Shoot the Shootout!

Enough with the NHL shoot out already. I know this will upset some people and yes I do know that the shootout does pump excitement into some relatively boring regular season games. But it is this time of year the silliness of the tool to decide games and playoff position is exposed.
Think about it. I understand that it was put in to bring a conclusion to a game quickly with some enjoyment but come on…..What other sport decides the outcome of games and potential playoff berths by a singular skill? How about this? Let’s pick our five toughest guys and have them fight each other to the end. Last man standing gets the win? Still very entertaining…TV networks would love it!
Could you imagine the NFL deciding games by a field goal kicking contest? At least all the players have a say in the contest the way they do it now…..How about the NBA, “Hey guys pick your five best three point shooters and let’s get this game over with….all big men sit on the bench, you’re done for the night.” Major league baseball, nine innings all tied…… send out the pitching coaches….. “We are going to have a home run contest!”  It is Masters Week, Sunday rolls around, we have Tiger and Phil tied for the lead after eighteen….. “Guys, over to the practice range we are going to end this thing with a chipping contest…..”

I watch a lot of the Philadelphia Flyer games and love to watch the dominant play of Chris Pronger. He is a force in any game he plays. Definitely is a difference maker in any hockey game.  He probably plays over half of all games and about three and a half minutes of the overtime. Shout out comes and he is not a factor or rarely used. (Although he did have a penalty shot in the Stanley Cup playoffs once though…. But I think you get my point.)

People say it is a part of the game. There are penalty shots all the time. Not even close. There are very few games that are ever affected by a penalty shot.  Plus, have you seen some of the shots lately in the shootout? I was sure last week a player for the Rangers was going to put himself offside he was going so slow……It was like a carnival game. No break away or penalty shot ever looked like that.
I also think the whole two point, one point thing is just wrong. Your twenty guys can battle all night and all contribute and you get one point for the tie. Then three shooters go out and with a few slick moves get the equivalent….one point. It is just crazy……

Enough complaining. How about a solution?  I will say the five minute overtime when it is four on four is great entertainment and that situation actually happens in a regular game. Almost everyone still contributes. (Pronger, still on the ice….) How about this? After the five minutes of four on four, drop it to three on three. Keep playing until someone scores. If any penalty is taken then award a penalty shot…..still exciting and I guarantee, a goal will be scored very quickly. Faster than the guy in the shootout that they timed with a sun dial……J

Can’t have a blog this week without a Masters reference!

Every athlete should be forced to watch Phil Mickelson conduct himself at a press conference. The other day I stumbled upon the Mickelson press conference at the Masters and I found myself drawn in to watch the whole thing. Phil was funny, thoughtful and even entertaining in how he handled the press.  I know most of those golf interviews are a bit of a drag and some of the questions asked are just terrible but this one is worth checking out. Too bad most athletes can’t enjoy it like this. The second half of the interview is really good!
Enjoy! J

Click on the link below and then on the picture of Phil.

http://www.masters.com/en_US/news/interviews/index.html

Smell the Coffee!

How great a time of year is this? You have to love it. Baseball season is on, (way to go Phils!!!). The NCAA final four is here. Next week is Masters week, (if you don’t know how I feel about that then read my blog from February, "Georgia on my Mind."). The NBA is winding up their season. (way to go Sixers!) Many junior hockey leagues have their playoffs in full gear. The USA Hockey Nationals and the NCAA frozen four are on as well, which you can watch online.(how great is technology now when a goofball like me can have a weekly blog and you can watch hockey games on the internet!!!) Most importantly, the NHL playoffs are right around the corner. My right thumb will be bleeding from hitting the remote…….After a long cold winter, there is nothing better than watching the NHL Playoffs and seeing the increased intensity and great battles.
All this to digest and then my good friend Gasper Paul sends me the following short story. Gasper is a person that really has a great outlook on life.

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

So while we are all watching sports and cheering for our teams the next few weeks, whether they win or lose, remember to enjoy the enhanced level of play that the playoffs give us and what a great time of year this is.

Enjoy the coffee…... :)

Hey Coach Kerry.........

Nothing serious about this blog this week.
This week I thought I would share some pretty funny lines from my mite team. We had a rough start to our year and lost more than our share of games but it turned out to be a great time and as the year went on I kept a log and saved the best 20 things I heard them say throughout the season.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

20. “Coach Kerry, why does Coach John’s breath smell funny???”

19. “I better get playing better or my mom is going to kill me……”

18. “If they score another goal, that will be two touchdowns…….”

17. “Dad, how did the guy who built the first clock know what time it was???”

16. “Coach Kerry, instead of practicing more why don’t we tell the other teams to stop practicing?”

15. “Coach Kerry, have you seen my jock?” ??????

14. “There is no way I was offside, I didn’t have the puck……”

13. “It is so cold I saw a Penguin walking out of the rink…….”

12. “Coach Kerry, if I score a goal will you take me to McDonalds?”

11. “Coach Kerry, did you have grey hair when you played for the Flyers???”

10. “My line-mates suck…….” (that one got addressed….:) )

9. “ Are we the home team or the road team??”

8. “this Helmut is ruining my hair.” (that’s right we had a little girl on the team…..)

7. “Liam is getting killed out there……” (Liam is our goalie….)

6. “Dad, I don’t get it…we play pretty good in practice…..”

5.  “Coach Kerry, we googled you last night……”

4. “if you get a penalty, that just means you are trying hard right???”

3. “we’re pretty good but these guys are really good!!!!!”

2. “next year when I am older I am going to stomp those guys…….”

1. “Coach Kerry, I think I pulled my Hand String………”

You gotta love hockey!!!!!

He is MY First Rounder

“I had a friend who was a big baseball player, back in high school……He could throw that speed ball by you, make you look like a fool……”Glory Days
Bruce Springsteen

The other day I was sitting in my office looking at a picture of myself on NHL Draft day a very  long time ago….(1986). I was a First Round Pick in the NHL. It is true that all ex-professional players every once in a while get caught up dreaming of days gone past. On this particular day though, that wasn’t the case. I was looking at the picture and shocked at how much my 18 year old son now looks like me in that picture…and how fast the time has passed. A lot of you know that the majority of the blog this season has related to my seven year old son and our escapades with the Mite team he has been a part of.  As I think about my two sons this blog is not really so different.   Things are all tied together.

Recently my 18 year son was accepted to the University of South Florida in Tampa for the fall term.   It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that he was the same size as my current little mite player. I am every bit as proud of him as I am sure my parents were of me when I got drafted. I am very lucky that the company I created has the pleasure of working with families and players to facilitate their journey to getting into a great college.   I find it very rewarding when all their hard work pays off and a player gets into the school they want partially because of what they have accomplished in hockey. My older son didn’t play hockey and really isn’t that interested in it. After seeing him accomplish his goal of getting accepted to a good school there wasn’t a thing he could have achieved in hockey that would have made me any more proud of him than I am right now. When it comes to kids getting a great education in this world today I believe it outweighs any accomplishment they could achieve in hockey.  It has to. I played with a lot of great guys that came from college and over the years I have become very envious of them. In fact I am very envious of my 18 year old and what he has accomplished. Something I never did. The game of hockey ends for everyone at some point. A quality education lasts a lifetime. (Much like golf!)

I guess I am thinking about all these things because of the time of the year it is in the hockey season.   Right now there are a lot of parents of young players caught up in Playdowns or Play-offs or whatever you call them. Soon the same parents will be caught up in Try-Outs (I mean Evaluations……whatever….).  Just a reminder, it is fine to emphasize being competitive and making a team, but let’s push the kids to understand what is really important long term.

That and remember to enjoy it……..it goes by very, very fast. 

“I hope when I get older I don’t sit around thinkin about it……..but I probably will…….” J
Glory Days
Bruce Springsteen

Have a great week everyone!!!!

What will my child learn from Hockey?

So many times I am asked that question. It seems like parents are consumed with trying to help their children get to the highest levels of hockey and they sometimes forget what is really being learned that is important.
The brutal reality is that so very few ever to play professionally at any level. If you want to see some sobering statistics visit NHL Alumni Member Phil Myre's recent blog. It is excellent.
www.philmyretalkshockey.com .
 Here is one paragraph that kind of hits you between the eyes.
"The “bench mark” to be considered a legitimate NHL player is 250 games, or about 3 seasons. In the ten years going from the 1998 draft to the 2007 draft, 2640 players were selected by NHL teams. From that total, only 256 players played 250 games in the NHL or 9.7%. If we round up, 10% of the best prospects in the world become NHL players."
Kind of scary for some parents when they really break down the numbers.
But here is what can't be lost. Besides playing at the absolute highest levels, what does hockey teach people that lasts them their entire lives?
I decided to ask some good friends from the world of Hockey their opinions on this topic. I asked eight former players to tell me in just a few sentences what did they learn from the game and what is lasting with them today. Some of these players played a lot in the NHL, some won Stanley Cups, some played just a while and others never played in the NHL but did play hockey for a lot of years. All of them are pretty successful business people post hockey playing days. Their answers are very interesting and should be noted by all hockey parents.

Player 1

"During a hockey season you have up and downs but I’ve learned if you keep an even head about yourself you won't  get too high or too low.  This brings me to my next point…..Hard work and dedication. It’s tougher than people think to play an 80 game season with the travel, ups and downs and taking your body through hell each night and waking up the next day and doing it again. With over 1200 games I only missed 1 due to sickness and a handful to injury.

How to be a team player……hockey players have the ability to think team first (unless your in a contract year..just kidding)  with Europeans, Canadians and Americans all thrown in together to make up a team you realize that you better get along and care for one another or it will be an early summer.  This concept I have kept with me after hockey and it’s helped my ability in business."

Player 2

"I have learned a lot from my hockey experience that has helped me in life after hockey. I have learned that practice, routine, dedication, team-play, drive, believe in yourself and mental preparation are all things you need to have to become a successful business executive. I have also used my communication, constant follow up and extensive alumni friends to open doors in different markets. I’m thankful for my hockey training to prepare me for success in anything that I set my mind to."

Player 3
"If there is one thing I use today in business that I have learned from professional sports...it is TEAMWORK...without it, you don't stand a chance
In hockey each member of the team thinks differently and performs differently. One must understand the individuality of players, and the dynamic of the groups interaction, to asses their strengths and weaknesses and use them to their fullest potential within the context of the team or in business. It will encompasses confidence,assertiveness, and mutual respect."

Player 4

"The main thing I continue to be reminded of is that for fans of the sport of hockey, memories of individual achievements on the ice are seldom as vivid and long-lasting as those created by group accomplishments. My best years statistically (by a mile) were accomplished after I left the Flyers. I was only 24 when traded away and had my prime years still ahead of me so it stood to reason that good things lay ahead. I also became a bigger fish in a smaller pond, once no longer surrounded by championship depth. But regardless of all things individual, I am still most remembered for being a member of 2 Stanley Cup winning teams in Philadelphia.

I imagine the lesson is this - legacies are deeper and last longer if we are willing to sacrifice our individual agendas for the success of the group."

Player 5

"First get an education, I mean a real education....I mean reading, writing, math, and answer to deadlines. You don't have to go to school to get educated. READ BOOKS!
Get realistic,  the hockey world covers up a lot, I mean a lot if you're a good player!
Respect money....and don't be in a rush to act like you know it all...Cherish being a member of a team and a good team person. That is the most important thing I learned from the game that is so valuable in the real world.
Hockey is a great stepping stone for a lot of different things but that is all it is. There is so much more to life than just the game."

Player 6

"Playing pro hockey taught me how to deal with adversity in my life. There are many ups and downs in a professional season and things don’t always go as planned so you need to learn to forget your mistakes and move on. You can't dwell on the past.  Very much similar to life outside of hockey.  Hockey teaches you how to be a team player no matter what level you play until. Always remember that."

Player 7"Hockey taught me mental toughness. It is a game that at a lot of times never goes the way you expect it to. So does life. It taught me to deal with things, remain positive and get ready for the next game. (challenge)
It taught me to interact with and work with teammates whether they were your friends or not. Learn to get the job done. That is what life and business demand. Thanks Mom and Dad for signing me up when you did!!!!"

Player 8

“After graduating from a major Division I college I had the fortune of playing 5 years of professional hockey. As most of my friends went on to start traditional careers in the work force I took a slightly different path that ultimately served me very well when it came time for me to enter the work force. Hockey at the professional level is a tremendous training ground for life in the “real world”. To play at a professional hockey you need to be extremely competitive, tough and work hard on and off the ice. It is these same skills that are required to be successful in this ever changing, fast paced world we live in today. In addition to the life skills learned, professional hockey afforded me the opportunity to forge lasting relationships with people from every background imaginable. It is these “life lessons” that can’t be learned in a classroom and stay with you for life.”

Guys, Thanks so much for letting me lean on you for this weeks content. The great thing is that I am sure if I had asked EIGHTY players, most of the answers would be pretty close to what these gentlemen said. Well done.

Parents, don't get too worked up about where your little player is going to end up playing. Look at these answers and focus on what they are learning that will be with them the rest of their lives!

More Good Stuff

Make sure you check out my friend Brian Riggs article on Leadership featuring former NHL Player Rod Brind'amour as well as information on the great charity that he is involved with, Fantasy Sports 4 Kids!

www.fs4k.org

 

Only the Lord saves more than Bernie!

That was a popular bumper sticker during the 70's when Bernie Parent dominated the nets for the Philadelphia Flyers. Only the Lord did save more than Bernie but I assure you, he never signed more autographs than Bernie did this past weekend!
This past weekend was the 34th Annual Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival and I was honored to sit in the Alumni Booth with some of the Flyer greats of the past. It is funny when you get older how your perspective changes and you notice things you maybe did not when you were younger. I remember my first Carnival in 1987, being in the dunk tank as most rookies do. I was amazed at the attendance and commitment by  the fans to come and see their favorite players and support a great cause. I paid little attention to what the Alumni guys were doing and what was going on. Times do change.....This past weekend I sat two seats down from Bernie and watched him graciously sign autographs from 12:30 in the afternoon til nearly 6pm. Not only did he sign but he chatted with people, let them take pictures, smiled at each and every one of them and also made sure everyone got to hear his legendary laugh. (which by the way is probably the greatest laugh in all of sports...) Not just Bernie, the other greats like Bob Clarke, Bill Barber, Dave Schultz, Joe Watson, Bob Kelly (who was right beside me and cracked me up all day.thanks Bob!) Gary Dornhoefer, Orest Kinderchuck and Don Saleski. All members of the Stanley Cup teams. Not to mention, Ed Hospodar, Brian Propp, Ray Allison, Andre Faust and others. But make no mistake, the people waited in line for almost 2 HOURS to interact with those guys who won the cup. It is an amazing thing in sports to see the connection those fans still have for those guys some 35 year later!
After seeing it up close I can kind of understand why though.  Not just Bernie but those other guys were there for over 5 hours, not breaking, interacting with and making all the people that came through that line feel pretty special. It was beyond amusing to see people bring up a picture they have had for over 30years of Dave Schultz in a beautiful 70's leisure suit with his arm around them as he is leaving a game and hearing Dave tell them,  "hang on to that picture because that suit is coming back in style!!!"
That is what is great about the Hockey guys. They get it. It was all done for charity and giving a little bit back.
Not sure if the other sports are like that, I kind of doubt it, but I am glad I got to see it. I am also very glad they don't make the Alumni guys go in the dunk tank. Not sure how they would look in swimsuits now!!!......:)

So to the current Flyers team, go get it done and you can look forward to the same treatment 35 years from now......we're pulling for you.

And to the real heroes

Up until this weekend, the Flyers Wives Carnival has raised over 23 million dollars for Philadelphia charities. An incredible accomplishment! I have heard that this years event was a record breaker so that number will increase a great amount. Congratulations to all who work very hard all year to make it the success that it is. There are many people involved and all should be very proud of the commitment they have and the difference they are making!!!!

What's in a Name?

Been kind of a tough week so I thought I'd try to have some fun with this weeks blog.
If the following upsets some of you in anyway, either toughen up or relax. It is a hockey blog not Time Magazine......:)

"Hey coach, keep it clean!!!!!"
That's what a ref yelled at me when a few weeks ago while I was coaching my mite team. Couldn't figure out what I did wrong until I heard myself yell out the next line combination again, "Knipple, Buts, Godown....you're up, Godown, Knipple, Buts....you're up!!!!!" That's right, I have three little players with the last names, Knipple, Godown and Butler.....Ooops. Not a good idea to have them on the same line.
So it got me thinking about great hockey names and some strange names that I played against over the years. I played against a Tom Sawyer, Paul Macartney, Phillip Collins, Jesse James, Jack Nickelson and Walt Kronkite.....no joke.
We decided to get together a list of some of the all time great hockey names. I have commented on some, but for some, nothing really needs to be said.
Here goes.
The All Spice Team
Herb Brooks
Basil McRae
Ryan Pepperall
Bob Dill
Bill Root
Brian Lavender
John Sorrel
Floyd Curry
Moose Sage

The All Exclamation Team
Brian Bellows
Kevin Haller
Harry Howell
Douf Mohns
Stephane Yelle

Some other dandies.
Jeff BeukeBOOM!!!!! (god he could hit!)
Miroslav Satan (Devilish)
Zdeno Ciger (smoking shot!)
Jim Carey (funny guy)
John Madden (loves football)
Jim Playfair (rarely did...)
Valerie Zelepukin ......say no more.
Darren Puppa......
Ron Tugnut (groin injury)
Steve Passmore (uh he was a goalie...)
Steve Lyon (had a huge red afro...)
Rich Parent (never paid for anything...)
Steve Heinz (wore #57)
Zarley Zalapski (just like that name)
Al Iafrate ( I was Iafrate of his slap shot!!!)
Adam Deadmarsh
Larry 'Izzie' Goodenough (obviously one of my favourites)
Martin St. Louis (of course plays in Tampa....)
Bruce Shoebottom (I would have felt like a heel if I forgot that one....)
Hakan Loob  (yuck!)
Frank Pieterangelo (the Apostle....I actually scored on him....)
Paul Tittman?
Jim Tittmore??
and finally...
Artem Chubarov
Johnny SanViagra
Paul Dyck
Harry Dyck
Dick Cockburn
Dick Duff
Cory Pecker ( a female commentator in Toronto actually used the line, "Pecker pokes it thru the five hole!!!" when doing highlights)

My two favorites, Bob Beers and former Canuck draft pick John Labatt.:)
If you have any other ones let me know!

The good news concerning my mite team is that next season we have two new players signing up. They are brothers, 5 yrs old and 6 years old, last name Johnson. That's right, our team will now have a big Johnson and a little Johnson.....Let's see how they fit in....:)

If you want more wacky hockey name fun, click on this link. (Grown ups only!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFJE6_EG1vw