GIRLS FROM THE BAY - This is Alexandria Bay First All-Girl Hockey Team. In front is Amanda Lingenfelder, and from left are: first row, Anastasia Megan, Taylor Hudon, Molly Russell, Kiah Hudon, Hailey Heath, Madison Cullen; second row, Elizabeth Megan, Hannah Heath, Taylor Kiechle, Emily Walti, Jarah Papin, Hunter Beach, Taylor VanBrocklin; and back row, Coach Brian Hudon, Molly Aznoe, Mikaela Benny, and coach Matt Cullen. Missing from the photo is Caitlin Ely.Coach: Brian Hudon
Assistant Coach: Matt Cullen
Manager: Robin Russell
First All Girls Hockey Team -
Welcome to the Team Alexandria Bay Girls Hockey blog. Here you can find all the answers to those questions you may have about girls hockey at Alexandria Bay. Whether you are a player, coach, parent, or one of many fans, you will love our blog! You will find news, rosters and schedules for all our team. You will find individual team information and individual team schedules listed.
Alexandria Bay started its girls program this year 2006. This season we will field team at the 10U levels. As any parent or player knows, this hockey stuff is hard work! If not for a few bright and dedicated people who put in the time and effort to keep this thing going, we would not be where we are today.
The Alexandria Bay Girls Hockey organization is committed to the academic and athletic excellence and advancement of its players. What does that mean? The opportunity for girls to play hockey has never been greater and will only continue to get better through the years. The organization, its coaches, and personnel are committed to seeing all girls who want to advance their hockey careers past Alexandria Bay get the opportunity to do so! For girls who want to play hockey, be challenged on and off the ice, and be a part of something special, Alexandria Bay minor hockey is the place for you!
Equipment Tips for young Players and their Parents
Hockey is a fantastic sport but in order to play it safely and enjoy the experience you must have good,but not necessarily new, hockey equipment, that fits properly to protect your body yet still allows you afull range of motion to perform the required physical skills.Skates - skating is the most important skill to play hockey, yet the most difficult to master at a young age. If possible, try to purchase a new pair of good quality skates. It will make a whole world of difference in your child’s hockey development and skating performance. If unable to do so, try to purchase the best quality used skates you can find that fit properly, still has good strong ankle support and reasonably good blade life remaining.
This would be based on the remaining depth of the blades and they should be rust free in order to hold an edge when sharpened. Skates must fit snugly but not cramp your toes and must have good upright ankle support.One pair of thin 100% breathable cotton socks is all you should wear, not 2 or 3 pair of sport socks.
Skates are usually ½ to 1 size smaller than street/running shoes to provide a glove like fit. However,young players, 5 to 10 years of age, can allow some room for their feet to grow but no more then finger width between heal and back of skate. Players 11 and older should try to have skates that fit like a glove.Lacing - the criss-cross or “X” method of lacing is considered the most comfortable.
The bottom 3 eyelets should be semi-loose to allow blood to circulate to your toes; this will prevent them from freezing. The middle 3 eyelets should be semi-tight, not really tight, in order to allow the up and down movement of the top part of the foot allowing it to expand and contract when starting and stopping.The top 3 eyelets must be tight to keep your ankle in an upright position and to prevent it from bending either inside or outside.
There is no truth to the rumor that certain people have weak ankles. It’s a myth!Do not wrap the extra length of laces around the ankle as this hinders the forward flex of the foot and ankle and will impair your child’s skating speed and turning ability. Just tie them in a regular bowknot at the front of the skate like you tie shoes. If the laces are too long and there is an over hang and they drag on the ice, I suggest you purchase shorter ones from your rinks equipment store or skate sharpening booth.
Otherwise tuck them up and under the shin pad.Blades- the skate blades must be sharp, but not razor sharp, in order for you to stop, start and turn without falling. If they are dull, your child will slip and slide all over the ice and have a hard time standing up because there is no grip or skating edge cutting into the ice.
If they are too sharp, they will dig deeply into the ice and prevent smooth stops and create what is like a stutter stop and possibly cause you to fall. You can rub the blades on a piece of wood to dull the blades a little bit or you can purchase a special stone from your skate sharpener to do the same trick.
If you get a deep nick or burr on the bottom or side edge of your blade you will fall. An experienced skate sharpening professional should sharpen them as soon as possible.
A good skate sharpening can mean all the difference between playing a great hockey game or experiencing a poorly played hockey performance.Sharpening- you should not need your skates sharpened every game, but every to 6 to 8 hours of practice and games usually dulls the blades. However if you are playing in a “AAA” league that practices and plays 4 to 6 times a week, or you get a nick or burr on the blade’s edge you will require more skate sharpening.
A good skate sharpener will cut a hollow ground U shape in the bottom center of the blade, this provides 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside edge, both are used at different times during the game for stops, starts, turns, 180 degree pivots, crossovers etc.
The depth of the cut should be based on your child’s height and weight.A medium sharpening, not razor sharp is all you require.
This will keep you in a stable upright position and allow you to just bite into the top layer of ice, to push and glide without falling. Sticks- after skates, your stick is one of the most important pieces of hockey equipment because it is used for both scoring and preventing goals.
The stick must fit properly, just like skates another protective equipment if you are going to develop your shooting, scoring, passing, puckhandling and stick handling skills.2 sticks should be taken to both practices and games incase you break one.
Length –the sticks length when in an upright position, and while you are standing in your skates should come up to between your mouth (maximum) and your collar bone (minimum). If it is any longer or shorter you will have difficulty shooting or carrying the puck. Experiment with different stick lengths to find the most comfortable. The entire blade should lie flat on the ice when carrying the puck and shooting.
If thetoe of the stick blade rides up off the ice this is an indication that the stick is too long. Also, how you skate with the puck, either bent over or up right, will influence the length of the stick.
Experiment with different stick lengths to see which is most comfortable and which allows you to perform at your best. Lie –the lie of a stick is the angle where the shaft meets the blade. The higher the angle 135%, the further the puck is away from your feet. The lower the angle 110%, the closer the puck is to your feet.It’s trial and error to see which lie is best for your child based on the way you skate carrying the puck. Either bent over like Wayne Gretzky did or carrying the puck more up right like Mario Lemieux did.
No stick manufacturers ever put the lie’s angle on the stick for you to know and I don’t understand that. Once you find the right stick model and lie keep buying it as no 2 different stick manufacturers models are exactly alike in lie, curve, balance and stiffness. Youth size hockey sticks are now available which are lighter, shorter in shaft length and blade size and have a smaller shaft radius for a better grip for young players.Curve- sticks are made for Left or Right handed shots. The lower hand on the stick shaft when shooting determines whether you shoot Left or Right.A slight curve of about ¼ inch is standard because a straight stick blade is very hard to find and I don’t believe they are even made any more. A big curve of 1/2 inch on the other hand is out of the question until your child gets to Bantam, and even then I don’t think it’s necessary.
New or Used Equipment- purchase either, as long as it provides solid protection to prevent injuries.Used shin pads, pants, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, jock or jill strap and cup, garter belt and neck guard are all pieces of equipment that can be purchased second hand from Sports Shops or at your annual Minor/Youth Hockey sale at the start of the season. This helps to keep the high costs of playing hockey down. I do recommend purchasing a new helmet and visor because a used one could be damaged with very fine cracks that you cannot see and it is not worth taking a chance getting an injury to your head or face. However having said that, all equipment purchased must fit properly so it doesn’t move or shift if your child falls, gets hit by the puck, gets body checked, runs into another player or the boards.
The proper fitting equipment will cushion the blow or fall providing there is no space between the specific pieces of equipment and it is strapped in place correctly.Underwear- light cotton, or the new breathable material, long john type, top and bottom underwear should be worn under your equipment. Keep it clean and odour free.After the Game- take your equipment out of your hockey bag and let it air out to dry. Skates should not be placed around direct heat as they could crack the holders.
Just let them air dry also.Hockey Bag- a hockey bag must be large enough to carry all of your equipment. It should have 2 or 3large outside pockets to carry your skates and for dry then wet underwear. Keep an extra pair of skate laces, proper length in your bag for emergency and a small towel to dry your skate blades, rivets and blade holders after the game or practice to prevent them from rusting or cracking. New hockey bags come with 2 wheels and a handle now, like a suitcase for easier handling.
General Order for Getting Dressed at Home or at the Rink1- light cotton socks2- light breathable (cotton) underwear, top and bottom3- jock or jill strap and cup4- garter belt to hold up your hockey socks5- hockey socks6- shin pad, now pull up your hockey socks and attach them to your garter belt.7- hockey pants, use suspenders or a special hockey belt on some models to keep them up8- skates, put on and tie your skates (put on skate blade guards if dressing at home), now tape yourshin pads in place using Velcro strips or clear shin pad tape, below the knee cap and above the ankle.9- shoulder pads10- elbow pads11- neck guard12- sweater13- helmet with full visor or metal cage14- mouth guard15- hockey gloves16- stick, you should take 2 sticks to the bench in case 1 breaks17-don’t forget to take off your skate guards before leaving the dressing/locker room.
Have a great game!Hopefully these basic tips will help new players and their parents get some idea of the equipment their child will need to have for an enjoyable, safe and rewarding hockey experience.
Minor and Youth Hockey coaches, executives, webmasters and other e-mail recipients, if you have players or parents who might benefit from this information please feel free to post it on your hockey website, or forward it to them, but please credit our http://www.hockeymadeeasy.com/ hockey website for the information. Thank You, John Shorey - Author- “Hockey Made Easy” - Canada’s Best Instruction Manual.
