Youth Hockey Player Blogs About his Passion - Ice Hockey
I went to a birthday party today for my friend Tristan, he is the Goalie for our Jr. Coyotes team. As a surprise for the guests … the Phoenix Coyotes Mascot Howler stopped by.
It was so much fun because a lot of my hockey friends were there. They had some hockey targets set up, and a Howler Cake it was a great time!
Howler ROCKS!
Hey mom … can Howler come to my birthday party?
I dedicate this post to my Grandmom, she passed away last week. My grandmom was really proud of me on and off the ice. She loved to hear my hockey stories and I would call her when I scored a goal and tell her it was for her. I am so happy that she got to see me play.
She understood my passion for the game and would listen to me for hours on the phone while I explained how to take a slap shot, or about a great game my team had, we even talked about NHL games that we watched. I will miss talking to her, but I know she will always be with me on the ice.
I scored the first goal during my Squirt game last night and I dedicated it to you Grandmom.
I check out www.NHL.com usually every day. With all the exciting things happening (Drafts, Trades and Free Agents Signings). I cannot wait for the season to begin. I am also looking forward to seeing which NHL east coast teams will make it to Phoenix. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some of my favorites!
It is so much easier watching and attending games on the west coast. When I lived in Florida this past year, I missed watching a lot of hockey games because they began right around bedtime! If I was lucky enough to attend a game, it was over way past bedtime!
I think the Coyotes have made some good changes, especially the addition of Olli Jokinen. I look forward to seeing his first game in Phoenix and watching him work his magic with the team. The Coyotes have a lot of leaders and are on track for a BIG year. Coach Gretzky is every kids HERO! I wish the team well in 2008-09!
Even in the heat … I continue to practice! I wake up, grab my bucket of Fly Pucks, my Hockey Net (NHL Franklin Roll A Goal) and go to work on my shot. Stopping occasionally to perfect a move or two! My goal is to hit my target (the water bottles my dad hung) with at least 100 shots per session. I keep a log of how many pucks I shoot a day, so I know how many I have done in a month. I have noticed that my shot is getting stronger and I am able to take it top shelf since I have been practicing. When practicing off ice, Murph prefers the Fly Puck!
I have gone to some awesome NHL games. Last season when the Philadelphia Flyers came to Florida, I was lucky enough to have tickets on the glass behind the Flyers bench. Close enough to see Danny Briere in action, it was so awesome! I also was sitting next to some crazy Flyers fans, although I had on my Jr. Panthers jersey … I am still a BIG Flyers fan (being born in Philly and all). It is games like this that make hockey players like myself dream big!
Listen to the NHL San Jose Sharks Skating & Skills Coach Graeme Townshend explain the importance of working on skating skills when you are young. Graeme says “skating is to hockey as putting is to golf”. Tiger Woods spends time perfecting his putt; hockey players need to take time perfecting the art of skating!
In a nutshell; this Coach sums up the importance of not neglecting your skating skills! I attend a couple of power skating sessions a week. I can tell you from my experience that power skating class, in addition to your regular team practices, really does pay off.
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