Junior Titans Pee Wee A: Coach Gibbons

If you were wondering about the new bumpers splitting the ice at some of the practices, its all about “cross-ice.” Cross Ice is winning fans all over the country. Especially for young players, a single sheet game results in very few touches.  The smaller area makes for more time with the puck per player, better player development, as decisions need to be made quicker and more efficient use of the ice.  As many as 3 consecutive games can be played on one surface.  USA Hockey likes the results so much that they limit Mites full-ice schedules until later in the season, but permit cross ice games from Sept 1.  But its not for 8 year-olds alone.  The benefits go all the way to Bantams.  Read the following on small area hockey:

http://www.wayzatahockey.org/coaches_managers/CrossIce.pdf

The boys traveled to Cranford today, waking early after a loss the night before.  Outdoor rink, chill in the air.  Like the last game, the goalie, this time Chris kept it close, facing 29 shots in 2 periods.  This team was the biggest, fastest of all the Cranfords we have played. I guess they needed to make a statement after they lost to us a few times.  It was 3-0 after 2, and now AJs turn, but they poured it on, scoring 4 more and shutting us out.  This was the first time we have been shut out since the ”No Pretzel” game at Grundy. But I did get a good breakfast afterward, and I’ll share my review  with you later in the week.  

On a sadder note, the tragedy of the George’s continue as the second Easton S17 goes down in battle….

 Is that Austin with the O-Stick?….Where’s George IV?  Oh no!

 The last known action photo of G-IV.  Tim has G-III in the background. Is he next?

AJ defends his net in the first 

The third time proved the toughest of all.  The Blizzard came to Wall, and since we met them at Chill Out, and Hershey, we expected to improve on the close game from the tourney to make up for the 6-3 pounding they gave us in the second meeting.  There we were short-benched, with Andrew and Billy leaving the game early, and Jared out. 

Well Saturday, they improved on us.  AJ kept us around for a while, playing a solid goal first period.  He was dead on for 10 minutes, stopping 18. It took until 5:35 of the first to break him. A couple of High Sticks disallowed Blizzard goals, but we still found ourselves down 2-0 at the 1st intermission.  These players were just faster harder hitting and they came to play.  A Titan power-play goal, Jared from Dave cut the lead to 2-1, 1:00 into the first, but the Blizzard were just getting started. 

At 9:32 they made it 3-1.  Unfortunately it got ugly from there…

Dave on an offensive rush…

…right into the Blizzard keeper

They kept hitting and we got tentative.  It showed as the score climbed through the rest of the game.  Chris replaced AJ but the barrage continued.  Richie scored on some fancy footwork to leave the Titans 2 goals for the night.  The end saw a tired and worn down team line up for the handshake.  A hard day at the salt mines for the entire squad.  Oh well, smiles leaving the locker room means they know, its just a game.

Chris takes some snow to stop a puck

Rob Kerr is loved by Calgary hockey fans (despite being originally from Edmonton) and seems to really like his job as a sportscaster following the Western Division Calgary Flames.  He also writes a blog: http://blog.rogersradiointernet.com/robkerr

He spends the hockey season watching the workouts and games of this top squad with stars Huselius, Iginla, and Tanguay, in goal Kiprusoff and now with backup Curtis ‘Cujo’ Joseph.  He then goes on the radio and talks sports on the local FAN radio, where they spend much more time talking hockey than here on our WFAN.  Rob is routinely mentioned as the best thing on the station.  Rob started in Juniors, and this past year was a winner of the Marty Knack Award which recognizes members of the media for their outstanding passion and coverage of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Rob was kind enough to grant an interview for our pee wees:

How did you wind up working in broadcasting?
I first got involved in 1992 when I was working in Fort Mcmurray, Alberta,
the Alberta Winter Games came to town and I volunteered with the local cable
company to provide coverage of some of the events. I enjoyed it and
continued volunteering with ABC Cable 10 running cameras, directing shows,
and hosting some. I would eventually get the chance to do Play by Play of
the Fort McMurry Oil Barons of the AJHL for 3 years. In 1995 I left the
Alberta Forest Service, where I had worked as a Forest Ranger, and went back
to school in Calgary, enrolling in Broadcast News at the Southern Alberta
Institute of Technology.

What is the best part of following the team?

The best part is seeing everything from a closer perspective, watching a
game from the morning skate all the way through the final coaches press
conference, its unique and it gives you a whole new respect for what it
takes to play and coach at the highest level.

Is there some advice you would give to a young person who might want to work
in sports?

Make your own breaks, I got into this business with a bunch of people who
sat there and expected the breaks to come to them. I have covered every
sport possible, I have covered every event possible, I have volunteered to
do things that on the surface didn’t seem to have any bearing on my end
goals. But you have to build a base, a base which will help you form your
opinions and it will help you ask the right questions. Start at the lowest
levels, do the least important jobs, but remember one thing I work harder
today covering the Calgary Flames then I did when I covered the Fort
McMurray Oil Barons, that’s the way it works.

Who is the most exciting player you have covered?

There is no doubt that Jarome Iginla is the most exciting player I have ever
been around, what he does on the ice speaks for itself. But the man off the
ice is even better, he is humble, he is thoughtful, and he really cares
about his team mates and the fans, he is the ultimate role model.

How is hockey different in Western Canada vs. the Maritimes or the US East
Coast?

Hockey in Western Canada is unique in its toughness, and the willingness to
play at both ends of the ice. We like a good fight, we like big hits, and
we enjoy good solid defensive hockey. Fans here are intelligent and
passionate, but demanding at the same time.

Thank you Rob. Maybe we will see you in the Cup finals!

By now you all must know that Billy’s stick, affectionately known as George has suffered the fate of many composite sticks.  His broken neck is not uncommon, even without him taking a violent slap shot, or whaking a crossbar.  How may times on TV do you see a 5-5 become a 5-4 plus a guy without a stick beacause it broke in a defensive player’s hand?  (NHL and USA Hockey rules assess a 2:00 penalty for playing with a broken stick).  Players sacrifice durability for the light weight and engergy transfer properties.  Wood sticks also broke when everyone used them (mostly because players also wanted the lightest wood possible).

Having just passed the 30 day warranty period for the Easton, the status of Billy’s significant investment is still unknown at this point.  It may have been a manufaturing defect.  But its possible that an earlier slash, a tough faceoff or slapshot in warm ups damaged the integrity of the fiberglass, and because it is designed to pass energy easily down the shaft, with the damage already done, his one timer was just the way he realized the break.

So who makes these sticks, where do they come from?  Well that depends, but George might be better known as Jorge as Eastons are made in Mexico:  USA Today did the research and wrote an interesting article on the subject:

Mexican workers make more than half of NHL sticks:

Company	NHL share	Manufacturing sites
Easton	45.1%	Tijuana, Mexico
Nike/Bauer	15.7%	Composite sticks made in China, wood ones in Canada
RBK/CCM	13.7%	Composites in China; wood in Canada, Finland
Warrior	11.8%	Tijuana
Sher-Wood	2.3%	Composites, high-end wood, goalie sticks in Canada; most wood-stick production being shifted to Eastern Europe

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2008-01-10-hockey-sticks-mexico_N.htm

This guy gives good guidance on making that big investment in a stick:

http://hockeymaven.blogspot.com/2007/07/buying-right-hockey-sticks.html

You may also save money by looking in the bargain bins or on-line for last season’s hot stick.  I’m certain if it was good for Jagr last year, its ok for Junior this year at 1/2 price.  Sometimes Dicks Sports and Sports Authority clear out inventory at 90% off as they change over to ’summer sports’.  They sell a lot of lower end sticks but occasionally have more expensive ones.  Used composite sticks have to be suspect because they may have damage you cannot see.  Not to say you can’t buy one used, just don’t spend a lot on it.

You can also buy a box of “woodies” for the price of a high end Easton.  It may be ‘old school’, but will not have a negative effect on your kid’s game.  They may even like being a ‘rebel’.  Skateboard companies have been upset for years as kids have shunned fancy decks for plain wood, to save money and rage ‘against the system’  

Better Hockey Magazine talks about composite sticks and how to fix:

http://www.betterhockeymagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=39

Link to the top repair site for composites ($30, like new)

http://www.srshockey.com/repairsystems.htm

Thanks for the picture Gellat’s! 

OK, the champagne bathing is over, most boys are home getting ready to tell tales in school tomorrow about how they won the MLK tournament in Virginia this weekend.  The boys were modest however, as coach Phil asked them to act like “They had been there before”.  This remote correspondent was home, tending to the injured, but I had what seemed like an old time ticker tape feeding me news over the weekend via text, email, and garbled phone.  So forgive me if I get something wrong (like your goal), or if the action is not captured with the same clarity with which you have become accustomed.

The weekend started with a fine outing against the Dallas Stars.  They say everything is bigger in Texas, but our 96s were bigger than their squad.  This attracted the attention of the refs, who would call plenty of penalties against our guys.  Austin T. started the scoring with a good rush on net.  Billy A. would take the second, and Chris M. capped the scoring with a fine shot.   But the story of Saturday Night was defense.  The boys took the body early and often, limiting the shots and keeping the puck out of our zone. The goalies as usual would be our best players, and this weekend they would be at their best.  They started out with Chris shutting out the Stars.

Next up Sunday morning and the Devils.  AJ would extend the shutout to 6 straight periods as the game was deadlocked at 0-0 through the first, and the second.  Titans controlled the play, and dominated on shots, yet could not put the biscuit in the net.  With the shorter periods, the game flies by.  Then, with 6 minutes to go in the third  Neil takes a hard shot.  It hits the Devils keeper and bounces in the air.  Richie is camped out in front and watches as the puck seemed to float in front of him.  Whack! He knocks it home for a 1-0 Titan win, and an almost certain trip to the semis with the toughest competition in front of them.

Sunday evening had the men leave the Giants game to watch a giant contest, Titans vs. Blues.  Montclair has 2 teams at this level with kids who each won 20+ games during the year.  They were not used to losing.  After a scoreless first, they finally broke our goalie shutout streak at 7 periods.  The second ended the scoreless streak, but not before Adam G. put one in for 1-1 tie.  Monclair is used to winning and they pressed hard, putting one in late in the second.  It would stay 2-1 for the next 12 minutes.  While the Titans refused to go quietly, Montclair began to use the body, and it got pretty rough.  Then, in a trademark move, Ryan P. refused to lose.  #22 scored the equalizer at 2:22 to tie it at 2-2, and the Blues, fight though they did could not take back victory.  The Titans won in their eyes, and were glad to draw them in the semis the next morning to finish the job. 

Most of the boys got to see the terrific ending to the Giant game before hurrying off to bed.  At least they would not have to get up and play first.  The Devils and the Carolina team would be in the first semi at 7:00.  And it would take overtime for the Carolina team to make it to the finals, ending the Devils dream. 

Now there was work to do.  The Titans knew the Blues were good enough to beat them, but they also knew that they had the upper hand.  So, Austin made a statement in the first minute, scoring unassisted.  It would not be enough this morning.  The period ended with a 1-0 Titan lead, and a rough and tumble Blues squad not leaving any time soon.  It took less than 2 minutes of the second for them to tie it up.  There it would stay until 4 minutes into the third.  Timmy this time.  But the Blues kept at it and 1:30 later at the 6:20 mark they tie it again 2-2.  This time a tie would not stand.  Only one winner would emerge from this titanic battle.  Then, an ill advised Blues penalty would put the Titans on a powerplay.  Momentum had fully shifted our way.  And then to top off the weekend for the defense Tyler puts one home with 25 seconds left.  Fans go nuts, Titans win.  Another great game for AJ, and the finals in a few short hours.

The boys retreated to check out of the hotel, bags in hand and no where to go for 2 hours before gametime.  After that eternity, it was time to go to work.  Carolina did not seem as strong as the Blues, but they drop the puck because you have to prove it on the ice.  Nervous energy was apparent in the scoreless first.  Like the rest of the season, we never can score enough. But the dam was about to break.  The Titans came to play, and they came like rain in a Fayettville thunderstorm. 

The second started with Dave N. from Billy at 11:51, just 9 seconds in.  They outshot Carolina by a wide margin, but the period ended 1-0.  The third started with a goal, confusing as to who scored, (I have not seen the scoresheet) but my witness says Niel H.   (EDITORS NOTE:  IT IS NOW CONFIRMED THAT NIEL HAS NO DOUBT THAT HE SCORED THIS GOAL) The more Carolina paniced, the easier the Titan goals came.  Next was Richie’s turn, then Billy, with Dave returning the favor.  Let’s not forget, that the goalie, (this time Chirs) let nothing through his fortress again.  In fact, our keepers were unscored upon in 12 of 15 periods.  They faced fewer shots than normal as well, so “take a bow” defense.  As the clock ticked down, coach Phil made sure the celebration was respectful, but it was well earned and sweet.  The drive home saw better gas mileage as the boys were lighter than air on the way back, smiling and clutching their hard earned medals.  Its good to see when they play teams mostly comprised of kids their age, they can compete and even dominate.  Thanks to the coaches and manager, Chris D’s family for sponsoring the team fee, and to the parents who were reportedly well behaved, despite leaving more than a few mom’s home.  Congratulations!

PS  I also understand the normal photographer was not there, but here is a link to someone who covered 2 of the games.  If you have shots for the blog, email them to me!

http://www.bradmedleyphotography.com/

The Pee Wees took the championship today 4-0!  Full Tourney summary to follow, (after the guys stop screaming in the locker room)

The competition for the Congressional Tournament this weekend should provide a good match for the boys.  The Teams in our Division are 3 NJ youth league teams:  Princeton Tigers, Montclair Blues,  NJ Devils.  The others 2 are the Raleigh Renegades and the Dallas Stars (who win the award for longest travel). 

The NJ Youth teams are lead by Montclair.  The Blues have a full contingent of PeeWee teams (perhaps because the young Brodeur boys played there at one point).  Both of their B teams have over 20 wins already and they both have the tournament on the schedule, which may mean they will send a combined group of those players (maybe their best players or those willing to spend the money).  Some combination of their B teams won the Hershey Tournament at the B level.  

The Devils B has a losing record in the league (5-8) as does Princeton’s B (4-11).  We know the Devils will mix up their roster for non-league constests (we have not seen the same team twice in a number of meetings over the years), while the Tigers seem to be bringing their regular squad. 

The T2 club of the AAA Jr. Hurricanes play in Raleigh.  They have 2 select PeeWee B squads, one being the Renegades and again we may see a combo team.  The Renegades play in a 5 team league and were 5-6 when the league site was last updated.  The Hurricanes have stirred up a lot of interest in local hockey, but rinks are far apart in the North Carolina mountains and there are too few teams to really draw any conclusions about talent. Expect them to be compeitive, but to let in a lot of pucks; their goals against average is over 5 in league play.

The Dallas Stars Youth is a top of the line program.  They send teams to Canada from Texas regularly, so D.C. is a short hop for these kids.  Their AAA squads play with the top Midwest Elite Squads, and they carry on the spirit of that organization to the Stars Selects, their T2 program.  Like our PeeWees they have a “major” ‘95 team and a “minor” or ‘96 team.  The ’96’s are headed to Washington.  They started slowly losing 6 of 7 in the North Texas League, but have been winning of late raising their league record to 6-7, and 1 OT loss.  They won their last game 2-1 and never get blown out.  Austin T’s dad knows a little about this squad, and reports they often get assistance from the NHL Stars who help out on the coaching staff.

The format is 3 preliminary round games, 12 minute periods, with the top 4 getting to the playoffs.  Teams 5-6 get a consolation game, guaranteeing all teams 4 games and the two finalists 5.  2 points for win, 1 for tie.

So, the competition is set, it should be a great weekend.  Most of the Moms are staying home, so the boys will have to keep the Dads in line.   Have fun fellas!

Andrew was very unlucky Saturday.  His broken femur is not a common hockey injury.  That is where the bad luck ended.  We were blessed  from the minute the accident happened.  The Blizzard parents went out of their way to get us emergency help and to console Andrew’s mom.  The Titan coaches came to the emergency room, as did a few of his team mates.  Then, when we were transferred by ambulance from Hackettstown, it was to one of the best Children’s Trauma Centers around.  At Morristown, our surgeon (which we needed around 11PM Saturday), happened to be a pediatric orthopedic specialist with a sports medicine practice.  Given the late hour, we were very lucky to get her.  She performed a newer type of surgery that while very painful for a while, will not impact his growth, and should allow for a full recovery.

The children’s hospital was great for kids, with lots of distractions like video games and movies for sick children, but these did not really lift his spirits.  Then, just as he was feeling pretty miserable this morning, we were told some guests were coming to the hospital.  Much to Andrew’s amazement, Devils Zach Parise #9, Travis Zajak #19, and John Madden, #11 were coming to the hospital to visit with the sick kids after practice.  Since he broke his leg playing hockey, they had lots to talk about.  The players gave him a signed jersey, some other autograph items and signed his Titan Jersey.  For a half hour he had no pain and a smile on his face.  Now he is home.  We have gotten so many calls, e-mails and well wishes, we are very grateful to our whole Titan family.  Andrew will need a few weeks to be able to leave the house, but after that he hopes to see all of his friends at the rink. 

Andrew and the boys have some fun 

Andrew is resting comfortably as I write this. When he left the rink the ambulance took him to Hakettsown Hospital. There he was x-rayed and they decided his femur was badly broken and he needed to go Morristown’s trauma center. The femur is under the thigh, and it is broken just below the hip.

Before he left Hackettstown, Coach Phil came by to check on him as did Coach Price and the Mella family. Chris M and Ryan P. got to see him in the ER, and that helped Andrew feel better.

From there he was moved to an ambulance for another ride to Morristown’s Trauma Center, about 40 minutes away. They have a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery center here.

Everyone was great to us, Titan Families & coaches, the Blizzard Parents, EMTs, Nurses, and Doctors.

Surgery took a little over 3 hours, but appeared to be a success. This is a new type of minimally evasive
surgery for kids his age, who are too old for kid solutions and not big enough for adult treatment.

Rather than a body cast, they put a rod and special pins that protect the growth plates in adolecents through 2 small incisions in the leg. He will not have a cast and they tell us he will be able to get out of bed tomorrow on crutches. He will also have his first Physical Therapy session tomorrow. With no complications he may be home tomorrow night or Monday to start his recovery.

Hockey is finished for a while, but there is no reason he cannot have a full recovery. We were very proud of how brave Andrew was.

We are also very happy with the help and concern from so many good people, including the Blizzard parents. We hope to see you all at the rink soon.

(if someone will email me a summary of this morning’s game, I’ll post it. Good Luck guys!)