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1inawesomewonder · 5 years ago

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Finishing a youth hockey season that lasted for more than 6 months, it was remarkable to witness the progress. Even though this team still struggles with spacing, structure, and strategy, I think that is okay for 9-year-olds. The personal growth and development per individual skater is obvious.

The #4 seeded Flames finished their season with three losses in the EMHL playoffs. They lost to the #1, the #3, and the #5 seeds in the postseason. They played hard right through to the final whistle of the tournament even though they knew their fate had been sealed, scoring a goal in the last 40 seconds of their final game. That I love, not just because of the goal, but because they just kept playing hard, shift after shift. In essence they were making the effort to get better regardless of the outcome, or the wins, or the losses. Winning is not the only measurement for improvement.

I know that the tryout weeks for the upcoming season, which is still 5 months away, can be stressful. I believe this is mostly because Americans in general want games, and wins. They are not patient enough for practices and development of skills. Many coaches get caught up in the wins despite looking you in the eye and saying they aren’t. Actions tell the true story. These shallow measurables, especially at young ages, drive the process in almost all of the competitive youth sports. I find it interesting that this is such a big deal when only a fraction of all athletes end up playing sports in high school, college, or certainly the professional ranks. Still, so many coaches, and parents, look to circumvent league and community processes so they can load up teams and cater to the very few. It’s incredibly narrow minded, and it doesn’t even work. Nevertheless, the process re-begins at the end of hockey season, to make a team for the upcoming fall/winter.

If we’re fortunate, which I believe our group has been very fortunate, we get to tryout for a team where a coach philosophy is more about a safe place to land, and an environment that allows young kids to flourish. Instead of winning at all costs, with the costs including blowing kids out of sports entirely, strained relationships with many people in the community, and undo stress on young psyches trying to fulfill someone else’s almighty agenda. Seriously, if the best of your coaching run peaks at anything under the age of 15, who cares? Especially if winning is more important than development. Because, really, few, if any players, peak physically, mentally, and athletically before the high school ages, or more likely college age. Kids get burned out or blown out, and quit sports at all ages, even before they have a chance to fully develop as athletes and young men or young women. Then, on top of that, why would they give back to something that didn’t give anything to them in the first place.

So I choose not to get caught up in whether my player makes team one, or team two, but rather having a team for a player to land on at all. At these young ages; Who can say that the player who was ranked 15th on a roster of 15 last season, won’t be a force to be reckoned with by the time they are 15 years old? Perhaps we will never know because that player was cut from a team concerned with their won-loss record in the next season and will never play sports again. It happens that way more than you think.

Back to this team, and to the group we have enjoyed so much fun with over these several months. What a great group of people. The players have all improved. More than that, most of them have fallen in love with the sport, with the team aspect, and enjoy working hard together. That’s what it’s all about. They all played in virtually every game scenario you could imagine over the season. Line after line, shift after shift, all the kids played. They are better for it. And, if given the chance, they’ll be even better by this time next year. Best wishes to all of the 2010 Flames players and families from this team, no matter where you end up next season. Hopefully all the kids want to keep playing the wonderful sport of hockey. Our family has had a blast this season. Thank you all.

EMHL Game One

Jax and Ian get back on defense together, just like their 2-man bobsled practices.

Teddy gets distracted by what appears to be a great ice fishing hole.

After Teddy mentioned ice fishing, Austin found an even better spot.

James and Luke seem to have no trouble with the gale force winds in the rink, but the ref? I am a little bit concerned.

Jax and James hustle back on defense while Travis gets ready.

Travis takes matter into his own hands and gets ready to shut the door.

Save made. I got it boys, at ease fellas.

Travis takes his eye off of the puck when he notices all the snow drifting his way.

Austin shoots on goal while Drew and Gavin skate in support.

Flames goal! Austin scores.

Austin and Teddy were not prepared for the marching portion of the game.

Jordan leads the rush. Drew looks over to the bench wondering wear his ‘eye red’ is, after seeing the ‘eye green’ behind him.

Jordan’s eyes looking one way while skating the other.

Austin gets tied up in a battle for the puck.

See here kids, if you can use your edges like so, you can cut back against the grain.

Austin makes the next move by accelerating through the seam behind the defense and ahead of the back check.

Drew carries the puck while Teddy hustles and Jax covers their backs.

Three Flames in a row, skating in sync.

Kayden and the boys hangin on the bench.

Finley looks for any trouble brewing on the horizon.

Travis causes a ruckus by hiding the last roll of tp, and the place goes crazy.

Ian sets up his famous backhand and Logan looks in from a zone away. Pear Tree gets ready for a puck in a pear tree.

Just a line change. I am going to miss these players for the next few months.

Drew has a look around while surveying the offensive zone.

Right before the end of the period the ice crew asked the players to hold up the end boards until help arrived.

EMHL Game Two

Luke and Logan look for open space and a pass to create some offense.

Jax is back on D while Ian and Gavin hustle to help out.

Ian gets momentarily mesmerized by the stripes on his blade, but continues forward.

Colby decides that since he can’t legally check the player, he had better just play the puck. On the other hand, his fencing classes are really making a difference.

Next season this will be a twenty foot pass with both players skating up ice. The progress will continue.

James notices a disturbance off to one side of the zone and Travis is already on it.

Squirt Minor defensemen. Hearts bigger than their games, and it’ll all even out if they keep pushing themselves. Love it.

This is Travis, he is a hockey goaltender. He lists sitting down on the job as one of his life goals. Well done.

Oh, this young lady. Look for her series of inspirational kids books under the title of, “The Adventures of the Mighty Fin’ in a virtual bookstore near you.

Travis mutters, “Hey guys don’t even waste your time coming over here. I got this. I’ll just flip this to myself and we’ll take a breather.”

Drew continues to improve at the face-off dot.

Travis makes a save on a random puck being fired at him, from out of nowhere. Ninja like.

This here, is a little something we like to call the, ‘Jax Jig’. A difficult condensing of steps allowing him to move in two directions at the same time. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

James keeps the puck in at the blue line. Meanwhile this extra referee was added just to shadow the penalty prone Banana Beal.

Special Edition of a stock face-off photo when the referee throws the puck at the face-off dot like he’s throwing a twig into a bonfire he’s afraid of.

The opponent shoots the puck on net. Drew demonstrates how he would form an A-frame over the previously discovered ice fishing spots. Then Jax, and the swaying strings.

Finley plays the puck like a yo-yo, but I might have her checked out because it looks like something striped is sticking out of her mouth.

Garrett plays defense in the corner but gets drawn in, looking straight down, by another good ice fishing spot

Face-off photo and the boys are in motion immediately.

Coach Scott shows the kids the motions that Novak Djokovic uses after winning a match. Colby sees it. Coach Tim looks on, “He’s not kidding.”

This is the cover photo for Drew’s tell-all book coming out this summer, entitled, “I Hear No Whistles”.

Logan asks Jax, “Do you think Ian sees the puck? Or is he sneaking up on it?”

Austin takes his per puck for a roll while Gavin winks at more adoring fans in the crowd.

Travis is ready for hockey despite the Terriers yelling, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send Logan right over.”

There are a whole bunch of kids here, and I bet they all are missing some hockey right about now.

Honestly, if there were a movie running in the back of my consciousness, it would likely be full of images like this one. I simply adore kids loving, playing, and enjoying their sport, a possible introduction to the times of their lives.

EMHL Game Three

In the end we must compose ourselves to respect our opponent, and the game.

Up and down the ice they go. Creating waves, their own ebb and flow. Maybe they’re still growing, and moving kinda slow. But stick with it, I say, and faster they will go.

James shows off some fancy skate work. Gavin agrees, “Groovy James, I can dig it man.”

3) That’s a Flames goal for Logan, back on offense.

2) The cut back served Logan well as he hits an opening in the defense.

1) Logan sets his edges and turns toward the slot.

I was so close to this shot that I almost got it from the other side.

This picture is faded because I took it in 1993, in pure anticipation.

Drew skates through center ice with the puck. Look Mom, one hand.

At this age, reaching for the puck might be the same as reaching for the stars, or even reaching for greatness. The road starts somewhere.

The players wait while Travis works on his sleight of hand skills with the old city street standby, the shell game.

I was in good position I thought, but I still missed whatever had Jordan so wide-eyed.

Up close action as Jax throws some snow for good measure.

Finley shows off her long locks of hair while giving her opponent an eye test.

Jax leads an impromptu game of keep away.

The players from both teams are excited to be skating as ‘extras’ in Gavin’s first Disney photo shoot.

In the old Sesame Street days, this would be a quiz on which one of these pairs of socks don’t belong.

The Flames get back on defense and somehow Garrett falls asleep mid stride.

James plays some tight defense along the boards.

Finley is flying. Ian picks his spot. Jax lies in wait.

“Ugh! My kingdom to be a right hand shot right now!!!!”

I love these pictures. Kids, sports, guidance, coaching. Team. Together. All for one.

2010 Flames Finish Their Season Finishing a youth hockey season that lasted for more than 6 months, it was remarkable to witness the progress.

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