off season teams

[wannawin]

Please bear with me for my lack of knowledge, but please enlighten me. I hear about elite teams, select teams, etc. in which your coach has to recommend you. Are there spring and summer teams for kids to try out for that don't have that advantage and want to play and get better? If so, where do you find out about them and how do they work?

[GordonBombay99]

Please bear with me for my lack of knowledge, but please enlighten me. I hear about elite teams, select teams, etc. in which your coach has to recommend you. Are there spring and summer teams for kids to try out for that don't have that advantage and want to play and get better? If so, where do you find out about them and how do they work?

Best way to play hockey in the summer if your not an "elite" player in the state is to do various camps. Gets you ice and training with kids from all over and like I said its ice which is most important in the summer.

[wblhcky24]

Please bear with me for my lack of knowledge, but please enlighten me. I hear about elite teams, select teams, etc. in which your coach has to recommend you. Are there spring and summer teams for kids to try out for that don't have that advantage and want to play and get better? If so, where do you find out about them and how do they work?

Best way to play hockey in the summer if your not an "elite" player in the state is to do various camps. Gets you ice and training with kids from all over and like I said its ice which is most important in the summer.

This guy coached the mighty ducks he knows what he's talking about so I would listen to him

[wannawin]

Please bear with me for my lack of knowledge, but please enlighten me. I hear about elite teams, select teams, etc. in which your coach has to recommend you. Are there spring and summer teams for kids to try out for that don't have that advantage and want to play and get better? If so, where do you find out about them and how do they work?

Best way to play hockey in the summer if your not an "elite" player in the state is to do various camps. Gets you ice and training with kids from all over and like I said its ice which is most important in the summer.

This guy coached the mighty ducks he knows what he's talking about so I would listen to him

Thanks to both of you for your response. 450 hits and NOONE takes the time to give a simple answer? I was beginning to think this forum was a very unfriendly place!

[observer]

Most of the off season AAA teams are for Squirts and PeeWees with a few Bantam level teams. High School players seem to focus on development, on ice and physical, with less attention to teams.

[kopernicus]

i am plugging our 96 skater - 2nd yr bantam in 11-12- into a few skating camps and getting him into more weight training over the summer.

i cannot afford anything like FHIT or a formal summer tourney team.

the HS parents in my association tell me to a tee that if anything, put work into (in this order)

on-ice speed and skating technique
weight training
cardio
soft hands

good luck

[GordonBombay99]

i am plugging our 96 skater - 2nd yr bantam in 11-12- into a few skating camps and getting him into more weight training over the summer.

i cannot afford anything like FHIT or a formal summer tourney team.

the HS parents in my association tell me to a tee that if anything, put work into (in this order)

on-ice speed and skating technique
weight training
cardio
soft hands

good luck

Skating and weight training are the most important I think. the better you are as a skater and the bigger you are, it just gives you that much more advantage over everyone else. It improves your shot, speed, agility, acceleration and ect.

[old goalie85]

Phit, Stp's, Weight room. That's what most of the kids in FL do. Alot of these kids play football so they are in the "Ranger speed and strength course" at the school duing the summer. I'm sure most schools offer something similar.

[wannawin]

[quote="old goalie85"]Phit, Stp's, Weight room. That's what most of the kids in FL do. Alot of these kids play football so they are in the "Ranger speed and strength course" at the school duing the summer. I'm sure most schools offer something similar.[/quote]



So, old goalie, how about for goalies?

[underthenbar01]

the Minnesota Hockey Camps near brainerd are great off season camps

[wolfpack33]

goalies need to hit the weights and work on agility. cardio is important, but goalie-specific cardio will generally come with high intensity lifting and agility work. for additional cardio, high intensity interval training (HIIT) is the phenomenal.

one thing that cannot be replaced is on-ice repetition. working on movement, save selection, and technique is huge. young goalies who are able to get on ice and do some camps or even a couple scrimmages a week will more than likely improve their game a ton.

if you're looking for a great goalie camp, check out brieresgoalieschool.com. steve is a former pro and is now an elite coach. he has a great staff and runs a super camp. kids love it and they get a ton of work during the week. he runs camps nationwide all summer and has stops in sioux city, bemidji, and winnipeg.

[hockeyma]

goalies need to hit the weights and work on agility. cardio is important, but goalie-specific cardio will generally come with high intensity lifting and agility work. for additional cardio, high intensity interval training (HIIT) is the phenomenal.

one thing that cannot be replaced is on-ice repetition. working on movement, save selection, and technique is huge. young goalies who are able to get on ice and do some camps or even a couple scrimmages a week will more than likely improve their game a ton.

if you're looking for a great goalie camp, check out brieresgoalieschool.com. steve is a former pro and is now an elite coach. he has a great staff and runs a super camp. kids love it and they get a ton of work during the week. he runs camps nationwide all summer and has stops in sioux city, bemidji, and winnipeg.

To be honest with you, my son has attended more than one goaltending camp including Steve's and I would say if you were to pick one goalie camp, I would hands down pick Rick St. Criox's School of Goaltending.
http://www.rickstcroix.com
Rick is a modest and very kind man who played and coached in the NHL (Steve did not play or coach at this high of level but is VERY good at PR and has built himself a nice business in goaltending instruction. Bravo for him!!! ..... but it is very expensive and the instruction is just not at the same level!):

Some goalies rely on pure athleticism. Rick teaches absolutely impeccable technique that combined with athleticism will bring a goalie to a higher level. Rick comes to Thief River over MEA every year for a short minicamp (which I would not recommend for the elite goalie); He also goes to Alexandria in the summer for a week long camp. His Thunder Bay camp is the next step up, with his Elite Camp in Winnipeg being the highest level -- The technique is the same at all camps -- but you will find pro shooters at his higher end camps. Rick also does private instruction at his goalie pad. He does have other camps and clinics, but my son has not attended those. The web site would tell you where those are. I cannot say enough about Rick's camps.

Good luck wannawin! I hope that your desire to work hard pays off!

[old goalie85]

Non-of mine play goalie, but I've heard Justin Johnson @ the Super rink is good.[not sure on the cost] Also I think FL's varsity goalie goes down to SSM a couple times a week. I will be talking to his dad today I'll ask him.

[Nobodyonya]

Phit, Stp's, Weight room. That's what most of the kids in FL do. Alot of these kids play football so they are in the "Ranger speed and strength course" at the school duing the summer. I'm sure most schools offer something similar.

So what would you suggest (non elite 1 player ) an upcoming Junior/Senior partake in during the summer when you say skate? My son does do weightlifting during the summer, but would like some input that would better his skating overall

[old goalie85]

Looking myself. My oldest NEEDS ice bad, Not interested in paying 3500.00 to phit. I think Scott steffin offers some high school programs. Google neehs. they offer alot of different stuff. Right now all he wants to do is golf. So be it!! Might make for a short season next year.[senior year] or Jr gold, but it is what it is.

[wolfpack33]

goalies need to hit the weights and work on agility. cardio is important, but goalie-specific cardio will generally come with high intensity lifting and agility work. for additional cardio, high intensity interval training (HIIT) is the phenomenal.

one thing that cannot be replaced is on-ice repetition. working on movement, save selection, and technique is huge. young goalies who are able to get on ice and do some camps or even a couple scrimmages a week will more than likely improve their game a ton.

if you're looking for a great goalie camp, check out brieresgoalieschool.com. steve is a former pro and is now an elite coach. he has a great staff and runs a super camp. kids love it and they get a ton of work during the week. he runs camps nationwide all summer and has stops in sioux city, bemidji, and winnipeg.

To be honest with you, my son has attended more than one goaltending camp including Steve's and I would say if you were to pick one goalie camp, I would hands down pick Rick St. Criox's School of Goaltending.
http://www.rickstcroix.com
Rick is a modest and very kind man who played and coached in the NHL (Steve did not play or coach at this high of level but is VERY good at PR and has built himself a nice business in goaltending instruction. Bravo for him!!! ..... but it is very expensive and the instruction is just not at the same level!):

Some goalies rely on pure athleticism. Rick teaches absolutely impeccable technique that combined with athleticism will bring a goalie to a higher level. Rick comes to Thief River over MEA every year for a short minicamp (which I would not recommend for the elite goalie); He also goes to Alexandria in the summer for a week long camp. His Thunder Bay camp is the next step up, with his Elite Camp in Winnipeg being the highest level -- The technique is the same at all camps -- but you will find pro shooters at his higher end camps. Rick also does private instruction at his goalie pad. He does have other camps and clinics, but my son has not attended those. The web site would tell you where those are. I cannot say enough about Rick's camps.

Good luck wannawin! I hope that your desire to work hard pays off!

I have to disagree with the instruction not being at the same level. Rick is very good at what he does, but I don't see his staff being any better than the staff at BGS. Aside from that, the cost of the 5 day camp is actually lower for Steve's camp if you don't do the overnight/meals and the fishing/golfing. $400 USD vs $665 CD. I wasn't trying to turn this into an argument, but just mentioning one camp that will make you a better goalie. There's no doubt in my mind that both camps will make a kid a better goalie.

[hockeyma]

goalies need to hit the weights and work on agility. cardio is important, but goalie-specific cardio will generally come with high intensity lifting and agility work. for additional cardio, high intensity interval training (HIIT) is the phenomenal.

one thing that cannot be replaced is on-ice repetition. working on movement, save selection, and technique is huge. young goalies who are able to get on ice and do some camps or even a couple scrimmages a week will more than likely improve their game a ton.

if you're looking for a great goalie camp, check out brieresgoalieschool.com. steve is a former pro and is now an elite coach. he has a great staff and runs a super camp. kids love it and they get a ton of work during the week. he runs camps nationwide all summer and has stops in sioux city, bemidji, and winnipeg.

To be honest with you, my son has attended more than one goaltending camp including Steve's and I would say if you were to pick one goalie camp, I would hands down pick Rick St. Criox's School of Goaltending.
http://www.rickstcroix.com
Rick is a modest and very kind man who played and coached in the NHL (Steve did not play or coach at this high of level but is VERY good at PR and has built himself a nice business in goaltending instruction. Bravo for him!!! ..... but it is very expensive and the instruction is just not at the same level!):

Some goalies rely on pure athleticism. Rick teaches absolutely impeccable technique that combined with athleticism will bring a goalie to a higher level. Rick comes to Thief River over MEA every year for a short minicamp (which I would not recommend for the elite goalie); He also goes to Alexandria in the summer for a week long camp. His Thunder Bay camp is the next step up, with his Elite Camp in Winnipeg being the highest level -- The technique is the same at all camps -- but you will find pro shooters at his higher end camps. Rick also does private instruction at his goalie pad. He does have other camps and clinics, but my son has not attended those. The web site would tell you where those are. I cannot say enough about Rick's camps.

Good luck wannawin! I hope that your desire to work hard pays off!

I have to disagree with the instruction not being at the same level. Rick is very good at what he does, but I don't see his staff being any better than the staff at BGS. Aside from that, the cost of the 5 day camp is actually lower for Steve's camp if you don't do the overnight/meals and the fishing/golfing. $400 USD vs $665 CD. I wasn't trying to turn this into an argument, but just mentioning one camp that will make you a better goalie. There's no doubt in my mind that both camps will make a kid a better goalie.

I agree that ANY camp will help, as it is ice time, but I could never in good conscience recommend Steve's over Ricks. I hope that over the years that Steve's camp has been improved, however 2 years ago (and prior) there was no comparison. We went to Steve's only because it was nearby.

He advertised that many instructors with high credentials would be there, but it was him and a local Bantam that he hired and that Bantam was actually critiquing kids that were older then him.

The shooters were young high schoolers (no older than sophomores) and even included as low as Bteam Peewees. (as opposed to Rick's Elite camp which includes professional shooters and no lower than AAA.)

I am not sure where you getting the $400 price, but I just pulled up his web site and do not see that offered for the elite 5 day camp which you are comparing in price to Ricks 5 day Elite Camp (which is the most expensive for both camps) (as a side note, I would pay more for Rick's any day based on our experiences)

In addition, since we were within driving distance, we opted not to be a resident and with that, did not receive the same off ice or on ice instruction. Even though they were told they would be a part of the elite camp, these high school boys were placed with the younger kids. It was an extremely disappointing week and was a huge contrast from the following week at Ricks Elite Camp.

Wolfpack, I am glad that you had good experiences. That is encouraging.
I can, however, only go by the experiences that we have had in making a recommendation.

[wolfpack33]

My assumption is that your son attended the camp in Bemidji two years ago, since you're from TRF. If that assumption is correct, then you are way off saying that there were no coaches with high credentials there.

Instructing with Steve were an 8-year D-I assistant coach/goalie coach (Todd Jones), a goalie with NHL experience (Matt Climie), and a goalie who had just come off a run at the Frozen Four (Matt Dalton). As far as the shooters go, there were some young shooters, most of whom I thought to have a decent deal of talent, but you're right, no Bantam B should be shooting at that camp. You may have forgotten that Matt Read and 4-6 others (depending on the day) from the BSU squad, a former minor pro Jason DeGuehery, and an ACHA standout were also there shooting. I don't think that's too bad for a 20-goalie camp. For the record, there wasn't one bantam coaching there. I can promise you that.

As far as everything else, I can't remember as well so I won't say much, except that I agree that the older day-campers should have been in groups with the older kids, but I already thought they were. I remember a couple of really young kids that you're probably referring to. I thought they were placed together with a couple of intermediate level goalies.

I agree that Rick's camp is probably really good and I've heard great things. I'm sorry you had such a poor experience with Steve's camp. I've heard a lot of good things from kids and their parents who have attended, too.

I'm not going to argue any further. Either way, kids should try to find some ice in the summer, no matter where they prefer to go.

[DMom]

Looking myself. My oldest NEEDS ice bad, Not interested in paying 3500.00 to phit. I think Scott steffin offers some high school programs. Google neehs. they offer alot of different stuff. Right now all he wants to do is golf. So be it!! Might make for a short season next year.[senior year] or Jr gold, but it is what it is.

I think it is quite a bit less than this for high school kids.

[hockeyma]

My assumption is that your son attended the camp in Bemidji two years ago, since you're from TRF. If that assumption is correct, then you are way off saying that there were no coaches with high credentials there.

Instructing with Steve were an 8-year D-I assistant coach/goalie coach (Todd Jones), a goalie with NHL experience (Matt Climie), and a goalie who had just come off a run at the Frozen Four (Matt Dalton). As far as the shooters go, there were some young shooters, most of whom I thought to have a decent deal of talent, but you're right, no Bantam B should be shooting at that camp. You may have forgotten that Matt Read and 4-6 others (depending on the day) from the BSU squad, a former minor pro Jason DeGuehery, and an ACHA standout were also there shooting. I don't think that's too bad for a 20-goalie camp. For the record, there wasn't one bantam coaching there. I can promise you that.

As far as everything else, I can't remember as well so I won't say much, except that I agree that the older day-campers should have been in groups with the older kids, but I already thought they were. I remember a couple of really young kids that you're probably referring to. I thought they were placed together with a couple of intermediate level goalies.

I agree that Rick's camp is probably really good and I've heard great things. I'm sorry you had such a poor experience with Steve's camp. I've heard a lot of good things from kids and their parents who have attended, too.

I'm not going to argue any further. Either way, kids should try to find some ice in the summer, no matter where they prefer to go.

Perhaps it was three years ago -- but the experience I described DID happen. I'm sure I could dig through a scrapbook and find the end of the camp critique that was filled out by a Bantam that he had played with rather than Steve (although I may have thrown it away to be honest). Matt Clime was there a couple of days -- but that is it. None of the other mentioned players were there (perhaps they were with the elite kids but since our kids were not with them, I would not know) My point was not to get in an argument, it was only to relay our experiences and give a recommendation based on it. Camps are a lot of money, and if someone is picking and choosing, I figured I'd put my two cents in. I am glad that you had a great experience as our hope and desire was that Steve's camp be good and successful -- to have camps coming into smaller communities is a great thing! We just didn't have the experience that would send us back again (I think we gave tried it three years hoping our experience would get better so it's not like we gave up quickly). I am done with this thread.

Good luck to all of the skaters and goalies that are trying to do whatever they can to better themselves! May you find the ice time and camps that will help you take a step to the next level!