Hello Hockey Families, Fans and Fanatics,

Did you miss the game? Do you need another point of view? Friday night, Your Renegades Midget Major team took to the ice at approximately 6:45 and squared off against the Colorado Hockey Club (CHC) from Colorado Springs. A moment of humor was provided as both team came from the locker rooms to their respective rink gates wearing their RED game sweaters. A coin toss sent our Midgets back to the locker room for a sweater change.

First Impressions

At first site of the CHC players, I was immediately impressed with how small and young they appeared. Those kids warmed up hard and showed they had some solid hockey skills, so it was hard to say how they would fare, hard to make a direct comparison as I was standing on the CHC end of the ice. Maybe it was an optical illusion? Within the first three minutes of play, it was clear that your Renegades had a younger CHC team out matched. the first period of play saw the score 6-0 in our favor.

Second Period Changes

Coaches from both teams swapped out their starting net minders. Ethan went to the bench on our end while a kid who looked to be all of fourteen years was replace with a solid fifteen or sixteen year old. He would go on to play much better than his counter part, allowing only four or so goals per period.

I know it is hard to imagine, but we took some penalties, and scored some short handed goals, two in the first and one in the second. That works out to three short handed goals in four penalties. Coach Roger had been working hard at practice on power plays. Wednesday night he had the defense playing with their sticks upside down to give the offense some change of learning how to setup and move the puck. Power plays vs. the younger CHC team looked to be the next progression in coach Roger’s power play practice plan. When we did go on a power play (twice) the boys looked pretty good out there. They moved the puck around at ease and scored a power play goal in each of their two PP opportunities.

Third period comes along and with it some sketchy decision making from tired players. It seemed that several of the CHC team players decided that a more physical playing style would yield some better results; it didn’t. In fact, that plan resulted in one of their players leaving the ice from what looked to be a concussion. He was still be evaluated after the game. If that boy is going to continue playing tough, I hope his parents buy him a new and safer helmet plus a shock doctor mouth guard.

As I was embedded with the enemy, I was able to overhear their disgruntled comments. As a group, the CHC families and fans thought Roger should call off his attack dogs. Even my kid offered that it was a little over the top for the coach to be encouraging his players to put more pucks in the net. Of course I pointed out that coach most likely had his eye on the prize and ‘goal differential’ would be used to determine standings and eventual final game matchups. Hey, this is tournament hockey, it has to be done. I’m siding with you Rodge!

When the score reached 9-0 in the third, the score keeper no longer would put the goals up on the scoreboard, or maybe the scoreboard won’t go that high? Here are the final numbers:

Goals: Ross Stults 5
Assists: Zac Alexander 3
Points: Ross Stults 7
PIM: Javan Wendt 4
PP: Kohl Kovacich 1
SH: Ross Stults 2

An Interesting Stat

Twelve goals backed by thirteen assists, nice ratio there.
Two power plays, two power play goals (Kohl – 1 | Anthony – 1)
Four penalty kills, three short handed goals ( Ross – 2 | Kylle – 1)

What’s on Tap Saturday, October 9th

Vail/Eagle Mountaineers vs. Mountain States 1
10:00 am
Big Bear North

Cheyenne Capitals vs. Mountain States 2
11:00 am
Big Bear South

Bishop Machebeuf vs. Florida Jr. Panthers
1:00 pm
Big Bear North

Cheyenne Capitals vs. Vail/Eagle Mountaineers
8:30 pm
Big Bear North

Florida Jr. Panthers vs. CHC Rampage
8:45 pm
Big Bear South

Bishop Machebeuf vs. Mountain States 2
10:00 pm
Big Bear North

Reported by Flash Buddy

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News Flash

NCYH Jr. Eagles Hockey program has instituted a new policy of requiring parents to put a $250.00 check on deposit. The check is to be held, not cashed, unless ones child is issued a major infraction call from a referee while playing a league game. It was initially reported that the penalties may include, but are not limited to, fighting, spearing, kicking, abuse of officials or other serious “intent to injure” penalties; nobody really knows for sure. It has also been reported that the idea was borrowed from what the high school teams have been doing.

I Don’t Know

It is my most humble opinion (here I go again with opinions) that an organization considering cashing $250.00 checks that it holds in escrow would give a lot of thought to all aspects of what it is they are trying to achieve and how exactly they plan to go about achieving it. After all, it is no small responsibility to keep safe an individuals personal check. I wouldn’t want mine showing up in some odd place or going towards some odd use. I would expect that the amount to be collected would be based upon some research or established knowledge; it shouldn’t be some number just picked out of the air. Therefore, when a concerned parent asks the most basic questions such as:

• Why $250.00? This is $50.00 higher than the high school $200.00?!
• Who makes the determination of who’s check gets cashed and who’s does not. Could be politically motivated, no?
• What will the money be used for and why?
• How much money is the program expected to raise? There are past statistics on our leagues penalties and a good guess can be ventured.
• What happens if a check held in escrow bounces? Will the family be kicked out of the organization?

…the answer would be something more than “I don’t know.

Hidden Fund Raising

I’m pretty sure the intent is to grab more money, just my opinion, which many of you know, I love to share.  This is exactly the kind of thing that paints NCYH in a bad light. As Pink Floyd sings; “One more brick in the wall”. Amazingly, over thirty players left the NCYH this season and arrived on the doorstep of the Mountain States Renegades?!  Give yourself time to digest that, it is no small sign post and at hockey prices that range from $690.00 to $2,200.00, no small number!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not for hockey fights. I’ve only been with the organization for about six years, so I have no knowledge of how this issue has been  handled historically, or what other organizations do. What happened to having a coach in control of the team with parents backing him/her up? Uh, that was a rhetorical question. Parents are supported and coaches dropped. Heck, they’re only volunteer dads for the most part. I’ve been keeping an informal list of great coaches who have lost their enthusiasm to coach for the NCYH. Granted my list is short, but my NCYH time has been short too; six seasons.

OK, times change, I get it. I agree fighting checks are one answer to a problem, but they may not be the only answer.  I could be a big supporter of the program if only it were reasonable, well researched, documented, and explained. At this time I think $250.00 is way over the top. We are talking rec. hockey in my case, not the more competitive high school level of play.

Looking at the big picture, I don’t think it will have an effect on our family. Max is such a nice boy and genteel hockey player. I sincerely hope it does not have an effect on yours! Look me up at the next game and we can chat more about it; unless I get kicked off the team for having an opinion.

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I can’t believe this has happened to us. With no competitive hockey available in the Fort Collins / Loveland / Windsor area, we have gone over to the red (white and yellow) side, we have gone to Greeley for Renegades hockey. This has added twenty minutes to my drive time. NoCo was a ten minute drive. Getting to the Warnco Ice Center, now Mountain States Hockey, takes a solid thirty minutes. We can’t speed ’cause were in work traffic most nights. Commuters returning from Fort Collins and Loveland, heading home to Greeley. Yup, we travel a steady sixty five miles per hour and get there in exactly thirty minutes.

When you see the rink you think to yourself, OMG! The roof over the ice is supported by steel girders with paint peeling off of them and just the right amount of rust. The boards aren’t finished on the outside like most other ice venues. They exude that construction zone look and feel. The Plexiglas is so old and marked up from pucks hitting it, fans can barely see through to see their favorite players. Broken sections of glass have been replaced with sheets of white painted plywood. Smart fans watch from the upstairs viewing area. It is only the die hard opinionated fathers who congregate at ice level and watch through the rare semi clear spots. Can you guess where I watch from?

Its About the Kids

I asked the coach if they were making any money there. He looked at me and asked why I would ask such a thing. I simply suggested it would be nice to repaint the steel support beams whereupon I was interrupted with: “We would never waste money on something like that. It all goes to the kids, its about the kids. I’ve heard the “its about the kids” line plenty of times before, but this time it sounded sincere. Talking with the other parents there you see that they are believers, that it truly is all about the kids. So far, the directory Tim Knox, assistant director and head coach Roger Gill, the parents and players have across the board have been adamant that it is all about the kids.

Zac is invested. Initially he wasn’t convinced and in previous years he emphatically steered clear after having skated on their ice a couple times. But this year he agreed to take another look and said yes to an offer to come out to the Renegades for an evaluation skate. Max went too, but under duress. Both boys skated with the Major AA team. Zac looked great. Max held his own but it was easy to see he was over his head.

Bang for your Buck

We started week four today with another 1.75 hour practice. In the past three weeks the team has racked up about 15 practice hours and played in nine games. The Renegades have won seven of those nine games. In contrast, the NCYH Jr. Eagles Major AA team is starting week five and has played but eight games, winning only two.

Track Record

One can not deny the Renegades have a successful program. If you get over to the rink, pay more attention to the championship banners then the unfinished nature of the rink. Yes, true beauty lies in the banners.

Renegades Teams

• Five CAHA State titles since 2006-2007
• Nine CDYHL titles since 2006-2007
• One team playing in the USA Hockey National Championships at the Tier II (AA) Level in the 2009-2010 season

Player Recognition

• Twelve Renegades Alumni Players will play Tier I (AAA) in 2010-2011 at the U18, U16 and U14 levels.
• Nine Renegades Alumni Players played Tier I (AAA) in 2009-2010 at the U18, U16 and U15 Levels.
• Congratulations to Renegades Alumni: John Dora and Kyle Robison. both played ont the 2009-2010 Colorado Thunderbirds Tier I (AAA) U 16 National Championship team.

State Evaluation Camp Selections

• 2009-2010: Nine players
• 2008-2009: Ten players
• 2007-2008: Six players

Facing Future

• 2009-2010: Squirt B and PeeWee A CDYHL Champions

As a family, we are looking enthusiastically looking forward to this new adventure, to being a part of the organization. Traditionally we’ve felt like the organization was most interested in our money, then our kid, and not at all Jan and I as parents.

Post Assessment

Coach Rodger, after assessing Zac, put him up on the forward line. As a coach, I was wondering when somebody would recognize the fact that Zac has more potential as a winger.  Of course there is a learning curve, and Zac got off to a slow start, but in the last three games Zac has contributed two assists and five goals. Oh, and one fight, he got 2 minutes for that, the other guy was ejected. I guess one could say he fought his way onto the team.

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Zac, Jan and I anxiously waited news on the outcome of Zac’s recent Midget Major competitive try-out; the phone call at last came.

“Hello, this is Coach Jake,”

OMG, Jake Couts is the Major AA coach. Zac made AA?!  Out of roughly forty skaters, our son made the cut! The rest of the phone call affirmed that our son, Zac Alexander had successfully made the Major AA hockey squad. As a family we were thrilled.

The first order of business was to call Grandpa Frank, Aunt Judi, and various brothers/sisters in-law, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors and give them all the good news.

Another call comes in, this from the assistant coach;

“Hello, this is the assistant coach of the Major A team. I want to let you know that your son has made our team”.

I was a little taken aback, to say the least. I responded to him; Gee coach, we just learned that Zac has made the Major AA team too. It is going to be tough to get him to all the practices and games for both teams, but we’ll do our best. I think he got a little annoyed with me. Coach went on to explain when practice was and to have him there ready to skate at five minutes before ice time.

Well, “five minutes before ice time” threw up a red flag. Any coach worth his salt would want the kids there an hour before ice time, whereby the seasons rules and expectations could be laid out. That notwithstanding we agreed to get Zac to the Major A practice on time.

Zac was plenty sweaty upon coming back from the rink; a good sign. I asked Zac how the team looked.  His response led me understand that as a group, they were a pretty weak bunch. Apparently only six skaters showed up. I pressed Zac on how the coaches seemed. I got a typical teen aged one word response: “Stupid”.

One week later we get another phone call. This one informs us that the Major A team had been dissolved due to “lack of participation”. My reaction: WTF!!!

NHL Prospects

The experience of most hockey families are that their kids all hope to play in the NHL someday. As time passes and the kids go from Mites, to Squirts, to Bantams… expectations are lowered. However, for the sake of argument lets say our kids are Bantams and will be moving onto Midgets in the next season. Is it possible a motivated player can make the NHL? Yes, it is possible, but not probable. The last statistics I saw on the subject put the odds at one in thirty thousand. The statistics will get worse for the player who doesn’t have a competitive team to play on. Consider the plight of Jerad Bussell.

Jerad’s Story

As of this writing, Jerad Bussell is a thirteen year old first year Bantam. Jerad still believes and wants to play in the NHL. He has played on both recreational and competitive teams. Wherever he has played, he has always been among the teams leading points earners, in both goals and assists. Last season Jerad was lucky enough to have payed both on the recreational team and the competitive Bantam B team. He was number one in points on his recreational team and third place in total points with the Bantam B team; ten goals and seven assists.

Notification of try-out results came to the Bussell family; “Ethan has made the Bantam B team!” Ethan?! Ethan was not trying out and in fact plays at the midget level. This was quickly cleared up and Jerad was excitedly off to his first practice. While he was allowed on the ice, he was shockingly notified that final team selections had not been made. Two weeks later he was dropped from the team.

Odds of playing in the NHL are slim. What about high school hockey. What about college hockey? All of us hockey parents know how eager our kids are to play on the high school team, especially the varsity. I’m sure if a kid can get into college, they are going to want to play on the college hockey team. It is my opinion that without the opportunities that competitive hockey affords, chances of moving ahead to ones hockey  potential is becomes limited. Here we have a situation where the player, body, mind and parental support, is willing, but the system has no place for them. What are the options?

Hockey is Not For Everyone

Facts are facts, you can’t get around em. I’m not going to sell the house and move my kids to a new hockey town where they have a competitive team my kid can play for. But then, that’s me. I do personally know one dad who is researching having his kid play in Sweden, where they have high schools dedicated to hockey players only.  I’m hoping Zac can find an opportunity with another organization, or step up to adult hockey. If he can wrap his mind around it he wouldn’t be the first to do so.

In the past I have written on why kids quit sports as they grow older. I pointed out in a 2007 blog post how most casual observers blame “burnout” or “over zealous parents and coaches”. I now add to my  list: ‘less than adequate hockey programs’. I can count off a dozen kids, who due to our local organizations impediments, have left hockey for other programs or pursuits. I hope mine doesn’t become one of them.

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Over the years and through countless hours of of hockey experience, both on the playing side and coaching side of the boards, valuable hockey knowledge rises to the top like a targeted slap shot. Through my years of coaching I’ve gained a lot of  knowledge on the game of hockey. This was brought to my attention by my assistant coach Brian George during the start of the fall 2008-09 NCYH season. Coach Brian suggested we compile a list of the knowledge we’ve heard being shouted out to players by coaches during critical game moments.

1. Skate Harder
2. Just throw the puck on net
3. You have to want it
4. We’re better than these guys
5. Stand ‘em up
6. Shoot then crash the net
7. Get it out -  Best said three times in rapid succession
8. Everybody get in front of the net
9. Suck it up

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