When I turned 3 years old was the first time I was put out to play the Canadian sport of hockey. As most kids, hockey was surrounding me and influenced every aspect of my life. My Dad, as you will hear more of throughout this blog, coached many Provincial winning teams from my home association.
I spent the younger years of minor hockey playing for the Vancouver Thunderbirds. From novice till about Peewee first year was a blur to me. I do remember however, trying out for Atom AAA first year. This was the first time playing kids a year older. Now, it doesn't seem like a big jump, but when you are 9 years old lining up with some 11 year olds, it can get a little intimidating. Anyways that was the first real time I ever had difficulty in this sport. I was played on the AA team with most first year atoms. I remember that day being released, crying to my mom on the ride home.
At time time I didn't notice it, but I had an amazing coach on this AA team, who truly cared about player development. Coach Gary Hunter had some very unorthodox techniques of coaching, but they were the most efficient. I remember the smell of pneumonia at 6am practices at kerrisdale on Monday mornings. Coach Gary would make us all line up, laying down on the ice, legs straight touching the boards. He yelled for us to push off as far as we could and no one moved an inch. "You need to bend your knees for power, thats where you'll get all your speed". This is where i realized that this guy knew what he was talking about.
I spent the younger years of minor hockey playing for the Vancouver Thunderbirds. From novice till about Peewee first year was a blur to me. I do remember however, trying out for Atom AAA first year. This was the first time playing kids a year older. Now, it doesn't seem like a big jump, but when you are 9 years old lining up with some 11 year olds, it can get a little intimidating. Anyways that was the first real time I ever had difficulty in this sport. I was played on the AA team with most first year atoms. I remember that day being released, crying to my mom on the ride home.
At time time I didn't notice it, but I had an amazing coach on this AA team, who truly cared about player development. Coach Gary Hunter had some very unorthodox techniques of coaching, but they were the most efficient. I remember the smell of pneumonia at 6am practices at kerrisdale on Monday mornings. Coach Gary would make us all line up, laying down on the ice, legs straight touching the boards. He yelled for us to push off as far as we could and no one moved an inch. "You need to bend your knees for power, thats where you'll get all your speed". This is where i realized that this guy knew what he was talking about.
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