Bullying at The Rink

While it may seem like a miracle that the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series, it’s easy to forget – that was predicted years ago.

   Not by Nostradamus, but in Back to the Future II.

   In Marty McFly’s alternate universe, 2015 gives us things like the championship Cubs, self-lacing sneakers, and everybody’s favorite blockheaded bully, Biff Tannen.

  Our actual 2016 now has two-outta-three (which we all know ain’t bad), but when it comes to actual bullies, kids don’t have the luxury of hoverboards or time travelling DeLorean’s. So what do you do when your child encounters bullying at the rink, or in the locker room?

   You need to create an environment that makes it difficult for such practices to survive. For Westchester County Physical Education Teacher and Youth Hockey Coach Stacey Wierhl that means setting clear standards and expectations for the team that promotes the team first. “The coach is responsible for creating a team atmosphere that is about caring for one another. When each player thinks of their teammates first, the coach has done a great job to combat any potential bullying,” says Wierhl.  

     Supervision is key.  “The coach needs to be vigilant before and after games and practices. Coaches need to be aware of what kids are saying in lines and on the bench,"  Wierhl adds. “Coaches most certainly need to be present and involved whenever the team is together.”

  

   Wierhl also advises coaches to be that someone that every player feels comfortable approaching. “If a player hears or witnesses something that made them uncomfortable, the player must have a sense of trust and comfort in the coach to be able to openly share his or her concerns.”

    Bullying in athletics is real, and occurs across all general lines, at all levels. And when addressed, it can quickly cause its victims to loathe not just the harassment, but the sport itself.

    If you, your coaches, and other team members have empowered kids, then it’s easy for them to apply some of Biff Tannen’s own wisdom to bullying – tell it to make like a tree, and get out of here.

Youth Hockey FUNdraising

The Peaks and Pitfalls of Fundraising

Big on dreams. Short on cash. Isn’t that the case every hockey season? The challenge is to find fundraisers that are big on cash and short on stress. The season is stressful enough, you certainly don’t want to be the source of duck and cover syndrome with family and friends. They see you coming and yell, “Duck everyone and cover your wallet!” I was grateful the year our team abandoned product hawking in favor of team fundraising projects. We packed restaurants that would give us a slice of their profits on our designated night. It’s was one less meal to cook and another chance to get to know everyone outside of the rink. We also made hundreds by teaming up to sell pucks for fans to chuck at a Syracuse Crunch Hockey game. Our neighborhood bottle and can drive was a huge success with a $700.00 profit! Our roundup of returnables was hard work, but it also rewarded teamwork. Finding the right team fundraisers can set the right tone for your kids, and allow parents to find common ground. Early bonding can go a long way during a long, cold season. So, the next time your team asks you to help out with fund raising, keep in mind, you can gain a lot more than money when you work together for a common goal.

                                                      BOTTLE AND CAN DRIVES

*Promote the drive- Send out flyers with information about your drive and also a phone number. People may call and offer to drop their cans and bottles off at your Redemption Center. *Pick a good time Timing is everything. Our team leader picked the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Neighbors were eager to rid their garages of emptied containers after their Thanksgiving feasts; they were in a generous spirit as well. *Divide kids up with different age groups or different positions so they get to know other players *Wear team jerseys or T-shirts with logo- It legitimizes the operation and reinforces the team concept for the kids. *Coach should speak- Hit all the important rules about safety and good manners. *Find a kind and willing Redemption Center-that will let you set up an account for your team so folks can donate year-round.

OTHER TEAM FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES:
Have a Gala for the parents of your hockey players. You can raise money by selling tickets, solicit door prizes or prizes for silent auctions from parents or local businesses. How is your team raising money?
 
  Share your ideas on our The Puck Hog Facebook fan page and be eligible to win an autographed copy of The Puck Hog!

The Season Opener

Older Wiser Hockey Parents, Part 2

At the rink with my daughter Sophia

  As hockey parents go, Laurie Golden and her husband are the kind of folks that an underdog sport like hockey needs, to keep it sane on the youth level. Laurie hails from Plymouth, Michigan and is the author of a terrific blog called The Trophy Mom, http://thetrophymom.wordpress.com. I had a great conversation with Laurie about harmony in hockey and she agrees, it's really easy for parents to lose their perspective. She even dedicated an entire post on how to stay calm.  As Laurie so wisely points out, you really have to make a conscious decision to not get caught up in all the drama and stay focused on what's best for your children and family. Admittedly there are times, and many of them pop in my mind right now, that's not always easy. Deep breath. Stay focused. Or borrow a trick from Laurie and repeat to yourself, “I am not emotionally invested in this game. I am not emotionally invested in this game.” as often and as many times as necessary. It helped her survive 30 years as a Detroit Lions fan!
   Laurie knows what she's talking about. She and her husband have three sports loving kids. Their eldest is a senior baseball player for Eastern Michigan University. Their second son plays ACHA hockey for Oakland University and their daughter who plays hockey for the 19U Michigan Icebreakers, is also a softball player.

How did you and your husband set realistic expectations for your children who play sports?

     The only expectation we really have is that our kids will have fun and develop some skills
and that's the way we encourage them to look at it. Sometimes those skills are skating, shooting and team play. Sometimes those skills are learning to play with new line mates, or dealing with a difficult teammate, or balancing school and sports demands. And some seasons, you have to adjust as things progress and look for positives, focus on efforts and improvements and not on the score or stats tally.

 What happens if your passion for a sport doesn't equal your child's?
     I have yet to have that happen! We let the kids dictate which sport they want to play and the level of involvement. We try to support their passion, not ours, although sometimes my husband or I might wish one of our kids would try a different sport or a different team. It's their chance to try things and explore what they like or don't like, not about my passion.

3. Have you ever heard parents refer to hockey as "an investment?"
      My husband and I joke often that if people took all the money they spent on camps, special training tools and extra coaching and invested it, they'd have no problem paying for college. It's like trying to buying yourself a scholarship but with no guarantee that you'll actually get one.
   We do know people who think that if their player concentrates all their efforts on one sport, plays year round and gets extra coaching, that it will pay off with a scholarship or high level career. It's completely unrealistic as only 2% of high school athletes receive college scholarships. And we know kids that have played juniors hoping for a college opportunity and then enter college at age 20 or 22 with no scholarship, while all their friends have finished college and are starting their careers.

4. And how do you avoid the "comparison trap?" (comparing how your child is doing against a friend or star athlete)
     It is hard to avoid the comparison trap, especially when you worry that other kids have advantages, like playing with a kid who passes them the puck, or getting more ice time. But you just can't go there because you'll make yourself nuts. There are going to be situations like this at work and at school so stay focused on what you can control like your effort, your improvement, your enjoyment. Teams need all kinds of players--some kids score goals, some kids dig the puck out of the corner, some kids motivate everyone else with a good attitude and hard work. So instead of comparing, celebrate everyone's successes, because that's what good friends and teammates do.

   And remember, the kids are watching. Sometimes that is easier sad than done but now that my kids are older, each of them has thanked us for being sane, level-headed sports parents. The kids really are watching.





Sophia hoists a trophy after a team victory

   A final note from The Trophy Mom,  "With any luck, our kids will have fun, learn some life lessons and maybe we’ll hoist the trophy for best sports parent ever."

                                                                         Salute!

The Hearts of Champions

2012 Centerstate Tournament CHAMPIONS

                                Lysander Lightning Team Bellso – You Rock!
                                                                          By Dawn O'Neill
                                                                          Hockey mom
                                                                          Contributing Blogger   

               
THE WOW FACTOR
Our young hockey players, from the Lysander Lightning team, began their journey in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 21, 2012.  Many of these young boys  (and one girl) have never been in a tournament together.  Watching them, you would think they had been together since they were mini-mites.  These kids have chemistry and play with some of the biggest hearts you've ever seen.  They never give up.  They have coaches that hug and encourage them, win-lose-or-draw regardless of the score.  The parents have come together like no other group of parents I have seen in a team sport.  So, prior to the tournament, we all decided, along with voting from the kids, to do as much as possible to set ourselves apart as a “stand out” team.  On the first day of the tournament, we all decided it would be “cool” to have the team all tape their sticks bright pink as a sense of unity…the WOW factor as we call it!  On the second day, we all decided to tape their sticks bright fluorescent green.  And let me tell you, heads turned when these kids not only skated out on the ice in standard uniforms, but all with the samecolored sticks that stood out with noticeable difference!

 TOURNAMENT NERVES 

     As they began their journey on that early Saturday morning, we were to face the red team from New Hartford.  The game began with nerves and energy heightened.  Our kids were pumped!  Our kids dominated from the start, and it was obvious they wanted “the win”.  It is amazing to see the heart and soul come out of a group of 9 & 10 year olds when they want something so badly.  The game concluded with Lysander coming away with the win 4-3.  It was fought with courage and energy, and the boys were off to a great start!  At the end of the game, there was a goalie competition “shoot out”.  My young “man between the pipes”, “Big B” Bradley O’Neill as he is known to his teammates was to face 5 shots one-on-one from the opposing team.  By the end of the shoot out, “Big B” had stopped all shots against him, and Lysander had scored one against New Hartford…YEAH!  We had time between games and did not need to return to the rink for our second game until later in the afternoon, so off to some serious team (and parent) bonding we went for a much-deserved team lunch.  We returned to the rink with the same anxiety and nerves from the morning and were expecting to play the blue team from New Hartford.  The game began and while the kids skated with the same heart as they did that morning, the win was not to be in their favor and they lost 5-3….OK, no big worry, right?  At the end of the second game, there was a goalie competition “shoot out” again.  And “Big B” was back it again…stopping ALL shots against him, and Lysander scoring two against New Hartford.  As with all tournaments, parents and kids alike were anxiously watching the points from the other games to see what odds they were up against for the next early-morning game, where they were to face the hosting Centerstate team from Morrisville.

DETERMINED TO WIN

 The game began and our team was off to a fantastic start!  Our boys (and girl) came out with determination and before we knew it, it was 10-1….GAME OVER!  Now, it was obvious this team was anxious to find out whether what they had just done was what it would take to get them to the championship.  As all of us parents were standing outside the locker room while the Coaches had their “team talk”, we suddenly heard the LOUDEST scream you could ever imagine coming from that room of 9 & 10 year olds.  The Coaches had just informed them that by taking all 5 points from the game they, in fact, would be in the Championship game later that day!  As is tradition at the end of every one of our games, the Coaches usually hand out a “game puck” to a player who really stood out in their efforts and in playing their position.  However, this tournament, it was not to be.  The Coaches said to the team that to get to this point, they had all shined, and so there was a TEAM PUCK that represented ALL their efforts….YEAH!  So, it was off to a very calm (and team bonding) breakfast break for the team, and a little celebration for having come this far!

       And this is where the REAL EXCITEMENT begins…

THE BIG PEP TALK

The team returned to the ice plex and you could see they were pumped up and anxious.  In the locker room, there was talk of what they wanted out of this.  As parents, of course, we were telling them to just play hard and have fun and that the results would be as they would.  However, this courageous TEAM, who have really come together with passion and skill, was not having any of that “parent talk”…. THEY WANTED TO WIN!  As I suited up my “Big B”, I took his face into my hands and simply said “Buddy….just one save at a time, just one save at a time!”  And in his wonderful and angelic manner, he replied, “Mom, I just want to win!”  Choking back the emotion, I replied, “I know, honey.  You guys can do it, but be proud of the outcome…whatever it is!”  And we left the team to be with their coaches for the ritual “pep talk”.

 FIRED UP AND FOCUSED

 The parents, very nervously, awaited the team's entrance on the ice.  As is customary, “Big B” came out of the locker room, leading his team to the ice entrance.  It was an eerie feeling, as you could see the determination in their eyes and the energy like they were going to explode!  With no noise or yelling, “Big B” skated on the ice and went to the center, slapping his bright green stick.  We all began cheering and then very quickly quieted down, when we saw what the team was doing.  Each player skated out on the ice, circling “Big B” in a continuous motion, all slapping their sticks, and NO ONE saying a word.  They were focused and sending a VERY BIG message…..they were here to play AND to win!  For about a minute, they continued this and then broke into their regular warm up drills.  The game began and off we went.  Both teams were energized and played hard.  It remained very competitive throughout the whole game.  In the 2^nd period, a player from New Hartford committed a “major penalty” which resulted in 5 minutes in the penalty box.  During this very big power play opportunity, our team was able to score 2 goals off of it.  As the 3^rd period approached, our parents were yelling, “This is YOURS!  You guys want it?  Go get it!”  We began to pull away in the 3^rd period, ONE unified team, with ONE goal in mind, and they did not let up!  With about 2 minutes left to go, it was 6-3, and we were about to bust……these kids were going to do it!  As the seconds ticked down on the clock, we got louder and louder.  Time expired and Lysander Lightning, Team Bellso, had just won the championship!  The boys jumped the wall and in unison, all gloves and sticks went flying high into the air.  And, “Big B” was nowhere to be found…he was buried below a team of 16 of the best (most supportive) teammates one could ever ask for!  We stood in awe of the perseverance of this team, as they celebrated what was duly theirs!  The Coaches have done and amazing job with building these kids up with not only skills, but with heart and with believing in themselves!

THE THRILL OF VICTORY  

     After the huge celebration in the locker room, I went over to “Big B” and asked him, “Buddy, what were you feeling and thinking as you sat there watching the last minute tick off the clock?”  His reply was, “Mom, I just kept thinking….we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna do it!  And we did!”  He also informed me that the team had planned, beforehand, exactly how they were going to celebrate on the ice “WHEN” they won….that’s kids for you! 

    From your team parents, THANK YOU, Team Bellso, for a heart-thumping, exciting weekend…..YOU GUYS ROCK!

Hockey New Year!

Joe, Sophia & the "Pup Hog" wishing you Happy Hockey Days!

Hockey in a New York State of Mind

 FINALLY!  A publication devoted to the great sport of hockey in the great state of New York. From stories that will tug at your heartstrings, to impressive accomplishments of some of our organizations most talented kids, to news and notes on youth hockey changes and challenges.   Hockey NYS will keep you in the loop!  The folks behind this online publication are as fascinating as the stories they publish.  I had the pleasure of interviewing columnist, designer and photographer Janet Schultz.  Hats off to this special team for putting New York State Hockey..OUR kids...in the spotlight!

 What's your online magazine all about and what are your goals as you continue to grow your publication?
   Hockey NYS is an take-off of what Steve Manson (our publisher) founded 20 years ago--WNY Hockey Magazine. It's geared for youth and amateur hockey players. Our mission is to give youth, amateur and collegiate players the recognition that they don't get from local media. We want to share their stories on and off the ice.

    We learned from several individuals throughout NY that there didn't seem to be a mouth piece for hockey. Yes, there's USA Hockey Magazine but that was national. There's a need in NY to share what happens across the state, a sharing of ideas, getting the word out on tournaments and special schools, clinics, etc.

 What kinds of stories do you want to tell, and how do youth hockey organization submit their ideas to you?

We want everything. We've done stories on tournaments, mainly they send us stuff when they win; but we'd like everything.

We've had special features such as a story about the Buffalo Shamrocks who spend the summer planting, caring for and then harvesting a vegetable garden where the bounty goes to the animals at the Buffalo Zoo, where the garden is located.

We've done a special feature on two sisters who share the net on a team in Saratoga Springs. We'll listen to any idea and take it from there.

I've also tried to do little stories on women's hockey about the history of the growth of teams and organizations.

Anyone who has an idea should just call or email us. I cover women's hockey, youth thru collegiate, and can be reached at 716-751-6524 or Janetschultz@yahoo.com and Randy takes care of any type of feature or youth hockey through junior and minor and he can be emailed at janetrandy@aol.com.

Warren Kozireski is our collegiate reporter.

 Your husband is the managing editor. Please tell us more about him, his background and yours and how your talents combined make this E-Magazine happen?

Randy Schultz

     Randy was approached by Steve Manson when Steve started WNY Hockey Magazine to be a reporter. He took that on as he had been covering the Buffalo Sabres since the beginning. Randy has been a freelance sports writer since his college days including football, baseball, hockey and at one time some basketball. He has written a book on Dominik Hasek, the Buffalo Bills and several children's books on Presidents of the United States and one on the New York Knicks. Those children's books are unique, especially when they came out, because while they are short the material links to websites that give students more information. At one point in his freelance career they were calling him the "King of String" because he was writing for many of the NHL Teams program magazines (which they no longer do with freelancers) plus such publications as Hockey News, Sporting News and even our local papers. He also did the same with baseball working for the Dodgers, Angels (which he still does), and others. Randy has also done radio and tv, especially when we had Adelphia and Empire Sports.

Janet Schultz

I worked in Public Relations for my entire career, from secretary to an assistant director of public relations (actual title Technical Assistant) and also had a desire to be a photographer. Randy helped me get started by getting me to hockey games and then Steve took me on as the photographer for the WNY magazine. When I looked at the magazine I noticed very little on women's ice hockey, and with the Olympics growing the sport; I suggested a women's column, Steve assigned it to me and off I went. It actually is the most popular column in the magazine. I've mainly focused on photography up until this point. I've photographed the NHL and also covered the Buffalo Bills for ten years, did work for the LA Dodgers, Angels, USA Hockey. I also freelance for a local weekly newspaper, not sport tho' I actually cover the school board meetings for them and special events at that school, as a photographer and reporter.

Randy and Steve put their heads together about Hockey NYS and with my background I took on the design, as well as photography and of course, covering the girls/womens side. I had also taken over design of WNY Hockey after an ownership change.

By the way Randy is a admissions recruiter for Niagara County Community College; he worked in Public Relations there also. Actually I took his position when he was moved into Admissions. I retired after 38 years in Public Relations at Niagara County Community College.


   You and your husband had a chance to visit all four sectional meetings involving the State Amatuer Hockey Association. What were some of your takeaways from those meetings and impressions about youth hockey in New York State?

First, it was one of the greatest things we could have done. Each section is a little different but everyone of them is so dedicated to their hockey program.  We're just large and close in proximity to each other where the Central and North are very spread out and teams have to travel farther to play. We were met with open arms at each one. They all seemed enthusiastic and in one case, we know a person was texting a story idea during the meeting because we had it when we got back to the hotel. We thought we go in a present and leave; but we ended up staying for the entire meeting and then have people come up to talk to us after.

We also met in such different venues; first WNY was at Batavia Raceway, with a casino in it and I won $15 after; Central was in a fire hall (I'm the daughter of a volunteer) so I was at home; East was at a great restaurant in White Plains and just a half hour from our daughter's; and North was, where else, in the Olympic Arena at Lake Placid. We plan to do it again when they meet in the Spring.

   What have you found most enjoyable about reporting on and sharing hockey stories?

I've always enjoyed hockey. I didn't know much about it until I met Randy. (I grew up with 3 sisters and a brother; in a rural area where the boys in the neighborhood did play pond hockey; but their mom was from Canada and so I only knew there was this team called the Toronto Maple Leafs, I didn't know anything more about hockey or who they played). Now I love it. I liked going to games, shooting the action and then attending such events as the NHL Draft, NHL Awards and Hall of Fame events. Until I began covering women's hockey. Now I love talking to the girls, watching them play such a great game with style, finesse and professionalism. I also love interviewing the little girls. They love to talk about the sport, how they play. Their enthusiasm gets to you. Yes, I give up NHL Sabre games to go to the Girls High School Varsity games in WNY.

    What was one of the most memorable interviews you've done for your magazine?

Actually all of mine are memorable in one way or another. But there is a special one. A young lady plays in WNY who is deaf. She uses a signer on the bench to help her. She's amazing and is now playing in the Varsity Girls league for her high school. She is dedicated, loves hockey and has one killer smile.

I also just interviewed another girl who is the face of EA Sports 2012 game. She wanted an avatar created so girls playing could be girls. She contacted EA Sports and with much to do, they made her the avatar. By the time I interviewed her she had 44 media outlets talking to her and took it all in stride. She just wanted to play soccer--the summer sport she plays--and get ready for her hockey season which was just starting in midst of all this.

Other was a collegiate player who went to Unganda to help set up a medical clinic. The amazing part of this story was a group of students was to go, they boarded a bus which ended up in a serious accident on the way to the airport. She was playing a hockey playoff game and was going to join them later so she wasn't with them. Obviously the trip was cancelled, they lost an instructor in the accident, but this young lady went on her own; taking all the donations they had, worked with airlines to get everything to the right spot. She's amazing!

Our message is this is a mouth piece for NYS hockey. It's for the youth and we want to share the news about our youth hockey players.

http://www.hockeynys.com/

Staying true to The Puck Hog character

Staying true to the characters in the book, the team that inspired The Puck Hog
demonstrate the importance of passing and teamwork.

The Puck Hog on Book Store Shelves

 Special thanks to the staff at Barnes & Noble in Clay for placing The Puck Hog in a prominent spot in the store and adding a "staff recommends" card!

 I hope your children will enjoy reading The Puck Hog, as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Gearing Up for A New Season

Shayna McKie teams up with her dad, Dave McKie, to help us get our kids properly protected for the new season. We'll start with one of the most important pieces of gear, the chest protector.

Striving For That Perfect Stride

We all know good skating makes better hockey players. Strong and powerful strides are a plus! With help from Frank Colabufo, coach of the West Genesee High School hockey team (2010 State Champs) and his son, our kids can see what kind of stride young hockey players should be striving for. Check out the video below. Next week, we'll demonstrate some off-ice exercises your kids can do in the driveway to build speed and strength.

Spring Skills Hockey Clinic at Skaneateles Ice Arena

This Tournament Gets the Gold!

THE LAKE PLACID INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

By far the best tournament ( and I've lost count as to how many) we've ever experienced. The inspiring surroundings, the win by the boys on the 1980 Herb Brooks Miracle on ice Rink and

so many cherished memories. I'll let hockey dad Steve Ratliff's fantastic photos tell some of the story. More to follow....

A Weekend of Good Hockey

The caliber of hockey was top-notch this weekend in New Hartford. There were few hooks, trips, slashes and plenty of stiff competition to test the Bantam Travel team's mettle. The team had some setbacks; an illness, an injury, a broken stick and even a broken blade in a game against their toughest opponent. But, with good guidance from good coaches, they had great run at the 2010 Central Section Pre-Sectionals this weekend. They also enjoyed a defining moment with a Valentine's Day victory against the talented Grizzlies. Lysander Lightning players proved they are a good high energy team and when they're playing well, they are truly impressive. They conquered Rome and racked up four solid victories Unfortunately, it was not enough to advance. In a three way tie for first place, it comes down to goal differentials and Lysander came up a goal short. Heartbreaking, but it's all part of the youth hockey experience. Not every game goes the way you want it to, so you learn how to positively accept adversity. Learn and grow. The season is far from over and no need to feel disappointed. Time now to look ahead to lighting the lamp in Lake Placid!

Action-filled games. An opportunity to win with humility and deal with adversity.

What's Cooking Hockey Moms?

If the answer to that question is 'not much' because you have no time, take some comfort in knowing you have plenty of company in the harried and hurried arena of youth hockey. Our Hockey Moms network is here to help you get a home cooked meal on the table and make it to practice on time. Veteran hockey mom Amy Colclough has actually done meal planning for hockey moms over the years including casseroles, lots of crock pot stuff, and tips on shopping efficiently. This week she offers a recipe for a no-fuss mid-week meal that is sure to fill the bellies and please the palettes of your hungry hockey player. It’s called Perfect Meatloaf in 25 minutes;

The Perfect Meatloaf: 25 minutes

Preheat oven to 375 deg
In bowl place:
1.5 lbs 95% ground beef
1 box of dry stove top stuffing (I use low sodium) take inner bag out and crush the hard stuffing cubes a little
1 can healthy request Tomato Soup (undiluted)
1 large egg, or 2 small ones
Optional: ¼ cup finely chopped onion and / or green pepper
¼ cup milk

Mix in bowl until combined well: do NOT OVER MIX. Meatloaf will be tough!
Take regular sized muffin tin, spray well with non-stick cooking spray evenly divide meat mixture into muffin spots. Top with ketchup or BBQ sauce, bake for about 25 minutes or until done.
You could put in loaf pan – you just need to cook longer.

Thanks Amy! Boy that sounds yummy and easy. I can’t wait to mix it up and throw it in the oven. Do you have a favorite quick and pleasurably delicious recipe to share? Let us know below.