Michigan Hockey June 22, 2009

Michigan Hockeymichiganhockeyonline.comV.19:I.23 | June 22, 2009

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

4 June 22, 2009 | michiganhockeyonline.com

FROM THE EDITOR

A lost opportunity

FROM THEEDITOR

I never thought I’d see the day when Pittsburgh fans chanting “Let’s go Pens!” would drown out the Red Wings faithful at Joe Louis Arena.

But that’s what happened after Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead over Detroit in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. Shocked Detroit fans looked glassy eyed and couldn’t muster up the energy to respond and the Red Wings fell a goal short to the Penguins in the end.

It’s hard to blame the fans because expectations were so high for Detroit to win the Cup again. I heard people talking after the Game 6 loss about how they were glad the Red Wings would win it on home ice after clinching the Cup in Pittsburgh last year.

And I even had people tell me that they hoped the parade wasn’t going to be on Monday (or Tuesday or Wednesday) because they had their daughter’s junior high graduation (or class party or baseball game) that day.

In this issue of MH Dave Waddell (page 32) writes about what went wrong with the Red Wings quest for another Cup (lack of scoring and yes, injuries were a factor) and what happens now. Kevin Allen says the Wings and the Pens could meet in the final next year – albeit with rosters that look a little different in this salary cap world. And Art Regner has some advice for the fans who still can’t believe what happened and tells us to “wait ‘til next year.”

And summer is upon us – so take a look at our Off-Season Training and Puckmasters in Wixom features (page 26), our What’s Going On listings (page 28) and the upcoming, retooled MAHA Summer Meeting (page 24).

Enjoy the summer,

Call 734.834.0084 for info www.michiganpondhockey.com

Register On-line Today!

22 REDD DAWG TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

6 MH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT• Belle Tire 19 and Under girls squad wins in Sarnia

• Suburban Stars win BD’s Spring Tournament• O’Leary Hawks women earn Silver at National Tournament (p. 7)

• Mite A Stingrays win SCS Spring Shootout (p. 8)• Dearborn and Monroe compete in DISC Spring Final (p. 8)

• Flint ’98 Phantoms win Fraser Summer Classic (p. 9)

9 MH BEAT• Little Caesars Amateur Sports Foundation to manage Southfield Sports Arena• Top Michigan players in Taylor for MAHA camp (p. 10)• Sled Wings host tournament in Grand Rapids (p. 16)• New look MAHA Summer Meeting coming soon (p. 24)

10 FALL TRYOUTS

INSIDE 06.22.09

DEPARTMENTS

26 SUMMER ACTIVITIES• Off-season training: get stronger and faster• Puckmasters Hockey Training Center open in Wixom• What’s going on this summer (p.28)

MICHIGAN HOCKEY23995 Freeway Park Drive • Suite 200

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Cover photos: Tomas Holmstrom and the Red Wings were stopped by Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final by Dave Reginek/DRW.

This page (from top): Detroit’s Darren Helm takes the faceoff from Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal as the Red Wings’ Jonathan Ericsson looks on in the Stanley Cup final by Dave Reginek/DRW; Summer training by Dave Reginek/Michigan Hockey; Austin Watson with the Memorial Cup by Dave Jewell/Windsor Spitfires and Red Wings goal by Dave Reginek/DRW.

Cover reprints available: email [email protected]

AdvertisingLucia Zuzga

Editor-in-ChiefPhilip D. Colvin

Design EditorChuck Stevens

32 NHL INSIDERS• Dave Waddell: Wings crushing loss will be motivation for next year

• Kevin Allen: Lidstrom still has it (p.34)

• Art Regner: Fans are shocked (p.34)

30 JUNIOR HOCKEY REPORT• Miller wins USA Hockey Junior

Player of the Year• Hogan leaves Oakland for Wyoming• Watson wins Memorial Cup

with Windsor (p. 31)• Whalers and Spirit sign draft picks (p. 31)

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

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

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

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14 STATE OF THE GAME• The More Things Change by Lyle Phair

UPCOMING ISSUES

7/6, 7/13, 7/20FALL TRYOUTS

8/17 TRYOUTS & TOURNAMENT GUIDE Contact Lucia at (248) 479-1134 or [email protected]

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY


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Belle Tire 19 and Under girls squad wins in SarniaThe Belle Tire girl’s 19 and Under team used

a commitment to team defense, unselfish play and balanced scoring to go 4-1 over the Mother’s Day weekend and capture the Bluewater Sharks tournament title in Sarnia.

Belle Tire opened the tourney with a 2-1 win over a tough Southwest Cyclones team that included players from the Waterloo-Kitchener area. Katie Aluia backstopped Belle Tire with a great performance in net in the win. After losing to Toronto’s Hills Academy, Belle Tire shut out cross-town rival Little Caesars and finished pool play with a 5-2 win over Victory Honda on goals

from Shannon Yoxheimer, Maddie Collias, Sara Schmitt and Taylor Strazzulla.

Schmitt was voted tournament MVP and Alui played all five games to help Belle Tire to the championship.

The Belle Tire girl’s U19 team is: Katie Aluia, Maddie Collias, Sara Gilbride, Emily Flom, Lauren Slavik, Alexis Molotky, Hannah Jaiven, Colleen Kolis, Hannah McGowan, Emily Neitzel, Mackenzie Ritsema, Kari Schmitt, Sara Schmitt, Katelynn Scott, Taylor Strazzula and Shannon Yoxheimer. The team is coached by Mike Vigalante, Chad Dameworth, John Hindle and Steve Yoxheimer.

Suburban Stars win BD’s Spring TournamentThe 1999 Suburban Stars beat the Livingston

Lightning, 2-1, to take home the BD’s Mongolian Barbeque Spring Tournament title at Suburban Ice East Lansing on May 17.

After two scoreless periods the Stars took a 2-0 lead on third period goals from Brian George (assisted by Antonio Venuto) and Jack Rudin (assisted by Ian Juszczyk).

The Lightning cut the lead in half with under two minutes remaining in the game on a goal from Aidan Flick, with assists going to John Thomas and Trent Salmon. But the Stars, and goalie Keaton Courtney, held on for the win. Landon Chouninard

was in goal for the Lightning. The other Stars are: Nicholas Zervos, Jack Wood,

Kenneth Montemayor, William McLellan, Benjamin Eckerle, Joseph Woznicki, Kory McCullough, John Kaljian and Mack Hastings. Head coach is Mike McCullough and assistants are Justin Shaw, Kim Shaw and Alex George.

The rest of the Lightning include: Brody White, Josh Seiter, Dylan Reinke, Johnnie Pietila, Carson Pietila, Ryan Dickerson, Lars Storm, Christian Wentworth and Hans Hering. Head coach is Tom Storm and assistants are Greg Salmon and Gordie Pietila.

7michiganhockeyonline.com | June 22, 2009

MICHIGAN HOCKEYMH AMATEUR HOCKEY REPORT

O’Leary Hawks earn Silver at National TournamentThe O’Leary Hawks Women’s Sr. B team celebrated the conclusion

of their 20th anniversary season by finishing second at the 2009 USA Hockey National Tournament in Rochester NY, on March 27-29.

This was the third-straight year the Hawks earned a Silver medal at Nationals, and while the team would have loved to bring home the Gold, the squad lost three players to injuries and it was a great accomplishment to make it to the final game again.

The Hawks opened against a familiar Massachusetts Lightning. Down 1-0, the Hawks’ Wendy Stibitz scored (assisted by Carrie Sirola and Kelly Hamilton), to tie the game 1-1. The trio notched the game winner on the next shift when Hamilton scored on the powerplay for a 2-1 win. Stibitz and Marcie Walker also added third period goals.

The Hawks then lost in a shootout, 3-2, to the Syracuse Warriors, the squad that had defeated them in the National Championship game in 2008. Walker and Hamilton scored, and Melanie Hamilton was outstanding in goal for the Hawks in the loss.

Walker, Hamilton, Rhonda Carveth and Sirola notched goals in the Hawks, 4-0, quarterfinal win over the Palm Beach Predators. The Hawks earned another shutout in the semifinals, a 2-0 win over the hometown Rochester Edge on goals by Sirola and Amy Pattie.

The win sent the Hawks into the championship game against the Minnesota Blue J Hawks. The team started slowly in the final and the Blue J’s scored three goals in the opening period and held on for the win. O’Leary’s Crystal Miotke scored the team’s lone goal.

The Hawks finished the season 33-10-7, and won the London Ontario tournament in November, and defeated the London England Women’s National team in an exhibition game.

In their 20 seasons the O’Leary Hawks have competed in 18 National tournaments, winning once and bringing home silver or bronze medals 12 times. Carrie Sirola and Marcie Walker have played all 20 seasons and Kim Kelemen has played 19 seasons. Andrea Layman has coached the Hawks for 15 seasons.

The Hawks are: Melanie Appel-Hamilton, Dori Borden, Rhonda Carveth, Vicki Crimmins, Nicole Falardeau, Kelly Hamilton, Kelly Hammond, Tonya Hazzard, Kim Kelemen, Jackie Neal, Chicky McFarlane, Crystal Miotke, Amy Pattie, Tiffany Ribble, Allison Rutledge, Michelle Saunders, Sara Sharp, Carrie Sirola, Wendy Stibitz and Marcie Walker. Backup goalie at Nationals was Ann Dobija, and coach is Andrea Layman. Team manager is Carrie Sirola. The team is sponsored by John O’Leary State Farm Insurance.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY



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Mite A Stingrays win SCS Spring ShootoutThe 2002 Mite A Plymouth Stingray team went

undefeated in the St. Clair Shores Spring Shootout April 17-19 and defeated the 2002 Kensington Valley Rebels in the championship game 4-2 to take home the title.

The Stingrays are: Oliver Doran, Dylan Hernandez, Anthony Gattoni, Alex Schaumburger, Billy Shields, Kyle De Marco, Shane Kansier, Luke

Schembri, Stephanie Schmunk, Brendan Busdeker, Trevor Swazey, Ian Kimble, Alex Kansier, Jack Cotter, Dominic James, Nathan Korowin, Avery Hayes and Trent Anderson.

The Stingrays coaching staff is: head coach Rob Reilly, assistant coaches Donnie Busdeker, Dave Doran, Dan Hernandez, Bruce Schaumburger, Dan Szlaga and Paul Cotter.

Dearborn and Monroe compete in DISC Spring FinalDearborn and the Monroe Ice Hawks faced off on

May 18 in the Spring League championship game at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center. The two Squirt teams skated their hearts out and after a scoreless opening period Dearborn’s Sara Bunch and Lucas LaPlaunt scored to give their team the lead. Gavin Riffle scored for Monroe in Dearborn’s 4-1 win.

Dearborn (middle) is: Nichola Tafelski, Grant Davison, Miguel Flores, Jackson Moschet, Tyler Myers, Lucas LaPlaunt, Alex Petlichkoff, Cameron

Godin, Colin Garner, Dean Buchholz, Sara Bunch, Brandon Bunch, Chase Williams, Max Sheperd and Coach Paul.

The Ice Hawks (above) are: Jacob Dowd, Alex Sanders, Steven Prati, Christian Tardiff, Matthew Rinaldi, Joe Dillon, TJ Potcova, Gavin Riffle, Nick Margrey, RC Beattie and Lucas Michelin. The head coach is Pat Dowd and assistant coaches are Dave Prati, Katie Markovich and Bill Markovich.


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Flint ’98 Phantoms win Fraser Summer ClassicThe 1998 Flint Phantoms went undefeated

and won the Fraser Summer Classic Pee Wee A Tournament on May 17 at Great Lakes Sports City Arena.

The Phantoms defeated the Washtenaw Hurricanes, Blue Water Stars and the Fraser Falcons in route to going 4-0 to win the tournament.

The Flint Phantoms are: Spencer Bully, Brendan Flores, Zack Doner, Garrett Johnson, Jonah

Lainesse, Jacob Wood, Parker Koons, Zach Kippe, Brendan Borg, Dylan Houle, Brendan Walker, Ella Sinclair, Brock Reynolds, Noah Rocheleau, Tyler Isola, Cam Mundy, Gary Wildey and Trevor Sauve.

The Phantoms’ coaches are: Matt Walker, Kevin Reynolds, Chad Borg, Joe Houle, Brad Kippe and Kirk Allen.

Little Caesars to manage Southfield Sports ArenaLittle Caesars and the city of Southfield now

have another thing in common besides each celebrating their 50th anniversary recently.

The Little Caesars Amateur Sports Foundation has signed an agreement to manage the Southfield Civic Center Sports Arena. The Southfield City Council unanimously approved the two-year contract on May 4, which includes management of the ice rink and concessions, but not the municipal swimming pool.

Southfield pursued the partnership as a way to keep the facility, originally built in 1971, and its programs up and running without raising taxes or fees.

The Southfield Parks and Recreation Department will work with the Little Caesars Amateur Sports Foundation to provide programming at the arena, including keeping hockey events, figure skating and open skating available to the public.

“We’re very excited for Little Caesars to come

in — it’s a great partnership,” Bill Waterhouse, director of the Southfield Parks and Recreation Department, told C & G Newspapers.

With 15 teams and their future at the State Fairgrounds arena not locked down, the Little Caesars Hockey Club plans to move their youth teams into the Southfield Sports Arena. The Little Caesars girl’s teams will play at City Sports Arena in Detroit.

“This provides a home rink for our teams to practice and play while allowing the city to continue to offer quality recreational programs to its residents,” said Bill Ciraulo, director of the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Little Caesars plans to make some upgrades to the facility and there is a possibility of a longer-term agreement that would include adding a second sheet of ice to the arena.

“It’s a great location and I know it will be a great facility,” said Ciraulo.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


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Change brings more opportunity for players at Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Select CampBY CARL CHIMENTI

Every May and June the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Select Camps bring together the top young players in the state to compete to be selected for the USA Hockey national festivals that take place later in the summer.

This year’s Select 16 and 17 camps, again conducted at the Taylor Sportsplex over May 7-9, was business as usual with one notable but significant change.

Previously USA Hockey invited National Team Development Program players to the national festivals in addition to the players selected from the tryout camps. But that was nixed this year, which opened up more spots for players from the Taylor tryout camp.

“It’s a plus for us because USA Hockey used to take Michigan spots from our select camp,” said Tim McIntosh, the Michigan Select Camp Coordinator. “This change gives us a few more selections to send to the National Festival at the 17-year old age group.”

The 1992 and 1993 born players came to Taylor after being selected from regional tryout camps held through out the state. They were shooting for an invite to one of the national festivals held in Rochester, New York this summer.

The Select 17 Festival, held the last week in June, will include a Michigan contingency of one goaltender, six defensemen and nine forwards. The 1993 age group will include two goaltenders, six defensemen and eleven forwards from Michigan at the Select second week in July.

Due in part to Michigan’s history of sending quality players to the festival, USA Hockey will select a few At-Large picks in addition to the state’ allocated selections as well.

“This year we could have anywhere from one to maybe as high as four At-Large selections,” says McIntosh. “Feedback for the job

we do here year after year comes from the number of allocations we get for the next year’s camp. Every year Michigan leads the way with the most allocations of any district in the United States, so I think we we’re doing some thing right here.”

All the players come into the select camp on even footing and McIntosh let’s everyone know that from the get go.

“At the meeting before they hit the ice I tell all the players to throw away all your individual press clippings, because it’s not going to do you any good here,” says McIntosh, who has run the camp for the past eleven years. “We evaluate on what they do here this weekend, not on what they might have done in the past.”

This year’s evaluators included college and junior team coaches and the players were divided randomly into four teams within their age group. The first day consisted of practices, while Friday started with morning meetings and then games the rest of the day and all day Saturday.

After the final game was completed the evaluators got together to compare notes and make the final selections.

“It’s great to play against your peers and getting back on the ice is fun,” said 16-year old Waterford resident Zach Mudge, who played for Little Caesars last year. “It’s a little tough because you play four games with kids that you have never played with, but at the end of the day, it’s the same for everyone so you just try to make the best of it.”

Zack’s dad, Jeff Mudge, was impressed with the players he saw at the camp. “The hockey talent is extremely good,” he said. “The games are fast and the competitive level has been very intense.”

Mecosta’s Michael Hickson made the Select 16 camp last season and believes it made him a better player.

“It was a good and valuable experience that really improved my development this past year,” he said.

Commerce Township’s Eric Trunick participated in the 2009 MAHA Select Camp at the Taylor Sportsplex

Michigan players selected to attend the USA Hockey Select 17 Festival, July 7-13 in Rochester NY

1992Pos Player CityD Phillip Accettura NoviD Brandon Archibald Port HuronF Kenneth Babinski MidlandD Joel Benson MarquetteF Patrick Brown Bloomfi eld HillsF Brent Darnell CantonD Kevin Gravel KingsfordF Andrew Huff HowellF Tanner Kero HancockF William Kessel Bloomfi eld HillsF Jared Knight Battle CreekD Austin Levi Farmington HillsF John McCarron MacombD Daniel Milan White LakeG Adam Miller St. Clair ShoresF Andrew Sinelli Dexter

Michigan players selected to attend the USA Hockey Select 16 Festival, June 26-July 2 in Rochester, NY

1993Pos Player CityF Reid Boucher Grand LedgeF Cory Czarnik WashingtonD Craig Duininck PlymouthF Michael Ferrantino PlymouthF Brandon Flood MasonG John Gosselin BrightonF Cason Hohmann Plymouth

F Travis Maezes Ann ArborG Josh Malecki Grosse IleF Jacob McDowell DimondaleF John Miller TrentonF Tyler Murray Bingham FarmsF Stefan Noesen NorthvilleF Blake Pietila MilfordD Andrew Ryan BrightonD Connor Schmidt Flat RockD Frank Schumacher BrightonD Ryan Urso LivoniaD Travis Walsh Haslett

Vito AluiaRiley BarberDonovan BerwickAndrew BestAlexander BlankenburgSam BloombergVincent BrophyBrock BroyhersAnthony CarlderoneWesley CimmarrustiGarret CockerillRyan CollinsTrevor CopeJoseph CoxBrett D’AndreaTroy Donnay

Andrew DorantesRyan DoughertySheldon DriesCory DunnJonathan FarkasForest FolkerTyler FrobergNolan GluchowskiDustin GoupilleCharles GreenKyle HaakJoshua HenkeBrandon HopeColin HortonJames HoweMax Iafrate

Benjamin JohnsonSven JohnsonBrett KaufmanDevin KeroAlexander KileBradley Kolcz, JrChristopher LeibingerMichael LouriaRyan LowneyMyles MaltzAlex MarcinekChase MatsonNick MichelsGriffen MolinoAnthony MousseauJoseph MozaZachary NagelvoortCody NordquistDerek O’FlynnZachary O’HaraDavid ParrottinoTed PietilaBrandon RamsayNino RomitaKyle RugglesKyle SchemppNicholas SchilkeyScott SchuenemanTrevor SergottJoshua ShellmanDylan ShepardMaxwell ShuartWyatt Smith

Nicholas StevensJacob StrickerDonald SundMario TomeiBlake TothJacob TroubaBrady VailGrant WeberminZachary WiacekWayland WilliamsConnor WoodMark YanisCameron YarwoodBryan Yim 1995 Evan AllenMark Evan AukMark BakerBryan BasilicoAugustino BiondoDalan BulchakGeorge ClarkNikola CoffmanDawson CookMichael CurtisRyan CusinNicholas DaigneauSpencer DantLevi ErkkilaCarl FaraonTaylor FernandezRiley Fink

Hunter GatzaJohn GessertAdam GillTorrin GrangeWesley GuentherTrevor HamiltonConnor HannonBrett HeikkilaCarson HIbnerCameron HiteMichael HouseMax HumitzRyan JarosIan JenkinsTrent JohnsonAlexander JohnstonJesse JunttilaBrendon KearneyJames LaDouceNoah LancuckiAdam LarkinBenjamin LaseckiTyler LayleBryce LeafKameron LimburgAndrew LindsayJesse MacIntyreLouis MarrMichael McCarronMitchell MinderDane MooreTyler MotteAlexander Payne

Craig Stephen Pefl eyJacob PetersonCollin PewDenver PierceTroy PierceJon PierretVincent PostBrad ReitterAlex RobertAustin RotheMatthew RoyGrant RushlauMichael SabatiniBrennan SanfordCorey SchuenemanAlexander SmithBrendyn SmithDante SuffrediniAlex TalcottKyle TenEyckZachary TimmermanAdam UlfsaxNick VandermissenThomas VincentTravis WelchPayton WheelerGrant WidgerDevin WilliamsBrett Young Michael Yuhasz

Michigan players invited to attend the MAHA Bantam Camp, June 14-19 at Lake Superior State

University in S.S. Marie.

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STATE OF THE GAME

THE MORE THINGS CHANGEState oftheGame

LYLE PHAIR

Hope springs eternal every June at the USA Hockey Annual Congress in Colorado Springs, Colorado. All areas of the game are poked and prodded, viewed and reviewed, cussed and discussed. Nothing is overlooked. No puck goes unturned.

This year the two most talked about elements were the growing the game initiative spearheaded by the newly formed Membership Development Department and the American Development Model (ADM).

Both of these “developments” have been a work in progress over the past few years, and while they were introduced in the past year, they are very much steering the direction of USA Hockey moving forward.

And for good reason. We need more players participating in the sport. The Membership Development Department will be focusing on providing ways for local associations to get new boys and girls, ages 4-8, into hockey and maybe more importantly, implementing proven programs that will keep them playing the game.

Breaking down the mostly myths, and in some instances truths, that hockey is an expensive, violent game that requires a huge time commitment from participating families will be the major challenge.

We also need more good players participating in the sport. We need better athletes who are more prepared to move on to play at the highest levels of the game. The National Hockey League would like to see more American players at that level. And so would USA Hockey, as it is a byproduct of a good program.

The ADM, which includes time-tested principles of long-term athlete development and high performance club teams, provides the framework for local associations to achieve those goals.

TAG-UP AGAIN ON THE TABLEBeyond those two major changes, in the immortal words of

Yogi Berra it was, “déjà vu all over again”. Every second year

at the USA Hockey Annual Congress is a rule change year where new rule proposals are discussed and voted on.

And once again, for the umpteenth time in a rule change year, the tag-up offsides rule was on the table.

At one time I thought that tag-up offsides would be in the best interest of the game and the players playing it. But not because it is used at the higher levels of the game, the National Hockey League, college and junior hockey and even high school.

I don’t buy the argument that players “need to learn how to play it to be prepared to play at the next level”. That makes no sense to me at all. Players always have and always will be able to quickly adapt to any rule changes that get made, whether they are when they move up a level or just a change to the game in general from year to year.

The reason I thought it would be a good option was to eliminate whistles and keep the game moving. The more playing time the better. And less needless wasted time standing around waiting for an official to drop the puck, the better. In my opinion, that would be the only valid reason to have it in the game.

But that positive doesn’t come close to offsetting the negative impact on the game and the players playing it created by utilizing tag-up offsides. It completely dumbs down the game to the lowest level. Throw the puck out of the zone. Dump the puck back in. Throw it out. Throw it in. And the rest of the players skate back and forth trying to catch up to the puck to make a play.

Some argue that the players like to play it. It is more fun for them. I would argue that kids will often want what they don’t have, whether it is best for them or not.

Because it is a rule used at the higher level they theorize that it would be better for them too. That is not always the case. Full facemasks are not required and fighting is allowed at the highest levels of the game as well. It would be difficult to come up with a convincing argument as to how those changes would be positive for youth hockey players.

SHORT TERM AND SHORT SIGHTEDSome coaches, in fact many coaches, like the tag-up. Why not?

It is easy to coach. But it is a short-term, short-sighted approach to the game.

It allows players to make a play that requires little or no skating or puckhandling skill. It allows players to make a play that allows for no creativity or decision-making. It allows the player’s teammates to not have to get back quickly into the neutral zone in position to organize themselves for a counter-attack. All they have to do is come out over the blue line, all at the same time, then chase the

puck down like dogs chasing a rubber ball. It also minimizes the chance that the defenders in the neutral

zone will make a mistake and that there will be a turnover and a scoring chance created against.

It allows coaches not to have to coach the skating skills, puck skills, decision-making and team play to develop a neutral zone transition game.

If you have ever watched the game played at all age groups and levels, it is painfully obvious that the tag-up rule is not in the best interest of younger players developing their skills and learning the game.

If you are unsure, take a trip to Canada to watch some minor hockey games. You will rarely see a defenseman in the neutral zone backpedal with the puck, buying some time and space while his or her teammates re-organize themselves for a counter-attack. You will rarely see a defense-to-defense cross-ice pass and a quick up to a forward. Instead you will most often see the defenseman skate to the puck and mindlessly and skilllessly fire it back into the attacking zone.

At the higher levels of the game, where the pace of play is much, much faster and those players already have a much greater command of the physical and mental skills necessary to play the game, tag-up offsides serves a greater good. It keeps the play moving. And the skating, puckhandling, and decision-making skills are all still utilized.

In my opinion, the best version of the offsides rule is the delayed offsides, where the play is not stopped immediately. If there is a possibility that the defending team can get control of the puck just inside the blue line and mount a counter-attack, the play is allowed to continue.

But as it stands now, as soon as the puck enters the zone the play is stopped, even if the puck is intercepted just inside the blue line and the defending team now has an offensive advantage created by the turnover. A 2-on-1, 3-on-1, or even a 3-on-2, is negated by the whistle.

The problem with delayed offsides is that it can difficult for all the officials to interpret and call consistently. Although when you think about it, it is not much different than many other rules in the book from that respect.

Fortunately, the tag-up offsides proposal was voted down again this year and the game and the players playing it will benefit from two more years without it.

At least until Groundhog Day 2011 when it is sure to be proposed again. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

call for more details 248-888-1400

www.suburbanstars.com

Stars Tryout Info - All skates at Suburban Ice Farmington Hills

2002 StarsCoach = Vicki Crimmins

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7-23-09 = 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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2001 StarsCoach = Cal McGowan

[email protected]

2000 StarsCoach = Larry Fuciarelli

[email protected]

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99 StarsCoach = Mike McCullough

[email protected]

98 StarsCoach = Steve Wood

[email protected]

7-20-09 = 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

7-22-09 = 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

97 StarsCoach = Joe Jones

[email protected]

96 StarsCoach = Scott Wolter

[email protected] = 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM7-19-09 = 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM7-20-09 = 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM

95 StarsCoach = Joe Jones

[email protected]

Midget ACoach = Doug [email protected]

7-15-09 = 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM7-19-09 = 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

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OPEN/CONDITIONING SKATESWed., July 8 • 8 - 9:30 pmTues., July 14 • 8 - 9:30pmFri., July 17 • 6 - 7:30pm

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Skates and Tryouts take place at Novi Ice ArenaALL SKATES $15 / ALL POSITIONS OPEN

for more information contact Bob [email protected] or 248-420-0436

Sled Wings look to grow in Grand RapidsBY JOHN RAFFEL

With no other local teams the Grand Rapids Sled Wings are used to traveling to find some competition.

But for a change of pace the 12-member Sled Wings squad, which includes players from the ages of 9-20, hosted the third-annual Jennifer Krygier Tournament at Griff’s Icehouse in mid-April.

The tournament was sponsored by Mary Freebed rehabilitation services and the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation.

“We meet once a week,” said Sled Wings coach Lynnette Eding. “And we travel to places like Fort Wayne, Chicago and Columbus. We have a national tournament, which this year is in (Buffalo, New York). We start playing in November and usually go to March.”

The tournament, which included teams from Fort Wayne and Chicago, focused on the joy of competing instead of wins and losses. Players from all three cities were pooled together and then split into teams for the tournament.

“Jennifer was a girl who used to play on our team. She passed away three years ago,” said Eding.

It’s the seventh year of existence for the Sled Wings. It’s Eding’s fifth year with the program.

“One of the guys who was coaching asked me to come and help and I did and I’m still here,” Eding said.

She doesn’t have a relative involved in sled hockey but played in women’s leagues at Georgetown and Kalamazoo.

“Coaching this group is awesome,” she said. “Just seeing them grow from just starting out and hardly being able to move to being fantastic in what they do. These kids are great.”

During the tournament, an adult team from Detroit, the Sled Dogs, put on a clinic at the arena.

“We’re trying to get an adult team to play out of Grand Rapids,” Eding said. “All of our kids are getting to be old. We had about 19 on our team in previous years. This year we have 12. There’s a wheelchair sports camp each year at Grand Valley (State University). We’ve brought sled hockey into that to try to recruit kids.”

Tyler Anderson, 18, has played sled hockey for seven years.

“I just heard there was a team starting and I’ve always liked hockey so I thought ‘why not give it a try?’” Anderson said. “I’ve been playing for awhile but the first time I tried it I liked it so I joined the team.”

Anderson plays defense for the Sled Wings.“I’ve gotten quite a bit better,” he said. “I got a

lot faster since I first started. My shot has improved a lot. The word has gotten around pretty good. There’s a lot more teams than there was when we started.”

Anderson said he especially enjoys playing on his home ice and loves playing against the Griffins in the December exhibition games.

“I love that game,” he said. “It’s fun playing against those guys. They’re really competitive.

The Grand Rapids Sled Wings (shown competing in their annual game against the Grand Rapids Griffins) hosted the third-annual Jennifer Kygier Tournament and a clinic to help grow the sport.

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August 21 – 23, 2009


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August 28 – 30, 2009



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August 28 – 30, 2009

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Future Stars Tournament

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August 28 – 30, 2009

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Montreal Summer Getaway

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August 28 – 30, 2009


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August 28 – 30, 2009

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September 4 – 6, 2009


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Toronto Fall Classic

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September 18 – 20, 2009


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October 16 – 18, 2009


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November 13 – 15, 2009


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November 20 – 22, 2009


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November 20 – 22, 2009


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November 27 – 29, 2009



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Dan Holland & Randy Merten Memo-

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December 3-6, 2009

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Dec 31, 2009 - Jan 1, 2010


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All invitational tournaments in Michigan need a MAHA sanction and

sanction number.

Go to maha.org to obtain your MAHA sanction


MICHIGAN HOCKEY

The 2009 NHL Draft is set for June 26-27 in Montreal. Here is Michigan Hockey’s take on how the fi rst round could unfold:

1. NY Islanders – Victor Hedman (MoDo) Although a Mike Bossy-like scorer like John Tavares is tough to pass on, a huge Swedish franchise defenseman with tons of talent is someone the Isles can build around.

2. Tampa Bay – John Tavares (London) They could use a stud defenseman but a pure sniper with great hands like Tavares isn’t a bad second prize. A big goalscorer, who paired with Steve Stamkos, gives Lightning players to market around to sell tickets.

3. Colorado – Matt Duchene (Brampton) Speedy two-way center with high end skills will remind Avalanche fans of Joe Sakic.

4. Atlanta – Evander Kane (Vancouver) After considering a trade for veteran help, the Thrashers grab a sniper with grit, a quick release and the skill to play with Ilya Kovalchuk.

5. Los Angeles – Brayden Schenn (Brandon) With a group of talented, young defensemen on the roster, the Kings go for a creative playmaking center that never takes a shift off.

6. Phoenix – Jared Cowan (Spokane) Coyotes have young, talented forwards Kyle Burris and Mikkel Boedker and need a big, smooth skating defenseman that can play on the powerplay.

7. Toronto – Zack Kassian (Peterborough) If GM Brian Burke fails to move up to grab Tavares, he takes a big, strong skating power forward that can fi nish and relishes the physical part of the game.

8. Dallas – Louis LeBlanc (Omaha) Skilled and dynamic two-way center plays with passion that Stars love.

9. Ottawa – Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Leksand) The Senators need a skilled, playmaking blueliner and are glad Ekman-Larsson falls in their lap.

10. Edmonton – Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (Timra) Great skating left wing with blazing speed a perfect fi t for Oilers.

11. Nashville – Jordan Schroeder (Minnesota) Shifty, hardworking right wing is creative playmaker and Preds like American players.

12. Minnesota – Dmitri Kulikov (Drummondville) Top end defenseman can run a powerplay and battle down low.

13. Buffalo – Jeremy Morin (NTDP) Sabres can’t pass on local product and goal-scoring machine.

14. Florida – Ryan Ellis (Windsor) The Panthers look for a replacement for Jay Bouwmeester and fi nd undersized, offensively gifted PP QB.

15. Anaheim – Carter Ashton (Lethbridge) The Ducks need more scoring depth and get it with a big winger with toughness and a scoring touch.

16. Columbus – John Moore (Chicago) Blue Jackets have need for athletic, agile blueliner.

17. St. Louis – Nazam Kadri (London) Flashy center has speed and skill to play with Blues young stars in the making.

18. Montreal – Charles Olivier-Roussel (Shawinigan) Habs grab talented two-way D-man with big upside.

19. NY Rangers - David Rundblad (Skelleftea) Blueshirts can’t believe high-risk, high-reward blueliner is still on the board.

20. Calgary – Scott Glennie (Brandon) Flames happy to see skilled, speedy winger is still around.

21. Philadelphia – Zach Budish (Edina HS) Potential star power forward missed all season with football knee injury.

22. Vancouver – Calvin de Haan (Oshawa) Canucks nab smooth passing and puck moving defenseman.

23. New Jersey - Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie HS) Devils go for speedy and skilled Minnesota HS blueliner.

24. Washington – Peter Holland (Guelph) Power forward with skill, size and big shot, but doesn’t always bring it.

25. Boston – Chris Krieder (Phillips Andover) New England prep forward has all the tools and too good to pass up.

26. NY Islanders (from San Jose via Ottawa) - Eric Gelinas (Lewiston) Strong skating blueliner makes things happen at offensive end.

27. Carolina - Jacob Josefson (Djurgarden) Skilled playmaking center a good fi t with Hurricanes.

28. Chicago - Landon Ferraro (Red Deer) Speedy center has some skill and grit and is good penalty killer.

29. Detroit – Joonas Nattinen (Espoo) Finnish two-way center is hardworker with skill – just what Red Wings like.

30. Pittsburgh – Dylan Olsen (Camrose) Mobile, steady D-man has big shot and is good in his own end.

NHL 2009 Mock Draft2009 NHL MOCK DRAFT

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


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MAHA adds to upcoming Summer MeetingBY PHILIP COLVIN

Do you want to get away and spend some time talking Michigan youth hockey?

Then the MAHA annual meeting is a good place to start.As usual this year’s gathering, set for July 10-12 at Boyne Highlands

in Harbor Springs, will include committee meetings, proposed rule changes discussion and voting, an awards banquet and a Michigan Hockey - sponsored social hour.

In addition, the annual Association President’s meeting is on Friday afternoon. The four-hour session provides the opportunity to discuss problems, successes and provide feedback on proposed rule changes or anything that affects you and your association.

New to the weekend’s event schedule this year are three Saturday sessions that aim to educate Michigan’s youth hockey continent on new USA Hockey Programs and MAHA’s Vision for the Future program.

On Saturday morning there will be a presentation by USA Hockey’s Ken Martel on the organization’s new American Development Model (ADM). The strictly voluntary AMD is based on the principles of long-term athlete development and has the potential to change the way all hockey players train and provide a better learning experience for all our athletes. Representatives from USA Hockey will on hand to explain the program and how associations can begin to implement the principles of this program in the coming year.

On Saturday afternoon, USA Hockey’s Courtney Welch will explain the mission of the organization’s new Program Services can help associations deliver the best youth sports experience in their community and assist associations in the shared goal of getting more players involved in the game.

Also on Saturday afternoon there will be a workshop on MAHA’s Vision for the Future program, which was launched last fall to identify challenges facing associations now and in the future. This session will provide insight as to the issues we are currently addressing, as well as some potential solutions. Ideas, suggestions and solutions from all participants in the meeting will be welcome.

2009 MAHA Summer Meeting (tentative schedule)Friday, July 108:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Registration Hotel Lobby9:00 a.m. – 12 noon. Executive Board Meeting 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Association Presidents Meeting5:00 p.m. Chairperson and Directors At Large Meeting 6:00 p.m. Adult Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m. Girl’s/Women’s Committee Meeting6:00 p.m. OneGoal Committee Meeting6:00 p.m. STAR HOCKEY Committee Meeting 7:30 p.m. State Playoff Committee Meeting 7:30 p.m. Rules Committee Meeting 7:30 p.m. Coaches Committee Meeting 7:30 p.m. Officials Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m. Hospitality Room & Exhibitors

Saturday, July 118:00 a.m. Coffee & Rolls 8:30 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting (OPEN) 12:30 p.m. Lunch2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Program Services for Local Associations3:30 – 5.00 p.m. Vision for the Future2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Coaching Program 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Cocktail Hors d’oeuvre Reception 7:15 p.m. Awards Banquet 10:00 p.m. Hospitality Room & Exhibitors

Sunday, July 128:00 a.m. Coffee & Rolls8:30 a.m. 12 Noon Board of Directors Meeting (OPEN)

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SUMMER TRAINING

Summer Training: ways to reach your desired resultsBY LARRY O’CONNOR

Any builder will tell you that you can’t build a house without a solid foundation. The same holds true when developing a hockey player, fitness experts say.

That’s why traditional off-ice months of July and August are pivotal when players trade trips to the rink with excursions to the Las Vegas-lit fitness center or to the Spartan-setting of their home basement.

Michigan-based fitness instructors recommend many tried-and-true routines like push-ups, chin-ups and squats to enhance physical fitness as well as numerous variations of weight training that require kettlebells to medicine balls.

Regardless of the exercise – or even if it involves weights – the mental approach is paramount, fitness gurus say.

“They need to approach it as though they are about to embark on a time where they can make some progress,” says Jim Kielbaso, director of Wixom-based Total Sports Performance Center. “Most of the time during the season, it’s just kind of a long maintenance phase. It’s hard to gain strength and size in the middle of the season because of they are on the ice so much.

“This is really the critical time in the yearly training cycle where they can actually gain a lot of strength.”

The precision and zeal in which hockey players tackle off-season chores will pay dividends on the ice and elsewhere, says Grant Elias, a fitness instructor who works with Suburban Hockey and Power Shot Hockey Academy.

“You might find you that you get in there and do a couple of reps and then you can’t wait to get done with the set,” he says. “The parallel of that is like if you have a shift and it’s just about over and you’re thinking about something else and then you get scored on.”

While discipline and focus is important, so too is a sense of

purpose. Jennifer Dunbar of Birmingham-

based Old Skool Training believes players should reflect on the past season, assessing where they came up short in terms of fitness or areas where they sustained reoccurring injuries, and design an exercise plan accordingly.

“It is also important that on top of this focused conditioning they begin to train all components of fitness: speed, power, strength, agility, flexibility, muscular endurance and nutrition,” says Dunbar, who is also a high school and collegiate women’s lacrosse coach. “All athletes want speed. If you develop strength and power, it will translate into speed on ice.”

DESIRED RESULTSIn terms of overall might, though,

there are different methods to achieve desired results.

Conventional wisdom holds that young players shouldn’t start with weight training until they are fully developed, which can differ in age

depending on the child. If a player’s growth plates haven’t completely closed yet, “it’s

not really smart to do a lot of lifting,” says Kirk Vickers, founder of Farmington Hills-based TRIAD Health and Fitness.

With younger players, especially those in their early teens, Vickers opts for a high-repetition and low-weight approach.

“The bottom line is what we are trying to do is get these kids to be stronger on the ice,” says Vickers, who is a former Detroit Red Wings trainer. “I think what is missed in a lot of this is not looking at balance and stability and control of the body.”

Vickers is particularly dismayed when he sees young players respond to the oft-uttered directive to get bigger by loading up on supplements and going for a crash course in free weight training, which can pose more harm.

“That’s not necessarily going to make them a better hockey player,” Vickers says. “They are still getting knocked around on the ice because they have a poor center of gravity. They can’t deliver a check or receive a check very well and their directional change isn’t very good.

“If anything we have done a disservice to that kid. So, he’s put on three, four, five or maybe eight pounds, but he’s even a less efficient skater than prior to that.”

WEIGHT ROOM FOR OLDER PLAYERSOnce players reach high school-age and are vying for coveted

spots in elite programs, time in the weight room is inevitable, Kielbaso says.

Push-ups, chin-ups and lunges have roles in developing muscular endurance and body control, but to get the size and strength coaches desire “they have got to get into the weight room,” Kielbaso says.

On that front, Daimond Dixon of Grand Rapids-based Pro Power Training recommends players need to do functional weight work with dumbbells while remaining on their feet.

“Standing on your feet is important because as athletes we play on our feet,” Dixon says. “You want to be on your feet when you train. At the same time, you are working the core muscles (abdominal, hips and back).

“When you do an overhead press, if you are sitting down, you have that base underneath that is giving you a lot of support. If you do that same exact exercise standing up, your core muscle come into play.”

Dunbar suggests the fitness trifecta of strength, speed and agility may also be found through tossing a weighted orb around.

Chest passes, overhead throws and rotational tosses with a medicine ball can do wonders for core strength and balance.

“You want to train in all directions: Forward, backward (over the head) and rotational,” says Dunbar, whose Old Skool Training also employs kettlebells to improve strength.

Any exercise or routine is only tool, not the complete treasure chest for fitness perfection.

‘There’s lots of different things you can do, but not one of them is better than the other,” Kielbaso says. “I would hate to see someone who would say all I need to do is ‘X.’

“That’s not just how it is. They need to do a complete program.”

Working with slideboards, kettle balls and in the weight room can help get the most benefit out of your training.

Driving down Pontiac Trail just west of downtown Wixom there is nothing to give away that there is a brand new ice rink and hockey training facility tucked a mile back inside a business park.

Located south of Pontiac Train off of Century Drive on Century Court, Puckmasters Hockey Training Center is a 14,250 square foot facility with one purpose: to help players improve their skills.

Open since last November, the Wixom Puckmasters includes a 100’ x 44’ real ice indoor rink, a 60’ x 40’ synthetic ice ProSpeed Resistance Skating Surface (R.S.S.) training rink, an Endless Ice Skating Treadmill, RealHockey Shooting Simluator, a Rapid Shot Shooting range and an off-ice training room with free weights and an Endless Ice Skating Treadmill. The facility also includes two locker rooms, showers and a steam room.

Players can take a 45-minute one-on-one training session with a Puckmasters coach that can include both on- and off-ice work and then fire pucks in the shooting range or in the simulator until they run out of gas.

“We’re really about individualized training,” said owner Scott LaVoie. “Four (students) to one (coach) is the about the biggest ratio we’ll do.

Puckmasters, a franchise based in British Columbia, Canada, has locations in 12 Canadian cities and LaVoie’s Wixom location is the 11th in the United States and second in Michigan (Kalamazoo also has one.)

“There are 5,000-6,000 amateur players in a 15-mile radius of here,” Lavoie said. “At the same time, there really are no other facilities like this in the area.”

Puckmasters training programs combine work on both the real and synthetic ice surfaces, along with offering personal training, weights and dryland training.

Little Caesars AAA coach Craig Furstenau is Puckmasters’ resident coach and does player evaluations and creates a progressive development plan tailored to a player’s needs.

“So someone who is a strong skater but needs to improve their stickhandling – that’s what he’ll be working on,” said LaVoie.

And you can do everything on synthetic ice that you can do on real ice, but the synthetic ice gives a greater resistance so players really have to power through turns and have a good stride or they’ll fall.

“You can’t cheat on the synthetic ice,” said LaVoie. “And when you come off after 45 minutes you feel it in muscles you didn’t even know you had.”

Defenseman Brandon Lubin, who played last season on the Midget AAA national champion Little Caesars squad, has trained at Puckmasters since it opened.

“The facility is awesome,” he said. “The treadmill allows me to work on my stride, keep up my endurance and work on my puck handling skills in a tight area. The rapid shot helped improve my shot release and accuracy. As a defenseman I am able to use it to get quick shots offs not necessarily to score but to work on getting the puck on net.”

Puckmasters offers 1-on-1, 2-on-1 and Small Group 4-on-1 training sessions sold in packs of 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48, which also include use of the gym and dryland training areas along with the Rapid Shot and Shooting Simulator before or after your training session. Sessions are usually once-a-week so a 4-pack gives the player use of the facility for a month.

Team training packages and intermediate goalie instruction are available and Puckmasters has partnered with Blake Anderson, who will run his advanced Goal-Tec Goaltending Training out of

Puckmasters going full blast in Wixom

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the facility. The facility is clean and well lit, and LaVoie is in the process of

hanging photos of players that train at Puckmasters, along with banners of local college, junior and pro teams. He also plans a pro shop with skate sharpener and collectibles.

“As a player you are always looking for that edge that will give you the step on your competition,” said Lubin. “I truly believe that by attending on a regular basis it has made me stronger physically, has improved my shooting accuracy and confidence in placing my shots and allowed me to develop quicker.”

By Philip Colvin

Owner Scott LaVoie finishes resurfacing the ice surface at the new Wixom Puckmasters Hockey Training facility.


MICHIGAN HOCKEY


NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUEWHAT TO DO LISTINGS

2009 Activity Guide

The Summit 9410 Davis Hwy | Dimondale, MI 48821 | Ph: 517-319-1000 | Fx: 517-319-1004 [email protected] | www.capitalcentre.com

Programs: Summer Adult Leagues, Ice For Sale, Learn to Skate Camps/Classes, Learn To Hockey Camps/Classes, The Next Level Hockey Training, Figure SkatingAdult and Youth Drop-in Hockey, Birthday Parties, Friday Teen/Dance Nights, Private Hockey Lessons, Soccer, Lacrosse, Flag Football, DodgeballSoftball, For Basketball,Volleyball,and Fitness Centre information please visit www.aimhighsports.com

Total Sports Complex30990 Wixom Road (Inside Total Sports Complex) | Ph: 248-669-9818 | Fx: 248-669-0613 [email protected] | www.totalsportscomplex.com

Programs: Total Performance Hockey Training offers everything the SERIOUS hockey player needs for SERIOUS development. All of our programs are individu-alized and implemented by certified, degreed and experienced trainers. We have a shooting area, full strength training facility, turf space for agil-ity & conditioning, weighted pucks, shooting resistance cords, patented plyometric protocols and the only Athletic Republic Hockey Treadmill in southeast Michigan - the same hockey treadmill used by the US National Development Program in Ann Arbor. This is SERIOUS development for SERIOUS hockey players. If you want to maximize your time and energy, call Total Performance at 248-669-9818.

Troy Sports Center1819 E. Big Beaver Rd. | Troy, MI 48083 | Ph: 248-689-6600 | Fx: 248-689-9911 [email protected] | www. troysports.com

Programs: Summer adult hockey league-July 7th-August 31stSummer Meltdown Camps-June 22nd-26th, July 20th-24th, August 3rd-7th, or August 24th-28th Learn to Skate Summer Classes-June 22nd-August 31stLearn to Skate Summer Camps-July 20th-24th, August 3rd-7th, August 17th-21stFuture Wings Summer Instructional hockey classes-June 15th-August 26thTYHA Fall House League Registration available NOW!Adult Drop-In Hockey-All Summer, M-F morning, noon, and nightOpen Skating times weekdays and weekends all summer3-on-3 league-June 22nd-July 24th weekday games onlyAdult Future Wings hockey learn to skate programPlease visit www.troysports.com for more information, times, and prices

Suburban Ice – Macomb54755 Broughton Rd. | Macomb, MI 48042 | Ph: 586-992-8600 | Fx: 586-992-8666 [email protected] | www.suburbanice.com

Programs: Customer Appreciation NightsJune 24 “Get Active” Free Open Skating from 6:00-8:30pmJuly 1 “Canada Day” Free Sticks and Pucks 6:00-6:50pm and 7:00-7:50pm (30 players per session) Free Open Skating from 6:00-7:50pmJuly 8 “Suburban Hockey Schools 35th Anniversary Party” FREE Hot Dogs, Face Painting, Raffles, Skating and more from 6:00-8:50pm

Drop In HockeyMite & Squirt: Tuesdays 6:00-7:20pm, Saturdays 9:45-11:05am, Sundays 6:15-7:35pmPee Wee & Bantam: Tuedays 4:30-5:L20pm, Saturdays 11:15-12:35pm, Sundays 7:45 – 9:05pmHigh School: Monday through Friday 3:00-4:20pm, Saturdays 4:45 – 6:05pm, Sundays 9:15-10:35pm

Sticks & PucksMondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:15-12:35 pmSaturdays 12:45-2:35pmSundays 4:45-6:35pm

Summer Programs to Beat the Heat!July 9 FREE Give Hockey a Try Clinic – Pre Registration Required 6:00-6:50pmJuly 12 FREE Give Hockey a Try Clinic – Pre Registration Required 3:30-4:20pmJuly 12 Learn to Skate 7 week program offered for all ages on Sundays, Mondays or Thursdays July 20 Learn to Play Hockey Camp 6 week program offered for all ages on Sundays August 3 Suburban Hockey School Player CampAugust 10 Suburban Hockey School Goalie Camp

Annual EventAugust 15 Happy 4th Birthday Suburban Ice – Macomb Free Open Skate 11 – 12:30pm and 1 – 3pm Figure Skating Performances 12:30-1pm Free Hot Dogs 12:30-2pm Free Pictures on the Zamboni 12:30-3pm Free Give Hockey a Try Clinics 3pm Boys, 4pm Girls

Mount Clemens Ice Arena & Fitness Center200 N. Groesbeck | Mount Clemens, MI 48043 | Phone 586-307-8202 | Fax – 596-307-8245 [email protected] | www.mountclemensicearena.com

Programs: Adult/Youth Hockey Camps/Clinics, Youth Drop-in Hockey, Adult Hockey Leagues, Public Skating, Learn to Skate Classe, Figure Skating Camp, Birthday Parties, Fitness Center Memberships, Ice for Sale, Please visit website for more information.

Suburban Ice – East Lansing2810 Hannah Blvd. | East Lansing, MI 48823 | Ph: 517-336-4272 | Fx: 517-336-4273 [email protected] | www.suburbanice.com

Programs: Hockey Schools, Hockey Academy, Play to Learn Hockey CampsPower Skating Classes, Learn to Skate Program, “It’s a Girl Thing” Drop InsAdult Hockey Leagues, Broomball, Adult Developmental HockeyCosmic Skates, Public Skates, Adult Public Skates,18& Over Hockey Drop Ins, Sticks and Pucks Sessions, Greater Lansing Area Hockey AssociationLansing Skating Club, Figure Skating, Ladies Silver Blades, Hockey Camps and Clinics, Private Lessons, Advertisement Opportunities, Birthday PartiesField Trips/Group Outings, Tournaments, Private Ice Rentals

Compuware ArenaCompuware Arena | 14900 Beck Road |Plymouth, MI 48170 | (734) 453-8400 compuwarearena.com | [email protected], [email protected]

Programs: Summer Hockey Schools with the Whalers. Weekly beginning August 3 and running through August 21. The Compuware Arena Drive-in movie theatre shows double features of first run movies on three screens seven days a week through September 6, 2009.


Mount ClemensIce Arena

& Fitness Center200 North GroesbeckPhone: 586-307-8202

Fax: 586-307-8245Email

[email protected]

Websitemountclemensicearena.com

Contact InfoContact Carly Harris for

more information

SUMMER ACTIVITIESMount Clemens & Fitness Center:

Future Pro Goaltending: June 13-14Bandits Goaltending: June 15-19

Robby Glantz Power Skating: June 24-28Turcotte Stickhandling: July 20-24

Public SkatingYouth Drop-in HockeyAdult Hockey Leagues

Learn to SkateFigure Skating Camp

Birthday PartiesGroup Outings

Ice time available for sale

Novi Ice Arena42400 Arena Dr | Novi, MI 48375 | Ph: 248-347-1010 | Fx: 248-347-1077 [email protected] | www.noviicearena.com

Programs: Summer Adult Leagues – Sign up starts June 1st League starts July 8thOpen Skating – M-F 12-1:50pm, Sat-Sun 3-4:50pmSkate Rental always available Learn to Skate – Registration for Summer Session II - June 15th Learn to Skate - Registration for Summer Session III - July 20thLearn to Skate - Registration for Fall Session - August 17thDrop-IN Hockey – Adults – Wed. & Fri. @ 6:30-7:50 am, Wed. & Fri. @ 11:30 am-12:50 pm, Wed. @ 10-11:20 pm, Saturday @ 9:00-10:20 pm

Sticks & Pucks – M-F: 2-3:20pm, Sat. and Sun. Afternoons from 1:30-3 Hockey Schools – Suburban Hockey Schools: July 20-July 24 & July 27 - July 31 classes vary call for more detailsFigure Skating – Contract Ice starts June 15thBasic Skills Figure Skating Competition – July 18thCustomer Appreciation Day - July 13th

ONYX Arena – Rochester52999 Dequindre | Rochester, MI 48307 | Ph: (248)601.6699 | Fx: (248) 601-0102 [email protected] | www.onyxicearena.com

Programs: Summer Adult Leagues-Register as a team or individual – league starts July 7Open Skating: Monday-Friday and Sundays call or check website for specific dates and times. Learn To Skate-Registration underway for Summer Series II begins July 8 – Aug. 15. Adult Drop In Hockey-Monday-Friday afternoons, offered daily – check website or call for specific dates & timesKids Drop In Hockey- Mites, Squirts, Pee Wee, Bantam & High School - check website or call for specific dates & times. Pop In Hockey- offered daily – check website or call for specific dates & timesHockey Schools-Suburban Hockey Schools-July 20-24, July 27-31, August 3-7, August 10-14, classes vary please call for detailsPremier Player Academy - June 30 – July 23, Tuesdays and Thursdays, call for details or visit suburbanhockey.comFall Youth Hockey Registrations-Limited Spots Available in All Divisions, Call for Details. Birthday parties available – check online or call for packages

Suburban Ice – Farmington Hills23996 Freeway Park Dr | Farmington Hills, MI 48335 | Ph: 248-888-1400 | Fx: 248-888-9868 [email protected] | www.suburbanice.com

Programs: Open Skating – M-F 11:30am - 1:30pm, $2.00, skate rental available for $2Sticks and Pucks – M-F 11:30am - 1:30pm, and 1:30pm – 3:30pm, no games, full equipment required, must sign up in person at the front desk, $8.00Kids Sticks and Pucks - Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM, kids 8 and under, $8, no games, full equipmentHockey Schools – Suburban Hockey Schools – 5 weeks - July 13 - August 14, various programs Mite – Adults, both male and femalesuburbanhockey.comLearn to play Hockey / Play to learn Hockey - 6/17 through 7/29, Wednes-day 5:00 PM - 6:30 PMLearn to Skate - summer session, 7/1 - 7/22 and 8/5 - 8/26, $44 per ses-sion, Sam 1, 2, 3 and Basic 1-5, Wednesday 10:00 AM - 11:00 AMMetro Summer Hockey League - June 16 – July 26, games Sunday – Thursday, call front desk for more informationDrop-In Hockey - Friday - 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM, $8.00Womens Drop-In Hockey - call SIFH for details

HELP WANTED*Minimum 5 yrs instructional experience

*Part time skating instructor on The Blade skating treadmill.

*CORE Sports Fitness (248) 619-0900 www.coresportsfitness.com

248-478-2500CLASSIFIED ADSCLASSIFIED ADS

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


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JUNIOR HOCKEY

The hardware keeps piling up for Bloomfield Hills native Andrew Miller.

The former 2007 high school Mr. Hockey at Cranbrook, who led the Junior A Tier I United States Hockey League in scoring this season as a member of the Chicago Steel, was named the league’s Player of the Year in May.

A couple of weeks later Miller was selected as USA Hockey’s 2009 Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year, presented annually to the outstanding American-born player in junior hockey who played for a

team based in the United States. The award is determined by a panel of junior hockey coaches and administrators.

Miller, who will attend Yale University and play for the Bulldogs next season, had 32 goals and 82 points in 58 games in his second season with the Steel.

Farmington Hills Jeff Petry (2007) and Livonia’s Jeff Lerg (2005) are other Michigan winners of the award.

HOGAN TAKES JUNIOR JOB IN WYOMINGAfter winning two national championships and a school-record 88

games with Oakland University’s ACHA team, Sean Hogan accepted a head coaching job with the Yellowstone Quake of the Junior A Tier III Northern Pacific Hockey League (NORPAC).

Hogan, 30, saw the opportunity in Cody, Wyo., as one he could not resist.

“I am very excited about the opportunity and have always had a keen interest in junior hockey,” said Hogan, who replaces Southfield native Marty Quarters, who moved to Kenai of the North American Hockey League. “I take great pride in my ability to develop players not only on the ice, but with life skills. I want to play an integral role in helping players achieve their dream of playing collegiate hockey.”

Still leaving Oakland was bittersweet for the White Lake native.

“It was a very difficult decision,” said Hogan, whose assistant coach Jeremy Bachusz has been named head coach of the Golden Grizzlies. “We had great players, I made many friends in the league and I helped build the program to be a national contender.

H o g a n n o t i c e d q u i c k l y t h e professionalism of the NorPac teams, which has full-time coaches, solid community and ancillary support, and an all-around willingness to grow and move players to the next level.

And the Quake is well-supported by the residents of Cody, and Yellowstone team plays out of a modern arena with access to a 24-hour training facility.

“To me, the most important aspect of junior hockey is the ability of the organization to put more emphasis on promoting players than win-loss records,” Hogan said. “I noticed that immediately with the Yellowstone organization. Winning is important, but striving to win, and the attitude is what develops players and gives them the opportunity to complete at the next level.”

Hogan also feels his coaching style will fit well with the Quake.“I am a very open communicator with my players,” said Hogan.

“Players will know what is expected and there will be no surprises. With that communication comes accountability, both ways, coach-to-player and player-to-coach. When players know their responsibilities, and know that they will be held accountable to those responsibilities, a team or organization can thrive because no one will be confused as to what is expected of them.”By Matt Mackinder

Miller named Junior Player of the Year

Bloomfield Hills native Andrew Miller was selected as USA Hockey’s 2009 Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year.

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

BY MATT MACKINDER

While last season was a whirlwind for Austin Watson, winning a Memorial Cup championship made it all worthwhile.

Watson, an Ann Arbor native who just finished his rookie season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, was part of a dominant squad that plowed through the regular season and playoffs en route to an OHL championship and ultimately, the Memorial Cup.

The Spitfires lost the first two games of the Memorial Cup round robin in Rimouski, Que., but won their last round-robin game, the tiebreaker, the semifinal and then topped the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets in the final to become the first-ever team in the 91-year history of the tournament to win it after dropping the first two games.

“It was such a great feeling to win it, and to do it coming back starting out 0-2 made it that much better,” said Watson, Windsor’s second-round pick in the 2008 OHL draft. “As a team, we stressed perseverance all year and when it mattered most, that’s what we did. The atmosphere was great. The first couple of games, I was nervous due to the magnitude of the games and all the pressure, but as the tournament went on, I felt more and more comfortable.”

Watson, who turned 17 in January, scored 10 goals and 29 points in 63 regular-season games with Windsor, then tacked on another three assists in 20 playoff games and one assist in five games in Rimouski.

And not since Canton native Drew Larman won with London back in 2005 has a Michigan native had the chance to hoist the Memorial Cup.

“Winning a Mem Cup is something that not a lot of players get to experience and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. It’s a great sense of pride to know that the last Michigan player to win it was four years ago,” Watson said. “It’s good to know that Michigan kids can be a part of something so awesome as a Memorial Cup-winning team.”

Next season, Windsor appears to have a team built for another long spring playoff run. Watson sees himself as getting the opportunity to make more of an impact with the Spitfires.

“I see myself playing more and in a greater role,” Watson. “I see myself contributing more offensively and being a more complete player. This is a big summer for me leading into the biggest year of my hockey career (his NHL Draft year) and I’m going to do what it takes to get better for next season.”

HACKETT TO REALIZE DREAM IN MONTREALPlymouth Whalers goaltender Matt Hackett started last season

as the backup to Jeremy Smith, a throw-in in a trade two seasons ago between the Whalers and Windsor, but he now sits as the top-

rated North American goaltender for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on June 26-27 in Montreal.

Hackett, who went undrafted in his first year of eligibility last summer, moved up the NHL Central Scouting list all year long. He went from not even being ranked in the preliminary rankings last fall to eighth in the mid-term rankings and then to No. 1 in the final list.

Hackett posted a 3.04 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage, two shutouts and a 34-13-3-0 record in 55 games for the Whalers this past season.

Hackett also participated in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence Goaltending Camp in Calgary on June 11-14. The camp included 10 candidates for the Canadian National Junior Team and four candidates for the National Men’s Under-18 Team who got instruction and evaluation from Hockey Canada.

“You look at Matt and he’s a pure goaltender,” said Plymouth goaltending

coach Stan Matwijiw. “He’s the type of goaltender that NHL teams are looking for. He’s big (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) and takes up a lot of net. He’s very fundamentally sound.”

MEURS SIGNS ON DOTTED LINEThe Whalers wasted little time in signing 16-year-old center Garrett

Meurs, the team’s first-round pick in last month’s draft.Meurs, from the western Ontario town of Ripley, scored 52 goals

and 95 points in 67 games last season for the Huron-Perth Lakers and at Plymouth’s rookie orientation camp May 16-17 showed he is oozing OHL stardom potential.

“He showed the skill and tenacity our scouts talked about when they watched him last year,” Plymouth head coach/GM Mike Vellucci said. “He’s also a mature young man and that’s a credit to his parents. Garrett should fit in well with our program.”

“This is great,” Meurs said. “Plymouth seems like such a great place. I’ve met all the coaches, trainers and everyone else. I’m looking forward to having a good year.”

COMPUWARE PRODUCT ALSO SIGNS On May 28, Compuware center Stefan Noesen became the latest

product of the Compuware youth system to commit to play for the Whalers.

Noesen was selected in the fourth round of last month’s draft and feels confident.

“I feel ready to play,” Noesen said. “I feel like I can contribute to the team. I’m excited to sign and become a member of the Whalers.”

Noesen is originally from Texas, but now calls Northville home. Last year, he scored 24 goals and 48 points for the national champion Compuware U-16 squad.

“We’ve always put a premium on finding character players with skill,” said Vellucci. “Stefan fits that mold. He played on a championship team last year. I skated with his team in practices last year and love his potential. If Stefan continues to work hard and improve his conditioning, he has a chance to become an excellent player.”

The Whalers have a long history of drafting or signing local players from the Compuware program, going all the way to the team’s first-ever selection in 1990, Pat Peake, the Whalers’ all-time leading scorer.

WHALERS NOTEBOOKJust two weeks after being drafted by the Whalers in the 10th

round, Compuware defenseman Peter Hand verbally committed to Ohio State for 2011 … One of Plymouth’s fifth-round picks, Pittsburgh Hornets center J.T. Miller, has committed to the U.S. National Team Development Program … Defenseman Colin MacDonald, Plymouth’s 14th-rounder from 2008, signed with the Whalers on May 26 … Rookie forward Tyler Seguin was named to Canada’s national men’s summer Under-18 team selection camp in Calgary from August 1-4 with hopes of playing at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from August 11-15 … Veteran defenseman Michal Jordan was taken in the fourth round of the KHL (Russia) Draft on June 1 by SKA St. Petersburg … Outgoing Plymouth captain Chris Terry signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Carolina, the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2007, on May 29 … Plymouth scouting director Jim Debenham resigned June 8 to take the same position in Sarnia. Plymouth then hired Don Harkins to replace Debenham on June 11.

Ann Arbor native Watson wins Memorial Cup; Hackett is top-ranked goalie

Ann Arbor native Austin Watson won the 2009 Memorial Cup with Windsor this season.

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

BY CARL CHIMENTI

Despite an inauspicious start, the Saginaw Spirit is proud of the big strides the team made in the 2008-09 season.

Saginaw finished second in the Ontario Hockey League’s West division, arguably the toughest division in the circuit, behind only the Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires and third overall in the Western Conference.

In addition the team finished with their second best ever win (34) and point (80) totals, along with finally getting the huge monkey off their back with a first round playoff win over the Guelph Storm.

Saginaw head coach and hockey director Todd Watson is pleased with how his staff and players came together and how much they were able to achieve.

“Theoretically we should not have been in the playoffs last season,” said Watson, who won an OHL title as an assistant coach with the Plymouth Whalers in 2006-07 and will start his third season behind the Spirit bench in the fall. “We were picked to finish 18th out of 20 teams and to me to finish second in the tough west division, I am surprised more was not made of that.”

“That was a great accomplishment and then to get into the playoffs and win a first round series along with the teams first playoff road win and a first playoff sweep, what an outstanding year that was.”

The season’s success is even more amazing after what the team endured at the beginning of the year. At training camp the team was dealt a tough blow when none of the Spirit’s 1992 draft picks reported, including their top three selections, forwards Brandon Saad, Livonia native John Parker and Dylen Impens.

“Think about it - we were the only team in the OHL last year that had zero 92’s,” said Watson shaking his head in disbelief. “To me that set us back five years.”

A month into the season there was even more turmoil as the the

Spirit fired general manager Don Edwards and reorganized the hockey department. Watson was named Director of Hockey Operations in addition to his head coaching duties.

Edwards was the club’s fourth general manager, but Spirit President and managing partner Craig Goslin said at the time it was in the best interest of the team.

Looking back, Watson said the transition went well because of his coaching staff.

“It was not difficult because you are only as good as the people around you,” said Watson. “John Kisil (assistant coach) handled the day to day of the players and I brought in Adam (Mattson) from the Whalers to handle the hockey administration duties. I was fortunate to have both handle that, while I was in the middle assisting what ever side needed help.”

NOTEBOOKSaginaw announced the signing of their top two picks in the

May 2009 OHL priority draft. Both Anthony Camara (1st round, 14th overall) and Bingham Farms native Vincent Trocheck (2nd round, 24th overall), attended the teams May mini camp and will report to training camp in late August…Edward Pasquale and T. J. Brodie were invited to summer development camps by Hockey Canada. Pasquale attended Team Canada program of excellence goaltending camp June 11-14 in Calgary, Alberta and Brodie will participate at the Team Canada development camp August 5-10 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Watson proud of how Saginaw rebounded for successful season

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The Saginaw Spirit have signed their top two 2009 draft picks, including Bingham Farms’ Vincent Trocheck.

MICHIGAN HOCKEY


RED WINGS

BY DAVE WADDELL

The pain of a Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final remains fresh for the Detroit Red Wings, who gathered for a team picture on June 15 at Joe Louis Arena.

However, the NHL has this ceaseless way of marching forward and as the players collected their personal belongings several did so knowing it could be for the last time in Detroit.

Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Ty Conklin and Tomas Kopecky are all unrestricted free agents while Jiri Hudler and Ville Leino are restricted free agents.

“It’s tough, that’s the way our lives are,” said Henrik Zetterberg of knowing some of his teammates were leaving the Detroit dressing room for the last time as Red Wings. “You don’t have that certainty. You don’t know really what’s going to happen next year.

“With the cap world now, you can’t keep everyone you want. Players have to find their spots to play in too.

“It’s sad, but you will always remember the players you played with. You’ll always bring that with you.”

Hossa, of course, will be the piece of the puzzle that determines the direction of the club. If the Wings sign him, it means several of the aforementioned names will be moving on. If not, then Detroit will have a lot more flexibility.

“It’s a little disappointing, but I had a great time in here with these people,” Hossa said. “I don’t regret anything.

“Now it’s up to Ken (Holland) and Ritch (Winter), my agent, they’re going to sit down and they’re going to talk about some stuff. I don’t know when, probably next week or the week after.”

Wings captain Nick Lidstrom summed up Hossa’s teammates feelings on the subject. He has lobbied Hossa to make the sacrifices necessary to stay.

“I’d like to see him stay,” Lidstrom said. “He’s been a great addition to our team. A 40-goal scorer isn’t something that’s easy to find. Even though he didn’t score the way he wanted to in the playoffs, he means a lot to our team. He showed a lot of character coming here, turning down some long-term offers and security to come here on a one-year deal. He wanted to win.”

“We hope to have him back again.”Hossa said not completing his Stanley Cup journey hasn’t changed

his mind on where he’d prefer to play next season. “Detroit is at the top of my list for sure,” said Hossa, who

acknowledged he’d have to take a pay cut to stay.

WINDS OF CHANGEThough the winds of change are blowing strongly through the

bowels of Joe Louis Arena, it’s change the Wings seem to embrace rather than fear.

“No. 1, I don’t have to do the changes,” said Wings coach Mike Babcock of how extensive he thought the changes might be. “That’s easy for me.

“But we don’t really do it that way. We bring them to camp and we see who is good enough.

“The thing I found out about veterans, when you have a family at home that you’re feeding, you tend not to give away your job very easily.”

However, Darren Helm, Leino, Jonathan Ericsson and Justin Abdelkader have showed they’re ready for prime time and there’ll no doubt be some upheaval among the veterans that remain regardless.

Babcock has already admitted he expects probably three of the youngsters to remain in Detroit once the NHL season starts for the Wings in October.

“Ericsson was better than I ever expected,” Babcock said. “I made it very clear to him that’s the bar now, so you’re in trouble. There’s going to be lots of expectations.

“Helm the same way. Leino got less of an opportunity, but he was good and so was Abby.

“Abby’s still a kid and might end up playing in the minors next year, at least at the start. We’ll see if he’s prepared.

“That’s something for those guys to decide in training camp and we’ll give them eight or nine exhibition games to figure it out.

“Leino, he’ll be a real good player.”That as much as anything gives the Wings solace only days after

the bitter disappointment of Game 7.Despite coming up just short of their second consecutive Stanley

Cup, the playoff campaign illustrated the Wings are likely to be in the mix for the NHL title for years to come.

“One of the greatest things about this organization is we always get players coming up and playing well from our own system,” Zetterberg said. “You saw a little bit of that in the playoffs.

“Looking forward to the future here, it’s going to be pretty bright.”

THE SKATING WOUNDEDAs the veil of secrecy that descends at playoff time was lifted,

the extent of what Babcock meant when he said his club was ‘being held together by bandages at the end’ was revealed.

Nick Lidstrom required surgery after Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals to repair the damage done by a Patrick Sharp spear to the groin.

His defensive partner Brian Rafalski was playing with a herniated disc is his back for three rounds and added a separated shoulder suffered against Chicago.

Pavel Datsyuk missed most of the finals with a Charley Horse and a bruised foot suffered in the Western Conference Finals. Dan Cleary had a severe groin strain and Tomas Holmstrom a bad left knee that may need surgery this summer.

Kris Draper played only eight playoff games due to an injured neck and groin strain while Kopecky was finished in the second round with a facial fracture.

Andreas Lilja never played in the post-season and is now facing some career questions resulting from the concussion he suffered Feb. 28.

“Let’s be honest, we’re a way better team when Pavel’s healthy,”

Babcock said. “He wasn’t very healthy in the playoffs and I thought that made

a huge difference in the whole series. “Every year, if you’re unfortunate, you’re going to have some

injuries. We’ve had some injuries in the playoffs before and it cost us and I thought in the end, it caught up to us again this year.”

LOSS OF FIREPOWERInjuries weren’t the only thing the caused the Wings to

stumble.The NHL’s highest-scoring team during the regular season and the

early rounds of the playoffs struggled to score goals in the finals. Detroit only allowed four goals over the last three games, but

managed to lose two of them. While Hossa is going to take the lion’s share of the blame, he

wasn’t alone in failing to produce. Tomas Holmstrom had just three assists in the last 18 playoff games. Samuelsson had two assists in his final 10 games and Jiri Hudler had no goals in his last 12.

Second-line center Valtteri Filppula struggled against Evgeni Malkin and even Johan Franzen, who overall had an excellent playoff with 12 goals and 23 points, disappeared with one assist in the final three games against Pittsburgh.

“We didn’t produce enough offense,” Zetterberg said. “We were right there. We had our chances and we couldn’t put it away.

“I think our defense was good enough. Ozzie played unbelievable for us, he didn’t let many goals in.

“If you just let two in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final you should win.”

After only scoring two goals in his past 41 games going back to a second straight injury-filled regular season, Holmstrom even wondered if his body might not let him play beyond the end of his contract next year.

“I have one more year, I try to enjoy next year and see what happens after that,” said the 36-year-old Holmstrom. “The body’s got to hold up, too. You can’t be like this for a whole year.

“I love the game but what can you do if the body says no? It’s tough time.

“The way I play, you take a lot of beatings, too. Maybe it’s catching up on me.’’

Time will tell this summer with Holmstrom, but he won’t be alone in mulling over unpleasant memories from the finals.

Zetterberg said there’s few things that rekindle the hunger in a champion than watching another team lift the Stanley Cup.

The Wings admit they already feel as if they let a moment in history pass and are determined to get back to the finals to make amends.

“The feeling you had when you skated off the ice, you’ll have that with you when you’re working out this summer preparing for next year,” Zetterberg said. “For sure you don’t want the feeling again. You want the feeling you had last year.

“You just use that as motivation and we’ll be okay.”

With defensemen Brian Rafalski (left) and Nick Lidstrom (below) closing in, Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood stops a shot from Pittsburgh’s Bill Guerin (center) as the Penguins Chris Kunitz

looks for a rebound during the 2009 Stanley Cup final.

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Long summer: Game 7 loss gives Red Wings motivation to return to finalLong summer: Game 7 loss gives Red Wings motivation to return to finalLong summer: Game 7 loss gives Red Wings motivation to return to finalLong summer: Game 7 loss gives Red Wings motivation to return to final

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY


RED WINGS

Lidstrom still among NHL’s eliteBY KEVIN ALLEN

Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom is 10 months away from his 40th birthday, and three weeks removed from a gruesome injury that almost forced the surgical removal of a testacle.

But those who watched Lidstrom perform in the NHL playoffs don’t seem to believe he’s anywhere close to being ready to retire.

“Of course, he will be taking his family into consideration, but I could see him playing until he is 45, 46 or 47,” said teammate Kirk Maltby. “His skills haven’t diminished at all…it seems like he just finds it easy to play.”

After the Red Wings lost the Game 7 to Pittsburgh, it was revealed that Chicago’s Patrick Sharp’s stick had struck Lidstrom in the groin during Game 3 and while the Red Wings were preparing for Game 4, a doctor was telling Lidstrom

that he didn’t know whether the testicle could be saved or not. He had practiced Saturday, but woke up Sunday in excruciating pain. The doctor had informed Lidstrom that he could awake from surgery with one testicle gone.

“It was painful, I can tell you that,” Lidstrom said.

Lidstrom told the Detroit Free Press that he wasn’t angry about what happened, and hadn’t even sought out a replay to see what happened. He said sometimes these things happen accidently as players try to lift another player’s stick.

That kind of reaction is a typical for a player who rarely lets any anger show.

However, those who believe that Lidstrom never allows his excitement to show has never heard him discuss Liverpool soccer.

One day, Windsor (Ont.) Star hockey writer Dave Waddell, who also writes for Michigan Hockey, mentioned to Lidstrom that he seen a game in Liverpool and had spent time with its famous player Kenny Dalglish.

“He told me to pull up a stool and he wanted to

hear everything about it,” Waddell said. “It was just like he was a fan…one of his dreams is to attend a game at Anfield Road, the famous stadium. We talked 10 or 15 minutes about Liverpool soccer.”

The Lidstrom animation that Waddell witnessed isn’t often seen on the ice because Lidstrom has spent 17 seasons developing a reputation as the calmest superstar in hockey.

“The first time I ever met Lidstrom what I remember is how quiet he was,” said Detroit’s Kris Draper who has played with him since 1993. “I’ve been very fortunate to see the evolution of Nick Lidstrom first hand.”

Maltby recalls that the first time he heard Lidstrom speaking Swedish it surprised him.

“He doesn’t even really have an accent, so the first he started speaking Swedish, I said, what the…oh, I forgot about that,” Maltby said, laughing. “…it was a funny…you almost took it for granted

he was North American. He’s the same way now. He’s quiet and he goes about his business.”

Although he was a coach’s dream defender early in his career, his quiet demeanor, coupled with Detroit’s high profile dressing room, stunted his national attention.

“For a while, he was the best-kept secret in the league,” Draper said.

But with six Norris Trophies, Lidstrom now has the best defensive credentials in the game. He isn’t expected to win the Norris again, although he is nominated.

“He is so poised with the puck,” rookie defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. “I just try to do the things that he does out there. I learn just by watching him.”

During the playoffs, L idst rom was among Detroit’s most consistent high level performers. He scored the winning goal with 50 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the conference final against Anaheim.

“I think (Lidstrom’s) greatest skill is that he doesn’t make things complicated,” said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. “…he can play big minutes because he’s

an effortless skater.”Lidstrom has one season left on his contract,

and he has said previously that he could see himself playing beyond that. He admitted before Game 6 of the Finals that he has thought about the possibility that this could be his last opportunity to win a Stanley Cup.

“I thought about it last year too,” Lidstrom said. “You can’t take it for granted about winning a Stanley Cup or even being in the Finals. I learned that early on. You have to take advantage of your opportunities.”

His durability is unprecedented. He missed only two games after testicle surgery, and those were the first two playoff games he has ever missed. That’s not exactly an indication of an athlete breaking down.

“You don’t see anything going in his game,” Draper said. “He still skates well. He shoots the puck extremely well. He is so smart. He has a great stick. He is always in position. If he wanted to do it, he could certainly go into his 40s. It will be a sad day for Detroit when No. 5 walks away.”

Red Wings Up CloseRed Wings Up CloseArt Regner

It just wasn’t the die-hards, it was everybody. An entire city - whether you were a hockey fan

or not - had awarded the 2009 Stanley Cup to the Detroit Red Wings. Parade routes were planned along with anticipation of another summer of partying with Lord Stanley.

But it all came crashing down in a cacophony of a hollow, dense thud. When the initial shock faded the image was all too real. It was the brash young captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins that was skating around the Joe Louis Arena ice with the Stanley Cup.

Detroit’s ‘Hockeytown Heroes’ had come up one game short of defending their championship. Suddenly, the talk of celebrating ceased and “I don’t believe what I just saw!” became the topic of the day.

We can harp all we want about the schedule, officiating, conspiracies, injuries and plain old bad luck, but it was our (fans) assumption of victory that will make this defeat linger for months to come.

In a way, we’re all victims of the Red Wings success. There hasn’t been another Detroit team that has put together as impressive of a run for as long as the Wings. They’ve been heralded as the ‘best franchise in professional sports,’ a title that they deserve.

Since they’ve been the rock stars of the NHL for

over a decade, we’ve all forgotten how difficult it is to win a title in professional sports. I would bring up the Lions, but why? You understand my point.

Make no mistake; the Red Wings are not above criticism. They appeared to have control of their destiny. With two opportunities to close out the Penguins and the all-or-nothing game seven of the Finals at Joe Louis Arena, the Stanley Cup should still be residing in Detroit.

You would think a team as deeply talented as the Wings would have been able to win just one more game. Their experience alone should have been enough. Unfortunately, the Penguins had just tasted the bitterness of losing the Cup to the Red Wings the year before and they learned their lesson well. Give Pittsburgh credit, they capitalized on every opportunity and when it counted the most they were better than Detroit.

But this about us, the good people of Detroit, southeast Michigan and Red Wings’ fans everywhere. Our actions and response to the Red Wings defeat proves we are spoiled and take the team for granted.

First and foremost, do not pay much attention to the media. You’ll get local pundits pounding the drum of a massive choke job by Detroit and the national press (especially the Canadian corps) sit Sidney Crosby at the right hand of God. Let the media do their jobs because it’s time for a little self examination.

Speculation had surfaced that Red Wings veterans Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, along with a few of Detroit’s other elder statesmen, could be competing in their last playoff campaign for the

Red and White. Although most of that scuttlebutt is unfounded, eventually that day will come.

That’s why regardless of how they finished this year; the Wings accomplished more than any other defending Stanley Champion in over a decade. We should be disappointed in how it ended, but we should also relish in the journey.

“They beat us,” said Red Wing goalie Chris Osgood, “I could say a few things, but they’d be looked at as excuses. They just beat us.”

Osgood and his fellow Red Wings certainly do not like to lose. They’ll eventually move on because they live to play another day. It’s us, the fans that will need time to come to grips with the defeat. May I suggest you begin realizing that the 2008-09 Detroit Red Wings are history? This team will not be the same next year.

Detroit General Manager Ken Holland has already indicated that salary cap issues, restricted and unrestricted free agents, along with tough decisions on veteran players, will be factors into how different the roster will look for the 2009-10 season.

Out of Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Samuelsson, Chris Chelios, Ty Conklin, Derek Meech, Tomas Kopecky, Andreas Lilja (injury), Tomas Holmstrom, Draper and Maltby, more than one could have played their final game in a Detroit

uniform. Signing Hossa should still be Detroit’s top

priority and would give the Red Wings four elite forwards - Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen - in their top two lines which means major match up difficulties for the opposition.

Add in Valtteri Filppula, Dan Cleary and a projected fourth line of Darren Helm, Ville Leino, and Justin Abdelkader, and the Wings look extremely competitive up front.

Then again do we really know? Are you comfortable in assuming that the Wings will be returning to the Stanley Cup Final for a third year in a row? Can you be sure about a bright foreseeable future for the Red Wings organization?

Nothing is etched in stone when you try to predict the future. Looking back is tangible, looking ahead is a guess.

Why were we all so confident that the Wings had the Cup in the bag? For starters they were up two games to none. The team has been so good for so long that the opposition didn’t matter and most importantly they’re the Red Wings and the Red Wings are great!

By looking at the past we thought we knew the future. It’s human nature and fans do it all the time. It’s woven into the fabric of fandom, but let’s remember a the cliché “that’s why they play the game.”

And the Red Wings on most occasions have played the game better than anybody else - except this time they fell one game short.

While we may not like it, in typical fan fashion we do have a rallying cry - “wait until next year – go Wings!”

Cup loss staggers Red Wings fans

The Red Wings accomplished more than any other defending Stanley Champion in over a decade. We should be disappointed in

how it ended, but we should also relish in the journey.

Despite approaching his 40th birthday, Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom’s (with Pittsburgh’s Chris Kunitz) skills are still top notch.

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MICHIGAN HOCKEY

Captain Sidney Crosby won’t be 22 until August. Evgeni Malkin is also 22, and Jordan Staal is still only 20. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury seems like an old man at 24.

If there was a NHL team set-up for a long run of success, it is the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Red Wings, meanwhile, with or without Marian Hossa, are also in a position to compete strongly for the Cup in 2010.

As much as the hockey world appreciated the Penguins vs. Red Wings, Part II, the intriquing aspect of the story is that there is a decent shot at the introduction of the third chapter of this hockey saga.

We could see Red Wings vs. Penguins again next year, provided the Penguins can deal with the Stanley Cup hangover issues.

The Penguins’ strength is that they have Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Maxime Talbot and Brooks Orpik all tied up moving forward, giving rise to the idea of a team that could be a major contender for several years.

“That’s a great thought, and it’s a dream,” said Pittsburgh coach and Grand Haven native Dan Bylsma. “But there’s a lot of hard work and building and laying a foundation that goes into every year. It doesn’t happen without building that foundation.”

It also doesn’t happen without the general manager making sound financial decisions when it comes to husbanding the team’s salary cap.

Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero, with his Stanley Cup championship only three days old, already is facing some difficult decisions about how to deal with potential unrestricted free agents Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin, Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi among others.

The salary cap is expected to stay somewhere near the $57.8 million mark for next season, and the Penguins have $21.4 million (37%) tied up in their

three centers, Crosby, Malkin and Staal. Goalkeeper Fleury is a $5 million cap hit. Counting the other players under contract, the Penguins have roughly just under $47 million tied up for just 14 players.

That leaves under $11 million for another eight or nine players, including a back-up goalie. Mathieu Garon is an unrestricted free agent.

Complicating the situation for the Penguins is that stay-at-home defenseman Scuderi, 29, played well enough during the playoffs that he has the potential to be one of the hotter defensemen in the marketplace.

Guerin, 37, earned $4 million this season, and it seems likely he would have to accept less to remain as Crosby’s right wing. Fedotenko earned $2.25

million this past season and Gill had a cap number of $2.07 million.

Even if Shero signs four other players for an average of $600,000 each, it would leave approximately $8.6 million for those four players. Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan are also unrestricted, but they are expected to end up elsewhere next season.

My hunch is that Fedotenko and Scuderi both will get done, and Guerin and Gill are somewhat less likely, although it would be difficult for me to believe that Guerin would want to leave Crosby’s line. Playing with Crosby could add a couple of highly productive years to his resume. If he stayed healthy, he would probably score 30-35 goals playing with Crosby next season.

When Detroit coach Mike Babcock was asked if Pittsburgh was set-up for future success, he said ‘Yes’ as long as the salary cap didn’t get in the Penguins’ way.

“What happens is there’s only so much pie to go around,” Babcock said. “It’s called math. Depth is really important as much as star

power is. But what they’ve got going for them right now are good players and good players attract good players.”

The Penguins probably will be trying to emulate the Red Wings’ system of persuading players to take less pay to remain with a quality team.

“Sometimes when it’s a good situation, a good building coming, a good owner, good general manager,” Babcock said. “Maybe you can get guys to come for less.”

Detroit’s situation is difficult because there isn’t room to keep Hossa without probably trading someone. Also, keeping Hossa, seems, at least on paper, to prohibit Detroit from keeping Mikael Samuelsson or Jiri Hudler.

But regardless of what happens to those three players, there is enough talent on the Detroit roster that right now it seems like the Red Wings are the team to beat in the West.

The unpredictable nature of NHL playoff hockey makes the odds against Pittsburgh and Detroit meeting again in 2010 improbable, but the depth of talent on these two teams gives me hope.

Detroit vs. Pittsburgh in the rubber match of a three-year competition - now that would be a story.

Pens and Wings could meet againKevin Allen covers pro and college hockey for USA Today

OPINION

With young stars like Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg, the Penguins and Red Wings could meet again in next year’s Stanley Cup final.

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Michigan Hockey June 22, 2009