

Avoids contention between coaches, parents and players – The resentments that can build between coaches and parents can often build among parents for the same reasons. More than a few youth teams have had successful seasons poisoned by hard feelings arising out of a coach’s game decisions. And if players feel that coaches have favorites, they may stop trying their hardest.

Minimizes player fatigue - In tough, physical games, coaches will lack skilled players if the top players are exhausted and lesser players have had limited game experience.

Simplifies coaching decisions - Coaches don’t have to guess or decide which players are most likely to play well in a given situation.

Improves team chemistry - When players feel everyone is treated fairly, they are more likely to focus on working together. When players feel they can succeed by making someone else look bad or themselves look better, they are learning the wrong lessons about team play.

Wins mean more to everyone - When everyone contributes to a win, there are no lingering resentments that will interfere with the celebration.

Better reflects coaching abilities - Winning games with kids who are physically more mature is more a success of drafting or picking players than coaching. Winning games by developing all the kids on a team is a better test of a coach’s abilities.

Source: Developing Your Total Team by Harry Thompson/BetterHockey.com and 10 Reasons for Equal Playing Time by Jeff Farris/Sports Esteem.com

Getting all your players equal playing time can help your team in many ways.

PUCK SUPPORT TIMING

PURPOSE: To develop good offensive puck supportpositioning and timing skills to promote quick puckmovement on the attack.

SET-UP: Players line up in one of two lines as shown,either at the red line along the boards or at the blue line inthe center of the ice. On the whistle, X swings in and towardthe boards for a pass from the coach and O times hismovement to swing into the center lane to receive the passfrom X, then breaks up-ice and around the cone for a shot.Players move from the X line to the O line, then to the Xline at the other end as they progress through the drill.

PUCK CONTROL RACE DRILL

PURPOSE: To improve physical conditioning and workon puck control and scoring skills at high speeds while tired.

SET-UP: Divide players half on each side of the ice and tryto pair them up by skating speed. Two players leave fromthe hash marks at each end on the whistle and skate to thered line, back to the blue line and up-ice again. The firstplayer to the far blue line receives a pass from the last playerin line and skates in for a shot, continues around behind thenet and begins the same pattern on the other side of the ice.The second player receives his pass, skates down aroundthe cone and cuts to the middle to deke the goaltender, thencontinues the same pattern on the other side of the ice.

suburbanice.comStill accepting late registrations for ALL programs

PRIMETIME HOCKEY

LEARN TO PLAYSaturdays, 5:30 - 6:30 pm Session 1: Oct. 3 - Dec. 19, $150

no classes 10/31 or 11/28

Session 2: Jan. 9 - Mar. 13, $150

Ages 9-12 (No Hockey Experience required)

Winter I Session 7 weeks

November 3rd – December 19thTuesday: 10:30 – 11:20am

& 1:30 – 2:20pmSaturday: 10:00 – 11:20am

GIRLS LEARN TO PLAY (Ages 4-10)

MIGHTY MITE (Ages 4-7)

MINI MITE (Ages 5-8)

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY


STATE OF THE GAME

THE TOURNAMENTStateof the

Gameby LYLE PHAIR

For many hockey teams at all age groups, from the youngest mites all the way up through the oldest adults, one of the highlights of the season is the tournament.

Oddly enough, as much as there is nothing quite like it, essentially most of the season is quite like it. Just in a much more drawn out version.

If you really think about it, pretty much every game played in youth hockey is a “tournament” game. The only games that really aren’t “tournament” in nature are scrimmage, exhibition or non-league games. All league or playoff games are really just part of a longer than usual tournament that results in one team officially (or sometimes unofficially) laying claim to the championship. Tournaments are the compressed version of a league or playoff. In fast forward. Amped up on caffeine.

But what we think of as a true tournament, one that is typically held over the course of a weekend, is very much different. In a lot of different ways. Some good, some not so good.

CHEMISTRY BUILDERGoing to an “early-bird” or “icebreaker” tournament early in

the season can be a very valuable and worthwhile experience for a team. And not necessarily for what happens on the ice. While that is definitely a part of it, the hours spent together away from the rink, in the hotel and at the restaurants are beneficial to the chemistry of a team that can often yield dividends on the ice for the remainder of the season.

And not just for the players. It is a great time for families, who will be spending substantial amounts of time with each other over the course of the season, to interact and get to know one another a little better.

Of course, sometimes that can not necessarily be a good thing because oil and water will never mix no matter how much you try, but in most cases everybody gets along. And the better they know one another, the more they do.

From a coaching standpoint, tournaments can be very effective opportunities to teach the game. No matter the age or level of play of the players, there is always something to learn. There is always something to teach.

The advantage that a tournament presents is that there is a significant amount of hockey played in a short time, usually at least three games in two days, oftentimes more than that.

Coaches who use that opportunity wisely will reap the rewards later on in the season. Tournament games are filled with teachable moments. As are all games. The difference is that with more games in a shorter time span, you can constantly reinforce those messages over and over with a greater likelihood that they will be retained by the players.

Tournaments can provide teams with an opportunity to play against different teams that they would never otherwise play. It can be nice to get a break from league or local play where you might face the same team 3-4 times in a given season. It can also be annoying to drive four hours to a tournament only to find out you are playing the same teams that you play all year long.

A LITTLE FREEDOMFor many of the players (and some of the parents) the most

memorable tournament moments are created at the hotel where the team stays.

Kids of all ages get together in packs and roam the hallways, moving from room to room, soaking up the opportunity (especially the younger ones) for a little freedom from parental supervision.

On the flip side, parents sometimes enjoy the same freedom from parental responsibilities. Some of them a little too much at times. And they are usually very easy to spot the next morning slinking blurry-eyed into the rink at 6:55 for that 7 a.m. game.

Team meals in restaurants also can really help in bringing the players and their families together and literally forcing them to get to know one another. There is really nothing like sitting down and breaking bread. The dad that likes to sit off by his self during a game, away from all of the other parents, has to get into the group and has to talk to the rest of them. At the rink, he may be the yeller, or he may move away to get away from the yellers. But at the restaurant, there is nowhere to hide. Unless of course you want to be at the kid table.

Some tournaments do a wonderful job of creating a fun tournament atmosphere in the arena, aside from the games on the ice. Things like raffles and drawings, silent auctions, give-away goodie bags for players, pancake breakfasts, free skate sharpening, equipment vendors showing the newest products, hospitality/snack rooms for coaches, the chance to buy pictures of your player

or team in action, karaoke contests and skills competitions all add to the event.

THE NOT SO GOODWith the good sometimes comes the bad. And tournaments

can have more than their share of not so good hockey moments for players and families.

Missing school is never a good thing. Unless you are a kid, and even then many kids don’t like to miss school. More and more it seems the tournament format that used to be reserved for Friday evening, all day Saturday and most of the day Sunday now bleeds into all day Friday, sometimes even requiring a Thursday stay-over.

The tournament business is very competitive and for many the philosophy is “more is better”. Where 3-4 games was once the standard (a game Friday evening, two on Saturday and the semis and/or finals on Sunday), now tournaments are offering 4-game guarantees with teams playing as many as 6 games total if they go to the finals. That necessitates two games on Friday which means more school being missed. Not a good thing. Throw in the fact that players are forced to play 5-6 games in 48-56 hours and it only gets worse.

Playing that much hockey in that short of time results in tired and banged up players and games are not as well played as they could or should be.

As much as good coaches can influence their team positively by using the tournament format constructively as a teaching tool, they can go the opposite direction by being influenced by the win or go home mentality. It’s not hard to get caught up in that. The parents have spent their money and time to get there and there can be the perception of pressure to see it “pay off” for them. So coaches coach the scoreboard and players get short-shifted. Coaches justify it by thinking “if we win this game, then all of the other players get an opportunity to play one more game”.

The tournament format does not always allow for quality refereeing. Many referees get over-worked with too many games in too short of a time period. Some get tired, some get lazy. Some just make “bad calls” anyway.

Factor in the ultra-competitive, over-caffeinated, sleep-deprived and sometimes alcohol-impaired parents who have their sights set on the tournament championship and who live and die with every call and you can guess what happens next. A recipe for the perfect storm.

Like everything else in the youth hockey experience, tournaments are what we make of them. They can provide a great opportunity for coaches and parents to create a positive experience for the players. Or not.

52999 D(248) 601-6699

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BOYS & GIRLS

Mighty Mites (Boys 4-6)Recommended as a first step for beginning hockey players who have completed a Learn to Skate class and have a solid base of fundamental skating skills.

Mini Mites (Boys 5-7)Program serves as an introduction to “team” play with practice sessions and small-ice games.

Mites (ages 7-8)Squirt/Pee Wees (ages 9-12)League for mites (ages 6-8), squirts (ages 9-10) and pee wees (ages 11-12).

LEARN TO PLAY HOCKEY!

09.09 – 03.10

LEARN TO SKATE

Classes Times: Wednesday 10-11am, 1-2pm, 4-6pm

Friday 10-11am, 1-2pm, 4-6pmSaturday 10:30am-1:00pm

Not sure where to begin? Call us at (248) 601-6699 and we can help

determine the right program for you and your child!

Skating Director:Amaan Archer

[email protected]

Skate with Us (7 weeks)Session 3

Oct. 28 - Dec. 19, 2009View schedule online: www.onyxicearena.com

Also come join us for Open Skate! Sessions: Friday night at 8:15

Saturday 2:15 & 8:45Sunday 2:15

Weekdays at lunchheck our we site for speci c dates and times at onyxicearena.com

or call us at (248) 601-6699

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TOURNAMENT CALENDARGreat Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MIOctober 23-25, 2009Squirt AA, Pee Wee House, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Motown Cup Tournament SeriesDETROIT, MIOctober 23-25, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Great Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MIOctober 30-November 1, 2009Pee Wee A, Bantam House, Midget Major/HSContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Big Bear - The Fall Colours Ann Arbor, MIOctober 30 – Nov. 1, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School & J.V., B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Great Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MINovember 6-8, 2009Mite House, Mite A, Bantam A Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Motown Cup Tournament SeriesDETROIT, MINovember 6-8, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, [email protected]

Big Bear - The Ursa Major Detroit, MINovember 6 - 8, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget,High School & J.V. ¨ B - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Big Bear - Cold Fusion Grand Rapids, MI November 6 - 8, 2009 Miter Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School & J.V. - B - BB - A - AAwww.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Manon Rheaume TournamentFarmington Hills, MINovember 12-15, 2009Girls 19&/21U, 16U, 14U & 12U248-479-1139

Great Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MINovember 13-15, 2009Squirt House, Mite AA, Midget HouseContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey AssociationNovember 13-15, 2009Big Rapids, MISquirt tournamentwww.ferris.edu/icearenawww.bigrapidshockey.orgTournament Hotline: (231) 591-2881


Great Lakes Tournaments SeriesHolland, MINovember 20-22, 2009Mite House, Pee Wee House, Bantam HouseContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com


Eddie Edgar Thanksgiving ChallengeNovember 27-29, 2009Mini-Mites B, Mite B, Squirt B Peewee B, Bantam B Midget B, Midget BB Ph: [email protected]

Thanksgiving Hockey TournamentNovember 27-29, 2009 (no Thanksgiving day games)Macomb, MIMite B, Squirt - Midget B, Squirt - Midget A, Squirt & Pee Wee AA586-992-8600www.suburbanice.com

Michigan Thanksgiving ClassicMonroe, MichiganNovember 27 – 29, 2009Youth 2003-1990 BOYS - (Travel B, Select, AE), A, AA, AAA1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Girls Michigan Thanksgiving ClassicMonroe, MichiganNovember 27–29, 2009Youth 2001-1990 GIRLS - Tier II (C, B,BB) and Tier I (A, AA)1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Turkey Day @ the ShoresSaint Clair Shores, MINovember 27-29, 200901, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, U16 & U18248-670-5742director@greatlakeshockey.comwww.greatlakeshockey.com

Great Lakes Thanksgiving Classic Holland, MINovember 27-29, 2009Holland, MIGreat Lakes Thanksgiving Classic Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Wolverine Cup Tournament Series BRIGHTON/NOVI (Western Detroit Suburbs), MINovember 27-29, 2009Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series KALAMAZOO, MINovember 27-29, 2009Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Big Bear - The S2 Invitational Kalamazoo, MI November 27 - 29, 2009 Bantam Minor & Bantam Major only Tier 1 AAAwww.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Big Bear - The Wild Turkey Tournament Detroit, MINovember 27 - 29, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget.B - BB - A – AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIDecember 4-6, 2009Squirt House, Pee Wee A, Midget Minor Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Motown Cup Tournament SeriesDETROIT, MIDecember 4-6, 2009Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Big Bear - The FireBolt Ann Arbor, MIDecember 4 - 6, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, MidgetB - BB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Big Bear - The Urban Legends Detroit, MIDecember 4 - 6, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget.High School & J.V. ♦ B - BB - A – AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Big Bear - The 40th Annual Trenton InvitationalDetroit, MIDecember 11 - 13, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget,High School & J.V. ♦ B - BB - A – AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIDecember 9-11, 2009Pee Wee House, Pee Wee AA, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey AssociationBig Rapids, MIDecember 11-13, 2009Bantam tournamentwww.ferris.edu/icearenawww.bigrapidshockey.orgTournament Hotline: (231) 591-2881

Motown Cup Tournament SeriesDETROIT, MIDecember 11-15, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, [email protected]

Compuware Holiday Classic TournamentPlymouth, MIDecember 26 - 30, 2009Mini Mites, Mites, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, JV/MidgetA, AA, HouseNick DeYonker ([email protected])Mike Henry ([email protected]) 734-453-6400

Santa Visits the ShoresSaint Clair Shores, MIDecember 28-30, 200901, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, U16 & U18248-670-5742director@greatlakeshockey.comwww.greatlakeshockey.com

Bd’s Mongolian BBQ Puckmasters 3 on 3Wixom, MIDecember 28-30, 2009Mites – Bantam248-926-5656www.puckmasters.com/detroit

Weekend Hockey Tournaments Nov 13-15, 2009Philadelphia, PA19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments Nov 20-22, 2009Montreal, QC19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments Jan 1 - 3, 2010New Years Tournament Burlington, ON19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments Feb 19 - 21, 2010Brampton, ON19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments March 12 - 14, 2010Niagara Falls, ON19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments March 19 – March 21, 2010 Tampa, FL19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments April 2 - 3, 2010Philadelphia, PA19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments April 9 - 11, 2010Pittsburgh, PA19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments April 23-25, 2010 Montreal, PQ19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments Apr 30 – May 2, 2010 Niagara Falls, ON19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments May 14 – 16, 2010 Niagara Falls, ON19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com

Weekend Hockey Tournaments June 4 - 6, 2010 Atlantic City, NJ19+, 25+, 30+, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+A, B, C, D, E Levels Mens/ [email protected] www.weekendhockey.com INDY CUP Tournament Series: The Indy CupIndianapolis, INOctober 9-11, 2009Mite through Midget: A, and AA Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OHOctober 9-11, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series PITTSBURGH, PAOctober 9-11, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Queen City Cup Tournament Series CINCINNATI, OHOctober 9-11, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Niagara Falls Columbus Day Early BirdNiagara Falls, NYOctober 10-12, 2009Mite – Midget A, AA & AAAEmail: [email protected]

Big Bear - The Eye of the Storm Tampa, FLOctober 10 - 12, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, MidgetA – AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Big Bear - The Fall Prep Showcase Nashville, TNOctober 10 - 12, 2009 High School & J.V. www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Big Bear - Pond Rockets St. Louis, MOOctober 10 - 12, 2009 Mite B, Mite A & Bantam A only www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

October ClassicOshawa, OntarioOctober 16 – 18, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Las Vegas Old-Timers ClassicLas Vegas, NevadaOctober 23 – 25, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Fall ClassicChicago, ILOctober 23-25, 2009Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Fall ClassicPittsburgh, PAOctober 23-25, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Music City Tournament Series: Nashville Fall Classic Nashville, TNOctober 23-25, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, and AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Empire State Tournament Series: Empire State Showdown Rochester, NYOctober 23-25, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Golden State Tournament Series: Golden State Showdown Riverside, CAOctober 23-25, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OHOctober 23-25, 2009Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Big Bear - Fire on the Water Cleveland, OHOctober 23 - 25, 2009 Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, MidgetB - A - AA www.shootouthockey.com 248-399-1694

Las Vegas Youth BlastLas Vegas, NevadaNovember 5 – 8, 2009Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Veterans CupPittsburgh, PANovember 6-8, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

INDY CUP Tournament Series: The Indy Fall ClassicIndianapolis, IN November 6-8, 2009Mite through Midget: A, and AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament SeriesCLEVELAND, OHNovember 6-8, 2009Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

COMPLETE TOURNAMENT LISTING ON WEBSITEwww.michiganhockeyonline.com


MICHIGAN HOCKEYTOURNAMENTS

SEND THEM TO [email protected]

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


Editor’s Note: The following article is the fourth installment of our “Navigating the Frozen Waters” educational series aimed at helping both new and veteran players and parents understand the different levels and pathways of hockey available in Michigan and across the United States. Michigan Hockey will explore midget AAA, high school and youth hockey in future issues.

We invite you to share your questions and concerns regarding Navigating the Waters by e-mailing us at: [email protected].

BY TIM WILSON The Midwest-based Great Lakes Junior Hockey League is one

of four designated Tier III Junior B leagues in the United States and includes four teams in Michigan, three in Illinois and two in Wisconsin. This is the league’s first year with Junior B status after operating as a Junior C circuit last season in its inaugural campaign.

With the league being so new to the overall U.S. junior scene, the GLJHL is working to build its name and establish a reputation.

“With our league, not a lot of people know it and a lot are skeptical,” said Jeff Worlton, head coach of the Bay City-based Tri-City Icehawks. “People are finding out that we are competitive and you can move up.”

The main goal of GLJHL teams is to develop players so they can move to the Junior A level and possibly beyond, according to Worlton.

“A lot of coaches at higher levels like kids to play Junior B first,” he said. “It’s a good way for a kid to get his feet wet in junior hockey with the speed and the fighting.”

And educating parents and players comes with the territory.“The hardest part of my job is explaining to parents that the

bang is worth the buck,” said Burton-based Michigan Mountain Cats head coach Matt Bendall. “We get some parents that think if their kid plays junior hockey this year that they will be playing college hockey next year.”

Teams must convince a player that he is better off playing at a lower level of junior hockey than playing in midgets or at the high school level.

“You’re playing a 48-game regular season plus playoffs,” said Bendall, referring to the GLJHL. “Playing with better kids makes you a better player.”

“It’s more intense than high school both on and off the ice,” said Worlton. “If you get your elbow up at the junior level you may have to answer for it. In high school, it’s two minutes.”

Like Tier III Junior A, Junior B is pay-to-play. Although fees can var y f rom team to team, a player can expect spend in the area of $5,000 per season. Included in these fees are ice time, travel and l o d g i n g . Both the Icehawks and Mountain

Cats enjoy the luxury of having a team bus.

As is common in junior hockey, the GLJHL has a system in place that allows each team 10 draft picks and 10 tenders. Most players were scouted at the high school and midget AA or AAA level. Players can

also make teams through open camps that are offered during the summer months.

Both the Mountain Cats

and Icehawks have players from out of the area but most have local connections. Local billet families are provided for out of town players, with a cost of about $250-$300 per month.

“Generally we are very local with most players living within 90 miles and the majority within 30 miles,” said Bendall.

While the Mountain Cats and Icehawks both have a strong local flavor to their teams, the Danville (IL) Inferno operate at the other end of the spectrum with just three players from the Danville area.

With a roster of 20 this season, 17 players needed to billet coming from as far as Alaska, Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Colorado.

“We probably have the most extensive billeting program in our league,” said Danville general manager Cameron Estes.

Located in east-central Illinois, Danville is small city with a youth hockey program that consists of a roughly 60 player house division. So why move all the way to Danville to play Junior B hockey?

“Our rink, our fan base and our ethics behind our program,” Estes said.

The Inferno average 450 fans per game in a building that seats close to 2,500 and run a very strict operation. Similar to other teams in the league, Danville requires that all players attend school or have a job. The team also has a zero tolerance policy for alcohol and randomly drug tests players.

“We have a great group of owners in this league,” said Estes. “We all do things differently but we’re all here for the kids first.”

“This is about more than hockey. This is about preparing them for the real world,” said Estes. “We like to pride ourselves on that out of 17 players last year, 10 have moved on. Out of our 20 players this season, two have already moved on to Tier III Junior A.”

In Burton, the Mountain Cats also operate the state’s only Junior C franchise as the westernmost member of the Continental Hockey Association’s C division. One of only two Junior C leagues in the country, the CHA has six teams at the C level, with all but the Mountain Cats located in the Northeast section of the country.

“Junior C is a great place for a kid to start,” said Bendall. “It’s a good opportunity for kids that aren’t ready for Junior B.”

Although Bendall does not coach the “C” Mountain Cats, the two teams do skate together over the summer and players have the chance to move up or down. Fees to play at the C level are very similar to playing Junior B.

As the GLJHL works to establish itself, Bay City’s Worlton has a message for players and parents.

“Don’t let the letter B at the end of the word junior fool you,” he said. “This is very good hockey, kids do get moved on. The teams in this league are stable and the league is growing.”

Navigating the Frozen WatersJunior B and Junior C levels are part of USA Hockey

Great Lakes Junior Hockey LeagueStaff

President - Gerry LulloveVP/Franchises - Terry KucharskiDirector of Player Personnel - Mark ShutanReferee in Chief- Dan Monacelli, Jr.

Teams

Continental Hockey Association - Junior C Teams

Central Wisconsin SaintsChicago Junior HuskiesIllinois FrontenacsMotor City Chiefs

Michigan Ice DogsMichigan Mountain CatsTri-City IcehawksWisconsin Rampage

Buffalo StarsFrederick FreezeMichigan Mountain Cats

Pittsburgh Junior PenguinsSouth Hills PenguinsSuffolk Juniors

NAVIGATING THE FROZEN WATERS

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY


TRAINING TABLETRAINING TABLEKIRK VICKERS

How to increase your speed and agility

While most athletes will not develop world-class speed, an athlete that is committed and willing to devote a little time and effort working on speed and agility principles should notice some improvement.

A simple definition of speed and agility is: moving from one point to another as quickly and efficiently as possible. Using this definition we understand that speed and agility is not just a function of “more is better” but also working more efficiently.

This leads us to our first principle of improved speed and agility: Work Smarter. Eliminate wasted movements that detract from speed and agility. Every running and movement drill should first emphasize form and technique, then move to increased load and velocity.

Then remember the Shortest Distance Between Two Points is a Straight Line, which is our second principle for improving speed and agility.

As an athlete are you moving in a straight line or not? Don’t only look at the legs but also look at the arms and torso. Don’t forget it’s the whole body that is moving, not just the legs. Spend some time working on improving posture. Posture is a cornerstone for increased speed, power and control.

A couple of quick tips to help improve posture – if you notice that when you are walking that you toe in or out, work on keeping your feet in a more straight alignment. Is your head over your body or is it protruding forward? Work on straightening out these subtle issues and you will start to see your speed and agility increase over time.

Principle number three is - A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. When looking at movement you begin to understand that the body is a chain of movement. Our bodies are only as fast and efficient as our weakest link. How is the flexibility throughout the hips and pelvic region? This is often an area that is overlooked

and becomes a major weak link. If an athlete is restricted in movement at the hip and pelvic region they are not capable of getting maximal hip turn-over or a proper running mechanic. By engaging in flexibility movements and drills that increase hip ROM (range of motion) an athlete can greatly improve speed and agility.

Another potential weak link is poor core strength. By instituting a proper core stability and strengthening program most athletes will see increased ability to generate more speed and directional change.

Balance is the final principle. This is another area that is overlooked. A good way to test balance is to do a single leg stork stand. Lift one leg as high as you can with the knee bent. Can you hold this position for a 30-second count?

Compare both legs, are they equal? Now do the same test with your eyes closed. Doing this daily will improve balance and stability of the lower body, and as this improves you can add progressions. One example of a progression would be lifting the leg with knee bent and hop up and then hold the down leg steady for a two count, then repeat for 10-15 reps. Increased balance will improve cutting, pivoting and direction changes.

If you practice the principles outlined here you will definitely see changes in your speed and agility.

Kirk Vickers, the owner of TRIAD Health & Fitness, a high performance fitness training facility in Farmington Hills, has been a respected figure in the Michigan sports community for more than two decades. Vickers earned a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and Exercise Physiology from Central Michigan University and has developed a strong reputation working with many high level high school, collegiate, club and professional sports programs as well as individual athletes.

Goaltending Instruction Previous playing experience, NCAA Division I and Professional

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TRAINING TABLE

TRAINING TABLE


MICHIGAN HOCKEYMH BEAT

BY PHILIP COLVIN

Job layoffs that have forced families to cut back on hockey and other activities are sadly a story all too familiar across Michigan.

It happened to Karen Schultz of Huntington Woods. A single mother with two sons, Schultz had to drop out of her yoga class

and couldn’t afford to keep her boys in hockey. “I was laid off from my job and we had to cut back on many things,”

she said. “But after six months of being stuck inside in a Michigan winter with no sporting activities for any of us, I wasn’t mentally or physically at my best and neither were my kids.”

So Schultz decided to try to do something about it. She started Score4Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to making organized sports accessible and affordable for children in the Metro Detroit area.

“I thought ‘why should I give up my health and the health of my children?’” she said. “So I made a decision to do whatever I could to ensure that other children are not denied the benefits of organized sports.”

Score4Kids is based on the belief that sports benefit children in many ways, including keeping them physically fit and focused to do well in school and teaching them about team work, responsibility and boosting self-esteem.

“No child should be prohibited from playing a sport because their families are going through hard times,” said Schultz. “We want to ensure that all kids in our community have the resources necessary to participate.”

Since May, Score4Kids has collected donated sports gear and redistributed it to families, leagues, camps and schools that have been affected by the current economic conditions.

Working with the Berkley Dad’s Club Baseball League, Hockey Has Heart, Beaumont Hospital, the First Tee of Detroit and the Dragons Hockey Club, among others, Score4Kids has collected over 1,400 pieces of equipment, including gear for hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball, skiing, snowboarding and golf and donated over 500 pieces of the equipment so far.

Through donations and equipment drives, Score4Kids has stockpiled enough gear to fill a storage garage at the 1-800-Mini Storage facility in Troy and now the organization is focused on getting that gear into the hands of people who need it.

“Hopefully, teams and associations might know of someone not playing because they can’t afford equipment. Please send them to us because we want to help,” said Schultz, who serves as president of the Score4Kids Board of Directors that also includes Tracey Huff (Vice President), Deborah Underhill (Treasurer), Cheryl Stern (Secretary) and Darren Montreuil (Director).

Score4Kids will meet you at the storage facility in Troy, where you can try on gear and leave ready to get back on the ice. The equipment is free, or you can make a small donation to Score4Kids.

“We are trying to find ways to give it to people who need it,” said Schultz. “It’s what we’re here for.”

If you know of anyone who isn’t playing this season because they can’t afford equipment, check out the organization’s website, score4kidsmi.com, for an application, send Schultz an e-mail at: [email protected] or call her at (248) 763-7970.

Four Michigan natives, goalie Will Yanakeff of Jerome, defensemen Kevin Albers of Lake Orion and Kevin Gravel of Kingsford and forward Shane Berschbach of Clawson, are part of the 22-man U.S. Junior Select Team roster.

The team will compete at the World Junior A Challenge Nov. 1-8 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

The U.S. roster includes 21 players currently competing in the Tier I United States Hockey League, including Yanakeff and Gravel (Sioux City), Albers (Green Bay) and Bershbach (Indiana). In addition five players who were members of the 2009 U.S. Under-18 Select Team that competed at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia last summer, including Gravel, defenseman Kevin Lind (Chicago Steel) forwards Connor Brickley (Des Moines Buccaneers), Mike Parks (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) and Colten St. Clair (Fargo Force).

Mark Carlson, head coach of USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, is the head coach of the team, with Andy Jones (Sioux City) and S.S. Marie native Jeff Blashill, head coach of the USHL’s Indiana Ice, serving as assistant coaches.

The 2009 World Junior A Challenge will also feature Belarus, Canada East, Canada West, Russia and Sweden. The U.S. Junior Select Team opens the tournament against Canada East on Nov. 1 and plays Belarus (Nov. 3), before the Quarterfinals start on Nov. 5. The semifinals are Nov. 6 and the final is scheduled for Nov. 8.

Four from Michigan named to U.S. Junior Select Team

Score4Kids wants to help keep players on the ice

Kevin Gravel

Shane Berschbach

Willie Yanakeff

Kevin Albers

Karen Schultz started Score4Kids, a non-profit organization that collects donated sports gear and redistributes it to families, leagues, camps and schools to help keep kids playing.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


Showcases give Tier 1 teams nationwide exposureBY MATT MACKINDER

It’s a safe bet that Internet travel sites get their fair share of customers from teams playing in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.

Last season, the 25 hockey clubs in the expanded league, once known as the Midwest Elite Hockey League, started competing in showcase-type tournaments across the nation at the Midget Major, Midget Minor, Bantam and Squirt levels.

Each team in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League plays in eight showcases a year, four each at home and four away. Each showcase features all of the teams from two of the league’s divisions, whose teams each play five games over the weekend. Standings within each showcase are compiled and a winner is decided.

The results of these showcases have been positive for the league, according to Tier 1 commissioner Larry Johnson.

“I get a lot of calls and e-mails about how the showcases go and they’re all very positive,” said Johnson. “I think one part that makes it so positive is that all the teams are good. In the past, teams would travel around and play five games in a weekend, but only one of those teams would be good. Now, they know who they’re playing and they know all the games will be good games.”

A BETTER WAYEconomics also played a role in

creating the showcases.“People don’t have to run around

to see the different teams play,” explained Johnson. “Now, we have 10 teams in one location and that just makes it easier. It’s also easier for scouts, too, as at each showcase, we set aside a certain area for them and we give them a scouting book and stuff like that. It’s just more convenient for everyone.”

The MWEHL used to include Michigan teams and several in the Midwest. Now, the Tier 1 league is coast to coast with teams in Boston to Los Angeles.

“We had always wanted to establish a footprint in the east,” Johnson said. “There are so many junior teams and college teams that we really felt we needed to have a presence out there. That was a big part of why we went out there, but believe me, there are more than just five good teams in the east.”

Expanding to the western states also has its perks.

“The L.A. Selects are always good and so is PF Chang’s,” noted Johnson. “The two Colorado teams are also very good and more kids are coming out of those areas to play junior and college.”

With the showcases taking place across the United States, the term “travel hockey” is pretty descriptive. Teams log thousands of miles in the air and on the road to play.

“To travel far distances to play these powerhouse teams is definitely worth it,” Honeybaked midget major head coach Rob Krohl said. “It also gives the kids a taste of what the travel is like in juniors and the chance to go places they may not normally go. Last season when we went to L.A., we got in at two in the morning and with the time change it really made it feel like 5 a.m., and we had a game at 7 a.m. But still, the kids had a blast, as we always do on road trips, and we also went to Hollywood and Venice Beach and places like that.”

Having multiple teams playing multiple games all under one roof has meant making a tweak or two to the showcase format.

“There are too many games in a short span,” said Belle Tire midget major head coach Chris Coury. “So then they cut the games down to 18-minute periods and now, we don’t even play full games. It’s rushed.”

“They’re still not full games,” said Johnson. “But we feel that while the players may lose a couple minutes, re-making the ice is something the players need to showcase their skating to the scouts.”

MORE EXPOSUREStill, Coury sees the overall value

the showcases present.“It’s great to play in all of these

different venues and the kids really like playing in the showcases,” he said. “It gets the kids more exposure, for sure, and it’s a good opportunity to see how all of the Detroit teams stack up against the rest of the top teams in the country.”

Compuware midget major head coach George Daniel also sees the benefits of the showcases for his team and the league.

“Playing in cities like Boston and L.A. really helps us showcase our players and compete for those players with prep schools, too,” Daniel said. “These showcases are better than tournaments.”

For Johnson, watching Michigan squads face competitive out of town teams is what the showcases are about.

“I think I was feeling a little overconfident in thinking the Detroit teams would dominate,” Johnson said. “They have, but all five of the teams have lost at various times and that just goes to show you the competitiveness of this league and the showcases.”

So what will next season bring? Expansion? More showcases?

“We have a meeting in January and expansion will be brought to the table,” Johnson said. “Will we expand and how would we do it will be things discussed. We just don’t want to have too many showcases. We still want to get the players exposure, but we still need to keep it economically viable, too. So, we’ll see in January.”

Michigan Tier 1 Elite League teams like Little Caesars travel regularly to the circuit’s showcase events.

Seating configuration changes for Frozen Four

With the goal of maximizing sight lines, and also taking into account the struggling Michigan economy, NCAA officials have unveiled a new seating configuration for the 2010 Frozen Four, scheduled for April 8 and 10, at Ford Field in Detroit.

The new layout moves the rink from the 50-yard line of the football field to the west end zone, adds riser seating on the east side of the rink and changes the seating capacity to 36,000 (see layout above).

When the championship was awarded to Detroit in 2005, officials hoped for a crowd of 60,000, three times the size of a typical Frozen Four. With approximately 22,000 tickets currently sold the 2010 Frozen Four will still be a record-setting event. The Frozen Four attendance record is 19,432, which was set in the 2007 championship game at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, when Michigan State beat Boston College, 3-1. The North American indoor college record is 21,576, when Michigan State beat Michigan Tech, 7-0, in the GLI final on Dec. 29, 1984, at Joe Louis Arena.

“We are truly excited about the potential for a record-setting Men’s Frozen Four at Ford Field,” said Joni Comstock, NCAA senior vice president of championships. “The NCAA, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), Detroit Sports and Ford Field have been working together to ensure the 2010 Men’s Frozen Four will be one of the best ever.

“With this championship having more available seats than in previous years, as well as taking sight lines and the current economy into consideration, we felt this design was the best for everyone involved. The fans and student-athletes who are a part of this historic event will be talking about the championship for years to come.”

Ford Field will become the third venue to host both a Final Four and a Frozen Four event, and will become the first venue to host the events in back-to-back years.

Fans that have already purchased tickets to the 2010 Men’s Frozen Four through Ticketmaster will be relocated to comparable seats in the new configuration and also receive a 2010 Men’s Frozen Four commemorative ticket.

College basketball fans enjoyed additional events and activities at last year’s Final Four at Ford Field and hockey fans can expect the same at the 2010 Frozen Four.

“In addition to the championship, we are equally excited to be working with Ford Field and the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau in planning ancillary events, similar to the 2009 Men’s Final Four, which will engage our community and provide fans the opportunity to participate in another great NCAA championship event,” said Tom Anastos, commissioner of the CCHA.

For more information on the 2010 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four check out NCAA.com/frozenfour.

All-session tickets, which includes both semifinal games on April 8 and the final on April 10, are priced at $40, $79, $119 and $189 and are available at going to: NCAA.com/frozenfour, ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000.

By Philip Colvin

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MH BEAT

Ryan leaves Boston College for WindsorFranklin native Kenny Ryan has left

Boston College and signed with the defending Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires (OHL).

Ryan, a 6-0, 204 pound right wing and second-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2009 NHL Draft, played in two preseason exhibition games with the Eagles before packing up and driving back to Michigan.

Ryan was drafted by Windsor in 2007 and played the last two seasons with the Ann Arbor-based USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he skated with Spitfires’ defenseman Cam Fowler.

“I went to Boston College with the full intention of staying there,” Ryan told the Windsor Star on October 17. “I loved the campus and the coaches. I gave it my best, but at the end of the day, I didn’t think it was for me. (Windsor) is where I want to be.”

A solid two-way winger with a scoring touch, Ryan received his transfer from USA Hockey on Oct. 20 and was scheduled to practice with the Spitfires’ that day. He was expected be in the first-place Windsor lineup for their Oct. 22 game against London.

By Philip Colvin

After two years with the USA Hockey NTDP, Kenny Ryan has landedin Windsor


MICHIGAN HOCKEYTOP COLLEGE PROSPECTS

BY PHILIP COLVIN

Whether it’s current captains like Michigan’s Chris Summers (Milan), Bowling Green’s Kyle Page (Wixom) and Lake Superior State’s Steven Kaunisto (S.S. Marie), talented goalies like Bowling Green’s Nick Eno (Howell) and Ferris State’s Pat Nagle (Bloomfield) or skilled defensemen like Notre Dame’s Kyle Lawson (New Hudson) and Ian Cole (Ann Arbor), Ferris State’s Zach Redmond (Traverse City) and Michigan State’s Jeff Petry (Farmington Hills), the state of Michigan has a long and storied history of producing top-end college players.

This season there are 86 Michigan-born players (down from 89 the last three years), and another 11 with Michigan ties (up from eight a year ago), on Central Collegiate Hockey Association rosters alone. Michigan State and Michigan top the list with 17 players who were either born or played junior hockey in the state. Ferris State has 13 players with connections to the state and Western Michigan has nine.

Michigan’s other Division I program Michigan Tech (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) also recruits in state: the Huskies’ roster has five players with Michigan ties.

With the Ann Arbor-based National Team Development Program (see story on page xx) and Tier II Junior A North American Hockey League’s Traverse City North Stars, Alpena IceDiggers, Marquette Rangers and Motor City Metal Jackets, some of the best young players in the country are playing in our state. Other top Michigan players have found homes with teams in the United States Hockey League, the nation’s Tier I Junior A league that now includes the NTDP.

While the depth of top end players is not as plentiful as in some previous years, here is an alphabetical list of some of Michigan’s top college prospects for 2010:

Shane Berschbach, F, Indiana (USHL)

Date of Birth: May 19, 1991Height/Weight: 5-8/140Hometown: ClawsonComments: Slick, speedy playmaker

loves to score goals. A pure offensive player with great vision and hockey sense, and despite his size, has no problem getting into difficult areas to create scoring chances. Makes players around him better. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Miami.

Kevin Gravel, D, Sioux City (USHL)Date of Birth: March 6, 1992Height/Weight: 6-3/180Hometown: KingsfordComments: Tall and rangy, Gravel is a steady, solid blueliner

who thinks the game well, can move the puck and is at his best when he keeps things simple. Good skater with agililty for his size. Uses long reach to clog passing lanes, but could be more physical. Has made a verbal commitment to attend St. Cloud State.

Stuart Higgins, C, Youngstown (USHL) Date of Birth: May 8, 1992Height/Weight: 5-8/165Hometown: TroyComments: Smallish center is shifty, quick and a good playmaker

with offensive flair. Has good skill set, excellent hockey sense and plays hard. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Maine.

Kyle Jean, F, Traverse City (NAHL)Date of Birth: March 1, 1990Height/Weight: 6-3/205Hometown: S.S. MarieComments: Lanky forward with a good skill level has returned

strong from shoulder injury suffered last season. Starting to use big body more effectively and has soft hands and a scoring touch.

At his best when he works hard to get to loose pucks and gain position. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Lake Superior State.

Reed Seckel, C, Green Bay (USHL)Date of Birth: August 28, 1991Height/Weight: 5-9/170Hometown: MelvinComments: Highly competitive,

throwback type center with good vision, hands and playmaking ability. Strong on his skates and hits like a Mack truck. He can play a gritty style or a skilled game and can finish around the net. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Northern Michigan.

Greg Wolfe, F, Chicago (USHL) Date of Birth: April 25, 1990Height/Weight: 5-10/187Hometown: CantonComments: Natural goalscorer

with great hands and big shot has improved his overall game. Sneaky and slick, he knows where to be on the ice to find openings in the offensive zone. Relentless in pursuit of the puck, good stickhandler, sees the ice well and can finish around the net.

Willie Yanakeff, G, Sioux City (USHL)

Date of Birth: April 30, 1992Height/Weight: 6-2/185Hometown: JeromeComments: Big, agile goaltender

makes things look easy. Not flashy, but effective at handling the puck, challenging shooters and has a good glove. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Michigan State.

KEEP AN EYE OUTHere is an alphabetical list of some

other players to watch this season: Kellin Ainsworth, F, Traverse

City (NAHL); Kevin Albers, D, Lake Orion/Green Bay (USHL); Clinton Bourbanais, F, Whitmore Lake/Sioux City (USHL); Jake Chelios, F, Bloomfield Hills/Chicago; Nick

Czinder, F, W. Bloomfield/Youngstown (USHL), Brent Darnell, F, Canton/Sioux Falls (USHL); Dan Dekeyser, D, Algonac/Sioux City (USHL); Justin DiMartino, F, Macomb/Waterloo; Luke Eibler, D, Pinckney/Youngstown (USHL); Mike Gunn, D, Livonia/St. Louis (NAHL); Steven Hensley, D, Livonia/Cedar Rapids (USHL); Andy Huff, F, Howell/Traverse City (NAHL); Jake Johnstone, F, Grand Ledge/Sioux Falls; Kevin Kissaw, G, Goodrich/Marquette (NAHL) Alex Krushelnyski, Bloomfield Hills/Chicago; John McCarron, F, Macomb/Lincoln (USHL); Mike Montrose, D, Howell/Tri-City; Dan Radke, F, Traverse City (NAHL); Brad Smith, D, Trenton/St. Louis (NAHL); D.J. Vandercook, F, Farmington Hills/Des Moines (USHL); Michael Voran, F, Livonia/Sioux Falls; Steve West, D, Milford/Lincoln (USHL); Cam Wojtala, F, Trenton/Omaha (USHL).

Michigan players continue to stock collegiate rosters

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Canton’s Greg Wolfe is in his second season with Chicago (USHL) and has scored four goals in his first four games with the Steel this year.

After scoring 22 goals last season in Green Bay, Melvin’s Reed Seckel is back for another year with the Gamblers before heading to Northern Michigan in 2010.

Where are they now?Where are they now?Michigan Hockey’s former top college

prospects are playing all over:

2008 TOP PROSPECTSEric Alexander, F, Kentwood/Ferris StatePower forward scored 25 goals in the USHL last season and started his college career with a goal and an assist in the Bulldogs first two games this year.

Andrew Miller, F, Bloomfield Hills/Yale Freshman at Yale led the USHL in scoring last season and was named USA Hockey’s Junior Player of the Year.

Luke Witkowski, D, Holland/Western MichiganMade USHL all-star team last season in Fargo and expected to take regular shift with Broncos this season.

2007 TOP PROSPECTSChad Billins, D, Marysville/Ferris StateOffensive blueliner played in 27 games with the Bulldogs as a freshman (2-9-11) and will play even bigger role this year.

Andy Miele, F, Grosse Pointe Woods/MiamiSkilled forward starting junior season with RedHawks after finishing third on the team in scoring last season (15-16-31).

Will Weber, D, Gaylord/MiamiSecond-round pick of Columbus Blue Jackets played in 38 games with RedHawks as a freshman (3-2-5).

2006 TOP PROSPECTSAaron Palushaj, F, Northville/MichiganLed the CCHA in scoring last season (13-37-50) as a sophomore and signed a pro contract with the St. Louis Blues in April and started this season with Peoria (AHL).

Zach Redmond, D, Traverse City/Ferris StateHonorable mention pre-season All-CCHA after finishing as the Bulldogs second leading scorer (3-21-24) in 38 games last season.

Jeff Petry, D, Farmington Hills/Michigan StateHas played in 80 games his first two seasons with Spartans and was fifth on the team in scoring last season (2-12-14).

2005 TOP PROSPECTS Steve Kampfer, D, Jackson/MichiganBegins his senior season with Wolverines after returning from an injury last season that limited him to 25 games.

Brett Blatchford, D, Temperance/Notre DameSenior defenseman quarterbacks Fighting Irish powerplay and has two goals and 54 points in 115 games in three seasons in South Bend.

2004 TOP PROSPECTSJeff Lerg, G, LivoniaAfter a great career with the Spartans that included a 2007 National Title, Lerg signed a free agent contract with the New Jersey Devils in July and is recovering from a knee injury he suffered just before training camp.

2003 TOP PROSPECTS Bryan Marshall, F, LivoniaFinished as Nebraska-Omaha’s second leader scorer of all-time with 49 goals and 150 points and played 50 games with Lake Erie (AHL) last season.

2002 TOP PROSPECTSLars Helminen, D, BrightonAfter four-year career at Michigan Tech, Helminen played last season with Linz EHC in Austria.

Drew Miller, F, East Lansing/Tampa Bay (NHL)Left Michigan State after his junior season to sign with Anaheim in 2006. Played 53 games with Ducks over last two seasons, was traded to Tampa Bay in August and started this season with the Lightning.

2001 TOP PROSPECTSChris Conner, F, Westland/Wilkes-Barre (AHL) Finished career at Michigan Tech as Huskies 35th all-time leading scorer (69-60-129). Signed with Dallas in 2006 and split time between Stars and AHL last three seasons. Signed a free agent contract with Pittsburgh in July.

Andy Greene, D, Trenton/New Jersey (NHL)Three-time All-American at Miami signed as a free agent with New Jersey in 2006 and has played in 147 games with the Devils over three seasons.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


TOP COLLEGE PROSPECTS

Ann Arbor’s NTDP continues strong developmental track recordBY PHILIP COLVIN

Now in its 13th year playing at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, the two USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) squads play ultra-competitive schedules that include a regular slate of games in the Tier I Junior A United States Hockey League in addition to matchups against college teams and competition at international tournaments. The NTDP, which includes both an Under 17 and Under 18 team, and has sent over 215 players on to college hockey over the last twelve seasons.

Port Huron’s Jack Campbell, Brighton’s Jon Merrill, Washington’s Austin Czarnik and Bloomfield Hills’ Matt Rust are the U.S. Under-18 team’s Michigan natives, and as usual, this year’s roster has top-end players at every position.

Jack Campbell, G, 6-1/171, 1/9/92, Port Huron

Competitive and athletic, Campbell is technically sound and rarely gives up loose rebounds. He also handles the puck extremely well and makes good decisions with it. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Michigan next season.

Andy Iles, G, 5-8/150, 1/30/92, Ithaca, N.Y.

Small, quick butterfly style goalie is ultra competitive and a hard worker. A straight-A student, Iles has made a verbal commitment to attend Cornell next season.

Kevin Clare, D, 6-1/200, 3/13/92, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Solid and steady, Clare is strong one-on-one and is rarely out of position. Good skills, keeps things simple and at his best when you don’t notice him. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Michigan next season.

Adam Clendening, D, 5-11/187, 10/26/92, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Offensive minded blueliner has excellent on-ice vision and likes

to jump into the play. Good with the puck, although he sometimes holds onto it too long. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Boston University next season.

Justin Faulk, D, 5-11/200, 3/20/92, South St. Paul, Minn. Strong, puck moving defenseman skates well, can jump into the

play and has a big shot. Good on the powerplay and is working to improve focus for 60-minute game. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Minnesota-Duluth next season.

Derek Forbort, D, 6-4/195, 3/4/92, Duluth, Minn. Big, raw defenseman with tons of natural ability. Aggressive,

is improving his decision making and has big upside. Has made a verbal commitment to attend North Dakota next season.

Stephen Johns, D, 6-3/220, 4/18/92, Wampum, Pa. Strong and physical, Johns has all the tools - and a nasty streak

– to be a difference maker. Good skater with long reach and an extremely hard shot from the point. Still working on picking his spots better to make the big hit. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Notre Dame next season.

Jon Merrill, D, 6-3/205, 2/3/92, Brighton Great skater with good offensive instincts and

a big shot. Solid defensively, thinks the game well and can play it physical, although he could get involved in his own end more. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Michigan next season.

Frankie Simonelli, D, 5-10/187, 10/29/92, Bensenville, Ill.

Mobile, aggressive offensive defenseman is smart, can move the puck and has a good shot. Has improved his defensive game, sees time on the powerplay and has been used as a forward. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Wisconsin next season.

Jarred Tinordi, D, 6-4/204, 2/20/92, Millersville, Md.

Team captain is smart, steady and physically imposing. Good down low, finishes checks and can make the first pass out of the zone. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Notre Dame next season.

Bill Arnold, F, 5-11/185, 5/13/92, Needham, Mass. Dropped weight and improved conditioning for first season in

NTDP. Good faceoff guy with accurate shot and quick release and can play in any situation. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Boston College next season.

Chase Balisy, F, 5-10/175, 2/2/92, Fullerton, Calif. Smooth skater with solid offensive skills. Has a good shot and can

make plays but needs to get involved more at both ends of the rink.

Austin Czarnik, F, 5-7/155, 12/12/92, WashingtonDynamic, elusive and skilled offensive player with great instincts,

agility and on-ice awareness. Will go into high traffic areas and plays bigger than his size.

Jacob Fallon, F, 5-10/180, 2/27/92, Southlake, Texas Strong, physical forward currently suspended until Dec. 1 for an

off-ice incident. A speedy goalscorer who is on the ice when game is on the line. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Michigan next season.

Michael Mersch, F, 6-2/200, 10/2/92, Park Ridge, Ill. Big forward has long reach and good puck skills. Is working to

improve his skating, but has terrific hands, gets to the front of the net and knows how to score goals. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Wisconsin next season.

Luke Moffatt, F, 6-0/190, 6/11/92, Paradise Valley, Ariz. Strong, power forward has good speed, plays with high energy

and has great one-on-one skills. Still learning to use his teammates more and to improve his play in defensive zone. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Michigan next season.

Matthew Nieto, F, 5-11/180, 11/5/92, Long Beach, Calif.Explosive skater with top-end speed, Nieto is tough, creates

loads of scoring chances and can finish. Led the NTDP in scoring last season, but is still looking to put it all together this year. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Boston University next season.

Bryan Rust, F, 5-10/194, 5/11/92, Bloomfield Hills Complete power forward has come on like gangbusters. Smart,

solid offensive player who sees the ice well, has improved his skating and can be a factor on both the powerplay and penalty killing units. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Notre Dame next season.

Brandon Saad, F, 6-2/200,10/27/92, Gibsonia, Pa. Big, strong power forward has deceptive top-end speed to blow by

a defender and the hands and finishing ability to make it pay off. Great in offensive zone, needs to improve commitment in defensive end.

Nick Shore, F, 6-0/190, 9/26/92, Denver, Colo. Smart center who thinks the game well, makes good decisions

with the puck but hasn’t shown that extra gear. Solid penalty killer, but has been inconsistent so far this season. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Denver next season.

Shane Sooth, F, 6-1/190, 4/18/92, Canyon County, Calif.Solid, hardworking forward is currently suspended until Dec. 1 for

an off-ice incident. Good skater and strong forechecker who brings honest effort every game.

Jason Zucker, F, 5-10/175, 1/16/92, Las Vegas, Nev. Offensively talented winger competes hard and likes to work

one-on-one. Has great shot and soft hands, but needs to use his teammates better. Has made a verbal commitment to attend Denver next season.

The U.S. Under-18 team’s Jack Campbell of Port Huron will head across Ann Arbor next season to attend Michigan.


MICHIGAN HOCKEYCCHA

National Team Development ProgramNational Team Development ProgramHockey fans, come check out some of the

brightest young stars of the game for the lowest prices around at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube!

Upcoming GamesThursday, October 29

U.S. National Under-17 Team vs. Omaha Lancers – 7:05 p.m.

Friday, October 30U.S. National Under-18 Team vs.

Omaha Lancers – 7:05 p.m.Saturday, October 31

U.S. National Under-18 Team vs. Adrian College - 7:00 p.m.

General Admission Tickets$6 – Adults

$4 – Students/SeniorsChildren under 5 are FREE!

Youth players get in for a buck!

Youth hockey players can get into the NTDP games for just $1 when they wear their jersey! Bring your whole team out to see the

future stars of college and pro hockey and meet them after the game!

For NTDP tickets and group rate information, call 734-327-9251 or visit usahockey.com/usantdp

Glendening earns ice time at Glendening earns ice time at Michigan with hard work Michigan with hard work

Grand Rapids native Luke Glendening has earned ice time with the Michigan Wolverines through hard work.

BY BOB MILLER

Simply put, Michigan sophomore forward Luke Glendening has taken what life has presented him and managed to find success.

The Grand Rapids native excelled both academically and athletically at East Grand Rapids High School and the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, but arrived in Ann Arbor last fall as the least heralded member of the Wolverines incoming freshman class.

Still, by season’s end the 5-11, 185-pound Glendening had worked his way into the Michigan lineup, scoring six goals (three of them game-winners) and even logging time on special teams in addition to a regular shift.

From the beginning Glendening knew he wouldn’t be the most talented player on a Wolverines’ squad loaded with NHL Draft picks, but he believed he could make an impact if he got the chance.

“I knew when I came in that my playing time was going to be slim to none, and I guess that fueled my fire,” he said. “I felt that I could contribute with energy every night. So, all year I tried to gain the coaches trust and let my work ethic be my defining attribute. I cherished the opportunity to be on the ice.”

Glendening’s route to college hockey was a bit different than most players competing at the Division 1 level. He also played football and baseball in high school, instead of concentrating full-time on hockey.

“There were certainly advantages and disadvantages to playing three sports throughout my prep years,” said Glendening, who was a member of the East Grand Rapids Pioneers 2006 state champion football squad. “One advantage is that I was certainly not burnt out on hockey. I still love showing up to the rink everyday and going to practice.

“I was also able to play with my friends and continue playing other sports along the way. I met some really neat people through hockey at East Grand Rapids.

“Another advantage is that each sport I played presented its own unique challenges. Football was very demanding because of the punishment your body takes. Baseball was so much of a mental game and it taught me to maintain focus be aware of different potential situations.

Glendening believes the varied experiences of playing with a lot of different players and for multiple coaches helped him develop an appreciation for what it takes for team success.

“The only disadvantage that I have felt is with today’s sport specialization I am behind in some of my skills and hockey knowledge,” he said. “But I can’t do anything now besides work hard and continue to be a student of the game.”

Playing a season of eastern prep school hockey after graduating from high school in Michigan helped Glendening both on and off the ice.

“Hotchkiss really prepared me for Michigan in every way imaginable,” Glendening said. “I got homesick at first at Hotchkiss, so when I got to Michigan I didn’t have to deal with any of that. The academics at Hotchkiss were tough, so I felt prepared for the rigorous academics at Michigan.

“And the coaches and people in the Hotchkiss athletic department helped me in my pursuit of college hockey, and I know without that year I would have never made it to Michigan.”

While Glendening’s path to college hockey was unconventional, his hockey roots are very typical.

“My first memory of playing is in my basement with my brother,” said Glendening. “We would set up a net. He would put on the goalie equipment and we would go at it. I got involved with organized hockey when I was relatively young. I did all of the “Learn to Play” and “Mini-Mite” leagues. It all started because I would go with my Mom and watch my Dad’s men’s league games, which gave me the hockey fever.”

Glendening credits his parents for supporting his goal of playing hockey at a high level.

“They stayed with me through thick and thin and just let me do what I loved to do, which was hockey,” he said. “I used to stand in my basement at attention and make my Mom sing “The Star Spangled Banner,” and when she finished I would skate around acting like I was a real hockey player.

“So, to be out on the ice now listening to that song, and standing on the blue line for Michigan is a dream come true to say the least.”

The Wolverines have been the beneficiary of Glendening’s new-found specialization in one sport. His goals for this season are pretty simple

“I am a guy that needs to bring energy to the team every night and set an example with my work ethic on and off the ice every day,” he said. “Anything I can do to help our team win is my goal.”

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COLLEGE PREVIEW

Adrian College’s Division 3 men’s squad looking for a three-peat

Veteran Adrian College women’s squad ready for move to NCHA

BY LARRY O’CONNOR

Adrian men’s hockey has won two consecutive league titles but has been left wanting come NCAA tournament time. Rest assured that won’t happen this season.

New this year, the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association table-topper gets an automatic bid to the national Division III tourney.

While that was welcomed news among the Arrington Arena crowd, the propane pressure torch was turned up a notch for a Bulldog three-peat.

A preseason coaches poll has Adrian finishing first again. That’s hardly a sucker bet. After all, the team has amassed an impressive 53-4-1 record in only two years of existence.

“Our program has the same goals as the first two years,” said head coach Ron Fogarty. “We want to get better everyday and win each time out. We want to win the MCHA and everything else will fall into place.”

Talk hasn’t focus so much on the superlative start as much as the heartache associated with being snubbed by tournament organizers two years running.

“It’s no secret that the last two years we’ve had very good teams and have been left out by the NCAA, but this year it’s kind have been left up to us,” junior right winger Mike Towns says. “As long as we take care of our own business, we should get in.”

The nascent program is coping with its first major personnel loss due to graduation.

Last season’s leading scorer, senior Adam Krug (Livonia), signed with the East Coast Hockey League’s Cincinnati Cyclones. Fogarty has lined up ample candidates to replace Krug’s 30 goals and 77 points from last season.

Forward Zack Graham arrives from the Greater Ontario Hockey League’s Thorold Blackhawks where he scored 38 goals and 102 points. In last season’s playoffs, the 6-foot and 178-pound playmaking forward added five goals and 22 points.

To further fortify an offense that led the nation last season with 6.52 goals per game, the Bulldogs added center Jeff Young, a former Alaska Fairbanks recruit who scored 25 goals and 50 points as a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drumheller Dragons.

Meanwhile, Andrew Dovey checks in from the GOJHL Stoney Creek Warriors where he tallied 16 goals and 47 points in 39 games. His 6-foot-2 and 210-pound frame will add heft to the Bulldogs’ up-tempo attack.

Krug’s leadership is not as easily replaced, though.“(Krug) did a great job of molding these guys,” Fogarty says.

“(But) our guys are excited for the task at hand.“We believe that the guys we recruited and the players already

in our lineup can step up and fill that void.”On defense, Kyle Crawford joins from the Central Canadian

Hockey League’s Wellington Dukes where he played two seasons. The 6-foot-2 rearguard scored 19 goals and 57 points in 50 games last term. In the playoffs, Crawford averaged better than a point a game (10 goals and 26 points in 20 games).

Those newcomers join a full complement of junior forwards led by the goal-scoring tandem of Shawn Skelly (Wolverine Lake) and Eric Miller. Skelly (30 goals, 65 points) and Miller (18 goals, 52 points) finished Nos. 1 and 2 among Division III scorers last season. Mike Dalhlinger should also improve on his 15-goal, 40-point campaign.

Junior defensemen Chris Stansik (Livonia) and Quinn Waller have averaged over a point a game at Adrian and were both First Team All-MCHA selections a year ago.

Another junior, Allen Park native Brad Fogel (25-1-1, 1.66 GAA .928-save percentage), returns in goal.

“There will be a different look in terms of our personnel,” Fogarty says. “Our play will not change, just different players.”

Marian University (Fond du Lac, Wisc.) poses the largest obstacle for Adrian to repeat as MCHA champs, the coach says. The Sabres (13-12-3 overall; 11-8-1 MCHA) were also picked as runners-up in the pre-season coaches’ poll.

Lawrence University and Milwaukee School of Engineering will also scrap among the MCHA’s upper echelon.

In three years, the Bulldogs have become a rallying point in and around the Lenawee County private college.

“The community is probably as excited to have an opportunity to obtain an automatic bid this year,” Fogarty says. “I think this area is craving a national championship and we want to bring a national championship to Adrian College, but we know there are a lot of processes and procedures that go ahead of that.”

The squad also added Dearborn native and former Wayne State player Stavros Paskaris as an assistant coach this season.

The grievance bus has left the station and Adrian College women’s hockey team will either have to qualify for the NCAA tournament or take a cab to Feel Sorry for Yourselfville.

With an automatic bid for the champion of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association – a conference the Bulldogs join this season – there will be no repeat of the last two campaigns where the team was shunned at national tournament time.

“The NCHA is an automatic bid for the conference tournament winner and we feel that we can step up and make a run for that bid in 2009-10,” says Bulldogs’ second-year coach Melissa Lomanto, whose team finished 18-6-1 in her first term in charge. “I think the girls were a bit crushed (last year) because we had a great second-half finish.”

As an independent, the second-year program has made compelling case to secure a NCAA Division III invite. Last season, the Bulldogs soared to a No. 2 in the West Region and knocked off then No. 5-ranked Gustavus Adolphus, 2-1, at home on Nov. 7, 2008. The victory was one highlight in a campaign where the Bulldogs posted a nine-game winning streak (Jan. 10 to Feb. 21) and went unbeaten in 14 of 15 games (Nov. 23, 2008 to Feb. 21, 2009).

Adrian joins Marian as new NCHA members. In the northern circuit, the Bulldogs will hardly be sailing in uncharted territory.

The team compiled a 10-3-1 record last season against conference members, including a double-drubbing of NCHA champion University of Wisconsin-River Falls 5-3 and 3-2 (OT) on Jan. 17 and 18.

“We’ve already played a lot of these teams, so we know what to expect,” Lomanto says.

Junior center Stacey Kempson, who scored the OT game-winner in the Jan. 18 victory over Wisconsin-River Falls, returns as well as a full complement of last season’s offensive producers. Kempson led the team in scoring with 18 goals and 37 points followed by junior right wing Jessica Grubbs (25-11-36) and sophomore forward Brooke Zaleski (6-14-20).

Grubbs, a Windsor, Ont. native, has game-breaking ability. She led the team with 10 power-play goals and eight game-winning tallies. The 5-foot-5 dynamo was also a team-leading plus-31.

On defense, junior rearguard Dana Funkhouser is back along with

sophomores Kelly Salis (St. Clair Shores) and Olivia Rork (Wayne). In goal, senior Dana Timm (Southgate) will assume a bulk of the work. Last season, Timm started all but one game and posted a paltry 1.54 goals against average and an equally superlative .946 save percentage while going 17-6-1.

“Our upperclassmen are ready to rock,” Lomanto says. “The leadership is tremendous.”

With the program being three years old, recruiting remains on a lower gear since juniors and sophomores comprise a bulk of the roster.

The second-year coach was pleased to land Honeybaked 19 and Under team product Ashley Gniewek (Southgate). The 5-foot-5 forward netted 11 goals and 25 points in 20 games and finished with four goals and assist in the state playoffs.

Lomanto lauds the freshman forward for her untiring work ethic and overall puck sense.

“She’s going to be a kid who surprises a lot of people,” the coach says. “On the ice, she’s been going non-stop.”

“She’s quick and has lots moves,” teammate Funkhouser says. “She’ll match up well with our returning forwards.”

As a second-year head coach, Lomanto comes in more assured. After serving as an assistant at her alma mater Utica, the Clinton N.Y. Native inherited a squad populated with underclassmen that had finished 11-11-2 in 2007-08 under Chandy Kaip, who left to coach at the University of Lethbridge (Alberta) in her native Canada.

With the new league and a possible automatic NCAA bid, Lomanto believes the 2009-10 Bulldogs will improve on last season’s performance.

“Where we are this year is definitely where we were last season,” she says. “Our upperclassmen are pushing our underclassmen and they all working towards the same goal.”

Her prognostication will be verified early as the team opens with six road games, including a trip out east to Neumann (Aston, Pa) on Oct. 30-31. The regular season home-opener is Nov. 29 against Chatham.

Long trips are the norm. Venturing to the outskirts of Wisconsin and Minnesota, the average excursion was nine hours last season, Lomanto says.

The team wiles away time studying or watching movies, Funkhouser says.

“You just try to stay comfortable,” she says.But team members don’t plan on fluffing any pillows for opponents

this season.By Larry O’Connor

Adrian College junior center Stacey Kempson led the Bulldogs in scoring last season with 18 goals and 37 points.

Adrian College’s junior goal-scoring tandem of Eric Miller (above) (18-34-52) and Shawn Skelly of Wolverine Lake (30-35-65) finished as the top two scorers in Division III scorers last season.

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Farmington Hills’ Fowler having a big OHL rookie seasonafter playing two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor he planned to play in the NCAA.

But after watching the Spitfires’ impressive run through the OHL playoffs and into the Memorial Cup last spring, Fowler decided to join the Spitfires this season. And so far, it’s been a very good fit.

“I think I’ve been pretty successful so far,” Fowler said. “The first couple of games I was just trying to get used to the league and try to get my feet under me. Now I think I know what to expect so it should be good from here on out.”

Fowler said that initially he didn’t think the OHL route was the best one for him to take, but after meeting with Spitfires’ GM Warren Rychel and coach Bob Boughner, decided that it was his best opportunity to get to the National Hockey League.

“It just kind of happened that by the time Windsor picked me up the OHL seemed to be the route that I wanted to take,” Fowler said. “It was nothing against Kitchener or anything like that; it was just kind of a coincidence. The coaches were a big influence in me coming to Windsor. They haven’t let me down since I’ve been here. They know so much about the game and have been in the NHL before.”

Despite being a first year player, Fowler’s teammates aren’t treating him like a regular

rookie. While Fowler helps with some of the rookie tasks like cleaning up the pucks after warm-up, he has been spared some of the other duties like loading the bus.

“He gets a bit of a pass,” Spitfires’ captain Harry Young said. “I think the guys have really taken to him. He’s a great guy for the room and he’s fitting in really well. He’s an elite player. He’s a rookie on

the team but he’s really not. He’s got the skill to play in this league and so far he’s been showing them off.

“He’s the real deal.”Fowler has made an immediate impression in the Spitfires’ lineup.

He picked up four assists in his OHL debut against the Plymouth Whalers on Sept. 17 and has recorded points in nine of 13 games this season. Fowler is currently tied for sixth in the OHL in scoring and leads all OHL defensemen with 19 points on two goals and 17 assists.

“He’s adapted to the league quicker than I thought he would,” said Boughner, a former OHL and NHL defenseman himself. “He’s a real smart player. He’s a puck mover and he makes it easy on himself because he advances the puck. I think he’s still learning his opponents but you can see when he has the puck that his natural offensive instincts just take over. He has a real calming effect back there on the blueline.”

Fowler is one of five regular defensemen that the first-place Spitfires roll out on any given night and frequently teams with Ryan Ellis on Windsor’s potent powerplay.

“He definitely makes things a little easier out there,” Fowler said about playing with Ellis, a first round pick of the Nashville Predators last June. “He sees the ice better than anyone I’ve ever played with. He made it a smooth transition for me to come in here. I think we’ve got a good powerplay going and hopefully we just keep it up.”

Fowler is a highly regarded prospect for the upcoming 2010 NHL Draft and, along with teammate Taylor Hall could make history as the first two players selected in the draft. So far, Fowler isn’t putting much thought into where he will be selected in the draft. He is more concerned with helping the Spitfires enjoy another tremendous season.

“My main goal is just trying to help the team win another Memorial Cup,” Fowler said. “I think if we can do that then the personal goals will come along with that. Obviously I’d like to try to be drafted high into the NHL but I understand I still have a lot of work to do to do that. We’ll just see how things play out.”

Aaron Bell is the OHL’s Director of Media/Information Services and Publications.

BY AARON BELL

Farmington Hills native Cam Fowler isn’t your typical first-year Ontario Hockey League player.

The Windsor Spitfires’ 18-year old defenseman was selected in the first round of the OHL Priority Selection - twice. First by the Kitchener Rangers in 2007 and again in 2008 by the Spitfires. And

Farmington Hills native Cam Fowler is tearing up the OHL in

his first season with the Windsor Spitfires.

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Whalers’ Jenks steps up; Seguin gets new linemate and Pink Out! game is Saturday

Spirit starting to find their offensive identity

BY MATT MACKINDER

It’s hard to believe this is already AJ Jenks’ fourth year in a Plymouth Whalers uniform.

The young kid who played in all 68 games, scored 10 goals and won an Ontario Hockey League championship ring in 2007 is now the veteran leader on the Whalers, sometimes wearing the ‘C’ on his jersey signifying team captain.

Since that title run three years ago, Jenks has been drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2008 and was invited the past two summers to USA Hockey’s Junior Evaluation Camp for the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Needless to say, Jenks has eyes watching him every game.“I just try and put things like that in the back of my mind,” said

Jenks, who turned 19 on June 26. “If I do my job here in Plymouth, I know it’ll help take me to where I want to go.”

Plymouth head coach and general manager Mike Vellucci thinks the Wolverine Lake native has a good chance at playing pro hockey next season, but an outside chance at playing for Team USA at the World Juniors.

“He’s got to earn that (NHL) contract,” Vellucci said. “He’s got to play the way he has been every shift. I know he’s World Junior material. I know he’s on the bubble right now (for the World Juniors) and I know they’re looking at him. He just has to keep competing.”

“I thought I had a good (evaluation) camp in June,” Jenks said. “I had to play through a couple minor injuries, but I hope I made a good impression on the coaching staff.”

Through nine games this year, Jenks is on pace to break the franchise record for games played and is also well ahead of his average points output with five goals and six assists through the first month of the season. He’s also matured on and off the ice and said that championship season played a big role in his growth as a person.

“These past few years have gone by so fast,” Jenks admitted. “The years just run together and I can’t even distinguish what happened last year or the year before that. But being a 16-year-old kid and being on the same team with the older guys we had (in 2006-07), you couldn’t act like you were 16 or they’d be all over you. I think now that I’m one of the older guys, I’ve learned how to help the younger guys out, but to let them know when they need to pick it up. I was in their shoes once and I just want to be there for these guys in both lights.”

As for the NHL, playing in a preseason game for Florida against

Ottawa this past September really made Jenks think about his future.

“Getting into that game really put me in my place,” Jenks noted. “Yeah, maybe you could call it a confidence booster once I got back to Plymouth, but it just really makes you see how much further you have to go and how much work is still ahead of you.”

RED LINE REPORT LOVES SEGUIN

Leading the OHL in scoring as a 17-year-old will raise more than a few eyebrows and Seguin, already a surefire first-round pick at next June’s NHL draft, is now being pegged as the top ranked draft-eligible player by Red Line Report, an independent scouting newsletter.

After finishing his rookie season with 20 goals in his last 44 games, Seguin spent the summer in the gym and the rink and came to camp bigger and stronger. The hard work paid off and the skilled second-year forward has 15 goals and 26 points in his first 12 games this year.

Overager Joe Gaynor teamed up with Seguin and Myles McCauley (Sterling Heights) on a line two weeks ago.

“Seguin’s an unbelievable player and he makes everyone around him look good,” Gaynor said. “I hope to keep doing the little things and stay on that line for awhile. It’s my role to get them (Seguin and McCauley) the puck and battle.“

Seguin scored the game-winning goal against Ottawa on Oct. 16, but was held pointless the next night against Windsor, a 4-0 loss, and he finished with a minus-4 rating.

In scoring against Ottawa, Seguin showed his vocal leadership

on the ice, according to Gaynor.“To be honest, he was yelling

the whole time,” Gaynor said about Seguin. “I knew he was there and I came around on that side (right side) of the net and I knew he was screaming back door. Things like that help.”

Not everyone thinks Seguin should go first next summer at the draft, reportedly to be held in Los Angeles.

International Scouting Services, another scouting outlet, has Seguin third behind Windsor forward Taylor Hall and Windsor defenseman and Farmington Hills native Cam Fowler.

PINK OUT! GAME SATURDAYPlymouth’s second annual “Pink

Out!” game in support of breast cancer awareness is Oct. 24 at Compuware Arena against Belleville.

The Whalers players will be dyeing their hair pink and will be wearing pink jerseys for the game. The game-worn jerseys will be available for fans to bid on during an auction at the game until the start of the third period. The proceeds from the jersey auction, along with the 50/50 raffle and chuck-a-puck

contest, will go to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.The pink hair is something the Whalers hope helps the cause and

to also draw fans to the game.“We did the same thing last year,” said Plymouth overage

defenseman Leo Jenner. “Doing this a couple of days before raises awareness. People get to see you out in public and it raises questions. We can tell the public why we’re doing it and support the cause at the same time. (In the end) that’s what it’s all about.”

After losing top scorers Jack Coombs and Chris Chappell, expectations for the Saginaw offense weren’t particularly high this season.

But so far the Spirit is fourth overall in the OHL and is tied for second in the Western Conference with 47 goals with Plymouth and trail only the powerhouse Windsor Spitfires in goals scored after 11 games.

“I think the team’s offensive performance is acceptable at this junction of the season, but I also think we can improve on that,” says Spirit coach and GM Todd Watson. “At the beginning of the season you have high hopes, but you never know. So far the guys have had a good jump, but it is still early.”

Second-year forward Josh Shalla, acquired in the off-season trade with Guelph, has been on a tear with 10 goals, including his first OHL hat trick against Belleville, and 15 points in the early going.

“I am getting a lot of opportunity here, along with a lot of ice time and things are really clicking for me so far,” said Shalla, now with his third team after brief stints with the Brampton Battalion and the Storm. “Being able to play as a top six forward and on the power play unit is good for me because I am an offensive type of player that can thrive in those situations.”

Saginaw’s leading scorer, left wing Jordan Skellett, is on his way to a break out season with six goals and 20 points after scoring 14 goals all of last season.

“He’s always had a lot of skill,” said the Spirit’s Tyler Murovich. “He is very strong and is excellent on the special teams, especially the power play.”

And Russian import draft pick Ivan Telegin has adjusted well and has six goals and 12 points so far.

The team’s scoring depth has also been impressive. Barry

Sanderson (Dearborn) has five goals, Jordan Szwarz (3-3-6) and Murovich, who just returned from a stint with AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, picked up an assist in each of his first three games back. Rookie Vince Trocheck (3-2-5) and defensemen Nick Crawford (3-10-13)) and T. J. Brodie (2-11-13) have also been good.

“I am not surprised, really,” said Murovich. “There is no question that the loss of Combs and Chappell would be hard to replace, but all we heard during training camp was that the team lacked scoring depth.”

“But we have a lot of guys here from last year that can contribute in a bigger role and the guys have been stepping up.”

SPIRIT NOTEBOOKSaginaw split their two-game weekend series, winning on the road

in Sault Ste. Marie, 4-1, on Oct. 16 and losing 3-2 at home against the Ottawa 67’s the follwing night. Against the Greyhounds, Saginaw scored three power play goals as Skellett, Trocheck and Telegin each had two-point games. Crawford and Garret Ross scored second period goals and the Spirit never looked back. Edward Pasquale ran his record to 3-0 with 27 saves. Sault Ste. Marie, who had been the talk of the league with seven straight wins to start the season after finishing last overall last year, dropped their fourth straight game. “I thought we got stronger as the game went on,” said Watson. “It was nice to get the win but there is a lot of improvement that we need to make.”… In the third-annual Pink Out Breast Cancer game, Ottawa broke a seven-game winless streak by scoring two third period power play goals to overcome a 2-1 Spirit lead. Saginaw’s four-game winning streak came to an end despite goals from Shalla and Sanderson. Anthony Peters had a solid effort and stopped 33 shots.

By Carl Chimenti

Now in his fourth season in Plymouth, Wolverine Lake’s AJ Jenks has developed into one of the Whalers’ leaders.

Saginaw veteran left wing Jordan Skellett is leading the Spirit in scoring with six goals and 20 points after 11 games.

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2009-10 NAHL Standings (as of October 19)

CENTRAL GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMOwatonna 11 8 2 1 17 0.773 36 31 195North Iowa 11 6 5 0 12 0.545 33 40 197Alexandria 10 4 3 3 11 0.550 28 33 159Bismarck 14 4 7 3 11 0.393 35 44 247Albert Lea 11 2 9 0 4 0.182 27 49 261NORTH GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMMarquette 12 10 2 0 20 0.833 35 21 313Traverse City 13 8 4 1 17 0.654 54 47 307Janesville 13 6 7 0 12 0.462 43 46 327Motor City 11 4 4 3 11 0.500 34 32 272Alpena 13 3 10 0 6 0.231 36 45 405SOUTH GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMSt. Louis 10 9 1 0 18 0.900 44 29 247Topeka 12 8 2 2 18 0.750 43 31 287Springfield 13 6 5 2 14 0.538 51 43 197Texas 12 5 5 2 12 0.500 32 42 344Wichita Falls 12 4 6 2 10 0.417 38 45 314WEST GP W L OTL PTS PCT GF GA PIMWenatchee 21 17 4 0 34 0.810 68 44 507Alaska 14 9 3 2 20 0.714 48 34 350Fairbanks 15 7 7 1 15 0.500 52 48 403Kenai River 18 4 13 1 9 0.250 42 67 403

TOP SCORERS TEAM POS GP G A PTS PIM PPG SHGPustin, Mark FBX F 14 10 10 20 15 4 0Jubinville, Jeff WNE F 21 9 11 20 14 3 0Juola, Michael FBX F 15 5 15 20 11 1 0Curry, Nick SPR F 13 6 13 19 12 1 0Rickord, Jared SPR F 13 7 11 18 0 4 0Mingo, Dajon KRB F 18 7 10 17 22 3 3Pauly, Shawn WNE F 16 7 10 17 12 4 0Huff, Andy TNS F 13 11 4 15 16 5 0Larson, Jared FBX F 14 8 7 15 8 3 1Di Puma, Michael WNE F 19 7 8 15 31 1 1Ladd, Garrett MAR F 12 6 9 15 44 2 1Brodie, Kyle WNE D 17 4 11 15 25 3 0Smith, Zach ALK F 12 8 6 14 56 3 0Fabian, Jason BIS F 14 6 8 14 16 2 0Radke, Dan TNS F 13 3 11 14 14 0 1Sheehan, Brian WIC F 12 9 4 13 22 3 1Bain, Brent MAR F 12 6 7 13 21 1 0Kolb, Andrew MAR F 12 6 7 13 12 1 0Haider, Robb ALK F 14 5 8 13 32 1 0Severson, Cam JNE D 13 4 9 13 20 2 0Sheehan, Brian WIC F 12 9 4 13 22 3 1Bain, Brent MAR F 12 6 7 13 21 1 0Kolb, Andrew MAR F 12 6 7 13 12 1 0Haider, Robb ALK F 14 5 8 13 32 1 0Severson, Cam JNE D 13 4 9 13 20 2 0Burrell, Brandon WNE D 21 1 11 12 8 0 0McKellar, Duncan WNE F 20 7 5 12 23 2 0Sliwinski, Nathan WNE F 20 6 6 12 24 1 0McGlasson, Jed KRB F 18 4 8 12 27 0 1Kleisinger, Casey BIS F 14 4 8 12 10 0 0Pichler, Kyle ALK F 14 3 9 12 8 2 0Mauerman, Ross JNE F 13 5 7 12 4 1 2Nagtzaam, Nardo ALK F 13 6 6 12 14 0 2McLintock, Eric TNS F 13 5 7 12 37 2 0Vassalli, Jonas ALP F 13 2 10 12 12 1 0Schaber, Mike SPR F 13 8 4 12 11 1 0Prince, Jack TEX F 12 5 7 12 18 1 1Kleiman, RJ MCM F 11 4 8 12 26 1 2Bohrer, Ryan NIO F 11 3 9 12 8 2 1Thorson, Cory OWA F 11 8 4 12 2 1 0Iaquinto, Anthony WIC F 10 3 9 12 31 2 0Olszewski, Daniel STL F 10 5 7 12 8 1 2

TOP GOALIES TEAM GP MIN SO GA GAA SV SV% Kissaw, Kevin MAR 11 664:23 3 16 1.44 379 0.959Jaeger, Brandon WNE 9 465:47 1 13 1.67 192 0.937Robertson, Kale ALK 7 392:08 1 12 1.84 162 0.931Shibrowski, Mike OWA 9 566:51 1 19 2.01 242 0.927Kamal, Chris ALX 4 249:42 1 9 2.16 116 0.928

NORTHJanesville forward Zack Smoot had three goals and two assists as the Jets split a two-game series with Traverse City. On Oct. 16, the Fort Collins, Colo., native tallied an assist in a 5-4 loss. The next night, the 19-year-old had a hat trick, including the game-winning goal, and an assist as the Jets beat North Stars, 6-3. He was also a plus-1 on the weekend.Honorable Mention: Marquette forwards Brent Bain and Josh Bussell; Motor City defenseman Mike Monfredo

SOUTHTopeka forward Ryan White potted a goal and three assists as the RoadRunners skated to a 1-0-1 mark against Springfield. On Oct. 16, the Parker, Colo., native recorded a pair of assists in a 4-3 shootout loss. The next night, the 18-year-old had the game-winning goal and an assist as Topeka downed the Jr. Blues, 5-3.

Honorable Mention: St. Louis defenseman Brad Smith; Texas forward J.D. Howard; Wichita Falls forward Anthony Iaquinto CENTRALAlexandria forward Alex Altenbernd struck for four goals as the Blizzard skated to a 1-0-1 record. On Oct. 16, the Moorhead, Minn., native recorded a hat trick in a 6-3 victory over the Albert Lea Thunder. The 19-year-old added another goal the next night as the Blizzard fell to the Owatonna Express in a shootout, 5-4. He was also a plus-4 on the weekend. WESTAlaska forward Jake Parenteau tallied two goals and two assists as the Avalanche skated to a 1-0-1 record against Wenatchee. On Oct. 16, the Shafer, Minn., native potted two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist in a

4-0 triumph. The next night, the 20-year-old added another assist as the Avs fell to the Wild in a shootout, 3-2. GOALIE Owatonna goaltender Mike Shibrowski backstopped the Express to three wins, turning aside 65 of 70 shots. On Oct. 16, the Edina, Minn., native made all 24 saves as the Express blanked Bismarck, 2-0. The next night, the 18-year-old stopped 22 shots in regulation and overtime and four of five in the shootout in a 5-4 triumph over the Alexandria Blizzard. On Oct. 18, Shibrowski steered aside 19 shots in regulation and overtime and four of five in the shootout as Owatonna edged the Bobcats, 2-1.Honorable Mention: Marquette’s Kevin Kissaw; Motor City’s Jason Torf; St. Louis’ Tyler Bruggeman; Wenatchee’s Brandon Jaeger

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Goodrich native backstopping Rangers to success

SHERWOOD PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (FOR WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 19)

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BY MATT MACKINDERKevin Kissaw started this season in Marquette with the goal to

make it his best year ever.If the first month is any indication, the Rangers’ goaltender

is more than on his way to accomplishing that goal. Kissaw, a Goodrich native who turns 20 next month, was named the NAHL’s Goaltender of the Week three straight times from Sept. 28-Oct. 12 and has Marquette at the top of the North Division. He also has had talks with several Division I colleges.

“I’ve always been a humble person when it comes to awards,” Kissaw said. “Our defensemen deserve a lot of credit. They have kept a majority of the shots from the weak scoring zones and our forwards have done a great job supporting our D-men. Goalie of the week honors are nice, but at the end of the day it’s all about winning games.”

Kissaw emerged last year as Marquette’s No. 1 goalie and finished with 16 wins in 33 games, but the Rangers finished out of the playoff picture. Now a veteran of the NAHL, Kissaw feels that last season gave him confidence for this season’s fast start.

“At the start of the season I was obviously more comfortable than last year,” said Kissaw. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first year of juniors and living away from home. I know Marquette very well now and the people are crazy about their hockey. From a hockey standpoint, I realize this is my last year of juniors, so coming into the year I set personal goals for myself and want to make it the best year possible.”

Being counted on as much as he has comes with added pressure, but it’s pressure Kissaw tries to brush aside.

“I don’t really feel too much pressure being the starter,” Kissaw said. “I had high expectations for myself coming into the season.

When it comes down to game time, I’m focused on the game and not on the hype surrounding the game.”

The past year and change has been a whirlwind for Kissaw, a player who didn’t have many options after his senior year of high school playing for Belle Tire’s Midget Major team in 2007-08.

”After graduating from Goodrich High School, I hadn’t really had any offers given to me to play for a team,” said Kissaw. “I had heard that (Marquette head) coach (Kenny) Miller and the Rangers had watched some games during the season and were interested in me. When I got the call that I was being drafted by the Rangers, I went to the tryouts and made the squad.”

Kissaw grew up playing for a plethora of minor hockey programs – Flint Icelanders, Little Caesars, Ice Dogs (now Victory Honda), Michigan Jaguars and Belle Tire. He’s hoping that once his junior days are done, he can stay in the state to play his college hockey.

“I have been in contact with a couple DI schools,” noted Kissaw. “My main goal is to play in the CCHA because that’s the collegiate league I grew up following being a Michigan boy. I’ve always wanted to play for Western Michigan. Western has

great fans and all-around I just love the school.”

NAHL NOTEBOOKThe Kenai River Brown Bears let go head coach Marty Quarters

(Southfield) and replaced him with California native and Kenai River assistant coach Oliver David earlier this month … The NAHL voted to grant conditional approval for an expansion membership to Chicago-area owners Dick Glass and Mark Hammersmith. The club, which will be named the Chicago Hitmen, will begin play next season and will be the first NAHL team in Chicago since the Chicago Freeze ceased operations in 2003.

Goodrich native Kevin Kissaw has helped the Marquette Rangers get off to a strong start this season.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


RED WINGS

BY DAVE WADDELL

Nick Lidstrom has been arguably the greatest defenseman of his generation and October 15 he joined another exclusive club that spans every NHL generation.

The six-time Norris Trophy winner collected two assists in Detroit’s 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings to give him 1,000 career points.

Lidstrom is the first European defenseman and only the eighth NHL blue-liner to achieve the milestone.

He joins defensemen Ray Bourque, Phil Housley, Paul Coffey, Denis Potvin, Larry Murphy, Brian Leetch and Al MacInnis in the 1000-point club.

“I’m very proud to reach that milestone with the other players that are in there with 1,000 points,” said Lidstrom, who reached the milestone by totaling 229 goals and 771 assists. “When I first joined the league I never thought I’d reach a 1,000 games, let alone (a 1,000 points).

“I do take a lot of pride in reaching some of the milestones and being the first European doing it. I think if you look back, when I joined the league, you didn’t see that many Europeans here. I think

Europeans have had much influence on today’s hockey.”

Lidstrom, who is also the first European to win a Conn Smythe as well as the only Euro to captain a Stanley Cup champion, fittingly reached the plateau on Henrik Zetterberg’s game-winning goal.

Like so many of his assists over the years, it was a play of pure intelligence.

Rather than needlessly try to blast away through the forest of bodies in front of the goal, Lidstrom laid in a perfect slap pass that Zetterberg redirected from the left face-off dot.

“That’s putting in a lot of years and being very successful at it,” Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski said. “It’s something not many guys will ever get a chance to accomplish. It definitely puts him in a special category.”

Perhaps the greatest accolade one can give Lidstrom is he’s made a career out of beating opponents as much with his brain as he does with

his athletic ability.“It’s an amazing feat,” goalie Chris Osgood

said. “He’s been consistent the whole time since I began playing with him in 1993. One of the things Nick does is he makes everyone around him better. That’s something not a lot of players can do.

“He’s a Hall of Famer and people won’t realize how good he was until he’s gone.”

In any debate about the greatest defenseman of all time, which generally boils down to Boston legend Bobby Orr, Montreal great Doug Harvey and the elegant Lidstrom, the three share one important trait.

Each has been a revolutionary player at the position, but in a different way. Harvey was the first defenseman who really was able to control a game at both ends from his position. Orr injected the offensive element into the position with his daring forays from end to end. And Lidstrom may be the most unique of the three.

The splendid Swede has played the position at such a high level for such a long time in a way that nobody else could imagine.

He doesn’t play a physical game, yet is nearly impossible to beat one-on-one. Lidstrom may

possess the most active and disruptive stick the game has ever seen.

He’s efficient with his first pass and his ability to avoid making mistakes led the game’s greatest coach, Scotty Bowman, to label him as the nearly perfect player.

With a game that is an example of such subtle perfection, it’s extremely difficult to appreciate the true greatness of Lidstrom unless you get to watch him on a regular basis. It’s led to the unusual situation where Lidstrom is now judged by an almost mythical standard of perfection that he’s established for himself.

When asked what it is about Lidstrom that makes him such a special player, Bowman had a concise explanation befitting the man.

“The reason Nick is so good is he finds the first simple play and makes it every time,” Bowman said. “He doesn’t force things. He’s not afraid to just bang it off the glass if that’s the best play.”

Current Wings coach Mike Babcock remembers what a revelation Lidstrom was in his

first season in Detroit. Babcock knew Lidstrom was good, but it took

daily exposure to the man and his demeanor on-and-off the ice to fully appreciate the Wings captain.

“I waited half a season before I finally got to yell at him in a practice,” Babcock recalled. “He never made a mistake. It wasn’t much of a mistake, but I had to yell because I knew I might not get another chance all season.”

Not much has changed since for Babcock, who says the team now has what he calls ‘Nickisms’.

These are the package of video clips the team has of different plays Lidstrom has made that are examples of what the coaching staff wants the rest of the team to do.

“Obviously, he’s a spectacular player and he has been for a long, long time,” Babcock said. “You got be real healthy and fortunate to play on a good team and then you got to be an absolute star. For a defenseman to get that milestone is very special.”

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is a man known for exploring all of his options in the name of solving any problem.

But he truthfully didn’t have any desirable alternatives when he pondered how to deal with the loss of veteran forward Johan Franzen for four to six months with a knee injury.

It’s not as if there are NHL teams with proven 30-goal scorers they aren’t using. Any scorer the Red Wings could actually acquire right now probably would not be worth having.

Does anyone believe that free agent Mark Parrish would be helpful to Detroit’s situation? A return engagement by Brendan Shanahan? Should the Red Wings call Claude Lemieux?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to such a poor start that they would be happy to make a trade, but they are looking for scorers.

The Red Wings’ Franzen-relief plan is simply to dig in and hope other Detroit players, Valtteri Filppula and Ville Leino chief among them, will step up and make up for the loss of Franzen’s goals.

The Red Wings need Leino and Filppula to be 20-goal scorers. The Red Wings need Dan Cleary to have his best offensive season and Darren Helm to chip in 10-plus goals. The Red Wings need Tomas Holmstrom to produce, and thus far he looks like he will do that. The Red Wings would dearly love to have Holmstrom around the 30-goal mark.

Also, the Red Wings will need to have their defensemen contribute more offensively. Niklas Kronwall is probably capable of playing more offensive than he has in the past.

Depth has been Detroit’s strength for or dozen or more years and they have never needed it as much as they need it now.

Here’s the interesting aspect of Franzen’s injury: if the Red Wings can still thrive, or at least survive, in Franzen’s absence, his injury could prove to be benefit. The Red Wings were pushed up against the cap ceiling, and Franzen’s injury will offer them some cap relief because he can be placed on the long-term injury list.

What this means is that the Red Wings could be in position to make a move or two later in the season, once teams begin to sort themselves out. The Red Wings should have money to act boldly at the trade deadline, if they desire to do so.

That’s also about the time that Franzen could be coming back to the lineup. His return could feel like a trade acquisition, although it’s been my observation that players don’t come back smoothly from ACL injuries. Even after they start playing, it seems to take added time to regain top form.

It clearly won’t be easy for the Red Wings to maintain their usual level of excellence without Franzen’s 34 goals. Remember, they lost Marian Hossa (40 goals), Jiri Hudler (23), Mikael Samuelsson (19) and Tomas Kopecky (6) last summer and replaced them with three free agents who totaled 38 goals.

Now with Pavel Datsyuk’s injury, the Red Wings’ depth is being tested even more severely. With Franzen’s goals off the books, the Red Wings theoretically have lost 84 goals. Obviously it doesn’t really work like that and other players will step up. But the bottom line: The Red Wings’ scoring reservoir is shallow compared to what it once was.

Still no one is feeling sorry for the Red Wings, and they only have to look at last season’s St. Louis Blues to see a NHL team that overcame a run of injuries to succeed. Despite numerous injuries, including Erik Johnson and Paul Kariya lost for the season, the Blues were among the NHL’s best teams in the second half of 2008-09.

Detroit coach Mike Babcock is looking at other forwards to score more in Franzen’s absence, but my view is that goaltender Chris Osgood is the key to overcoming Franzen’s loss.

When the Red Wings are playing sharply, they

still have a dominating defense and they simply need Osgood to be at his best. In the early going, the Red Wings’ defensive game hasn’t been running at maximum efficiency.

Turnovers have been too plentiful. Zone coverage hasn’t been effective as it has been in the past. Osgood had an outstanding performance against Chicago, and he’s looked average in other games. A couple of pucks have squeezed through him, but with Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo sitting with an .870 save percentage we all remember that you can’t truly assess where a goalkeeper is at until we hit November or at least a dozen games played.

If Osgood performs as sharply as he did in last spring’s playoffs, the Red Wings could still be among the leaders in the West. If he plays like he did in the 2008-09 regular season, then the Red Wings could be fighting for a playoff spot all season long.

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Detroit Red Wings veteran Nick Lidstrom is only the eighth NHL defensemen of all-time to score 1,000 points.

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Losing Franzen tests Red Wings’ depthit

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Kevin Allen covers pro and college hockey for USA Today

Veteran forward Johan Franzen will be out of the Red Wings’ lineup for 4-6 weeks with a knee injury.


MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Our 4th annual search for the best arena! Every month go to michiganhockeyonline.com and answer

the question of the month for a chance to win prizes! We’ll announce the results in April 2010.

THE HOLES IN THE STICK ARE FOR AIRFLOW. NOT SHOW.

The new Reebok 8.0.8 hockey stick. Designed with eight power ports to reduce drag by 31%.

Making it lightning-quick, incredibly reactive and downright deadly. Just like Victor Hedman.

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Michigan Hockey October 26, 2009