Twin Cities Adult Hockey Blog

Women's Fundamentals Class

Sorry for the delay in blogging - we've switched real estate brokers and I've been working to set up our website and contact management structure...and we're in the process of getting our own home ready to sell. *Phew* - and there are several other projects going on as well....

So, hockeyblogging has been a little behind for the last few weeks - but here are a few new opportunities for folks to consider.

Upcoming women's clinic -

Focus on Fundamentals

 

This clinic, geared toward C level players with at least one year of playing experience, will focus on the fundamental skills of hockey - skating, stickhandling, shooting, and passing. Stationed-based practices will be used, allowing players to learn and apply a variety of different skills during each one-hour session.

 

Off-ice training will compliment each of the on-ice sessions. Off-ice sessions will focus on systems and strategies, shooting, stickhandling, and strength and conditioning. Individual shooting instruction, weight training, and plyometrics will be integrated into the off-ice program.

 

Dates: 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31

Time: 8 p.m. (except for the 8/3 and 8/10 sessions which will be at 6:45 p.m.)

Location: Brooklyn Park Community Activities Center

Cost: $80

 

This clinic will be coached by the Ice Pirates coaching staff along with weekly guest instructors. There will be an approximate 5-to-1 player-to-coach ratio during the clinic. All players will receive 1-on-1 coaching in shooting and other fundamental hockey skills.

 

Goalie-specific coaching will be provided.

 

To register please mail full payment along with your name, address, email address, phone number, and regular season team to Anne Steiner, 13183 Vintage St. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448. If you have questions or would like additional information about this clinic, please contact Anne Steiner at steinera19@yahoo.com or 763-576-0907.

Rob Little Clinic

Rob Little Hockey Camps will be offering a 7.5 hour SHOOTING/SCORING CLINIC.

Basic shooting techniques and scoring strategies will be covered and developed.

All sessions will be at the Breck Anderson Arena.

DATES and TIMES:

June 19 9:30-11:00 pm

June 24 3:00-4:30 pm

June 26 9:30-11:00 pm

July 16 3:00-4:30 pm

July 23 3:00-4:30 pm

Goalies who wish to participate may come free of charge. Goalie instruction will not be provided.

Cost for the SHOOTING/SCORING CAMP will be 150.00.

Deposits are not required to secure a spot and payment can be made at the June 19 session. Players that register are responsible for the entire payment.

To register, send me an email at rlittle@mn.rr.com specifying you are registering for the SHOOTING/SCORING CAMP.

Buzz Hockey on Sunday Nights

As I've noted before, we both started adult hockey with John "Buzz" Bazzachini's classes out in Plymouth. Great guy, great training.

Buzz Hockey offers training for men, women and youths - and this summer he's starting a women's skating opportunity on Sunday nights, starting on June 18th. He's also continuing to offer Sunday skates for men, just at a different time. Go to the web site to check out specifics.

AHA Summer League and Beginner's School Registration Available

The Adult Hockey Association (AHA) here in the Twin Cities has announced a summer league of play starting in June.

They'll have 4 divisions, with 12 games and a single elimination playoff. If you participated in the fall/winter 2005/2006 league, you get a bit of a break on price: $235, and $285 if you're a new player.

The teams are co-ed (which around here means they are mostly male) and you can sign up as an individual or as part of a group. Teams can also register this year. Teams are limited to 17 players and the league reserves the right to move players around to maintain parity.

You can register online at their web site.

Also from the AHA - their co-ed Beginner School starts a spring 2006 class on April 19th. The Beginner School is a great opportunity to learn to play adult hockey, and gives you a chance to be on a team in the fall/winter league play.

There are 10 on-ice instructional sessions, 2 off-ice sessions, 9 games and a jersey included in the registration fees. The 19 week program costs $425 before April 1st and $445 after the 1st.

Again, you can register online at the web site.

They do a great job getting new and experienced players up and running with good opportunities to play as a part of a regular team.

Another nice aspect of AHA? You can pay for your fees via scorekeeping. Nice way to cut the cost of your league play. See their web site for details.

FYI: AHA FAll/winter playoffs will be at Bloomington Ice Gardens April 6th-9th. If you want to see how fast the different divisions are, this would be a great opportunity to see them in action.

Buzz Hockey Update

Some class updates from Buzz Hockey out in Plymouth -

Men's hockey is ongoing on Sunday nights throughout the year. A new 7 week session begins on April 9th and runs through June 4th. It's $150.00 per 7 week session. Drop-ins are always welcome. Check Buzz' web site for current ice times.

Women's hockey is ongoing on Friday mornings (child care is available with advance notice). Friday mornings stop at the end of April, but Buzz will have sessions for women on Monday nights during the summer.

Skaters at all different levels are welcome - beginner through advanced.

Hockey Opportunities for One and All

UPDATED: March 15, 2006

Now that spring is just around the corner, there will be many classes, clincs and tournaments for the adult hockey player to contemplate.

We're going to start a running list of these opportunities and just update these posts when new ones appear. Again, if you know if a class, clinic or tournament that needs some pulicity, just let us know.

We are assuming all opportunities are co-ed unless otherwise indicated.

Please double check all dates and conditions with the sponsoring group.

Clinics

Steve Brenner Open Hockey/Clinics for women

• Sunday nights, Burnsville Ice Center
• April 2nd - Sept 24th
• Scrimmages and instruction
• Click the link to view flyer with times for different ability levels, and fees.

Call: 952-895-4651 for info or to register

Coach Tony's Adult Skills and Women's Clinics

• Champlin Ice Forum
• Wednesday nights, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.
• March 22 - May 3, 2006
• Click the link to register

Tournaments (in no particular order, just as we find out about them):

North American Holiday Hockey (adult and youth tournaments). Tournaments taking place in:

• Toronoto, Ontario (March 24-26)
• Chicago, IL (March 31-April 2)
• Montreal, Quebec (April 7-9)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (April 19-24
• Hartford, CT (April 28-30)
• Atlantic City, NJ (May 5-7)
• Las Vegas, NV (May 10-15)

Contact: Ben Alaimo 1-800-322-NAHH, email: nahtours@aol.com.

USA Hockey has a whole list of 2006 tournaments on the Adult portion of their web site.

• Lansing, MI ( Feb 24-26)
• Salt Lake City,UT (Mar 17-19)
• Indianapolis, IN (Mar 24-26)
• Rochester, MY (Mar 24-26)
• Lancaster, PA (Apr 21-23)
• Anchorage, AK (Apr 27-30)
• Chicago, IL (May 4-7)
• Columbas, OH (May 5-7)
• Kalamazoo, MI (May 12-14)
• Laurel, MD (May 19-21)
• Denver, CO (Jun 2-4)
• Laurel, MD (Jun 2-4)

Contact: USA Hockey Adult department at 1-800-566-3288

Camps (in no particular order, just as we find out about them):

Hockey & Sons Skills Camp and Hockey & Daughters Skills Camp (these sound fun!)

For kids ages 5 to 14, and parents of all ages.

Sons:

• Shattuck-St. Mary's campus, Fairbaut, MN (June 14-18)
• Shattuck - St. Mary's (Aug 9-13)

Daughters:

• Shattuck - St. Mary's (Aug 16-20)

Contact: Troy Ward, 1-800-469-7737

International Hockey Schools is offering an adult camp this year (it runs at the same time as some of their kid's camps, so you can attend at the same time as your child).

• June 19-23 (Monday through Friday)
• Day camp option only
• $475.00
• Detroit Lakes location

Call 800-348-3427 for more info

Peak Performance Hockey Camps also has an adult option available for some of their camp sessions. Adults can attend either on or off-ice activities at the same time as their kids.

• Check web site for specific dates
• Winona location

Contact: 1-800-345-7235

Schools (in no particular order, just as we find out about them):

Lifetime Hockey School (the Granddaddy of them all...)

• Minneapolis, MN (August 9-13), Parade Ice Gardens

Contact: 651-628-9437

Twin Cities Gay Hockey Association (TCGHA) will be holding a Hockey Skills School starting on Wednesday, March 8th.

• Other classes will be held on Thursday nights, March 16, 23 and 30
• Victory Memorial Ice Arena
• Classes are from 7:30 - 9
• $95.00 registration

Learn to Play Hockey with Chicks with Sticks

Just received an email from Mike Curti with Chicks with Sticks. They are announcing a new 'learn to play hockey' clinic for women at the Superink in Blaine on Tuesday afternoons.

The clinics will run from 12:45 to 2:00 and will be held on 4 consecutive weeks. The just finished their first 4 week clinic and the new series starts tomorrow. Mike has a target of 18 players, so if you live in the north Metro and are wondering how to get started playing this great game...here's your chance.

Interested? Email Mike at: chickswithstickshockey@mchsi.com

Not For Women Hockey Players Only

It's always interesting to see how people find our site through search engine terms. Someone earlier today typed in "beginner hockey for women" and a great link came up under that search term.

It's so good I'm going to create a new category on the right side of the page just for this link.

Not for women only - while the title of this site is "Hockey for Women", it's a very good general web site written with a coach's perspective of how to play the game...specifically for beginnning hockey players. Click the logo to get started.

There's information on offensive play, defensive play and special teams play. The author uses diagrams and animation to illustrate her points. Terrific site.

Women's Open Hockey in the East Metro

If you're in the east Metro, check out Chris and Eric Ackerman's Women's Skates at St. Mary's Point on Thursday nights. They skate at 9:15 p.m. for an hour or so - drills and warm ups to start for 15 minutes, then pick-up hockey.

All levels, especially beginners, are encouraged to attend. Cost is $10.00 per person.

Location is near Afton/lakeland in the Lower St. Croix Valley.

Questions? Email Chris and Eric at mitescoach-at-yahoo.com.

New Women's C3 Team Forming

We'd like to publicize the formation of a new women's C3 team - the Lamplighters.

Lamplighters is forming a new and unique hockey team. They will focus on teaching the sport of hockey, as well as integrating Christian faith both on and off the ice. They are looking for beginners as well as ladies who have never skated on a team before, who are interested in learning the sport of hockey. 

Lamplighters will be a part of the WHAM C3 league next season, but is looking for skaters now. They also hold regular practices around the metro for people looking for ice time.

If you are interested, or just have questions - please contact Lucy at 651-415-9881 or email spunk@usfamily.net.