Pucking Hockey

The game of hockey played on ice probably came into being in the 16th Century.  Field hockey can be traced back around to around 4,000 ago and this is confirmed by some wall paintings which were found at a burial site in Egypt.  These show a game being played using a ball and curved sticks.  The Irish version of field hockey, hurling, also has historic roots and was mentioned in the 1366 Statutes of Kilkenny.  The first recorded history that we have of ice hockey is in Dutch paintings in the 17th Century.  These show people playing a game of hockey which was clearly on a frozen lake.  It is impossible to say who invented hockey played on ice, as we know it today.

We know that Sir John Franklin mentions hockey during his arctic expeditions in 1825 and also a British army officer makes mention of it in his writings in 1843, but these were not organised games with written rules and set teams.  They were more informal events.  This gives us no clue as to who invented hockey as nothing was recorded.

Recording of the first games happened in the mid 1800s in the Halifax area.  This was played by British soldiers stationed in there.  We also know that ice hockey rules were finally drawn up at the McGill University in Montreal and this maybe the closest that you will get to finding out who invented hockey.  This is where the first rules were established regarding the numbers of players etc.

There is, however, another theory.  This is a story which involves a Colonel Hockey who was based in Windsor in Novia Scotia.  It is thought that Colonel Hockey invented a game using a curved stick and a ball which was used as part of his fitness program for his troops.  The game then became known as “Hockey’s game”.  There is, indeed, documentary evidence to prove that John Hockey was serving in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1800s, just at the time when the name was adopted for the game.  It may be that this is who invented hockey.

So, we have no conclusive proof of who invented hockey.  It would seem that it could have evolved rather than being invented.  It also depends on how you want to look at the question.  McGill University definitely wrote the first rule book and they could, in a way, be defined as being the inventors.   The Colonel Hockey story, however, is pretty good and it is encouraging that there is documentary proof of his existence at the right time and the right place.  I am afraid that the ball is in your court, so to speak.  You will have to accept one of these theories, or you could put in some hours of research and try to prove one of them beyond all doubt.

Training for any sport is a necessity. Even if your naturally good at any sport in particular, working on those acquired skills will make you even better. The sport of Hockey is no different. If you look at the best players in the world, you would be out of luck trying to find any of the “greats” that didn’t incorporate some form of training into their routine. To put it simply, training is important. It’s a must. It helps you improve, and the benefits can be tremendous.

The Importance of Flexibility

Flexibility may be one of the most overlooked aspects of physical preparation. For some, flexibility consists of nothing more than some half hearted stretches following their endurance, speed or strength session(s), giving little importance to this crucial aspect. This is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Don’t leave this part out.

Working On Speed

If you want the power to move quickly and the stamina for sustained hard skating, you must condition the muscles and cardiovascular system to build strength, power, and endurance. While flexibility is an important aspect to your training routine, strength and power are equally important as the key for speed development. The Step-Up in particular is an excellent exercise as it targets the quad, glut-hamstring muscle groups that are key for speed development. Stick handling can also greatly improve your speed, in addition to timing, eye and stick coordination, precision, puck control, touch, feel and consistency when handling a puck or stick handling ball.

Working on Strength

Strength conditioning has increasingly become a central factor to one’s hockey training routine. For most athletes, it is an essential component in their training program(s), and therefore should not be neglected. Incorporating exercises in your routine that help improve both core strength and postural stability are critical. Strengthening the abs in particular, which can be done using a medicine ball in addition to other methods, can greatly improve strength and explosiveness. When using weights in a strength conditioning program, it is recommended to start off with light weights, build some initial strength, and then work your way up. Increasing the strength of one’s upper body will allow players to shoot with more power and pass over a greater range of distances. Most importantly though, sports demand that you work your whole body, and thus you should incorporate a whole-body workout, especially for improving core strength.

In all, the “practice routines” mentioned above are only a few ideas that can be applied to help improve your game of hockey. There are many articles you can find on the Internet that go in-depth about each aspect and more for your sport of choice, including hockey.

Regardless of what anyone tells you, training for your sport of choice is a necessity. Whether that’s baseball, basketball, or even hockey. It doesn’t matter what the sport is, training will help improve not only your skills, but of course, your overall game performance. One thing I must stress is that training shouldn’t be looked at as something negative. Something that “has” to be done, but you don’t really feel like doing. In reverse, it should be looked at as something that’s positive, knowing that the effort you put in will be well worth it and most definitely pay off.

Make the “training routine” that you create for yourself a fun one. That’s so important. In whatever you do, and it’s not just limited to sports, you should look for the “fun in it.” Get friends to join you and have them actually partake in the actual exercises or have them act as your coach, lending you some motivation. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and train. Good luck!

Jonathan Mancini is a “hockey veteran” with more than 15 years teaching, coaching, and performing in the industry. He uses an off-ice training system that helps develop his passing, hockey shooting and stick handling skills. You can learn more by visiting: Off-Ice Hockey Training

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Everybody in Toronto is in a panic. The leafs are once again losing and after 40 years without a cup we’re all up in arms. Blame whoever you want but the bottom line is that this team has not had had a solid foundation to build on for years. Like any good organization building a winner starts from the top and filters down. When was the last time the leafs had strong leadership? Pat Quinn was certainly a good leader but his hands were tied to some extent. As were Cliff Fletcher’s. No folks, we need to look to the top and start with ownership.

The teacher’s pension board owns this team. How many other teams in the NHL are owned by a large group? Of course there are many markets with investment groups and “silent partners”. The difference here is the profitability factor. Everyone in business wants to be profitable but you can’t dismiss the fact that it is of greater importance for a group of pension stakeholders. Imagine… the Leafs lose money, the pensions drop and the teacher’s can’t retire. With the Toronto marketplace that will likely never happen. And with the pension group owning this team out of greed and a lack of respect for heritage don’t expect a cup anytime soon. What Toronto needs is a single owner or a group with one person in charge and focused on winning.

Focused on winning? What a concept! Could you imagine if the Leafs had the same commitment Ottawa has or New Jersey or Detroit. Well, whether they admit it or not Peddie and Tanenbaum are the most two out of focus hockey execs that exist. One’s Yin the other’s Yang. While one says “were not doing this” the other is doing the exact opposite. Success comes from leadership and leadership demands alignment and consistency. How is the rest of the organization suppose to know what’s going on if these two clowns don’t know what’s up and what’s down? To Tanenbaum’s credit he does offer more in terms of wanting to win and hockey knowledge but being a minority shareholder the final say is always left to Peddie. Why keep these guys? or moreover, why keep Peddie? Obviously he turns profit and that’s what the board wants but let’s get real. The Maple Leafs are as close to a sure shot ROI as any product can possibly be. Look at Harold Ballard. This guy ripped fans off for years and still racked in the cash. Commitment to winning is clearly the last thing on the Pension Boards mind.

John Ferguson Jr.? What else needs to be said. He’s made some brutal mistakes. Overpaying, no-trade clause, trading prospects, draft picks… the list goes on and on. Clearly this guy wasn’t ready for prime time when our friend Peddie brought him in. Who’s fault is it? Both, of course. Accountability and ownership has not been a strong point for either and yes if your leaders aren’t accountable do you think everyone else down the food chain will be? I do have some empathy for Ferguson. I mean, if my boss continually ran me thru the media the way Peddie has with Ferguson I would probably lose my marbles. That’s not to say that Peddie isn’t right about Ferguson’s shortcomings it’s just that some things should be left behind closed doors. But Peddie needs a scapegoat and someone to take responsibility. He’s not so we know who is. A true leader will always have the backs of their team no matter what the circumstances are. Again, Peddie demonstrates nothing in the leadership department. When follower’s witness such behaviour they feel it’s acceptable and follower’s will follow.

Paul Maurice? Give him a chance. You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken shit. From day one he’s been working with limited talent trying to make the best of it. I think he has a true desire to win… one of the few in the organization.

At the end of the day changing GM’s and coaches will not work in saving the Leafs. They need to start at the top and work down. Let’s get a new owner, CEO and President with knowledge and passion about hockey in Toronto. Let the President hire a GM that’s ready for prime time and let the GM deal with the day-to-day hockey operations and make the decisions without interference. A patchwork job will not work here folks. This is going to be an extremely long process.

http://leafpost.blogspot.com

The game of ice hockey can get fierce and dangerous because you can get checked across the ice and even get into a fight and the refs allow it. Ice hockey is unlike any other winter sport. You glide across the ice on a pair of ice skates and try to hit a black puck that is heavy into a net.

Men and women play ice hockey along with teens and kids. Even though it is a hard and tough sport you can still play it without getting hurt all the time even though you are bound to get into a fight or get hurt. They have pro ice hockey for both men and women and it gets competitive especially if you are good and you get checked then the whole team might come out on the ice and fight.

Professional ice hockey is basically the most violent sport on the face of the earth. If you get into a fight in hockey they let you keep going until the fight goes to the ground. They even let you take off your gloves and helmets and actually duke it out even though you are on a pair of ice skates you can still take a beating and give a good beating as well.

For each penalty the get placed in the penalty box or something like that. I am not familiar with hockey but my cousin played hockey for about half of his life since he was about 5 till he was about 16. He was on all the travel teams and almost went pro but instead wanting to become a doctor.

So with these penalties and your best teammate in the box the team will have time to do a power play and score and remember that in ice hockey the score doesn’t really reach over 5 points in a game much so if the teams get tied it can end up to be a brawl not a good ending. Especially if the teams are tied then someone checks another player for no reason and that causes them to lose the game. There will always be fights in hockey and there always have been fights in hockey.

The game is usually played in 3 periods each lasting 20 minutes long. If the teams are tied they do go into overtime just like any other game but first one to score wins. There are 2 goalies and they protect the nets in which both teams are trying to score in. the goalies are the most depended on as they protect the goal so if they get disrespected and checked by a forward there is going to be a fight no doubt about it. All you do is sit and wait for the fight to break out then you just watch in aw as it goes on without a ref stepping in and calling the game unless the whole teams get on the ice then it’s a team fight and they will both get fines and stuff for their actions.

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about hockey as well as sports equipment at http://www.nsearch.com

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Some fans of the game may say that comparing Sidney Crosby and the Great One, Wayne Gretzky is like comparing apples and oranges. Of Course there is only one Gretzky, and most die hard fans of his will attest to that. Although it is hard to argue the fact that Sidney Crosby, who has already broken a club record previously set by the great Mario Lemieux, is a player to be watched. Barring any professional injuries, he is bound to go the distance.

While it might be said that the game has changed considerably over the past few decades, it is interesting nonetheless to compare Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky’s performance at the start of their NHL career at the age of 18.

Sidney Crosby’s 2005-2006 NHL debut season consisted of 81 games with a record breaking 39 goals and 63 assists for a total of 102 points.

Similarly Wayne Gretzky’s NHL debut at the age of 18 during the 1979-1980 season consisted of 79 games with 51 goals, 86 assists for a total of 137 points.

Regardless of how the game might have changed, Wayne Gretzky’s NHL debuts were undeniably more impressive than those of Sidney Crosby’s. Although Gretzky’s NHL playing days are over, Sidney Crosby has almost another 15 years to truly make his mark in the NHL and at the pace at which he is headed many analysts believe that his total career points will by far surpass those of Gretzky.

Gretzky’s first Stanley Cup Championship came only 4 years after he began playing in the NHL. During his 1983-1984 season Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers took home the cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers. An exploit the young Sidney Crosby has to accomplish. As captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins he has lead the team to playoffs, only to be defeated within the first rounds. Crosby still has a few years left to beat or match Gretzky’s Stanley Cup victory.

Since the start of Sidney Crosby’s career, similarities were made between the two in terms of their attitude towards the refs. Both were considered to be whiners and constantly complained to the refs about unjust penalties.

From amazing hockey talents to a whiny attitude and destined for NHL glory, Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky might just be the two most similar players in the history of the NHL. While Gretzky may be considered The Great One, Crosby is right behind is at his heels and at this point only time will tell.

Phil is the owner of the Sidney Crosby Fan site http://www.sidneycrosbyfansite.com

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There are many types of ice hockey gear available. To choose the best ice hockey gear, the buyer first needs to know what basic gear he or she needs. Then the buyer can determine the best type of ice hockey equipment to use. Ice hockey gear can be divided into two main categories - protective gear and playing equipment.

Protective gear is one of the most important types. Protective gear helps keep the player safe in what is one of the most intense contact sports in existence. Protective hockey gear starts with a good helmet. The helmet needs to allow free movement and vision, while also providing good protection against all types of hits or falls. Some helmets also have face cages, to keep the face from danger, and additional shields.

Other protective gear includes the padding and the shin guards. Padding is needed for several key areas and includes various body pads, shoulder pads, elbow pads, and gloves. Pad style is largely a matter of preference. Padding that is too thick can inhibit skating, while padding that is too thin may not prevent injuries.

Other types of necessary gear are the skates and the stick. Skates are one of the most important pieces of gear. Skates are available in many different styles. The style skate chosen may depend on the position of the player, as well as the player’s own skating ability. When sizing skates, buyers should be sure to try them on with the full amount of socks that they will wear, in order to ensure proper sizing. The standard width is also called “D” width. Wider widths are “E” or “EE”.

Those that want to find more information about ice hockey equipment can visit HockeyMonkey

Hockey Monkey is an online retailer specializing in ice hockey gear. Customers can buy all the ice hockey paraphernalia they want, ranging from sticks to pads. A hockey player that wants the best equipment should shop at http://www.hockeymonkey.com

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Hockey fans know that, once the NHL All Star Game is here, the NHL season is halfway through. This year, the NHL All Star game occurs at Philips Arena in Atlanta, on January 26. NHL stars, old and new, will take to the ice, signaling the split of the season. Hockey greats from all across the League will strut their stuff, providing NHL fans with probably the most exciting event of the season, apart from the Stanley Cup Championships. Especially interesting about this year’s NHL All Star Game is the reunion of Manny Legace and Chris Osgood, who will be teammates once again after many years. Coaches John Paddock in the Eastern Conference and Mike Babcock for the Western Conference will battle it out this year in Atlanta.

Unfortunately, hockey does not have the brand popularity that MLB, MBA and the NFL have (especially outside the local markets). The lockout in 2005 put a major dampening on the reputation of the sport and it is slowly making its comeback to local stations. Hockey fans in todays market rely on special broadcasting in order to follow their teams. Broadcasting like NHL Center Ice and Hockey Night in Canada are quickly becoming the main resource around the league. NHL.com is the leader for online stats and news while “Hockey Magazine” leads the way in print (if you can find it in your area).

NHL Center Ice is one of the best ways for the NHL fan to track the season from the All Star game through the finals. This package includes as many as 40 action packed games each week, in addition to certain games from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. As the players approach the playoffs, it becomes increasingly important not just to cheer for your team but to also cheer against those who are in your way. As many as 12 games each week will be broadcast in mind shattering HD which should add some fuel to the fire. NHL Center Ice also features dual feeds for many games. This means that you not only get the broadcast from the home team, but also the broadcast from the away team. This is especially cool for fans that don’t live in the area of their favorite NHL team, and otherwise wouldn’t have access to the hometown commentary and broadcasting features.

The NHL Network is also available in HD, provides 24 hour coverage, 7 days a week. This is a new broadcasting channel that is currently only available to subscribers of DIRECTV. The NHL Network features live games, highlight shows every day, the latest and fastest breaking news from the world of hockey, as well as exclusive programs you can only find on the NHL Network.

Every NHL fan that doesn’t already have NHL Center Ice after the All Star Game is going to be missing out on the best games of the season. As the playoff run heats up, so does the skill and passion of each team fighting for those final spots.

Whitney Alen is a Direct TV expert and has over 10 years experience in the satellite TV industry.

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Some think an 84 game season does not make sense. Some would say “The players play enough as it is”, “82 games is a lot”, “What do the players think”. It seems though that an 84 game season would actually benefit the players, the league, and the fans. Here’s why.

If the league moves to 84 games the players would actually play LESS games, how you ask? Right now the NHL teams play nine pre-season games, and 82 regular season games. Players feel that with training camp and pre-season the lead up to regular season play is much to long. If the NHL moves to an 84 game season they would drop four of the pre-season games and add two regular season games. So if you include pre-season games and regular season games the players will actually play two less games overall. How does this help the league?

With more games, and an earlier start to the season, the league will be able to be more creative with scheduling which will allow one more home game per team. This is not the only benefit to the league. With 30 teams playing an extra two games that means 60 more regular season games being played overall. In the words of NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly ” The NHL makes more off of two regular season games than four pre-season games”

How does this benefit the players?

The players will have a shorter training camp, less pre-season games, and an earlier start to the season and likely a slight increase in salary. Also the fans will benefit from seeing an earlier start to regular season play.

When will the 84 game season begin?

If it happens it will likely take place in 2011. It is too late to implement a new schedule and longer season for the 2009 season and 2010 is when the winter olympics will take place so it is not likely the NHL will complicate things further with a new schedule. This makes 2011 the most likely year for the NHL to start an 84 game season.

Jeremy has played hockey since he could walk. He is currently a student of Web Development at Fanshawe College some of his websites include a small business where he prints pictures on Toilet Paper, a new site he just made that will focus on advertising Poodle Puppies and a crazy idea he has to make One million dollars from one Million people by getting $1 from each person.

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