Volume 3 Issue 1 | September 26, 2018
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Looking Back at 35 Hockey Trips
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This year I decided to return to my roots and take my Pee Wee team to a town in Wisconsin named Waupun. There are only two reasons you would have heard of this town twenty miles from Fond Du Lac (or Fondy as it is called); first, you are a bird lover and go to the Horicon Marsh to visit migrating birds on their way south. The other reason is you are a visitor to the Wisconsin State Penitentiary. Oh, they play hockey in Waupun, in a rink all run by volunteers. Zamboni drivers, rink cleaners, concession stand workers; all volunteers. Great place…
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And so in year one of my coaching career, I decided to take my Squirt A team in mid-January to the twin cities of Waupun and Fondy for some games. Back then tournaments weren’t critical; we just wanted to play some games. Back then, the players did not stay in waterparks. The parents stayed in a hotel, the Holiday Inn in Fondy, for your information. The kids? They did this thing called billeting; they stayed in the homes of the Waupun players. Did I mention for three days the temperature never went above -15? Did I mention that some of the kids stayed on a farm? And so, young Willy Gardner, who had just moved up from the Gold Coast of Chicago, got up at 6:00am and milked the cows in -15 degrees. The rinks were not heated, and we had to leave our engines running all night long.
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"Don't measure the season on just wins and losses, but on the overall experience of your player."
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With the season now a couple weeks in and most of our teams having a couple games under their belt, I wanted to remind everyone of a couple things to ensure this year is a success.
First, it is very important that we don’t measure the season on just wins and losses but on the overall experience of your player. Obviously, everyone wants to win but what the kids remember most are the locker room stories, the funny moments and the friends that they make, which all can happen regardless of their record.
In order to make that happen, if a kid makes a mistake or has a bad game, try and do your best to keep their spirits up. I’m sure they know more than anyone else that they messed up and feel horrible about it.
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There Is Still Time to Register for House League!
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The season kicks off this Sunday, September 30th for Minor Mites, Mites, Squirts, and Pee Wees. Our House program is a great way to make new friends, improve skills, and develop a love for the game.
Let's Play Hockey!
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Warhawks Are Off & Flying!
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It was a great start to the season last Saturday when all three of our Warhawk teams opened league play with victories. Our U12 team defeated the Chicago Bruins 5-4 as Mya Gerstein made several outstanding saves in the final minutes to preserve the victory. Our U14 team, playing with only nine skaters, defeated the Chicago Jets U16 team 3-2. The U16 team defeated the Falcons 5-0. The U14 and U16 teams will play in the Wisconsin Elite Hockey League Showcase this weekend in Ozaukee, WI. They will play regional teams from throughout Wisconsin. Our Warhawk U10 team is being formed with tryouts Tuesday, October 9th.
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5000 Puck Challenge Winners
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Congratulations to Luke Schotsky of the Squirt 2 team for winning the 5000 Puck Challenge. Luke shot a total of 8228 pucks this summer. Jack Vergamini of the PeeWee 2 team came in second place shooting a total of 6840 pucks.
Great job boys!
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Nutrition 101 for Athletes
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It’s easy to get mired in the details of sports nutrition, which is why it’s good to also look at the big picture of simply getting enough calories to meet energy needs. This involves getting adequate amounts of the major energy groups: carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats.
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Being a leader on a team is not easy. It’s not about being popular, being the best player or having the nicest equipment. Being a leader on a hockey team involves being an unselfish person who can do two things at once, such as monitoring your own game and monitoring the state of the whole team at the same time. Being a team leader is hard work.
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Photo of the Month Contest Returns October 1st!
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AHAI's Photo of the Month Contest returns October 1st, and the prizes are better than ever thanks to our sponsor, FloBros Hockey! Submit photos of your AHAI player's awesome hockey Halloween costumes and hockey inspired carved pumpkins, wicked slapshots, dekes, dangles and great saves...or of your kids just plain having fun playing hockey. Click button for complete contest details. We can't wait to see your pictures!
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AHAI is proud to present the 29th annual series of Seminars on the opportunities in ice hockey on Monday, October 8, 2018, at the Woodfield Hyatt in Schaumburg. We'll talk about Men's and Women's NCAA Division I and Division III, ACHA club hockey, Junior College, Prep Schools and Junior Programs, as well as a wide array of topics like financial aid, making the grade and much more! Attendance is a must for all players (male & female) born in 2002 through 2005. Parents are also encouraged to attend.
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