Director's Note: Spring into Summer
Sabres,
We are approaching the final weeks of this Spring's EDGE Training Program and we're excited to watch the playoff week unfold and crown each level's respective champions! The most recent update to the standings is live on the website here:
We're definitely starting to see some separation in some levels between the teams that seem to be gelling more than the others. For some of our "struggling" teams, no need to worry. You will all make it to playoff week, there's plenty of time to turn it around and rally!
By now, all of the tournament and showcase invitations have been sent out, and we're happy that the vast majority of our EDGE participants got invited to participate in AT LEAST one tournament or Showcase. We understand that some players were afforded an extra opportunity here and there, and the main reason behind that was simply availability vs level of competition.
As was previously stated, our goal is never to send any teams, or even a player for that matter, to a tournament where the level of competition is either way too far above or beneath them. We want our athletes challenged to have to work their hardest, but within a realm of possibility to find success if they do work hard. This can be especially tricky during the spring when it's very tough to gauge what level a specific tournament will be running at. All in all, our athletes have all been very busy this spring with opportunities to challenge themselves to raise their own personal level of play, and the Sabres are definitely building towards a very successful 2021-2022 season.
Regarding the 2021-2022 Fall season, the Sabres have applied for all levels in the Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL). We will also continue entering teams into various metallic levels of the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL), with our Mite Junior Sabres travel program participating in the Chicago United Hockey League (CUHL). We feel this is still the strongest recipe to provide all of our players with a competitively appropriate Tier 2 hockey experience for their stage of development.
Preparing for next fall definitely doesn't stop when the EDGE program commences. We've got the summer months in front of us and sometimes that can be tricky. How much summer hockey is the right amount of hockey? What type of programs should you be looking for in the summer? There is no one size fits all answer to this question.
The Sabres fully agree with USA Hockey's recommendations regarding multi-sport athletes. The growth of non-hockey muscles helps build overall athleticism for both quickness and agility. It’s also important for young athletes to recharge their hockey batteries in the summer. Unstructured outdoor activities are important for them to maintain excitement and avoid burnout as the physical and mental grind can wear on players as they move on through their youth hockey journeys.
As much as nobody should be skating 8 times a week during the summer months, if there is a desire to try and play this game at the highest levels, the days of hanging up the skates until next fall’s tryouts are long gone. Taking a full 2 months off the ice altogether can “set back” a player if they are not at least working to keep themselves in hockey shape and continuing to build their hockey muscles. For our Bantam and Midget players, a strict off ice routine is absolutely essential.
There is endless media available online regarding off season training routines that players can be doing right at home on their own. The Sabres also endorse the following local training companies:
Acceleration Sport Performance
Champion Sports Advantage
Opportunities to get on the ice with the Sabre coaching staff will be plentiful during June and July. August always has a way of getting here quicker than expected with the Blue and Gold training camps and fall tryouts upon us before we know it. Please reach out to myself or some of our trusted members of the hockey committee if you’re in need of any recommendations for on ice training.
Director of Hockey:
Midgets:
Bantams:
Peewees:
Squirts & Mites:
Squirts:
Mites:
Girls Hockey:
Let's go, Sabres!
--
Brandon Lewandowski
Hockey Director
Sabre Hockey Association
630-696-5535
