Bogosian, Boulton, And Kane Take Part In 2010 Atlanta Thrashers Summer Hockey Camp Sponsored By RBC
The Atlanta Thrashers Summer Hockey Camp Series Sponsored By RBC Bank wrapped up last week at the Duluth Ice Forum. The Hockey Development Team hosted a total of 5 camps with 125 youth hockey players of all ages, and three very special guests.
The action kicked off June 14th with the week long Cross Ice camp and Goalie Camp. Thrashers forward Eric Boulton and defenseman Zach Bogosian both laced up the skates, providing quite the thrill for the series’ youngest campers and some of the area’s finest goaltenders.
Bogosian returned for week two and was joined this time by Thrashers forward Evander Kane as the Hockey Development Team welcomed in the Mites, the Pee Wee/Bantams, and a group of elite players representing Thunder Hockey.
The Atlanta Thrashers would like to thank RBC Bank for their support as the official sponsors of the 2010 Atlanta Thrashers Summer Camp Series.
Check back next week for a recap video featuring some of the highlights from the camp. In the meantime, you can click here to check out photos from all of the camp action!
How Many Games Is Too Many?
Every season it seems like hockey officials throughout North America struggle with finding the proper balance of practice to games with their programs. Kids love the thrill of playing games each weekend and parents love watching their kids compete, so much so that they are often willing to spend time and money to take them hundreds of miles to find the next tournament. The games are great, and there is no doubt a big part of the reason the kids keep coming back to the rink, but what are our young players missing out on when the desire to play more games means a decrease in practice time? Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager, Brian Burke, and Ottawa Senators Center, Daniel Alfredsson had this to say about the topic.
BRIAN BURKE: There are too many games to me, this is where Europe always has had an edge over how we do it in North America. Daniel, please correct me if I’ve got this wrong. From long conversations with the Twins [the Sedins], Markus Naslund, the practice-to-game ratio is the key. I wouldn’t mind if kids play 112 games. I think that’s way too many. I’m making a point. If they had two practices for every game. An ideal thing, if you ask someone in hockey, the ideal ratio for a young player is three practices to one game. We’d kill to get two. But in fact it’s 1-1 or less in youth hockey associations by the time a kid is a peewee. I think this is misguided.
I’ve ranted and raved about this. I think we should have more practice and fewer games. I think the parents are a big part of the problem. They don’t want to watch a practice. They want to see Johnny with four other skaters, two referees and a linesman.
We can develop the skill at a much higher level. This is something I fought. I remember years ago we started a 4-4 league in the spring just to stop kids from the burnout factor of playing all that spring hockey, playing all those games, focusing on skill and fun. Enough parents weren’t interested. They don’t want to watch 4-4, 3-3, even if guys like me tell them it’s important.
DANIEL ALFREDSSON: I totally agree with Brian. I’ve always been amazed since I came over here to Canada the amount of games the kids play. It’s important to get ice time. You need to get on the ice to get better. But especially at a younger age, if you’re a decent to average player, you’re not going to touch the puck very many times in a game. In practices, everybody can have a puck each. You can do different drills to develop your skills.
The practice-to-game ratio I think needs to favor practice a lot more, no question. Like Brian said, too, parents like to watch games.
SAHA Hosts Selection Camp At The Cooler
Over 230 youth players representing six states took the ice last weekend at the Cooler for the SAHA Affiliate tryouts. The 13 year old players (1997’s) arrived in Atlanta with their eyes set on earning and invitation to a week long Developmental Camp in July that will serve as an introduction to the USA Hockey Program for some of the area’s top young talent. The remaining players, who ranged from 1993-1996 birth years, took the ice in hopes of advancing to secure their roster spot at the Southeast District Camp next month in Charlotte, NC, and ultimately a chance to join players from across the country that will compete on teams in the USA Hockey National Camps this summer in Rochester, NY.
The turnout was the largest in the history of the SAHA camp, with nearly 2.5 times as many players as attended the inaugural camp in 2000.
“We are pleased to have an excellent panel of independent evaluators come into Atlanta to help in the process along with volunteer support staff from across the six states,” said SAHA Youth Chair, Lila Holt.
Notable camp alumni include Nashville Predators prospect, Blake Geoffrion, and Boston University standout and Atlanta Thrashers prospect, Vinny Saponari.
The Atlanta Thrashers would like to congratulate all of the athletes who competed in last weekend’s tryouts on a great weekend of hockey and wish the participants who advanced the best of luck at the next level.
With tryouts for the 2010-2011 season scheduled throughout Atlanta for the end of May, the Thrashers will host three Checking Clinics at the Marietta Ice Center (May 15), the Kennesaw Ice Forum (May 23), and the Duluth Ice Forum (May 26). Each clinic will be open to all area players entering Pee Wee and above and will consist of a 30 minute classroom session and 90 minute on ice session.
The four part progression will focus on “Positioning and Angling,” Stick Checks,” “Contact Confidence and Body Contact,” and “Body Checking,” and will serve as a great opportunity for both experienced players as well as players set to begin playing contact hockey in the fall.
For more information and to sign up for a checking clinic today, click here!
Atlanta Fire Capture 12U National Championship
It has been quite a season for local hockey teams here in Atlanta with the Cooler, MIC, and Ice Forum all represented at USA Hockey National Championship tournaments. The Atlanta Fire’s 12U team was the latest to contribute to putting Atlanta area hockey on the national map as they captured the city’s first ever youth hockey national title this past weekend in Reston, Virginia.
The Fire, coached by former NHL forward, Scott Pearson, used a balanced attack, strong team play, and exceptional goaltending throughout the weekend to cruise to the title in convincing fashion. Doug Giles carried the load in net playing in all 6 games while Pierce Crawford led the attack up front posting 10 goals and 6 assists in the tournament.
The Fire outscored their opponents 38-10 throughout the tournament including an 8-1 victory in the championship game over the Burlington Bobcats.
The Atlanta Thrashers would like to congratulate the Fire on an outstanding season and on bringing home Atlanta’s first ever youth hockey National Championship!
The Atlanta Thrashers kicked off their Spring and Summer Camp Series sponsored by RBC Bank earlier this week with their first annual Spring Break Camp. The sold out camp featured 3 days of on ice instruction and guest appearances from Thrashers Forward Todd White as well as Assistant Coaches Todd Nelson and Randy Cunneyworth. Day two of the camp provided all 50 campers with a number of special opportunities. That morning, prior to taking the Philips Arena ice for a practice of their own, all camp participants were invited down early for exclusive access to the Thrashers and Devils morning skates. Many of the Thrashers players took time to sign autographs for the campers as they headed to the locker room. Thrashers forwards Chris Thorburn and Evgeny Artyukhin quickly became camp favorites on the other end of the ice as they tossed pucks to the young crowd at the conclusion of practice. Next up, RBC representatives were joined by “Leo The Lion,” the official mascot of RBC Bank, as they hosted an interactive banking seminar for the campers complete with prizes and giveaways.
The event continued as the players took the NHL ice from 1-3pm for a clinic focused on “defensive skills” and “small area games,” and following their practice, many camper stuck around to watch the Thrashers in action as they took on the New Jersey Devils.
The Atlanta Thrashers would like to thank all of the families who took part in the inaugural Spring Break Camp sponsored by RBC Bank. You can check out some of the exciting action from this week’s camp by clicking here!
Click here to check out the official camp photo gallery.
Atlanta Knights Celebrate A Weekend Of Firsts
The Atlanta Thrashers would like to congratulate the Atlanta Junior Knights program on a historic season that culminated with championship game appearances for both their Junior Select and Junior Elite clubs. The two teams appearances in the Junior B and Junior C National Championship Tournament finals this past weekend in Marlborough, Massachusetts, marked the first time one organization has placed two different teams into National Championship Junior games in one season.
The Junior Selects posted a 4-1 win over Suffolk in the final to take the Junior C National championship, making them the first ever Atlanta area team to win a National title at any level. Despite an incredible season and a valiant effort, the Junior Elites fell just short of their ultimate goal, losing 4-3 in overtime to New York Applecore in the final game.
The organizations owner, David Falkenstein, has worked hard to provide opportunities for Atlanta area kids to play the game at a high level and pursue their dreams of being student-athletes at the collegiate level without having to leave home to get the necessary exposure. According to Falkenstein, 7 players from this years teams have committed to NCAA programs for the fall of 2010 and he is confident that the programs first Division 1 committment is coming soon!
USA Hockey has a great article about the Knight’s and some of their “keys to success” under Head Coach Kevin Kerr. For more information on the Junior Knights program and their incredible playoff runs, click here.
Atlanta Thrashers Spring Break Camp Sponsored By RBC
Darren Eliot and the Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Development Team will host their First Annual Spring Break Camp Sponsored By RBC, April 5th-7th at the Duluth Ice Forum and Philips Arena. RBC has teamed up with the Thrashers and will sponsor the 2010 Spring Break and Summer Camp Series.
For the Spring Break Camp, the Hockey Development Team will be joined on ice throughout the week by special guests including Atlanta Thrashers Assistant Coaches, Randy Cunneyworth and Todd Nelson. In addition to 3 days of on ice training, all participants will receive exclusive access to the Thrashers morning skate at Philips Arena on April 6th prior to taking the NHL ice themselves, and a complimentary ticket to the game that night as the Thrashers take on the New Jersey Devils.
For more information on the Atlanta Thrashers Camp Series sponsored by RBC, visit www.atlantathrashers.com/youthhockey today!
Magical Run Earns Woodstock Their First GSHL Title
On Saturday night, a local high school hockey team that had played their entire season in honor of a man who had dedicated so much to their program, achieved their ultimate goal as they defeated Forsyth in the GSHL State Championship Tournament Final.
When the late Deane Evans started the Woodstock Ice Hockey Team 7 years ago it is hard to believe that he could have imagined the impact he would have on the school’s players and families in the years ahead. Deane became the owner and the coach of the club when his oldest son Daniel was a Sophomore and continued to run the program as his younger son Ollie tended goal for Woodstock through his Junior season. The program saw great success under Deane, on and off the ice, making two state championship appearances while preparing countless student athletes for college and the every day rigors of the real world that were ahead.
Following the end of last season, with no kids of his own left in the program, Deane told his family that while he would continue to remain actively involved in the team’s operations and behind the scenes work as the club’s owner, it would be time to hand over his coaching role and some of the day to day commitments that come with it at the conclusion of the 2009-2010 season. He could have easily relinquished some of his responsibilities after his son Ollie made the Jr. Knights following the 2007 season, effectively ending his kids playing days for Woodstock, and nobody would have blamed him, but Deane felt a strong connection to this particular group and felt that the 2009-2010 club had something special. It was a group that included 7 seniors, countless character players, and a goaltender with a knack for stepping up in the biggest of games, all facts that Deane knew could lead to an incredible season.
Deane Evans passed away last June, just a few short months before the start of what was to be his final season behind the bench with this special group. His son, Daniel, stepped in and joined assistant coaches Brian Overy and Rich Fiorillo behind the bench as the group of 17 high school hockey players took the ice last fall and dedicated their season to their programs founder and their beloved coach.
The State Championship game would feature the motivated group of student athletes from Woodstock taking on the powerhouse and wire to wire favorite club from Forsyth. Forsyth entered the playoffs on an incredible winning streak, easily handling the majority of their opponents throughout regular season play. Woodstock battled hard throughout and used a team effort to hold on to a 2-2 tie after two periods of play. With about ten minutes left to play Forsyth scored the go ahead goal but the lead was short lived as Woodstock’s Ryan Simpson tied it up with five minutes to play. Regulation play would end with the two clubs tied 3-3, and when a 5 minute sudden death overtime couldn’t determine a winner, the teams headed to a shootout. Connor Colburn and Ricky Fiorillo each scored for Woodstock and Junior Goaltender Drake Bordnick closed the door on the other end as Woodstock completed their journey and were crowned AAA State Champs.
The Atlanta Thrashers would like to congratulate the Woodstock Ice Hockey Team and the Evans family on their remarkable run throughout the 2009-2010 season.
Thrashers Host 3rd Annual Cross Ice Jamboree
On Sunday, March 14th Darren Eliot and the Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Development Team were joined by USA Hockey’s ADM Director Ken Martel and Regional Manager Scott Paluch as they hosted the 3rd Annual Cross Ice Jamboree at Philips Arena. Over 60 youth players between the ages of 4-8 took the ice for the 90 minute clinic which was highlighted by a special guest appearance by Thrashers Forward, Evander Kane. Following the clinic Kane presented each participant with an official Cross Ice Jamboree medal and an autograph. To check out video from all of the exciting action, click here. For additional photos, click here.
Kane Joins The Fire At The Cooler
Evander Kane is becoming a regular with his appearances in the youth hockey community. On February 27th the Thrashers rookie took the ice at the Cooler and joined Coach Randy Boyd and his Midget team. Click here to check out Evander and the Fire in action.
Rink Round Up 
