Michigan Hockey August 17, 2009

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V.20:I.03 | August 17, 2009FIRST CLASS

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

4 August 17, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

FROM THE EDITOR

A love of the game

FROM THE EDITOR

After breaking his left wrist and right fibula in six places in a race for the puck during an ACHA game last December, no one would blame 22-year old Kevin Moran if he stopped playing hockey.

But the thought never crossed his mind and, instead, the Ann Arbor native is looking forward to his senior season with the Michigan Tech Huskies club team.

Moran spent last winter in Houghton in a wheelchair, maneuvering over slick sidewalks and around 25 feet of snow. It took 10 minutes to cross a room, a half-hour to get between classes and there was no such thing as a “quick shower.”

“It was a colossal life change,” said Moran, who played three seasons for Coach Steve Armstrong at Ann Arbor Pioneer before enrolling at Michigan Tech.

Moran graduated to a walker, then crutches and finally a cane. Looking forward to this season helped him get through countless hours of rehabilitation that lasted well into the spring.

Still, the worst was going to his games with “the smells of the rink, the cold and the ice – and not being able to contribute.”

Moran had a message for his teammates: “make every game count. It can change so fast, enjoy it while you have it.”

Moran’s only regret is that he didn’t go out for the Huskies squad when he was a freshman. An Engineering Major, he wasn’t sure about his class load and how hockey would fit in, so he waited until his sophomore year to play.

“I should have joined the second I got up there,” he said. “The hockey is great and the guys on our team are a riot.

“I love the game and I am lucky enough to be able to come back. I’ll play until I can’t play anymore.”

Michigan Hockey wishes Moran good luck and hopes that you’re looking forward to this season as much as he is.

Call 734.834.0084 for info www.michiganpondhockey.com

Register On-line Today!

HEALTHY MEALS for Hockey Moms

submitted by Hockey Moms

4 zucchini (1-1/2 lb.)cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices

3 each red and yellow peppers (1-3/4 lb.)cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips

1/4 cup Italian Dressing

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

HEAT grill to medium heat. Place vegetables in grill basket.

GRILL 10 min. or until crisp-tender, turning occasionally. Place in large bowl.

ADD dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheese.

ZESTY GRILLED VEGGIES

Submit your recipe & photo to:[email protected]

Recipe submitted byLucia Zuzga

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

S P O N S O R E D B Y• Each class is a one-day, 90 minute program

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QUICK & FAST 12-1:30pm Wed 6 & upSHOOT TO SCORE 1:30-3pm Wed 6 & upOUTSIDE EDGES 12-1:30pm Thurs 6 & upSTICKHANDLING &PUCK CONTROL 1:30-3pm Thurs 6 & up


QUICK & FAST 12-1:30pm Mon 6 & upSHOOT TO SCORE 1:30-3pm Mon 6 & upOUTSIDE EDGES 12-1:30pm Tues 6 & upLEARN TO CHECK 1:30-3pm Tues 11 & upBACKWARD SKATING 12-1:30pm Wed 9 & upSTICKHANDLING &PUCK CONTROL 1:30-3pm Wed 6 & upDEFENSE CLINIC 12-1:30pm Thur 9 & upPLAYMAKER 1:30-3pm Thur 9 & up

52999 Broughton RdMacomb, MI 48042

Mon-TuesAugust 24 & 25

52999 DequindreRochester, MI 48307

Wednesday-ThursdayAugust 26-27

www.suburbanhockey.com(248) 478-1600

2009

Where teams from Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan meet!

(Mite AA through Midget AA)For regular travel (non-elite) level

A & AA teamsSeptember 25-27, 2009

(Squirt A, Pee Wee A, and Bantam A)For IL bronze and MI lower level teams or those expected to be under 500. e-mail to

discuss and assure proper fit for your team.September 25-27, 2009

(Sanction # MIT100011)

17 TOURNAMENT GUIDE ‘09• Mishaps from tournament travel

• Getting the most from a tournament (p.18)• Border crossing update (p.18)

• Tournament Calendar listings for new season (p.24-25)

6 MH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT• Wolverines win Spring/Summer Squirt title

• Port Huron Flags win in Sarnia• Mustangs win power hockey tournament title (p.8)

• RBK ’96 wins Gold at 2009 NARCh Finals (p.10)• The Magnificent Seven rides again (p.12)

• Remembering Silver Stick director Pat Hills (p.8)• Hockey guy Herb Hammond passes away (p.10)

14 MH BEAT• Ilitch Charities scholarship winners • Lakers win Metro Summer Hockey League• Program of Excellence draws high school players to Chelsea

16 STATE OF THE GAME• Simply Better BY LYLE PHAIR

INSIDE 08.17.09

DEPARTMENTS

28 USA HOCKEY REPORT• Jenison’s Anderson makes U.S. Junior Sled Team

• Wasyluk named to women’s U.S. National U18 Team

• Q & A: USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio (p.33)

• Jewish Games: Berkley’s Shencopp takes trip to Israel (p.34)MICHIGAN HOCKEY

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This page (from top): Tournament celebration by Sarah Zientarski/Michigan Hockey; Grand Rapids Sled Wings Tyler Anderson by Mark Newman/Grand Rapids Griffins; New Whalers’ import and Red Wings draft Tomas Tatar courtesy of Plymouth Whalers and Red Wings Jonathan Ericsson by Dave Reginek/DRW.

Cover reprints available: email [email protected]

AdvertisingLucia Zuzga

Editor-in-ChiefPhilip D. Colvin

Design EditorChuck Stevens

38 RED WINGS INSIDER• Annual prospect camp pays dividends for Detroit

• Roster shaping up for training camp (p.39)

36 ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE • Plymouth Whalers acquire Red Wing draft Tomas Tatar from Kitchener

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

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

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

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

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DON'T MISS MICHIGAN HOCKEY'S PARENTS' GUIDE!

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY – putting YOUth first

Call Lucia @ (248) 478-1134 or email: [email protected]

Michigan Hockey's Parents' Guide will give you helpful information on all aspects of the game!Michigan Hockey will provide you with all the information you need to get the most enjoyment out of the game.

This special edition of Michigan Hockey will hit the stands on September 11, so be on the lookout!Advertisers: Want to reach these parents? The ad deadline for this issue is September 2.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


Wolverines win Spring/Summer Squirt title

Port Huron Flags win in Sarnia

The Wolverines leaped from the starting line and never looked back in the 2009 Suburban Spring Summer League. The squad finished a perfect 12-0 to take the Squirt Division league championship.

The Wolverines are: Mason Waldrip, Tony Neubacher, Ian Wardowski, Nathan LaFalce,

Zachary Kerr, Greg Rizzo, Liesa Bruin, Connor RaJan, Jerry Calcaterra, Grant Michaels, Justin McCaslin, Hunter Long and Danny Milano.

Wolverines’ coaches are: Jim Bruin, Greg Neubacher and Camen Milano.

The 2002 Port Huron Flags Mite A team won six straight games to take home the Blue Water Sharks AAA Tournament title in Sarnia, Ontario on June 7.

The Flags, comprised of 6 and 7-year olds and coached by Bob King, beat the Blue Water Sharks (Ontario) AAA team 8-3, the Burlington (Ontario) Griffins AAA team 16-2, the Orchard Lake Pirates, 9-2, and the Belle Tire AAA-prep team, 6-1, in round robin play.

The Flags defeated the Pirates in the semifinals on Sunday, 8-4, and defeated the Pro-Tips (London, Ontario) Sabrecats, 5-4, in the championship game. Mark Estapa was named Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Port Huron finished their spring season with

a record of 20-2-1, including three tournament championships. The team will resume their season in the fall and will play out of McMorran Place Arena. King last the Flags Bantam AA team in the past and led them to three consecutive state final berths, including a state title in 2007.

The Flags are: Brennan Churchill, Drew Robbins, Jacob Truscott, Mark Estapa, Tiernan Shoudy, Joseph Teasdale, Hunter Ratliff, Chad Noetzel, Mitchell Hilbrandt, Luke Delange, Travis Shoudy, Logan Furstenau, Logan O’Flanagan

The coaching staff is: head coach Bob King, and coaches Ron Churchill, Bill Truscott, coach Mike Delange and coach Todd Shoudy.

WIN, LOSEWIN, LOSEoror DRAW DRAW GET IN THE PAPER!

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AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

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House “B” ProgramHouse “B” Program MITE - MITE - Ages 7-8Ages 7-8 SQUIRT - SQUIRT - Ages 9-10 Ages 9-10 PEE WEE - PEE WEE - Ages 11-12 Ages 11-12 BANTAM - BANTAM - Ages 13-14 Ages 13-14

REGISTER NOW REGISTER NOW FOR FALL HOCKEY!FOR FALL HOCKEY!

Mighty Mites Ages 4-7

Mini MitesAges 5-8

Mustangs win Power Hockey Tourney title

Port Huron hockey community loses supporter in Hills

The Michigan Mustangs power hockey team traveled to North Carolina and brought home the 2009 Carolina PowerHockey Invitational tournament title with a come-from-behind, 4-3, win over the Minnesota Selects at the RBC Center in Raleigh on July 19.

Power hockey is floor hockey played by athletes in electric wheel chairs with a wiffle ball. Originally started in Canada in the early 1980’s, power hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Power hockey has been in Michigan since 1996 and the Mustangs have competed in four previous tournaments in Toronto, Minnesota (twice) and Calgary since they began traveling in 2000.

The Mustangs are a team of Michigan-based All-Stars from the Wheel Chair Hockey League (WCHL). The WCHL was established in 1996 and is a four team, 40-player league of males and females ranging in age from 10 – over 60. It is a non-profit organization that offers a competitive league for people with various disabilities, who couldn’t normally play the sport of hockey.

The tournament was a three-day, round-robin plus playoffs event and the Mustangs competed against teams from North Carolina, Philadelphia

and Minnesota.The win was the Mustangs’ first ever tournament

championship. The team had previously never finished higher than sixth place in a tournament.

Every player on the Mustangs recorded at least one goal during the tournament. Kevin Konfara and rookie Josh Cueter led the team in goals, each netting 11.

The Mustangs finished the tournament with a 5-1 record, with their only loss coming in the round-robin against Minnesota.

The Mustangs are: captain Chris Lemieux (Windsor, Ont.), alternate Jason Drapinski (Pinckney), alternate Marty Witberg (Sterling Heights), Mary Stack (Ann Arbor), Zeljko Sreckovic (Emmet), Anthony Nelson (Westland), Frank Rogers (Detroit), Dean Olivas (Livonia), Kevin Konfara (Dearborn Heights), Drew Canada (Clarkston) and Josh Cueter (Troy).

Mustang coaches are: head coach Steve Nelson (Westland) and assistants Rich Drapinski (Pinckney), Scott Kaptanowsky (Livonia), Matt Winowski (Dewitt) and John Hepper (Shelby Township).

The Port Huron youth hockey community lost a longtime supporter when Pat Hills passed away on June 2.

Hills, 64, was active in the Port Huron International Silver Stick for the last 19 years, serving as the tournament’s director for the past 13 years.

He also served as the president of the Port Huron Minor Hockey Association for four years and was the organization’s treasurer for another 14 seasons.

The Silver Stick is a high point in the season for thousands of players, parents and coaches from all over Canada and the United States. Friendly, gracious and organized, Hills expanded both the number of teams competing and the scope of the opening ceremonies

and worked year around to make the Silver Stick tournament a memorable experience for everyone.

“With him and Silver Sticks, it was all about the kids and making things better for them,” said MAHA District 5 Chairperson Mike Cruickshank, who attended Marysville High School with Hills.

A member of the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame, Hills also served as president and CEO of Flagship Federal Community Credit Union.

“He was all business but he always took the time to talk and enjoyed the fact that the kids were having a good time,” said Michigan Hockey reporter Mike Larson, who regularly covered the Silver Stick tournament.

By Philip Colvin

TM

248.888.1400 MICHIGANICEBREAKERS.COM

MICHIGAN HOCKEY



RBK ’96 wins Gold at 2009 NARCh FinalsWith unbridled determination and skills second

to none, a select group of 11 ice hockey players, all 12- and 13-year olds, from Canton to Macomb joined forces and took first place at the 2009 North American Roller Championship (NARCh) on July 22 in Mississauga, Ontario.

This RBK team, based out of the Inline Hockey Center in West Bloomfield, competed at the Platinum level and played teams from New York, Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, and Ontario, Canada. One by one, they defeated them all, many games only by one goal.

“This team is the most dedicated group of kids I have ever had the privilege of coaching,” said Brett Melnick, the team’s head coach from Canton. “They demonstrated talent beyond their years. The boys worked hard, never stopped competing and it paid off. They have so much to be proud of — each and every one of them.”

Team RBK ‘96 is: Ryan Larkin (Clarkston), Cooper Seedott (Northville), Jake Gammicchia (Shelby Township), Cole Hohmann (Plymouth),

Mac Burkhard (Commerce Township), Michael Houle (Macomb Township), Jonathan Waring (Farmington Hills), Connor Brown (Novi), Matt Riehl (Macomb Township), Kyle Melnick (Canton) and Dylan Larkin (Waterford).

The team’s head coach is Brett Melnick and assistants are Mike Burkhard and Chris Hohmann.

Between the May Regional Qualifier at the Joe Dumar’s Fieldhouse in Shelby Township and the National Championship tournament, the RBK ‘96 team went undefeated and had an outstanding combined record of 10-0 with 52 goals for and 12 goals against. Plans are underway for the team to compete at NARCh in San Jose, California in July, 2010.

In addition to the Platinum level champion, the Inline Hockey Center also had several other winning teams at NARCh: RBK 2000 team won the Gold in the 8 U Silver Division; the RBK 1998 team won the Silver medal in the 10U Silver Division and the RBK 1996 Detroit team took the Silver Medal in the 12U Gold Division.

Friendly Hammond was ahockey guy who ‘loved the game’

If you happened to sit next to Herb Hammond at a game in Michigan during the 1990s, you probably ended up talking hockey or baseball with him before the night was over.

Hammond, a longtime college coach and NHL scout for the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild known for his warm, friendly and engaging personality, passed away on July 22 in Fort Gratiot at the age of 69 after a two-year battle with cancer.

A native of Beverly (MA), Hammond was trained as a teacher and coached at Oswego State (1968-80), Plattsburgh State (’80-83) and Brown University (‘82-88). A true “hockey guy”,

Hammond got a Stanley Cup ring with the Rangers in 1994 and settled in Michigan after retiring from scouting in 2005. He served as ACE Director for the Port Huron Minor Hockey Association and was the general manager of the Port Huron Flags (UHL) in the 2005-06 season.

“Herb had a very caring, loving demeanor and was just an all around great man,” said Michelle VanBuskirk of the Port Huron Minor Hockey Association. “He was a very dedicated and active ACE coordinator and he truly loved the game and enjoyed watching

kids learn new skills and apply them.”

By Philip Colvin

248-888-1400•suburbanice.com

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09.09 – 03.10For the fun of itFor the fun of itPROGRAMS

MIGHTY MITE (Ages 4-7) • 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 MITE (Ages 5-8) • Program serves as an introduction to “team” play

with practice sessions and small-ice games.

FALL/WINTER 2009 BEGINNING ADULT LEAGUEFOR MEN AND WOMEN

• Ages 18 & up

• 25 Weeks

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• Players will be divided into equal teams and will have two practices prior to the start of the game schedule.

• Games will be officiated by instructional staff members to enable them to coach the individual players and the teams on the ice during the play, on the bench and in between periods to better facilitate the learning of hockey concepts, specific situations and the nuances of the game

• Individual registration (requests to play with friends will be accepted)

September 2009March 2010Monday &

Tuesday Nights(one skate per week)

BEGINNER ADULT LEAGUE

September 2009March 2010Sundays

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY



The Magnificent Seven rides againIn 2008, the Little Caesars Midget AAA Minor

team rallied to capture the USA Hockey U16 National Championship in Buffalo (NY). Last season seven of those players set out to repeat the accomplishment in the U18 division.

Winning once is an accomplishment in itself, but trying to do this back-to-back against talented teams from all over the United States is truly amazing. Winning the national title is something that binds the players and coaches together forever. And reflecting on the year’s sacrifices, injuries, ups and downs culminates in the final moment of a season when everyone receives the national championship medal.

For seven players this was the goal, the motivation and the reason for returning to the Little Caesars program one more time. Forwards Justin DeMartino, Brent Tate, Steven Obarzanek, Jake Chelios, Rocco Grimaldi and defensemen Sam Posa and Brandon Lubin shared a special bond and the trip back was special.

“I realized that repeating was going to be a true test and getting back was no easy task,” said Lubin. “First we would have to win the state title, which was no guarantee especially with the

teams Michigan has.”“But I felt confident that if we returned we had

a good shot to repeat.”The Little Caesars team began the National

tournament almost identical to the year prior - losing their first game. The squad then dropped their second game as well.

But like 2008, the squad put all the individual goals behind them and played together for one cause and one outcome.

“The best part of winning, especially when you have a chance to repeat, is to share this experience and emotion with your teammates,” said Lubin. “I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to play with a great group of players who I will always have special ties with for the rest of my life.”

Players of this years U18 Little Caesars National Championship team consisted of forwards DeMartino, Chelios, Grimaldi, Tate, Obarzanek, Trocheck, Johnson, Prince, Stewart, Webb and Sipula. Defenseman: Lubin, Posa, Stewart, Sisk, Jacobs, Mclean. Goaltenders: Rodgers and Greene and coaches: Ciraulo, Rataj, Posa, Taylor and trainer Sidun.

Seven Little Caesars Midget Major AAA players - (from left) Justin DeMartino, Jake Chelios, Sam Posa, Brent Tate, Rocco Grimaldi, Stephen Obarzanek and Brandon Lubin - won back-to-back USA Hockey National titles in 2008 and 2009.

SEND THEM TO [email protected]

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Players awarded $20,000 in scholarships from Ilitch Charities

Lakers take Metro Summer League championship

For eight Michigan players, paying next year’s college tuition is now a little easier.

Ilitch Charities, the charitable arm of the Ilitch companies, awarded $20,000 in scholarships to eight student athletes from the Little Caesars AAA program and the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League (LCAHL).

The students were honored at a ceremony on July 27 at Hockeytown Cafe emceed by Ken Daniels, television play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Red Wings on Fox Sports Net.

Ilitch Charities Chairman Christopher Ilitch presented the scholarships to Chelsie Boroski (Sterling Heights), Ryan Brown (St. Johns), Jillayne DeBus (Howell), Andrea Kot (Goodrich), Brandon Lubin (Commerce Township), Mackenzie Smith (Jackson), Jay Snyder (Toledo) and Stephen Barnett (Bloomfield Hills).

“Little Caesars youth hockey players represent some of the best young hockey talent in the country,” said Ilitch, who is also president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “These young people are

not only talented athletes, but outstanding students. Ilitch Charities is pleased to provide college scholarships to help these rising stars attain their educational goals.”

Each year, Ilitch Charities honors outstanding Little Caesars players with a scholarship toward the college or university of their choice. To qualify, students must maintain a 3.0 high school grade point average or above, be a current member of a Little Caesars AAA or LCAHL team and have plans to attend a college or university within the next two years.

At the ceremony, Ilitch shared with the scholarship winners that success takes “commitment, hard work and perseverance.”

He counseled the student-athletes to “strive to be a success not only in school and in hockey, but in all aspects of your life. Be a good son or daughter, be a good friend or a good roommate.

“There are no shortcuts and you can accomplish anything you set out to do.”

For the ninth straight summer the Michigan High School Hockey Excellence Program attracted rising sophomores, juniors and seniors intent on improving their skills to Chelsea’s Arctic Coliseum

This year’s camp, held July 9-12, included a capacity 168 players. “And over 65% of our players are returning from last year,” said

Bob Mancini, who along with Don Wright has spearheaded the program since day one. “Those numbers just tell us that the camp continues to move in the right direction.”

In addition to on-ice practice, off-ice strength work and testing, the Hockey Excellence Program also held two seminars - a high school coach’s panel discussion on getting to the next level and a NHL scout’s panel discussion on what scouts look for in a player.

“We go into this camp every year with the sole purpose of development,” says Wright, head coach of the Chelsea high school team. “The camp touches base on all aspects on what it takes to be a better player.”

This year on-ice sessions were expanded to a full hour and an off-ice team building component was added.

“Each year we try to evenly balance the eight teams with equal talent,” explained Wright, the coach of Chelsea High School. “Team building allows the players to get to know one another as a team before the games begin.”

The staff included 16 high school coaches from all parts of the state, three NHL scouts, Steve Bowman (Washington Capitals), Pat Carmichael (Atlanta Thrashers) and Andrew Shaw (Columbus Blue Jackets), along with a host of coaching instructors.

Mark Vellucci, head coach at Farmington, says it’s a labor of love that he looks forward to every summer.

“It is a fun filed four days that always seems to go too quickly,” said Vellucci, who has attended the camp for the past seven years. “Every year the camp gets better and better.”

Vellucci also noted what separates this camp from others. “The off-ice testing, with the results compared to the 18-year olds

that have just been drafted, gives the prep player an idea of where he is at in terms of development,” explained Vellucci. “Another quality is the personnel evaluation from one of the NHL scouts who list a player’s individual strengths and weakness in their game.”

Coaches ran both team practice as well as positional practice for forwards, defensemen and goaltenders.

“I really liked the practice sessions, this camp has been very beneficial,” said Joey Sterritt, a Muskegon native. “The coaches really took the time to teach.”

Still, the players looked forward to the camp’s games.“They are really intense and everyone wants to win,” said Nick

Sokoll of White Lake. “The scouts are watching so there is added pressure to play well.”

By Carl Chimenti

The Lakers took the 2009 Metro Summer Hockey League title with a 9-3 win over the Wolverines in the championship final on July 22 at Suburban Ice Farmington Hills.

The Lakers, who finished first in the seven-team regular season race with an 8-2-1 record, beat the Broncos and Whalers in the playoffs to make the final.

In the championship game, the Lakers jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second period and added three more goals late for the victory. John May had a hat trick, Thor Skalski and Ryan Timar each scored twice and James Dragescu and Brandon Contratto added single goals for the Lakers.

Nick Hurite, Luke Timmis and Adam

Phillips scored for the Wolverines. Josh Block earned the win in net for the Lakers, while Scott Lewan took the loss.

The Wolverines finished sixth (2-5-4) in the regular season, but beat the Huskies and Wildcats (2OT) in the playoffs to earn a spot in the final.

“The talent level was high, as usual, and was very competitive as evidenced by the sixth place team (Wolverines) making it to championship game,” said league director Keith Pietila. “I enjoy seeing the improvement in the players from one summer to the next.”

The Lakers are: Jim Dragescu, John May, Josh Block, Alfonse Kolis, Brandon Fritz, Drew Sennhenn, Houston Staub, Paul Arnott, Thor Skalski, Brandon Contratto, Andrew Kruczynski and Ryan Timar.

Ilitch Charities awarded scholarships to (from left) Brandon Lubin (Commerce Township), Tim Padgett (VP and GM, Joe Louis and Cobo Arenas), Mackenzie Smith (Jackson), Darren Brown (for brother Ryan Brown/St. Johns) Chelsie Boroski (Sterling Heights), Karen Cullen (VP of Corporate Communications, Ilitch Holdings, Inc.), Christopher Ilitch (Ilitch Charities Chairman), David Agius (Ilitch Holdings, Inc.), Jillayne DeBus (Howell), Andrea Kot (Goodrich), Steve Violetta (Senior VP of Business Affairs, Detroit Red Wings), Elaine Lewis (VP of Public Affairs and Strategic Planning, Detroit Tigers) and Jay Snyder (Toledo). Stephen Barnett (Bloomfield Hills)was not present at the ceremony.

The Lakers won the 2009 Metro Summer Hockey League title with a 9-3 win over the Wolverines on July 22 at Suburban Ice Farmington Hills.

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Final Top Scorers G A PtsJohn May, Lakers 35 27 62Chad Wilhelm, Wolverines 38 11 49Greg Wolfe, Spartans 20 28 48Dwight Helminen, Huskies 13 33 46Adam Phillips, Wolverines 24 18 42Lars Helminen, Huskies 18 18 36Chad Pietila, Wildcats 22 14 36Doug Beck, Spartans 15 17 32Robert Collar, Whalers 18 14 32Brandon Contratto, Lakers 10 21 31Aaron Pietila, Wildcats 14 17 31

Final Top Goalies MIN GA GAAJosh Block, Lakers 338.7 44 5.85Jason Spada, Huskies 337.5 46 6.13Ian Edwards, Whalers 251.1 39 6.99

Excellence Program all about development

Members of the Michigan High School Hockey Excellence Program staff include Bob Mancini (standing left) and Don Wright (standing right). First row from left: Doug Towler, Pat Carmichael and Paul Fassbender. Second row: Eric Sikkenga, Brad Wright, Mark Vellucci and Randy Montrose. Third row: Jose Ortiz, Elizabeth Hughes, Jennifer Vetter and Bill Paige. Top row: Terry Cutter and Ty Newberry.

15michiganhockeyonline.com | August 17, 2009

MICHIGAN HOCKEY

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Perani’s Warehouse Sale kicks off new seasonPerani’s Warehouse Sale kicks off new season

For hockey families getting ready for the new season, heading to Perani’s Warehouse Sale is an annual rite of late summer.

The 16th annual sale, held July 23 - August 2 at Lakeland Arena in Waterford, drew overflow crowds looking for great deals on equipment, apparel and accessories.

“The best selection is early but the prices are right all the time,” said Mike Sander, Perani’s Hockey World Vice President of Operations. “We’re trying to give good value to the customer.”

The arena floor was again chocked full of all brands of gear, skates and sticks – and most was offered at or below cost. Shoppers lined up at the door and five registers were going full blast on opening day and a steady stream of customers rolled through the arena throughout the 11 days of the sale.

Also working the sale were manufacturer representatives from numerous equipment companies, who answered questions and assisted customers.

“It takes a full year of planning and effort to do this,” said Sander. “We’ve been doing this for a while but we know we can always improve.”

The layout and merchandising of everything offered for sale just keeps getting better, and

that’s no accident.“Identifying the best places for each thing

is something we’ve been concentrating on the past few years and this one was our best yet,” said Sander.

Kevin Thomas, who plays for the Grand Valley State club team, came down from Swartz Creek to get a new pair of Bauer Vapor XXXXX skates.

“I like the feel of them and you can’t beat the price here,” he said.

The sale also featured Reebok Hockey’s Prize Wheel and Money Machine tent. Anyone who purchased Reebok skates or goalie equipment got a chance to spin the Las Vegas style wheel to win prizes, “Reebok bucks” or a chance to go into the clear plastic fan-driven Money Machine tent and grab as many of the Reebok bucks blowing around as you could.

“Not too bad,” said Ann Arbor’s Kevin Moran, who grabbed ten Reebok Bucks in 10 seconds in the Money Machine to apply to his 10K stick purchase.

The whole scene made Sander smile.“This kind of kicks off the hockey season for

us,” he said.

By Philip Colvin

Kurt Nylen, 12, of Lake Orion got a new pair Bauer Vapor XXXX skates at the Perani’s Warehouse Sale in August at Lakeland Arena.

Ann Arbor’s Kevin Moran grabbed Reebok Bucks in the equipment manufacturer’s Money Machine at the Perani’s Warehouse Sale.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


STATE OF THE GAME

SIMPLY BETTERState oftheGame

LYLE PHAIR

Hockey season. For some it has already started. For others it will get rolling very shortly. For some it couldn’t get here soon enough. Others are more than happy to squeeze out a last few weeks of summer.

But you can bet that every coach has already started to think about it and begun to formulate their plans for the new season. What they would like to accomplish or achieve and how it is that they will get it done.

Some are dreamers with high hopes who aim high and shoot for the moon, setting expectations way beyond the realm of possibility. Others are cautiously realistic, knowing they need to take it one day at a time and it will be a constant battle every stride of the way.

Some measure their season and their own identity and self-worth as a coach by the wins and the losses. Others know that those are just numbers and the true measure of the success of a coach is the experience that they create for their players and their team. Did they love to come to the rink? Did they enjoy practice? Did they love to play the game? Were they hungry to play? Did they want to get better? Were they willing to do what it takes to improve?

Every kid will get better. That is a given. Just being on the ice, with no coaching at all, kids will get better. In fact, sometimes I think they would get better faster if we coaches didn’t get in the way and just let them play. That being said, there is no doubt that the rate of improvement will increase substantially when players are instructed in the correct fundamental skills and provided with the proper knowledge to guide them in the right direction.

A WORK IN PROGRESSThose skills need to become habit, reinforced over and over

through thousands of repetitions. It is a constant work in progress. It never ends. Nobody has ever mastered a skill. It can always

be done better. It can always be done faster.But that progress can be significantly slower if players have bad

habits that formed because they were never taught correctly in the first place or never corrected along the way. The longer it goes, the more it becomes a habit for the player, the more difficult it is to change. Sometimes it is virtually impossible and it will handicap the player for the rest of their hockey playing life.

In many cases, we coaches get way ahead of ourselves. In our fervor to challenge our players to become better, or to impress their parents with our coaching prowess, we get blinded by where we think we should be and fail to see where we actually are. We ask players to perform tasks that they have no chance of succeeding at because they don’t have the skill base to be able to accomplish it. And then we get frustrated. More importantly, so do the players. And it goes nowhere but south from there.

Sometimes the best way to get to where you want to go is to take a few steps backward instead of charging ahead at full speed. More importantly it is crucial to have a good understanding of where you are really at before hurtling blindly forward.

So what is it that players can’t necessarily do, but need to necessarily do to be able to play the game effectively?

Just watch a practice, any practice, at any level of play and any age group, and you will see in a hurry. The first thing that should jump out at you is skating skills, or lack thereof. Then there is puckhandling and then there is passing and receiving.

All are fundamental skills necessary to play the game, and all are fundamental skills that range from being incredibly simplistic to incredibly complex. All are fundamental skills that are an ever-changing, ever-developing work in progress. And all are fundamental skills that are very much overlooked or taken for granted and never given the proper time and attention to detail that are needed.

Ask any kid and they will tell you they can skate, stickhandle and pass the puck. In fact, they will probably tell you that they can do it very well. Nothing wrong with confidence. And in some cases they probably can. But they also need to know that there is always room for improvement. Enormous improvement. We don’t know how good we can be because we don’t know how good we are not.

SKATING IS LIKE READINGLet’s start with skating. Because skating is to hockey what

reading is to our formal education system. The better you read, the better chance you will have of learning. The better you skate, the better chance you will have of being able to do everything else required to play the game.

It starts with forward striding, which pretty much everybody can do, with varying degrees of efficiency. For younger players it is all about balance and control. Learning and being ingrained with proper habits that will stay with them forever, including proper arm movement, knee bend, posture, stride and recovery.

From there it is about use of inside and outside edges to turn, stop, start, crossover, crossunder and pivot. The game is not played in straight lines. Balance and body control are crucial. Maintaining both of those while going faster are critical for improvement.

As coaches, we don’t spend nearly enough time training our players to skate properly. If we work on skating, it usually evolves into some sort of conditioning drill, which is more counter-productive than anything else, because proper skating technique erodes substantially after 10-20 seconds of activity for most players. In effect, we spend more time training our players to be poor technical skaters than we do providing them the opportunity to become strong skaters.

Next most important is puckhandling. That starts with developing a feel for the puck. And that starts with using the wrists properly, which is contingent on holding the stick correctly. Many players handcuff themselves by holding the control hand (the top hand) incorrectly, with the palm underneath the shaft of the stick. That pretty much locks the wrist in a position where it is useless, and the bottom hand on the stick (the power hand) becomes the control hand. The range of motion of the top hand is limited to being stuck on the hip which seriously handicaps the player’s ability to stickhandle, pass and shoot. That very simple mistake, unnoticed and uncorrected will limit the player’s ability forever.

HAVE TO SEE THE ICEPlaying the game with the head up seems pretty simple. But it

is not. And too often it is overlooked in practice by coaches who then wonder why their players can’t see the ice to make what seems like the most obvious of plays in games.

Handling the puck with the head up should be second nature, like skating. A player shouldn’t have to think about what they are doing. But it takes discipline and practice. Watch any practice and I guarantee you will see players looking down at the puck and the ice more than they are effortlessly manipulating the puck while scanning the ice for opponents, teammates and potential plays.

How can we expect players to make the best decision and best play with the puck when they don’t even have the ability control the puck and see the ice? That would be like entering a horserace without the horse. You’re guaranteed to go nowhere in a hurry.

Keep it simple this season. Let’s not forget that the tortoise always beats the hare.


MICHIGAN HOCKEY

WEST SHORE COMMUNITY ICE

ARENA2009 - 2010

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

TOURNAMENT FEATURES• No Gate Fee• Pizza Party Provided After Saturday Evening’s Games from Mancino’s Pizza and Grinders!!!• Trophies for Champions and Runners-Up• No spots held without full payment and registration in our possession.• Arena located minutes away from beautiful Ludington and Manistee• Each Team MUST Reserve Hotel Rooms with either Ramada Inn of Ludington, Holiday Inn Express or Best Western of Ludington• Medals for all participants• All tournaments sanction through USA Hockey and closely monitored. • Teams from past tournaments include: Kentwood, Bay City, Sault Ste. Marie, East Grand Rapids, Lansing, Grand Valley, Holland, Midland, HAWKS, Muskegon, Big Rapids, Mt. Pleasant, Kalamazoo, Cheboygan.

Tournament Levels and DatesLevel Dates Cost Sanction #Mini Mite Mania Jan 15 -17 $550/team MIT10011310 Minute Periods

Mite B - 11 Min. Periods Feb 26 - 28 $660/team MIT100114Squirt B 12 Minute Periods Nov. 20 - 22 $665/team MIT100115Squirt A 12 Minute Periods Sept 25 - 27 $680/team MIT100112Peewee B 13 Minute Periods Dec. 4 – 6 $680/team MIT100117Peewee B 13 Minute Periods Feb 12 – 14 $680/team MIT100116Bantam B 14 Minute Periods Jan. 8 – 10 $690/team MIT100118JV Preseason I 15 Minute Periods Oct. 16 -18 $795/team MIT100119JV Preseason II 15 Minute Periods Oct. 23 – 25 $795/team MIT100120

4 Game Guarantee!!!!West Shore Community Ice Arena and Recreation Center

3000 N. Stiles Rd • Scottville, MI 49454 Fax – (231) 845-7823

For more information on our tournaments call (231) 843-9712 or visit our website at

www.westshoreice.com .

Mishaps can happen on the out-of-town tournament trail

TOURNAMENT GUIDE ‘09

BY MIKE CAPLES

Most every hockey family can tell you their fair share of stories from out-of-town hockey tournaments. If you’ve traveled for hockey you’ve probably gotten lost, broke something at the hotel, or forgotten equipment at home.

But few families can compete with Shaun Maher’s list.

Maher, now a 31-year-old assistant superintendent at a Livonia golf course, spent his childhood in ice rinks all over the country. From youth travel teams to high school hockey in South Lyon, Maher was always on the ice. And when a child labeled accident-prone by his own father was always on the ice, a few mishaps were bound to happen.

Which is why Maher, along with his parents Bill and Maureen, spent almost as much time in the

emergency room as they did at the rink. The Mahers said that Shaun was basically injury-free until pee wees. Then the fun started with a coat hanger.

“We were playing in a tournament in Kalamazoo, and my parents were at a wedding,” Maher remembered. “I was staying with a different family. We won the first game of the tournament, and everyone was throwing tapeballs and stuff in the locker room and we were cheering.”

“I jumped up on the bench, and then I jumped about a foot off the bench, and came down and hit my head on a coat hanger. It took a huge gouge out of the back of my head and I missed the rest of the tournament.”

The team called home where Maher’s grandmother was with his younger sister and she tracked down Maher’s parents at the wedding reception.

“The team manager had forgotten the health forms so he couldn’t take Shaun to the emergency room,” Maureen Maher said. “Bill started driving so he could take him, and I went home to relieve Grandma. The coach said ‘well the bleeding has stopped now.’ But Bill went anyway and Shaun

had to get stitches in his head.”It should have been a warning sign for the

Mahers to get their son a set of golf clubs or a paintbrush. But instead, the hockey family (Bill was a goaltender growing up) kept going, and the stories followed.

“We were in the semifinals of the high school regional tournament and I broke my skates,” Shaun Maher said. “One of the players on our team said ‘Shaun, you can use my skates’ and he took off his skates and gave them to me.”

“He offered Shaun his skates because he thought if Shaun didn’t play they weren’t going to win,” Maureen Maher added. “What a great thing for that kid to do, he did it for the sake of the team.”

Maher’s father remembers the time when Shaun disappeared during a tournament in Buffalo.

“The kids and parents all went out to dinner, and we thought he was with one family, and somebody

else said ‘no, I think he’s with some other parent on the team.’ And it turned out that he went to dinner with a different family, the Franks, and never said anything. We were all set to call the Buffalo police, because 16 kids on the team didn’t know where Shaun was. Aaron Frank didn’t even go out to eat with his parents, Shaun did!”

At a tournament in suburban Pittsburgh just after getting his driver’s license, Maher took a wrong turn and ended up lost downtown in a snow storm. Then later in the same tournament, Maher and the rest of the team had to battle the opposition and food poisoning in the same day.

“Fourteen of us, we were all throwing up,” Maher said. “We were thinking it was the pizza we had the night before, but we were all sick. We played, but we passed a bucket between each other up and down the bench all game.”

Maher also suffered a wide variety of injuries, including a separated shoulder at a local tournament and a knee-on-knee hit that separated the muscles in

his thigh from the bone.“He had to go to physical therapy for a month

because the leg turned completely black,” Bill Maher said. “He had to go to a special clinic at the University of Michigan to get treatment.”

Maher got hurt playing other sports also, and it got to the point where his parents feared the government might step in.

“He broke his nose in baseball, broke his thumb skiing, and when he had a concussion we had to take him to the ER and get an X-Ray,” Bill Maher said. “When I took him to the hospital they were all set to call social services, because Shaun had this history of all these injuries, like maybe he’s getting beat up by his parents or something.”

“His whole file was full of X-Rays and CAT scans and they said ‘he’s had quite a few injuries, just a moment please’ and I thought they were going into the back to call social services. I said ‘This kid’s just accident prone!’”

Shaun Maher doesn’t agree with his father’s assessment and still plays adult hockey in metro Detroit.

“Accident prone?” he smiled, “not at all.”

South Lyon’s Shaun Maher has a long list of tournament stories from his youth hockey career.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


BLUEHAWK-WARRIOR WISHBONE INVITATIONAL VIINOVEMBER 25-29, 2009

Tournament hosted by The Winnetka Hockey Club and Northbrook Hockey League

TOURNAMENT AGE DIVISIONS:

RINK LOCATIONS

Tom [email protected]

Jim [email protected]

Valerie [email protected] CONTACTS

WINNETKA ICE ARENA

WINNETKA

THE NORTHSHORE ICE ARENA


Off and On ice experiences make tournaments valuable for teamsBY LARRY O’CONNOR

Whether it’s a bonding agent to link teammates, a Bunsen burner to bring competitiveness to a boil or a coach’s chance or to solidify ingredients in his beaker to find a winning formula, hockey tournaments are all about chemistry.

Regardless of age or competitive level, weekend invitationals provide a readout of where team is likely to fall on the elemental chart. The ultimate goal to win gold, or at least holding it in trophy form by tournament end.

“It’s always a great experience when you are the last team standing at the end of the weekend,” says Brian Bellware, Kalamazoo Optimist Hockey Association bantam AA coach.

The tournament experience is more often about a synthesis – finding two or more diverse elements that come together and provide a winning formula.

A weekend away from home and facing unfamiliar foes allow teams to gel and discover an identity, coaches say. The tournament experience take teams out of their comfort zones, placing them in different locale and against unfamiliar foes.

Last season, the Ann Arbor Cougars 12 and Under girls team found their “mojo” while taking part in the Waterloo (Ontario) Ravens Challenge Cup. The team’s venture didn’t involve capturing the cup but proved valuable in a less tangible way, says Sandy Hurd, Ann Arbor Cougars 12U coach last season.

The girls’ team finished third while playing at the C level. All but one game was decided by one goal.

“I think we came back with a little bit of a bounce and a little bit of confidence,” says Hurd, who is an assistant coach for Compuware 14U girls team this season. “There are a lot of good teams around here, so that was short-lived. But the kids all had a great attitude and throughout the year.

“I think that really helped us. We could lose games and the kids weren’t too down about it, because they all liked each other and had fun together.”

The Cougars also learned to deal with adversity. The team played two games on a Friday, the tournament’s first day, and was missing some players due to illness.

Some Cougars had to play out of position, including a couple of

rearguards who suddenly discovered their abilities to rush the puck.“You find out a little bit about your players,” Hurd says. “You see

some players kind of come out of their shells.“This is the first time we’ve had an intense group of games. Most

of them had been a few days apart – mostly at home and some away – but never in short burst like that. You got to see kids grow from game to game.”

The team used the early-season tournament as a building block, which included the Cougars reaching the Little Caesars playoff finals at Joe Louis Arena despite a sub-.500 campaign.

Kerry Russell’s Traverse City Pepsi Rangers pee wee A ‘97 team also parlayed tournament success into regular season consistency last season. After winning the Great Lakes Tournament in Holland, the team won the Little Caesars playoffs.

The coach, who is overseeing a squirt A 2000 team this season, relies on tournaments for team building and fun since “anything can happen in a weekend.”

Age also plays a role in revving the competitive throttle, the coach says.

“I guess in bantams and beyond, it’s different,” Russell says. “A

tournament is a good way to gauge the competitive nature of your kids in a shortened span. At that younger age, they can see ‘Hey there might be a trophy at the end of this’ and they react to that. You see what it brings out when the games are on the line.”

A few seasons back, Wyandotte Warriors coach Gregg Trombley watched his squirt A team get a similar bump from a tournament championship. The team captured the Big Bear Tournament in Cleveland and the cohesiveness remained throughout the regular campaign, Trombley says.

“I think it’s good to get on the road, stay away from home and play some teams you haven’t played,” Trombley says. “Everybody kind of bonds and it brings a team together.”

The whole tournament experience is equal or better than the results, says Kalamazoo’s Bellware.

“The highlight for me as a coach with a tournament, especially if you are on the road, is that you get to spend time with your team - the parents and the kids,” Bellware says. “You go out to eat together and you stay in the same hotel. It builds those relationships. You hang out with them in the locker room. You play cards. You get to spend more time with the parent group,

which is important as well.“Some of those experiences off the ice are equally as important to

what goes on on the ice during the course of a weekend.”That is the main reason coaches try to schedule at least one “bus

trip” early on, Bellware says. Most teams take part in at least two tournaments with some opting for up to five or six round-robin events.

KOHA hosts an early bird tourney in late September. Bellware’s teams usually visit Chicago or Cleveland as well as take part in in-state events like the Silver Sticks in Midland.

Depending on the time frame, tournaments can provide an instant assessment of where a team is headed.

“You go to a tournament and, for the most part, you want to play the best players in the situations they are best in,” Bellware says. “You don’t have the opportunity to tinker, because every period and every goal counts in a tournament.

“It’s an opportunity to test that and see who are your best players on the power play, who are your best penalty killers and who are your players you want out there late in the game to score a goal. It’s an opportunity to see who shines in the competitiveness.”

Going for the championship at a tournament can help teams come together on and off the ice - and the benefits can carry over for the rest of the season.

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The U.S.-Canadian border crossings in Detroit, Windsor, Port Huron and Sarnia have traditionally been accommodating points of entry for hockey participants.

And despite new provisions, U.S.-Canada border crossings should remain Zamboni-smooth for hockey players, customs officials say.

Since June, people have been required to have a valid passport or a so-called enhanced driver’s license when entering the U.S. The proposed changes caused many in the hockey community to fret, especially cash-strapped parents who initially feared they would have to pay upwards of $100 for new passports for their children.

However, children under age 16 only need a birth certificate while those between 16-19 years old can enter with the same document if part of a larger group such as a hockey team.

“Once they hear that all they need is a birth certificate for children under 16, they are quite relieved,” said Chief Ron Smith,

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Detroit spokesman.Parents and coaches also caught a break from the passport

requirement. In lieu of a passport, adults can pass through customs with an enhanced state of Michigan driver’s license. The new licenses run $40 and are a compliant Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document.

The tightened border was the result of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which emerged the joint Department of Homeland Security-Department of State program to institute key 9/11 Commission recommendations for heightened security.

Border crossings Border crossings should remain smoothshould remain smooth

08_CCM_Michigan_Ad.ai 3/2/09 5:29:10 PM


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T.J. HENSICKColorado Avanlanche

NATHAN GERBEBuffalo Sabres

KEVIN HATCHERWashington Capitals

DERIAN HATCHERDallas Stars

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The deadline to registeris September 11, 2009; League play beginsSeptember 14th!


TOURNAMENT CALENDARHooter’s Adult TournamentAugust 28-30, 2009248-670-5742director@greatlakeshockey.comwww.greatlakeshockey.com

Compuware Honeybaked InvitationalPlymouth & Farmington Hills, MISeptember 16-20, 2009Squirt Minor, Squirt Major, Pee Wee Minor, Pee Wee Major,Bantam Minor & Bantam [email protected]

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MISeptember 18-20, 2009Squirt AA, Pee Wee AA, Bantam AA Contact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Inaugural Holiday Inn Alumni TournamentKalamazoo, MISeptember 18-20, 2009Alumni of all levels – pro, college, junior269-345-1125 ext. 244

Great Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MISeptember 25-27, 2009Squirt A, Pee Wee A, Bantam AContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MISeptember 25-27, 2009Squirt A231-843-9712; [email protected]

Arenamaps.com Earlybird TournamentSept. 25-27, 2009 – Kalamazoo, MIMite AA through Midget AA4 Game GuaranteeOnline Registration: http://www.tournaments.arenamaps.com/series/MAHA Sanction # MIT100011 Arenamaps.com Bronze Earlybird TournamentSept. 25-27, 2009 – Kalamazoo, MISquirt-A, Pee Wee-A, and Bantam-A4 Game GuaranteeOnline Registration: http://www.tournaments.arenamaps.com/series/MAHA Sanction # MIT100011

Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MI September 25-27. 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Great Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MIOctober 2-4, 2009Mite A, Mite AA, Midget MinorContact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Great Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MIOctober 9-11, 2009Pee Wee House, Pee Wee AA, Midget Major/HSContact Advanced Tournaments 847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Motown Cup Tournament SeriesDETROIT, MIOctober 9-11, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

K-Zoo Cup Tournament SeriesKALAMAZOO, MIOctober 9-11, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Girls K-Zoo Cup Tournament SeriesKALAMAZOO, MIOctober 9-11, 2009U10, U12, U14, U16 & U19(A,AA, AAA, B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216) 325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Great Lakes Tournament SeriesHolland, MIOctober 16-18, 2009Squirt House, Squirt A, Bantam HouseContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Motown Cup Tournament SeriesDETROIT, MIOctober 16-18, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MIOctober 16-18, 2009JV Preseason 1231-843-9712; [email protected]

Great 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]; www.itshockeytime.com

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MIOctober 23-25, 2009JV Preseason II231-843-9712; [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

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]; www.itshockeytime.com

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


West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MINovember 20-22, 2009Squirt B231-843-9712; [email protected]

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]; www.itshockeytime.com

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]; www.itshockeytime.com

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]; www.itshockeytime.com

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MIDecember 4-6, 2009Pee Wee B517-783-2664; [email protected]

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 11-15, 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]; www.itshockeytime.com

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

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIJanuary 8-10, 2010Mite House, Squirt A, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MIJanuary 8-10, 2010Bantam B231-843-9712; [email protected]

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIJanuary 15-17, 2010Mite AA, Squirt House, Bantam AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MIJanuary 15-17, 2010Mini Mite Mania231-843-9712; [email protected]

Capital City ShowdownEast Lansing, MIJanuary 15-18, 2010Mite – Bantam AA, A & B 517-336-4272www.suburbanice.com

Motown Cup Tournament SeriesDETROIT, MIJanuary 15-18, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIJanuary 22-24, 2010Squirt AA, Pee Wee House, Bantam A Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com


Michigan Senior OlympicsRochester, MIJanuary 25-27, 2009800-400-8161www.michiganseniorolympics.org

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIJanuary 29-31, 2010Mite House, Squirt House, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com


Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey AssociationJanuary 29-31, 2010Big Rapids, MIPee Wee tournamentwww.ferris.edu/icearenawww.bigrapidshockey.orgTournament Hotline: (231) 591-2881

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIFebruary 5-7, 2010Mite A, Pee Wee House, Midget HouseContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIFebruary 12-14, 2010Squirt House, Pee Wee AA, Bantam AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Wolverine Cup Tournament SeriesBRIGHTON/NOVI (Western Detroit Suburbs), MIFebruary 12-15, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

K-Zoo Cup Tournament Series KALAMAZOO, MIFebruary 12-15, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MIFebruary 12-14, 2010Pee Wee B231-843-9712; [email protected]

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIFebruary 19-21, 2010Mite House, Pee Wee House, Bantam HouseContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey AssociationFebruary 19-21, 2010Big Rapids, MIMite tournamentwww.ferris.edu/icearenawww.bigrapidshockey.orgTournament Hotline: (231) 591-2881

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIFebruary 26-28, 2010Squirt House, Squirt A, Midget House Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Big Rapids Area Junior Hockey AssociationFebruary 26-28, 2010Big Rapids, MIMidget tournamentwww.ferris.edu/icearenawww.bigrapidshockey.orgTournament Hotline: (231) 591-2881

West Shore Community Ice Arena TournamentScottville, MIFebruary 26-28, 2010Mite B231-843-9712; [email protected]

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIMarch 5-7, 2010Mite House, Pee Wee House, Bantam House Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Motown Cup Tournament Series (DETROIT, MI)March 5-7, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Great Lakes Tournament Series Holland, MIMarch 12-14, 2010Squirt House, Squirt AA, Midget HouseContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Wolverine Cup Tournament SeriesBRIGHTON/NOVI (Western Detroit Suburbs), MIMarch 12-14, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Motown Cup Tournament Series (DETROIT, MI)March 26-28, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Motown Cup Tournament Series DETROIT, MIApril 9-11, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]; www.itshockeytime.com

Adult Summer SizzlerEdmonton, AlbertaAugust 7 – 9, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

King of the RingsToronto, OntarioAugust 14 – 16, 2009Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Queen of the RingsToronto, OntarioAugust 14 – 16, 2009Youth 2001-1990 GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA)1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Ultimate Summer TournamentOshawa, OntarioAugust 14 – 16, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]


MICHIGAN HOCKEYYouth Oil City ShowdownEdmonton, AlbertaAugust 14- 16, 2009Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

ASHN Qualifi erEdmonton, AlbertaAugust 21 – 23, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Pre-Season Blast – BoysToronto, OntarioAugust 28 – 30, 2009Youth 2003-1990 Recreational B,(Select-A), AA, AAA, Elite AAA1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Pre-Season Blast – GirlsToronto, OntarioAugust 28 – 30, 2009Youth 2001-1990 GIRLS - Rep (HL, Sel, C, B,BB) and Elite (A, AA)1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Future Stars TournamentToronto, OntarioAugust 28 – 30, 2009Youth 2004, 2003, 2002 BOYS & GIRLS - House League, Select, Super 6 & 71-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Montreal Summer GetawayMontreal, QCAugust 28 – 30, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

South Jersey Fall ClassicVineland, New JerseyAugust 28 – 30, 2009Youth 2003-1990 Tier II - B, (Select-A), AA1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Edmonton Season OpenerEdmonton, AlbertaSeptember 4 – 6, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OHSeptember 11-13, 2009Pee Wee thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Toronto Fall ClassicToronto, OntarioSeptember 18 – 20, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Preseason Challenge Chicago, ILSeptember 25-27, 2009Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

MY Hockey Rankings Pre-Season Challenge Invitational Chicago, ILSeptember 25-27, 2009Squirt Minor/A, Squirt Major/AA, Pee Wee Minor/A, Pee Wee Major/AA, Bantam Minor/A and Bantam Major/AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Preseason Challenge Pittsburgh, PASeptember 25-27, 2009Mite through Midget: A, and AA Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OH September 25-27, 2009Mite thru Midget/, JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Northcoast 2000 AAA Extravaganza CLEVELAND, OHSeptember 25-27, 20092000 Squirt Minor AAA, 4 game minimum, 6 game maximum, 14 minute periods.Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Bluehawk-Warrior Wishbone Invitational VIINorthbrook, ILNovember 25-29, 2009Mite & Squirt AA, A1, A2 – Pee Wee & Bantam, AA, [email protected]

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]

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]

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]

Hockey for Heros / Armed ServicesLas Vegas, NevadaNovember 12 – 15, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Las Vegas Hockey Classic IILas Vegas, NevadaNovember 13 – 15, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Las Vegas Hockey Classic IIILas Vegas, NevadaNovember 20 – 22, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

November ClassicOshawa, OntarioNovember 20 – 22, 2009Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

New Jersey Thanksgiving ClassicVineland, New JerseyNovember 27 – 29, 2009Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA1-888-422-6526tournaments@icesports.comwww.canlanclassictournaments.com

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Thanksgiving ClassicChicago, ILNovember 27-29, 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 Thanksgiving ClassicPittsburgh, PANovember 27-29, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Empire State Tournament Series: Rochester Thanksgiving ClassicRochester, NYNovember 27-29, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Congressional Cup Tournament Series: Congressional Thanksgiving Classic Washington, DCNovember 27-29, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Golden State Tournament Series: Golden State Thanksgiving ClassicRiverside, CANovember 27-29, 2009Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament SeriesCLEVELAND, OHNovember 27-29, 2009Mite thru Midget/High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Three Rivers Cup Tournament SeriesPITTSBURGH, PANovember 27-29, 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, OH)November 27-29, 2009Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Festival of Lights - Thanksgiving TournamentNiagara Falls, NYNovember 27-29, 2009Mite – Midget A, AA & AAAEmail: [email protected]

Dan Holland & Randy Merten Memorial AA Hockey TournamentOntario, CanadaDecember 3-6, 2009Squirt –Midget AA (plus Atom E/E & Pee Wee A/E)519-727-5901Email: [email protected]

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OHDecember 4-6, 2009Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

New Jersey Christmas ClassicVineland, New JerseyDecember 27 – 30, 2009Youth 2003-1990 (Travel B,Select, AE), A, AA, AAA1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

New Years Ultimate – 2010Oshawa, OntarioDec 31, 2009 - Jan 1, 2010Adult Men’s, Women’s, COED 18+, 30+, 40+A/B,C,D,E1-888-422-6526Email: [email protected]

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament SeriesCLEVELAND, OHJanuary 15-18, 2010Mini-Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series PITTSBURGH, PAJanuary 15-18, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Queen City Cup Tournament SeriesCINCINNATI, OHJanuary 15-18, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Midwinter ClassicChicago, ILJanuary 16-18, 2010Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

MY Hockey Rankings Midwinter Invitational Chicago, ILJanuary 16-18, 2010Pee Wee Minor/A, Bantam Minor/A and Midget MinorContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Midwinter ClassicPittsburgh, PAJanuary 16-18, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Music City Tournament Series: Music City Cup Nashville, TNJanuary 16-18, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, and AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Empire State Tournament Series: Empire State CupRochester, NYJanuary 16-18, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Congressional Cup Tournament Series: Congressional Midwinter ClassicWashington, DCJanuary 16-18, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Golden State Tournament Series: Golden State CupRiverside, CAJanuary 16-18, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Festival of Lights – Blizzard ChallengeNiagara Falls, NYJanuary 16-18, 2010Mite – Midget A, AA & AAAEmail: [email protected]

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OHFebruary 12-15, 2010Mini-Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Three Rivers Cup Tournament SeriesPITTSBURGH, PAFebruary 12-15, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Queen City Cup Tournament Series (CINCINNATI, OH)February 12-15, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Riverside, CAChicago, ILFebruary 13-15, 2010CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Presidents’ CupMite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Presidents’ CupPittsburgh, PAFebruary 13-15, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

INDY CUP Tournament Series: Indy Presidents’ Cup Indianapolis, INFebruary 13-15, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Music City Tournament Series: Nashville Presidents’ CupNashville, TNFebruary 13-15, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, and AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

MICHIGAN HOCKEY



Nov 13-15 = Squirt B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675)

Dec 11-13 = Bantam B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($770)

FSU vs Western Michigan, Saturday Dec 12th – call early for group tickets

Jan 29-31 = Pee Wee B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675)

Feb 19-21 = Mite B Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($675)

FSU vs Michigan State, Friday Feb 19th – call early for group tickets

Feb 26-28 = Midget B/BB Tourney weekend, 8 teams ($770)

FSU vs Western Michigan, Friday Feb 26th – call early for group tickets

Midget and Bantam tournament games = 1.5 hours

All Tournaments are 4-game guarantees, with Fri/Sat/Sun games unless noted

Tournament Info: printable application, hotel info,

tournament rules, etcwww.ferris.edu/icearena

www.bigrapidshockey.orgTournament Hotline:(231) 591-2881

Empire State Tournament Series: Presidential Power PlayRochester, NYFebruary 13-15, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Congressional Cup Tournament Series: The Congressional CupWashington, DCFebruary 13-15, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Golden State Tournament Series: Golden State Presidents’ CupRiverside, CAFebruary 13-15, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Presidents Day TournamentNiagara Falls, NYFebruary 13-15, 2010Mite – Midget A, AA & AAAEmail: [email protected]

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament SeriesCLEVELAND, OHFebruary 26-28, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago ShowdownChicago, ILMarch 5-7, 2010Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Tournament of Champions InvitationalChicago, ILMarch 5-7Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Steel City Tournament Series: Pittsburgh Spring ClassicPittsburgh, PAMarch 12-14, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Empire State Tournament Series: Rochester RumbleRochester, NYMarch 12-14, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Congressional Cup Tournament Series: Congressional Spring ClassicWashington, DCMarch 12-14, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Golden State Tournament Series: Riverside RumbleRiverside, CAMarch 12-14, 2010Mite through Midget: B, A, AAContact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament SeriesCLEVELAND, OHMarch 12-15, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Queen City Cup Tournament Series CINCINNATI, OHMarch 12-14, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Niagara Falls Championship CupNiagara Falls, NYMarch 19-21, 2010Mite – Midget A, AA & AAAEmail: [email protected]

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament SeriesCLEVELAND, OHMarch 26-28, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Three Rivers Cup Tournament Series PITTSBURGH, PAMarch 26-28, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Chicago Spring ClassicChicago, ILApril 23-25, 2010Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OHApril 23-25, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

Rock ‘N Roll Cup Tournament Series CLEVELAND, OHMay 14-16, 2010Mite thru Midget/JV & High School (AA,A,B,House Select,House)Tony Prpic (216)325-0567, [email protected]

CHICAGO CUP Tournament Series: Seven Bridges Spring ClassicChicago, ILMay 21-13, 2010Mite through Midget; B, A, and AA, High School Varsity and JV Contact Advanced Tournaments847-277-7343 www.advancedtournaments.com

TOURNAMENT CALENDARcontinued from page 25

ALL SEASON LONGCHECK OUT

MICHIGANHOCKEYONLINE.COM

FOR COMPLETE TOURNAMENT LISTINGS

2009-2010 Niagara Falls Tournament ScheduleTOURNAMENT DATES PLACE

Shootout Classic December 4-6 Niagara Falls, NY

Winter Ice Experience January 22-24 Niagara Falls, NY

The Falls Classic March 5-7 Niagara Falls, NY

For more information or to download a tournament application please visit us at

screening process, teams get "real value" by competing in balanced divisions, where the games run on

Sincerely, Your Tournament Staff

Tournament Features:

MICHIGAN HOCKEY



2009-2010 Tournamentsin Niagara Falls, New York

Niagara Falls Columbus Day Early Bird Oct.10-12, 2009Festival Of Lights Nov.27-29, 2009Niagara Falls Blizzard Challenge Jan.16-18, 2010Niagara Falls Presidents Day Feb.13-15, 2010Niagara Falls Championship Cup Mar.19-21, 2010

Mites, Squirts, Peewees, Bantams and Midgets, A, B, & AA Divisions available in most tournaments.

Niagara Sport Tournaments, Niagara Falls NY“We are more than just Hockey”

All information and online registration at: www.niagaratournaments.com or call Gene or Mike Carella (716) 791-4068 email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Specializing in Family Fun and Entertainment

Tourist Attractions, Great Restaurants,Hotels and Casino Gambling. Let your

weekend become a mini vacation. Free Admission to all games.

No Gate Fees!

Nov 27-29, 2009Boys & Girls Thanksgiving Classic

MIT100001

January 25th-27th, 2010

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


AdvancedTournaments

Chicago, ILPre-Season ChallengeSep 25-27, 2009

Pittsburgh, PA

For More Information:www.advancedtournaments.com

847-277-7343

Holland, MI

September 18-20, 2009Squirt AA, Pee Wee AA, Bantam AA

Oct 30-Nov 1. 2009Pee wee A, Bantam B, Midget AA

November 6-8, 2009Mite B, Mite A, Bantam A

November 13-15, 2009Mite AA, Squirt B, Midget B

November 20-22, 2009Mite B, Pee Wee B ,Bantam B

January 22-24, 2010Squirt AA, Pee Wee B, Bantam A

January 29-31, 2010Mite B, Squirt B, Bantam B

February 5-7, 2010Mite A, Pee Wee B, Midget B

February 12-14, 2010Squirt B, Pee Wee AA, Bantam AA

February 19-21, 2010Mite B, Pee Wee B, Bantam B

February 26-28, 2010Squirt B, Squirt A, Midget B

October 23-25, 2009Squirt AA, Pee Wee B, Midget B

Fall ClassicOct 23-25, 2009

Thanksgiving ClassicNov 27-29, 2009

Midwinter ClassicJan 16-18, 2010

Presidents CupFeb 13-15, 2010

Chicago ShowdownMar 5-7, 2010

Pre-Season ChallengeSep 25-27, 2009

Fall ClassicOct 23-25, 2009

Thanksgiving ClassicNov 27-29, 2009

Midwinter ClassicJan 16-18, 2010

Presidents CupFeb 13-15, 2010

Veterans CupNov 6-8, 2009

September 25-27, 2009Squirt A, Pee Wee A, Bantam A

October 2-4, 2009Mite A, Mite AA, Midget A

October 9-11, 2009Pee Wee B, Pee Wee AA, Midget AA

October 16-18, 2009Squirt B, Squirt A, Bantam B

December 4-6, 2009Squirt B, Pee Wee A, Midget A

December 11-13, 2009Pee Wee B, Pee Wee AA, Bantam B

January 8-10, 2010Mite B, Squirt A, Midget B

January 15-17, 2010Mite AA, Squirt B, Bantam AA

All Tournaments Four Game Minimum

Period Length Entry FeeGreat ValueMites 13 minutes $695

Squirts/Pee Wees 13 minutes $750Bantams 13 minutes $795Midgets 14 minutes $895

Tournament Locations in:Nashville, TN - Rochester, NY - Riverside, CA

GTHA • PO Box 5713 • Traverse City, MI 49696 Fax 231-933-0070

Grand Traverse Hockey Association TOURNAMENT SERIES

Contact: Todd Spaulding 231-649-1226 or [email protected]

Games• Three games guaranteed. With semifinal and final games.• Three 10 minute stop periods for Mites. • Three 12 minute stop periods for House Squirt and Squirt AA and

Peewee A. • Three 15 minute stop periods for House Pee Wee, Bantam and

Midget and all other Travel Tournaments. • If two competing teams have the same or similar jerseys the home

teams will wear the off-color jerseys. Each team should attempt to bring two sets of jerseys.

Awards• Tournament trophy to finalist and runner up• Medals for all players in tournament finals• Game MVP Awards for house tournaments

Team Selection• Team application, official signed & stamped roster and fee must be

received one month prior to tournament date.• Teams will be notified one month prior by the Tournament

Committee of the teams selected for the tournament.

Refunds• Any team wishing to withdraw must do so in writing to the Director.• Refunds will only be granted up to one month prior to tournament.

TRAVEL TOURNAMENTS

TC Squirt A & AA Fall Color Tournament (Oct. 16- 18, 2009) - $775 12-minute periods MAHA Sanction #MIT100066TC Pee Wee A & AA Fall Color Tournament(Oct.23 - 25 2009) - $895 15- minute periods4-game guarantee - 5 game max MAHA Sanction #MIT100067Traverse City Challenge Cup Tournament Bantam A & AA(Nov. 6 – 8 2009) - $895 15 – minute periods4–game guarantee – 5 game max MAHA Sanction #MIT100068Ice Breaker Tournament Midget A & AA /JV (Jan. 15-17, 2010) - $925 15-minute periods4-game guarantee - 5 game max MAHA Sanction #MIT100069Traverse City North Stars Cherry Chill Tournament - (Jan. 29 – 31, 2010) - $895 Girls U-19 Elite & Girls U19/U16 & Girls U14 MAHA Sanction #MIT10007015-minute periods 4-game guarantee - 5 game max

HOUSE TOURNAMENTSSQUIRT - $650 (Jan 8-10, 2010) MAHA Sanction #MIT100073 PEE WEE - $725 (Dec. 11-13 , 2009) MAHA Sanction #MIT100072BANTAM - $775 (Nov. 20-22, 2009) MAHA Sanction # MIT100071 MITE HOUSE - $575(Nov 20- 22, 2009) MAHA Sanction #MIT100071 (Feb 26 - 28, 2010) MAHA Sanction # MIT100074Contact: Rich Noffsinger 231.463.6681 or [email protected]

Where teams from Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan meet!

(Mite AA through Midget AA)For regular travel (non-elite) level

A & AA teamsSeptember 25-27, 2009

(Squirt A, Pee Wee A, and Bantam A)For IL bronze and MI lower level teams or those expected to be under 500. e-mail to

discuss and assure proper fit for your team.September 25-27, 2009

(Sanction # MIT100011)


MICHIGAN HOCKEY




MICHIGAN HOCKEYUSA HOCKEY

Q & A with USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorioElected as the fourth president of USA Hockey in June 2003, and

most recently re-elected in June 2009, Ron DeGregorio has been involved in the sport for more than 40 years as a player, coach, administrator and team owner.

A former goalie at Middlebury College in Vermont, he was first elected to the USA Hockey Board of Directors in 1975, and has also served as a Vice-President for Youth and as Treasurer of the organization.

The president of the PenFacs Group, an investment and insurance firm, DeGregorio resides in Salem, N.H, with his wife Susan and spends a lot of his summer traveling to USA Hockey affiliate’s summer meetings to stay connected with the volunteers, or what he calls the sport’s “unpaid professionals.”

Michigan Hockey caught up with DeGregorio at the MAHA Summer Meeting at Boyne Highlands on July 11. Here is an excerpt of that interview:

Michigan Hockey: How is the roll out of the American Development Model (ADM) going?

Ron DeGregorio: “What I like about where we are right now is that when we first announced it there was more discussion about the High Performance Club (HPC) concept than the ADM and, more importantly, the long term athlete development principles, which are a cornerstone of the ADM.

Now we are getting people to understand that the long term athlete development principles relate to local programs and what happens at the grassroots area is crucial to the success of the ADM, in addition to the High Performance Club piece of it.

The cornerstone is a change of our culture so that we understand the optimal periods (of training) and utilize that science that’s been well documented in the way that we structure our youth hockey programs.

That comes from communicating how the ADM will affect everyone – players, parents and affiliates – and making the transition from where we are now to where we want to be.”

MH: Is it about making the game better for everyone?DeGregorio: “We’re making progress and we’re good now.

I’m not saying that we’re not good. An example is Tiger Woods - he was very, very good but he changed his swing so he would be better, longer.

That’s the way I look at it. We’re good – we develop good players and we’ve had success internationally. But we have some holes and our research indicates that we’re losing players too soon. We’re losing players after one or two years, not like eight or nine, so we’re losing too high of a percentage, too soon.

We’re trying to keep the fun in the game and make sure we retain players longer and giving them the chance to mature and experience all they can be as a hockey player, whatever that might be. That keeps more players interested in the game, more fans and more players that play adult hockey as well. It’s “hockey for life.”’

MH: So the ADM will be part of the growth and retention strategy going forward?

DeGregorio: “Our vision is to grow the game by getting new players in but also retaining players longer that come into our pipeline.

Our new membership development group that we now have on board will help us get new players into the system as well as trying to maintain them. Then the ADM kicks as a growth and retention piece, as well as a developmental piece. This youth structure will keep more children

interested in the game, continuing to participate and not leaving the game at a premature age.

I think some of our kids leave the game because of our structure before their maturity. Hockey is a late development sport - but the way we operate our structure treats it like an early development sport. We have all-stars at seven, eight, nine, or ten years old, which is ridiculous when you look at the nature of the sport.

I know the economics behind it and I know the culture behind it and that will still exist. But I think what we need to do as the governing body is to direct and lead, as well as accept. And that’s what we’re doing with the ADM, knowing full well that we won’t be fully accepted immediately but I think that it’s the proper way to develop players.

Our goal is to improve the system, provide the option and get the benefits of those options so more and more people will see that’s its the better way to go.”

MH: How did the NHL step up and help?DeGregorio: “Without the NHL’s involvement and partnership we

couldn’t embark on this long term vision that will result in greater retention with more hockey fans, more hockey players, and I think greater numbers of high performance players as a result.

The NHL has been assisting us for years. I think the success of the National Team Development Program, in terms of meeting the goals of excellence that we sought and our feelings and our presentation on where that excellence needs to grow to, enticed their support.

We need to continually deliver however on that, it’s not a blank check. It’s a reimbursement of expenses associated with our shared vision, the NHL and USA Hockey working together to improve hockey and to improve the growth of hockey in the United States.”

MH: How does the new membership development division of USA Hockey fit in?

DeGregorio: “We’ve talked a lot about growth and retention – it was one of our seven focus points when I became president in 2003. And we had to do more than just talk about it – we had to have some people dedicated 24/7 professionally to invigorate the system and

the volunteers to continue thinking of it. I think the volunteers across the country have done

a wonderful job in keeping that growth and retention concept going. Now they are supported by a

professional group that should enhance the success we have. And we’re going to be doing it piece by piece - more growth and new players and retaining more players.

All we’re looking for right now is something that is doable and we’re going to support that effort with more and more support through our website and

more with our membership development staff.”

MH: What are some things that people can look forward to?

DeGregorio: “I think an important piece for the delivery of this project is an improvement in our use of technology. We will fortify our training and testing elements for our volunteer hockey people and coaches as well as the distribution of support materials - including age specific elements that we’ll be introducing over the next two years.

We now have the re-certification for level three coaches online and we may be expanding that in the age-specific elements. This is all being discussed by our coaching group. We want to use technology more economically as wel l as more effectively.”

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Currently registering for the 2009-2010 season boys and girls age 4-18 years.

We offer a competitive House program from Mite to Midget as well

as a Learn Skate program (I-Program).

House Leagues: $300 annual player registration fee

(*this includes all ice time fees)

I-Program: $150.00 registration fee for the season (October- April )

Free Equipment included!!

Low fees! Lowest fees in the State!

Looking for players at all competitive levels: Mites, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam,

and Midgets

managers for all teams

THEDETROIT HOCKEY

ASSOCIATIONwww.detroithockey.org

Jack Adams Arena10500 Lyndon

Detroit, MI 48238Home of the Detroit Dragons

Where goals are achieved not just scored!

For more information please contact us at:

DHA Secretary Cynthia Wardlaw313-727-7330/Email [email protected]

www.detroithockey.org“We’re trying to keep the fun in the game and make sure we retain players longer and giving them the chance to mature and experience all they can be as a hockey player.” – USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


USA HOCKEY

Shencopp part of Bronze Medal winning U.S. team in Israel

Two teams from the United States travelled to Israel to play in the second Jewish Championship tournament against teams from Canada and Israel on July 5-15, 2009 at Metulla’s Air Canada Centre arena.

The senior adult team took home the Gold medal, while the junior team won the Bronze.

Aaron Shencopp of Berkley played for the U.S. junior team and kept a journal of his trip for Michigan Hockey. Here is an excerpt:

JULY 2 – TO METULLAAfter flying to Newark (NJ) from Detroit, our team met in the

airport during our layover.Along with the only other player from Michigan, Brett Lubanski

(Farmington Hills), and our coach Sam Greenblatt (Walled Lake) we all introduced ourselves by name, state, and prior team.

After a 12-hour flight to Tel Aviv we drove three hours to our hotel along Israel’s longest road. We saw large hills and mountains in every direction with cities climbing up them and somehow palm trees too. After checking in we all relaxed because we were starting practice tomorrow.

JULY 5 – ON THE ICEAfter a couple of days of off-ice conditioning (including two-mile

runs up and down a hill) we had our first practice today. It was our first chance to really get used to each others playing style and see how good our team is. We looked very fast during our 45-minute high intensity practice. Afterwards an Israeli TV station pulled a few of us aside for an interview and asked us about our rivalry with Canada and why we came to Israel.

We then watched the U.S. senior team, also coached by Sam Greenblatt, beat Russia, 16-0, and took part in the tournament’s opening ceremonies.

JULY 6 – LOCAL PIZZADepending on when our games and practices were scheduled

we ate at a local restaurant we called “The Shack”, until we found a better restaurant at the arena.

We had our first game against Canada-White tonight. It took a period to get adjusted to the Olympic-sized ice and we were tied 2-2 after regulation and a period of OT. But we lost in shootout and were all pretty sore afterwards, but we kept our spirits up because we played a good game and knew we could compete.

Tonight we also figured out how to order pizza to the hotel and

ended up ordering about 12 boxes for the team and a few locals, who were welcoming and better at English than we were at Hebrew. Two in particular - named Sammi and Avi - were our age and helped us a lot throughout the trip. They showed us around the kibbutz (sort of like a gated off township) and taught us how to maneuver around and taught us about their currency.

JULY 7 – SEEING THE SIGHTSWe woke up at 7 AM and after breakfast set out for Jerusalem,

about a three hour drive. On the bus, the senior team goalie Dov Grumet-Morris told us what we were looking at on either side. Everyone on the team was blown away by his knowledge of the culture and the landscape. He was a great help and a big reason the trip was such a great learning experience.

After we arrived a tour guide led both teams through Jerusalem and we saw the Holy Church of Sepulchre, Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Cemetery and the Western Wall. The Western Wall (see photo) was the greatest experience I had on the trip. While I’m not very religious and don’t follow some of the more orthodox rules, when I was there I abided by what they did. And to see places I had only seen on TV or read about was unreal. Two of our player had Bar-Mitzvah’s there so the teams did a little bit of celebrating, a little dancing and I didn’t want to leave.

JULY 8 - ANOTHER WINWe had a noon game against Canada-Red and right from the start

we came out flying, took a 3-0 lead and won 7-1. Everybody was on the same page, we played unselfishly and each player played a key part in the win.

JULY 10 – SOME BEACH TIMEAfter watching the senior team beat France, 12-3 yesterday, we

started the day with breakfast and bussed to the rink for our 2:30 PM game against Israel.

Our captains, Lubanski, Russell Suskind and Aaron Arm, led us through stretches before the game but we started slowly. We finally broke a 3-3 tie with two goals in the third period and won 5-3. The game was our last of the round robin and set us up for semifinal game against the third-seeded Canada-Red.

After the game, a few teammates and I drove back to Tel-Aviv to stay there for the weekend with a few parents. We stayed in a hotel on the Mediterranean and walked around a big strip on the beach

that was full of restaurants, bars, stores and venders. Tel-Aviv reminded me of American beach towns like Palm Beach, and we met locals and some Americans and just relaxed a lot on the beach.

JULY 12 – GETTING READYWe drove back to Metulla for our last practice, which was better

than the first. We were meshing and linemates were finding each other a lot more after adjusting to each other’s styles. The senior team beat Israel, 4-3, today also.

JULY 13 – BIG DAYToday both teams had big games – we played Canada Red in

the semifinals and the senior team played Canada in a highly anticipated game. Both of those teams consisted of pro, college, and junior hockey players and even a few NHL draftees. The game was intense from the get-go and the U.S. won in OT, 3-2.

Our team watched and cheered along the boards in our gear and had only 15 minutes before we hit the ice. Even though we had beat Canada Red once, we didn’t take them lightly, and had a 3-2 lead at the start of the third period. But they tied it, and after a scoreless overtime, we lost in the shootout on the eighth shooter.

It was crushing loss and after every game you listen to the winning team’s national anthem out of respect. But this one was particularly hard to listen to because it hurt not to be in the championship game. Later that day Canada-White beat Israel, which put two Canada teams in the final and we play Israel in the Bronze Medal game.

JULY 14 – PLAYING FOR BRONZEAlthough we were still bummed about our loss we didn’t want

the trip to be for nothing and wanted to go out in our last game for pride and a medal.

We ended up winning pretty easily, 5-2, over Israel and got to listen to our anthem to end the tourney for us. The senior team won their fifth straight game with a 13-0 win over France in the

semifinals.

JULY 15 – CLOSING CEREMONIESToday is Gold Medal day and the closing ceremonies. After Canada

White beat Canada Red in the junior final, the U.S. took on Canada in the senior final. After a close start, the U.S. took the Gold Medal with a 6-0 win.

At the closing ceremonies that night we received our bronze medals and gave our congrats to both Canada teams in the junior division and the Senior U.S. team. A few USA players were given awards at the ceremonies as well. The senior team’s Dov Morris-Grumet won Best Goalie in the division. Forward Alec Kirschner won MVP of tourney. In our division, Brett Lubanski won Best Forward.

Even though we didn’t finish where we wanted to, it was still a great experience. I had a ton of fun playing with guys that I had met just two weeks prior and who are now all close friends.

We all just hung out that night because it was everyone’s last night together. I didn’t sleep at all that night because I knew how bad the jet lag was going to be.

JULY 16 – A GREAT EXPERIENCEWe got on our bus at 5:30 AM and started back to Tel-Aviv. Once

on the bus I closed my eyes and slept the whole way there. It was a very exhausting two weeks to say the least and I don’t think one person was awake on that bus ride.

Our plane left at 11 AM and as this was our last chance to chill with the guys, nobody really slept. I spent most of the flight talking and playing games on the plane TVs.

In Newark we said our farewells and not paying attention I walked with with my Florida buddies all the way to their terminal, which obviously wasn’t mine. So I had to take a bus across the airport and then sat at my terminal with coach Greenblatt and his wife waiting for our flight to leave. It had been pretty much two days since I slept so I just wanted to get home and pass out, which is exactly what happened.

I can honestly say the trip was one of the greatest experiences of my life that I wouldn’t trade for anything. The hockey was amazing and I met a lot of great people along the way, including coach Greenblatt, (USA Hockey) Dr. Alan Ashare and all 16 of my teammates, who all made this trip memorable.

Members of the Junior Division Team USA, including Berkley’s Aaron Shencopp (sixth from left in back row), posed in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem during their trip to Israel for the Jewish Games, July 5-15. Note the pieces of paper placed into the wall to the right and left of the group that each has a personal prayer from someone.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


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Whalers acquire Detroit prospect TatarBY MATT MACKINDER

Gabriel Landeskog, we hardly knew you. Or, better yet, we hope to know Tomas Tatar longer.

After the Plymouth Whalers made two trades to draft Landeskog with the third overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft on June 30, some in the know thought it was a risky move by Plymouth.

Perhaps that proved to be true, for on August 4 Plymouth shipped the rights to Landeskog and their second-round import pick next summer to Kitchener for the rights to Slovakian forward Tomas Tatar, the sixth pick in the import draft, and a slew of draft picks. Tatar was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft, so should he play for the Whalers, the Red Wings’ brass will have plenty of opportunities to monitor his progress.

“Tatar’s an obvious talent and we hope he reports,” Plymouth head coach and general manager Mike Vellucci said. “But what makes the deal attractive is the draft choices included as part of the package. Our scouting staff can use those assets, or we can utilize them to make other trades.”

Plymouth also acquired Windsor’s second round draft pick in the 2011 OHL draft, Kitchener’s fourth-round choice in the 2013 draft, the Rangers’ first pick in the 2010 import draft, as well as a conditional choice (Kitchener’s second-round pick in the 2012 OHL draft) in the deal.

Tatar scored seven goals and 15 points in 48 games for Zvolen in the Slovak ExtraLiga and also played for Slovakia in the 2009 World Junior Championship where he tied for fourth in tournament scoring with seven goals and 11 points and led Slovakia to a fourth-place finish.

Landeskog looks like he will land in Kitchener.

“Gabriel was the player that we had targeted going into the import draft,” Kitchener head coach and general manager Steve Spott said. “He fit the age category and type of player that we were looking for. He will be a great addition to our team for the next three years.”

Tatar would be the Whalers’ second import player, along with defenseman Michal Jordan, but just the third Red Wings’ prospect to skate in Plymouth following Colin Beardsmore in 1995-96 and Tomek Valtonen in 1998-99.

WHALERS INK JERSEY NATIVE MALYSAThe Whalers continue to stockpile youth in

preparation for the season.On July 20, 16-year-old defenseman Nick Malysa,

Plymouth’s fifth-round pick in last May’s draft, signed an OHL contract. A native of Bridgewater, N.J. (about 40 minutes west of New York City), Malysa scored a goal and 11 points in 21 games last season for the North Jersey Avalanche minor midgets.

The OHL Central Scouting Bureau describes Malysa as “a puck moving defenseman who also plays very solid defensively. He is effective in all three zones, displays a high level of composure while possessing a combination of size, tools and hockey sense. Malysa is an excellent skater with a very smooth and effortless stride that provides him with quickness and great mobility. He is very good moving laterally, showing the ability to take away time and space very effectively.”

“I like to play a stay-at-home style of ‘D’,” Malysa noted. “I like to style myself after Tom Poti.”

Ironically enough, Poti, now with the Washington Capitals, was a Whalers’ sixth-round draft pick in 1995, but instead went to Boston University.

“I’m very happy and very excited,” Malysa added. “At rookie camp (in May), I got to see more of the rink and more behind the scenes about the program. The Whalers are a well-run organization. My education package helps out my family, so you get excellent hockey with the education. It’s a good deal. I’m happy to get started.”

SPIRIT WELCOME LEPKOWSKI The Saginaw Spirit signed defenseman Alex

Lepkowski, the 66th overall pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, and is expected to be in Saginaw for training camp on August 25. The 93-born West Seneca, New York native played with St. Francis Prep of the MPHL last season.

“Saginaw was a great option for me and the OHL is second to none,” stated Lepkowski, “I am looking forward to developing my skills and contributing to this team.”

The Spirit’s training camp begins with orientation and off-ice testing, and players hit the ice at the Saginaw Bay Ice Arena for three blue-white games, the first two taking place on August 27 at 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The new season’s blue-white series ends with a game back at the Saginaw Bay Ice Arena on August 28 at 9:00 AM.

The Spirit will visit the Plymouth Whalers at the Kensington Valley Icehouse in Brighton on August 29 for the team’s first exhibition game at 7 PM.

OHL NOTEBOOKFour OHL teams signed 2009 draft picks who

originally said they would be going the NCAA route: Oshawa signed forward Jimmy McDowell (Little Caesars, Michigan State), their 12th-round pick, Sarnia inked forward Brandon Francisco (third round, Maine), Guelph got forward Zack Mitchell (fourth round, Harvard) and Kitchener signed defenseman John Moore (second round, Colorado College), with the latter coming after Moore, the USHL Defenseman of the Year last season, signed with Columbus and giving up his NCAA eligibility after being their top pick on June 26. Moore was a rare 1990 birthdate drafted in May’s draft.

The Plymouth Whalers sent Gabriel Landeskog to Kitchener for Red Wings prospect Tomas Tatar (above).

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RED WINGS

BY CARL CHIMENTI

Each summer, Red Wings prospects head to the team’s summer development camp to find out what it takes to become a pro in Detroit.

Current young players Justin Abdelkader, Jonathan Ericsson, Darren Helm and Ville Leino, who are quickly becoming house-hold names in Detroit, started their Red Wings career at the summer camp.

This year 32 players, including 18 of the Red Wings draft picks, attended the week-long camp July 6-12 at Joe Louis Arena.

“We bring in our young draft picks and some possible candidates for the future and try to speed up their game, improve their skills, skating and puck handling,” said Curt Fraser, who will start his second year as head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate.

“This is a great opportunity for them to work with all the coaches, learn the systems and get ready for training camp,” said Fraser.

Each morning the players worked on puck handling before Cranbrook head coach Andy Weidenbach led a 30 minute powerskating session. The players scrimmaged and competed in a shoot out to end their on-ice work.

“The coaching staff put us all through a lot of hard to work,” said Brian Lashoff, who joined the Griffins for their final ten games and the playoffs after finishing his season with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. “It shows us what it takes to be a Red Wing at the pro level.”

Red Wings goaltending coach Jim Bedard worked closely with the goaltenders and the whole group listened to off-ice presentations on nutrition and workouts from Jiri Fischer and trainer Piet Van Zant.

“This is a good group of kids who are very coachable and working hard,” noted Jim Paek, assistant coach with the Griffins. “They are like sponges trying to gather in as much information as we teach them.”

The players use the same dressing room as the Red Wings players do.

“When you get here and see the names inside the dressing room, it’s a little overwhelming but once we got on the ice and got going the nerves disappeared,” said Landon Ferraro, the Red Wings 2009 second round draft choice.

In today’s NHL cap world Fraser believes conducting a development camp is an essential part to building a winning team.

“If want to be successful,” said Fraser. “You have to have good players and get a good look at where they are in their development.”

Development camp pays dividends for Red WingsDevelopment camp pays dividends for Red Wings


MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Red Wings add Eaves and Williams, but Red Wings add Eaves and Williams, but still could be looking for late bargainsstill could be looking for late bargains

RED WINGS

BY DAVE WADDELL

Having settled the issue of Jiri Hudler’s departure for Russia’s KHL next season, Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has moved quickly to start plugging holes.

The Wings inked free-agent forward Patrick Eaves to a one-way, one-year deal for the league minimum $500,000 in early August. The team then signed forward Jason Williams to a one-year deal for $1.5 million two days later.

Detroit hopes that Williams, who played for the Red Wings for parts of six seasons through 2007 and can play the point on the powerplay, can provide 15-20 goals next year.

Eaves, who has 45 goals and 90 points in 242 NHL games, is the son of former NHLer and current Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves and is the grandson of former University of Windsor and Denver University coach Cecil Eaves.

“We love his potential,” said Holland. “Given his history, we know he has lots of skill. Our feeling is Patrick is a young kid who maybe has lost his confidence a bit after some injury problems.

“We think he can come here and find his confidence with the players he’ll get to play with.”

The six-foot, 188-pound right winger was the 29th pick overall in the 2003 NHL draft after a stellar collegiate career at Boston College where he was a Hobey Baker finalist.

The 25-year-old Eaves started his NHL career with a 20-goal season as a rookie in 2005-06. He followed that up by posting career highs in assists (18) and points (32) before injuries sidetracked him.

Eaves was dealt to Carolina as part of a package for Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore in February 2008. The Calgary native never really found a home with the Hurricanes picking up seven goals and 19 points in 85 games for Carolina.

Holland said Eaves has a great opportunity to get his career back on track in Detroit.

“He’s just really entering what should be his prime years,” Holland said. “He was the elite of the elite in his age group.

“It’s not a big gamble. We know there’s a good hockey player in there. He’s got skills, he’s versatile, he reads the game well and he’s a good skater. We like his pedigree.

Surrounded by skill up front and with some of the NHL’s best puck-moving defensemen behind, Holland feels Eaves will feel comfortable in an environment that has helped revive the careers of Dan Cleary, Mikael Samuelsson, Andreas Lilja and Chris Osgood since the lockout.

Holland said there’s no magic pixie dust the Wings sprinkle on such signings. He simply looks for players that have had success elsewhere in their careers and fit the Wings’ culture.

“I think Patrick is one of those guys like we’ve had that just needs a fresh start,” Holland said. “He’s scored 20 goals in this league before and we feel we play a style he’ll fit into.

“I think we’ve had success with guys like this because of the leadership and talent in our dressing room. It’s an easy room to get comfy in.

“It’s filled with good people, a winning tradition, it’s team first and guys make sacrifices. Because of our stability, players coming in get to feed off that.

“We’re not asking them to do something they’ve not done before.”

A PATIENT SHOPPERHowever, there’s no underestimating the impact some of the

moves Holland has made in the dog days of summer.For NHL general managers with limited cap space, such as Holland,

these next few weeks are the time when those seemingly minor personnel decisions can have a much bigger impact than anticipated.

“Things usually pick up again in early August,” Holland said of the timing of so many of his finds. “It’s when a player doesn’t have a team just before guys get back on the ice to get ready that it loosens up.”

Holland has been masterful at picking over the leftovers on the free-agent market in summer’s dying days since the lockout and he’ll need to be again to help offset the barrage of free-agent defections (Marian Hossa 40, Jiri Hudler 23, Mikael Samuelsson 19, Tomas

Kopecky 6) that have cost the Wings 88 goals from last season.

“When July 1st comes around there’s all these big numbers and big term being thrown around and naturally every player wants some of that,” said Holland explaining the waiting out process now underway.

“By July 6 or 8, teams become like us (limited cap space). If it wasn’t there by then, it probably isn’t going to be there for the players.

“The mindset of the player and the agent has to change. A lot of teams have spent their money now.”

The Wings had potentially up to $3-million available under the cap, depending on the make up the roster, before signing Eaves and Williams.

Holland added he can afford to be a patient shopper because there are a number of players in the Wings own system the club is eager to see in the exhibition season.

“It’s going to be a very competitive camp for our forwards,” Holland said.

NHL READYIn addition to Darren Helm, Jonathan

Ericsson and Ville Leino making the permanent address change from Grand Rapids to Detroit, Holland said there are half a dozen other prospects getting very close to being NHL ready.

Justin Abdelkader is prime among that group, though the Wings have long preferred he play another AHL season.

“We’re real anxious to see Mattias Ritola, Ryan Oulahen, Jakub Kindl and Daniel Larssen in the exhibition season,” Holland said. “Thomas McCollum is still a kid, but can Larssen be a number three goalie this season if and when we need him?”

Kindl just signed a three-year, one-way deal that begins in the 2010-11 season, so the Wings feel the skilled defenseman is close.

Corey Emmerton also had a nice first AHL season, but the Wings lump him in with McCollum.

“Ritola has lots of skill, but he’s been in and out mentally,” Holland said. “We need him to be consistent.

“Oulahen is interesting. He’s got it done just on his determination.”

LILJA QUESTIONABLEDuring the Stanley Cup Finals, Detroit defenseman Andreas Lilja

expressed fears for his career after suffering a concussion Feb. 28 that ended his season.

Those fears appear to be well-founded as Lilja is still suffering headaches.

“We don’t know where Andreas Lilja is going to be at when camp opens,” said Wings general manager Ken Holland.

“(Athletic trainer) Piet Van Zant spoke to him (July 29th) and he still has symptoms. I’m really not sure about him.”

Holland has mused about possibly trading a defenseman to free up more cap space, but he said with Lilja’s uncertain future he’d hesitate to do that now.

With Lilja sidelined Detroit could achieve the same goal by placing him on the long-term injured reserve list and have his $1.25- million salary come off the cap.

With the departure of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson and Tomas Kopecky, young players like Jonathan Ericsson (above) will play an even larger role next season in Detroit.

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Michigan Hockey August 17, 2009

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Transcript of Michigan Hockey August 17, 2009