Volume 7 Issue 8 |  April  
2019
IN THIS ISSUE


WELCOME TO SABRES SPRING SEASON
COACH PETRAK'S GOALIE TIPS
Tip #18 New Equipment and Controlling Rebounds

Hello Goalies! 

Spring Season has begun and we are just around the corner from summer break. This is a great time to find new gear if you are in need. Many equipment retailers will have end of the year savings for last year's models. It's a great time to find gear at an affordable price. When trying new gear, I always recommend going to your local pro shop and trying the gear on in store before you buy online so you get the exact size you need and do not have to deal with sending gear back and forth. Be mindful that brands have different sizing. If you tried on a CCM pad at 33in that fit comfortably but wanted the Warriors instead, make sure you try on the Warriors 33in before committing to the purchase. It's similar to buying shoes that are different brands which have different sizing. With how expensive gear can be, it is important to do your research and make sure you are getting what you are looking for. Shop around online and do some digging. The more you search, the more of a chance you will find the deal you are looking for. 
 
To a different topic, rebound control is very important for a goalie and can decide a team's success. One shot, one save is very important to me as a coach. We as goalies have to manage our saves and make sure we are not causing our defense to do more work than they have to. Many players end up out of position in situations where there are rebounds or battles in front because of broken plays. Goalies are to be held accountable if the shot could have been controlled and steered out of danger. A strong goalie who controls rebounds will give his team control in the defensive zone. A goalie who gives up many rebounds can give the opposing team many opportunities to score and cause his team to become scattered and lose coverage in the defensive zone. The most important piece to rebound control is your visual connection to the puck. Tracking the puck from blade of the shooter's stick to the puck hitting you and coming off your body will make or break a goalie's success. This is a good habit that will lead to controlling saves and giving your team control in the defensive zone. This can be done off ice all summer long and is why I am mentioning it in this month's article. Goalies number one weapon is their eyes. You need to improve your hand-eye coordination in order to help increase your control in rebounds and save selection. Bouncing a ball off the wall 100 times to your glove and blocker each day will make you a better goalie increasing your control and visual attachment to the puck. Track it from start to finish, even throw the ball at the wall and let it fly around until it stops, never taking your eyes off it. Build your hand-eye so you can learn to do less work in the crease from poor rebounds and give your team and edge for next season. Champions train when no one is watching!    

PRE-ORDER GLOVES TODAY
AWARD CEREMONY - THANK YOU
Check out all the amazing pictures from our Award Ceremony by clicking here.

Congrats to the following major award winners:

Volunteer of the Year - Carissa Baier
Jim Clare Award - Travel Coach of the Year - Mike Campbell, Girls 12U
Mike Paukstis Award - NWHL Coach of the Year - Vince Fiore, 12U NWHL 3

Michael Paszczak Award - Midget Major Player who demonstrates loyalty, sportsmanship and dedication to Sabre Hockey - Sam Jablonsky, Jacob Grabarek, and Benjamin Grabarek.

Brett D Hilt Award For Most Improved Player - Nick Rupich, 12U CSDHL
Michael W Page Award For Outstanding Attitude - Nathan Pleva, 12U NIHL 1
Marty Magers Award (NWHL player demonstrating a tenacious attitude) - Mark Vanderbloemen, 10U NWHL 2
Michael "Buddy" Fikis Award (Outstanding NIHL/CSDHL goalie) - Nathan Carter, 10U NIHL 2
Darren Pang Award (Outstanding NWHL goalie) - Robert Webb, 10U NWHL 1
Jeff Trussell Award (NIHL/CSDHL player demonstrating a tenacious attitude) - Andrew Bresingham, 16U and Andrew Moskaluk 18U
HPC SHOWCASE





Sabres are proud to host the High Performance College Showcase
It will be held  for its 5th year this  October 11-13, 2019 at Rocket Ice Arena. 
As always, there will be 8 teams at 16U division and 
12 teams at 19U from all over the nation.
EDDIE OLCZYK AWARD

The Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Blackhawk Foundation are proud to present an award named after U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer Eddie Olczyk to support young hockey players and teams in Illinois who may not have the means to play at a competitive level.  Since its inception in 2011, the Eddie Olczyk Award has distributed more than $450,000 in grants to 212 individuals and eight organizations.

As the head instructor at the Blackhawks Hockey Camps, Olczyk is dedicated to the develop ment and growth of youth hockey in Illinois. 

The Eddie Olczyk Award assists:
Individuals/families in need of assistance for participation in an Illinois sanctioned team or organization
Sanctioned teams in need of assistance for tournament expenses, Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) organizations in need of assistance to run programs which increase the participation in and quality of youth hockey.

Applications will be open until May 1, 2019. Click here to apply: 

COACHES CORNER -- BY MIKE MCGINNIS
 

Coaches Corner - Learning from Others

Many times in any learning environment, we get isolated and this may result in limited experiences. For instance, when on a team for a whole season, we isolate ourselves within that team and get comfortable competing and playing with the same players every practice; furthermore, we may get accustomed to learning from a single coaches' perspective. These are all good experiences and promote development, but it's equally as beneficial to step outside of the situation and be a part of a new experience.

This happens naturally as one goes through their hockey careers. You may play with one team and coach one year and then the next year be on a completely new team with a new coach. Although this feels uncomfortable at times and takes adjustment, in the long run this diversity in experiences promotes development. My oldest son is now a U15 and has played with the Sabres for more years than I can count. Over the years, he has had 9 different coaches and played with countless different players as he has played in every league and competed at every level. While this sounds like a lot of adjustments year after year, he has learned so much and has become a very well rounded player. He has learned the best from 9 different coaches who were all spectacular in their own elements and played with all kinds of different players. One coach is great at skating, whereas another is very offensive mined, all while another is concentrating on team flow. The result is that hockey is a very multi-dimensional game with so many points of perspective. It is essential to welcome new environments and always continue to learn in those environments, as this is what promotes development.

We don't have to rely on being on a new team for this to happen either. As a player or coach, there are several things you can do to expose yourself to new environments. One way this can be done as a player is to simply go and watch older skaters play a game. If you are a 10U player, then go and watch a 12U game. Better still, one can go and watch a 12U practice. Analyze the behavior and play style of the older kids. Many times they are doing the same activities, but they are just doing it better and faster. Look at the details and learn simply from watching. On the flip side, as an older player, one good way to learn is to peer teach. For instance, my 12U son is a goalie and he attended a few practice sessions with 10U goalies to help them learn some basics, as they were new to the position. This is great development for both players as for a player to articulate and teach a technique is completely different than simply doing that same technique. To do is one thing; however, to understand and teach is another.

As a coach, what are some activities one can do to promote new environments? One thing to do is to bring in a new coach for a practice. This is a good way to keep things fresh during the season and expose the players to new ideas and techniques. I also coach at a high school level in other sports and this is a common practice for us. We will trade teams for a day just to give the players a new environment to gain a different perspective. Even if you were to run the same practice plan, sometimes a new coach explaining the same activity in a new way will bring about newer and possibly greater potential.  Another very simple thing coaches can do is run practices together with another team. This happens often at the rink as we share ice a lot of times during the season. As coaches, one should not hesitate to mix the teams together and do a combined practice. The skaters will appreciate playing with new kids and perhaps could even benefit from seeing some new activities.
A major part of any development is learning from others. So, do step outside of your typical environment and engage in learning. Hockey is a big and beautiful game and with such a game, there is so much to learn. Learn and have fun!
ROCKET ICE PROGRAM INFORMATION





ALL SEASONS PROGRAM INFORMATION
 
C2 Hockey -  For upcoming Camps and Clinics  click here .  Go to Chelios Hockey and like us on FaceBook.


Join us at All Seasons for our Adult Hockey League. For more information, click here.
Summer 3 on 3 and 4 on 4 registration will open in February. Sign up early for the early bird discount.  For 3 on 3,  click here . For 4 on 4,  click here.
SHOP B & R SPORTS


SABRES OFFICIAL ONLINE SHOP

Check out the Sabres online apparel store, 
hosted by B & R. 

To shop online click  SHOP NOW, 
or go to the Sabre website, 
then Sabre Store tab.
SABRE FATHEADS NOW AVAILABLE



Sabre shield fatheads - Now available!
Email  logo@sabrehockey.com  to get yours today.
CUSTOM SABRE SIGNS BY MOTTSEES

Custom Sabre Signs - Offered by Mottsee's Mementos.

S abres Hockey Club Logo -  As shown to the left. $45/ea. Customized with Player Name and Number.  A donation of $5 from each shield sale will go towards the Sabre Hockey Club. Each logo is 13" diameter on MDF. Each logo will display players last name and number. Each logo is hand painted in team colors using acrylic and enamel paint.  Each logo is sealed in semi gloss. Logos are for interior display only.

Click here for order form, then email to: mottseesmementos@gmail.com

Sabres Hockey Club Shield - Not pictured. $80/ea. Each Shield is approximately 23" x 23" on MDF. Each Shield is hand painted in team colors using acrylic and enamel paint. Each Shield is sealed in semi gloss. Shields are for interior display only. Shields are non-customizable.

Click here for order form, then email to: mottseesmementos@gmail.com,

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