Parent
WOMEN-IN-HOCKEY Digest 675
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Late Starters
by Kari Dahlen
2) Re: Late Starters
by J English
3) Re: Late Starters
by Louise
4) Re: Lake Placid Women's Hockey Festival. and Maria Dennis
by email@hidden
5) Re: Late Starters
by Chuck Collins
6) We Need A Goalie!!!!!! in MA
by email@hidden
7) Olympic Picks for Team USA
by Gary Goldberg and/or Debbie Minden
8) Re: Olympic Picks for Team USA
by email@hidden (Don Wright)
9) Re: Late Starters
by Gary Goldberg and/or Debbie Minden
10) Position Characteristics
by Kari Dahlen
11) Minneapolis coverage
by email@hidden
12) Re: Minneapolis coverage
by "Marcia E Blake"
13) Re: Position Characteristics
by Shannon Perkins
14) Re: So you want to be a Goalie - EH!
by Vic LeMire
15) Re: Position Characteristics
by email@hidden
16) Re: Minneapolis coverage
by email@hidden
17) RE: Position Characteristics
by "Manuel Angulo"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 14:42:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kari Dahlen
To: email@hidden
Subject: Late Starters
Message-ID:
I am 23 years old and attended my first official practice two days ago.
Despite feeling pretty awkward about botching up drills that everyone
else seemed to do rather smoothly, I had a wide grin on my face the
entire time. I thought that I was also "too late", but several members of
my team are beginners and are older than I am - and with weekly
practices, I am bound to get better!
Thanks for the encouragement from those of you who are enjoying hockey
into adulthood - I am glad I joined this list (just today!).
Dave - Tell your wife to give it a shot: Even though I think my
so-called "defense" is currently *helping* the other team, I get a real
rush from trying! I am sure she'll enjoy actually BEING on the ice rather
than just watching you and your daughter! :) (I am my beau's biggest
fan, which I enjoy very much...but now he can watch ME play too!)
Best of Luck,
Kari - a native Californian...where we don't have ice...currently residing
in Boston, playing D for the Ravens! (Number forthcoming!)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 20:46:43 -0400
From: J English
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Late Starters
Message-ID:
Hi David
I started playing when I was 34. I was so bad at first, I had to use
the boards to stop, couldn't skate forward let alone backwards. Fell
alot and screwed up alot of plays, but I was hooked. Now I live for
september when the season starts again, and play ball hockey in the
summer. I am among the many in our league to start playing in their
30's and 40's (oldest player last year was 48, receipient of the Relic
Award). Good luck with your quest.
Jan
David Cosio wrote:
> This is a question for most of you women out there
> who are currently playing hockey. How many of
> you started playing hockey late, e.g. in your 20's +.
>
> I am trying to get my wife to start playing but I think
> I am somehow failing to get the message across. She
> has this perception that you have to start at a very young
> age like I did and our daughter has. I think that is a false
> perception.
>
> -dave
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 23:25:51 -0400
From: Louise
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Late Starters
Message-ID:
David Cosio asked:
>I am trying to get my wife to start playing but I think
>I am somehow failing to get the message across. She
>has this perception that you have to start at a very young
>age like I did and our daughter has. I think that is a false
>perception.
Many list members responded with encouraging stories of their own "late"
starts in hockey.
I wanted to add something from another perspective. Let me encourage all
of you to do what you can to make your local female hockey programs as
welcoming as possible for beginners of all ages. It's great to read about
initiatives like the ones mentioned recently here by organizations like the
Chesapeake Bay Lightning, to have special clinics for newcomers and to have
recreational/beginner programs as well as competitive teams.
Could you suggest that your hockey club do something similar? Could you
help, by coaching, by recruiting, or by handing down your old equipment?
If an older beginner joins your team, do you encourage her to stick with
it, give her pointers on positioning, and invite her out with the rest of
you after the game?
One of the posters to this thread, email@hidden, said that for sure she
"wouldn't be able to play in college." Jen, I am going to disagree with
you. I bet you're just thinking about intercollegiate (varsity) hockey
teams, of which there are an increasing number across Canada and the USA.
But many universities and colleges also include ice hockey in their
club-sports program, their intramural sport offerings, and their
physical-education classes. I think that at a university or college is
actually one of the *best* places to start playing hockey as an adult. If
there isn't yet a women's ice hockey club at the school you choose, you can
help start one. Sometimes the university provides some ice-time subsidy,
publicity assistance, or loan of equipment for recreational sports programs
such as intramural leagues or sport clubs. At some universities, these
programs are also available to other members of the university community
(grad students, part time students, staff, faculty, alumnae, spouses and
partners of students) - it's worth looking into, if you have some
connection with a college.
When I was one of the organizers of the women's ice hockey club at Ohio
State, our programs were always open to beginners, including new skaters.
I'm sure that was sometimes frustrating for some of our experienced players
or competitive coaches, but over the years many women got their hockey
starts with our club. (At first, that was a necessity - with only about 5
"experienced" players on campus, we needed more recruits to have a full
roster and to help pay for ice time.) As the club grew, we were able to
divide by skill level for practices, and schedule games for a "novice" team
as well as our first team. Some of our "home-grown" beginners improved
rapidly, and played on the OSU team that first won the AWHCA championship.
Others developed more slowly, but continued to have fun playing hockey.
And that's the point, isn't it?
Louise,
looking for a Senior Rec team in Ottawa ......
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 01:29:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Lake Placid Women's Hockey Festival. and Maria Dennis
Message-ID:
hey whose your daughter? My name is chanda gunn and I am the goalie for Team
CA... maybe I know her! Did she try out for Team CA?
------------------------------
Date: 28 Aug 97 00:12:36 PDT (Thu)
From: Chuck Collins
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Late Starters
Message-ID:
> Let me encourage all
> of you to do what you can to make your local female hockey programs as
> welcoming as possible for beginners of all ages. It's great to read about
> initiatives like the ones mentioned recently here by organizations like the
> Chesapeake Bay Lightning, to have special clinics for newcomers and to have
> recreational/beginner programs as well as competitive teams.
> Could you suggest that your hockey club do something similar?
While we're on the subject of novel approaches, the NCWHL (Northern California)
has "Give Hockey a Try Night." The idea is that everyone who plays in the
league is supposed to find a similar-sized non-playing friend, and loan them
their equipment for a fun session of skating, shooting and scrimmage.
I think it's coming up soon as well, in case any Northern California women
are interested. Ah, I found the date... Sunday Sept 21, 6:00 PM at Belmont.
- Chuck Collins
email@hidden
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 03:28:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: We Need A Goalie!!!!!! in MA
Message-ID:
Hi, We are looking for a goalie!!!!! Our team is the Boston Ice Sharks, we
play in the South Shore Womans League. Our games are played in Canton,
Marlboro, and Assabet Valley(Concord), MA. Our team is in the Silver (B)
Division. Our first game in on Sept 14th and right now we have no goalie at
all!!!!! We practice once a week in Watertown. Our first practice in on Sept
3rd. Anyone interested please contact me. My name is Lynne Panno, you can
e-mail me at email@hidden or call me at 617-899-2377.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 07:20:21 -0400
From: Gary Goldberg and/or Debbie Minden
To: Subscribers to
Subject: Olympic Picks for Team USA
Message-ID:
Ben Smith's choice's for the first cut for Team USA were published in USA
Today sports page yesterday. It looks like a strong group with a
combination of veterans (e.g. Kelly O'Leary) and impressive upstarts (e.g.
Angela Ruggiero). Some surprises, though. For example, the absence of
Meaghan Sittler who I thought played extremely well in the Festival rushing
the puck and as a playmaker setting up at least a couple of very nice goals
I can remember for the Blue squad with precisely-timed passes around the
net. Anyway, it is encouraging to know that there is a whole troupe of
young women who played in the Festival who are excellent hockey players
that did not make the pick this year but will hopefully keep working on
their game and be waiting in the wings to take their rightful spot when
their time comes. I would be interested in other's thoughts on this list.
--GG
For those interested who did not pick up a USA Today yesterday, the
published choices for Team USA are:
Goalies:
Sara DaCosta
Erin Whitten
Sarah Tueting
Defence:
Chris Bailey
Colleen Coyne
Sue Merz
Sara (Tara?) Mounsey
Vicki Movsessian
Kelly O'Leary
Angela Ruggiero
Forwards:
Laurie Baker
Alana Blahoski
Lisa Brown-Miller
Karyn Bye
Tricia Dunn
Barb Gordon
Cammi Granato
Katie King
Shelley Looney
A.J. Mleczko
Jennifer Scmidgall
Stephanie O'Sullivan
Jeanine Sobek
Gretchen Ulion
Sandra Whyte
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 08:46:35 -0400
From: email@hidden (Don Wright)
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Olympic Picks for Team USA
Message-ID:
>Sara (Tara?) Mounsey
That's Tara Mounsey. The Brown University team is sure going to
miss her this year. Congratulations also to Katie King, a Brown grad, for
making the squad.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 09:04:31 -0400
From: Gary Goldberg and/or Debbie Minden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Late Starters
Message-ID:
>David Cosio asked:
>>I am trying to get my wife to start playing but I think
>>I am somehow failing to get the message across. She
>>has this perception that you have to start at a very young
>>age like I did and our daughter has. I think that is a false
>>perception.
>
Dave,
As a person who enjoys skating, but has no desire to play hockey, maybe the
gentle route is the one to take. I love the game. I love watching my
husband and daughter play, and during skating sessions, I enjoy skating
with them. I don't really want to play, and no amount of pushing will get
me out to play. We need folks like your wife and me in the stands
cheering, managing the teams, scheduling games, driving to little towns at
ungodly hours, and drinking hot chocolate.
They also serve who only stand and wait.
Debbie
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 06:11:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kari Dahlen
To: email@hidden
Subject: Position Characteristics
Message-ID:
Howdy... :)
I have been looking for some information on what qualities are most
important to play each position - It is a seemingly simple request, yet I
can't seem to find it spelled out anywhere online...
Furthermore, women's hockey draws on different strengths than men's
because of higher body fat percentage for women, less muscle mass,
greater flexibility, etc.. so I would imagine that some of the answers
might be different, both for those playing coed and all-female hockey...
I'd be interested in hearing members of this list's opinions on how they
would determine which position a particular person should play -- how you
or your wife/girlfriend/etc. was able to find a niche...
Why do I ask? Well, I play D currently. I am not quick enough to be a
forward - that I can tell. But I was wondering what it takes to play
goal... My team currently doesn't have a goalie, and I was thinking of
asking my coach to consider training me... But along with the "late
starter" type thread, I am wondering if this is a silly idea - after all,
having an inexperienced goalie would put our team at a real
disadvantage... But how would one become experienced in the first place! ;)
Why do I think I might be able to play goal? 2 reasons:
1) My current profession deals with visual search - looking for "target"
items among "distractors" - so by default, I have been highly trained in
picking out items in my visual field... both stationary and
moving...sometimes moving quickly... so perhaps I could track a moving puck?
2) My first hobby as child was dance. I was a dancer for 15 years, was a
member of several performing divisions, etc... So I have agility,
flexibility, and strong legs.
Why am I nervous about asking my coach?
1) I am only 5'3. Hardly imposing.
2) My team doesn't want swiss cheese until I become practiced...and I
wonder how long it would take to be decent.
3) I am shy about suggesting that I could be such an important player...
4) Goalie equipment is expensive...so it would be quite a committment
without knowing if I'd be good at it (of course, borrowing equipment at
first is an option)...
What do you all think? How did you find your niche in your team? Did any
of you try several positions before settling into your current one, or
did the coach just assign you to something?
Thanks for your help!
Kari
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 08:55:27 -0600
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Minneapolis coverage
Message-ID:
In the Minneapolis paper today there was coverage on the pre-Olympic
team (Sobek, Blahoski, Schmidgall). According to this paper Lifetime will
pay about $650,000 to sponsor the US Women's Olympic Hockey Team.
(Send your cards and letters thanking them!!!!!!) As part of Lifetime's
agreement with USA Hockey, the cable network will televise a
PRE-OLYMPIC game between the US and Canada. So apparently the
rumor I heard of covering a game at the Olympics is wrong and it's a
pre-Olympic game. According to USA Hockey they are still considering
scheduling a game in the Twin Cities. So apparently talks haven't broken
down completely. I tried getting the Minnesota Sports Commission
involved - apparently the power-to-be there thinks they'll iron it out. I'm
calling HIM back again. And I'm calling USA Hockey and giving them an
earful....in that it would help further girls and women's hockey in the
state, good for these girls to see role models, blaa, blaa, blaa. Anyone
out there wanting to see USA team in Minnesota - call them immediately or
write them IMMEDIATELY. Thanks for the help. Dorene
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 97 09:24:29 -0600
From: "Marcia E Blake"
To:
Subject: Re: Minneapolis coverage
Message-ID:
Dorene - What person(s) should be called? Do you have a number?
Marcia
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Minneapolis coverage
Author: at smtpgate
Date: 8/28/97 6:53 AM
In the Minneapolis paper today there was coverage on the pre-Olympic
team (Sobek, Blahoski, Schmidgall). According to this paper Lifetime will
pay about $650,000 to sponsor the US Women's Olympic Hockey Team.
(Send your cards and letters thanking them!!!!!!) As part of Lifetime's
agreement with USA Hockey, the cable network will televise a
PRE-OLYMPIC game between the US and Canada. So apparently the
rumor I heard of covering a game at the Olympics is wrong and it's a
pre-Olympic game. According to USA Hockey they are still considering
scheduling a game in the Twin Cities. So apparently talks haven't broken
down completely. I tried getting the Minnesota Sports Commission
involved - apparently the power-to-be there thinks they'll iron it out. I'm
calling HIM back again. And I'm calling USA Hockey and giving them an
earful....in that it would help further girls and women's hockey in the
state, good for these girls to see role models, blaa, blaa, blaa. Anyone
out there wanting to see USA team in Minnesota - call them immediately or
write them IMMEDIATELY. Thanks for the help. Dorene
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 07 Sep 1997 10:54:36 -0400
From: Shannon Perkins
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Position Characteristics
Message-ID:
>What do you all think? How did you find your niche in your team? Did any
>of you try several positions before settling into your current one, or
>did the coach just assign you to something?
>
>Thanks for your help!
>Kari
>
I started out as a forward, moved up to defense, and eventually started
playing goalie(I was blocking more pucks than the goalie was anyway). It
just seemed to fit me, and I took to the position naturally.
In order to play the position, you need to have strength, be a good skater,
endurance, flexibility, quick reactions, and good puck sense. You also need
to be able to handle the mental part of the game.
I think some of the things you do will help you play goalie. You can also
work on your endurance by long skating drills, cross country-like
activities, and running stairs at your local arena. You could also try
biking/rollerblading long-distance and/or up hills. To help with strength,
get yourself a pair of adjustable ankle weights and use those when you
exercise. I use a pair of skate weights in practice, and sometimes I attach
the weights with tape to my pads. To work on reaction time, you can bounce a
ball off a wall in front of you, or even have someone throw the ball from
behind you. For an on-ice drill, keep you back to someone with the pucks,
wait for a signal from them(tap stick on ice, whistle), then turn and face
the shot. The work on puck sense, use a screen-shot drill. Just taking shots
will also help with that. You can also play catch with a friend(make sure
you watch the ball all the way into your glove).
Sometimes, leagues have equipment for you. If not, buy used. Play It Again
Sports will probably have something for you. I think you should just get out
there and see if you like it. If you don't, there's no point in trying to
play the position at all. Ask around and see if there are any goalies
willing to help you out. Someone who plays/has played the position will be
the best person to show you what you need to do, and what you're not doing
right.
Good luck!
Shannon Perkins-#? Team Michigan
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 11:22:46 -0400
From: Vic LeMire
To: women-in-hockey@plaidworks.com
Subject: Re: So you want to be a Goalie - EH!
Message-ID:
Hi Kari;
You wrote:
But I was wondering what it takes to play goal...
Consider this: A Goalie needs.......
Physically, The ability to move Forwards, Backwards, & Sideways with short,
quick spurts, maintaining balance
and position.
Mentally, The desire to STOP the opposition every time and frustrate them with
save after save after save.
Success, for a Goaltender, is someone who can stop ALL the "routine" shots
and MOST of the difficult shots.
You also wrote:
My team currently doesn't have a goalie, and I was thinking of
>asking my coach to consider training me... But along with the "late
>starter" type thread, I am wondering if this is a silly idea - after all,
>having an inexperienced goalie would put our team at a real
>disadvantage... But how would one become experienced in the first place! ;)
An experienced Goalie (who is good) is a valuable asset! It sounds like
your team is wanting in this area! Your idea IS NOT SILLY! As long as you
are willing to spend the time to learn the basics, You WILL become better
at playing Goal. It is a very teachable position!
Your qualifications:
>Why do I think I might be able to play goal? 2 reasons:
>1) My current profession deals with visual search - looking for "target"
>items among "distractors" - so by default, I have been highly trained in
>picking out items in my visual field... both stationary and
>moving...sometimes moving quickly... so perhaps I could track a moving puck?
>2) My first hobby as child was dance. I was a dancer for 15 years, was a
>member of several performing divisions, etc... So I have agility,
>flexibility, and strong legs.
Very good prerequisites ( ie: agility and visual alertness)
Add to this a sense of anticipation and "War-Like" competition and you have
the very good makings of a GOALTENDER!
>Why am I nervous about asking my coach?
>1) I am only 5'3. Hardly imposing.
>2) My team doesn't want swiss cheese until I become practiced...and I
>wonder how long it would take to be decent.
About 1 season of playing the position and 2 summers of Goalie School.
Consider that most goalies begin as the worst skaters on a team or were
denied playing until they are 11 or 12 years old by their parents. It will
be difficult at the beginning but if you study the position and apply good
techniques to your own game you will progress fast and maybe even enjoy the
position!!!!!! Good Luck and Great Saves!
Yours in Hockey;
God Bless
Vic LeMire
Vic's Hockey Schools
(24th Year of Excellence in Teaching)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 12:38:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Position Characteristics
Message-ID:
Kari you are right goalie is a definite position that takes thought. I have
been playing since I was 15(late starters syndrome especially for men) and it
has been fun. I attended a goaltending camp last year at the age of 22. I was
the oldest there and the most embarrased because of mistakes that I made that
the kids didn't. I kept going through the program because the kids were
working with me themselves and were interested in the level of play at my
age.
The biggest thing I was told in camp was that the goalie has to be the best
skater on the team. Reason being is that you have to skate as fast as
everyone else(if you're caught out of the net) but with extra weight from
your pads. Be cautious about borrowing pads. If they are not the right size
and don't fit properly you could get hurt.
If you are thinking of being a goalie because you can't skate as well then
start skating more and be a goalie anyway.
Be prepared for those shots that make you popular i.e. the ones of the mask.
Have fun most of all and tell others to do the same, because if there is no
fun then there is no point to playing the game!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 12:43:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Minneapolis coverage
Message-ID:
Doreen it would help if you had the numbers or addresses I do not know them
but would love to put in my two cents as a women's team coach and a men's
team player. If you could send a private e-mail with those numbers and I'll
back you to them.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 97 16:30:32 UT
From: "Manuel Angulo"
To: email@hidden
Subject: RE: Position Characteristics
Message-ID:
Kari,
I guess the first question I have for you, is how long have you been playing?
You say you don't have enough speed to be a forward -- if no one has told you,
you need speed to play any position on the ice, including goalie. Speed is
not something that comes to most people easily. It takes time and lots of
practice.
Depending on which league I am skating in, I either play wing or goalie. Now,
I will be the first to admit it is a strange combination. I just kinda
accidentally ended up as a wing in my very first game and stayed there.
Obviously I wasn't very good when I started, but I was even worse at center
and defense when I tried those positions.
As far as goalie. Even before I started playing hockey, I harbored secret
desires about that position. I have just recently (like within the last two
months) decided to try it out. Another reason I decided to try it was because
our newly formed womens team didn't have a goalie. If you are interested, go
for it. It is VERY different from playing forward (at least in my opinion).
I use borrowed equipment. I wear my regular hockey skates. Don't worry that
you are only 5'3". I am 5'6". Size can be an added benefit, but it is not
necessary to be a good goalie. Look at Vernon, Richter, and Beezer of the NHL
(not that my name should even be mentioned with that group). Every game that
I have played in we have lost except for one that was a tie. Hockey is a TEAM
sport. A goalie cannot win or lose a game by themselves. There have been
times that I have taken the loss a little too much to heart and felt as though
I needed to apologize to the team, but their attitude was hey, none of the
rest of us volunteered to be in net and we made some mistakes out there, so
who are we to say anything about your performance.
All roles on the ice are important -- I don't believe anyone person or
position can win or lose a game so don't put that kind of pressure on yourself
when approaching your coach about possibly playing goal.
Good luck!
Candi Angulo - Captain (and starting goalie)
#21 - Houston Harpies
email@hidden on behalf of Kari Dahlen
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 1997 8:16 AM
To: Subscribers to
Subject: Position Characteristics
Howdy... :)
I have been looking for some information on what qualities are most
important to play each position - It is a seemingly simple request, yet I
can't seem to find it spelled out anywhere online...
Furthermore, women's hockey draws on different strengths than men's
because of higher body fat percentage for women, less muscle mass,
greater flexibility, etc.. so I would imagine that some of the answers
might be different, both for those playing coed and all-female hockey...
I'd be interested in hearing members of this list's opinions on how they
would determine which position a particular person should play -- how you
or your wife/girlfriend/etc. was able to find a niche...
Why do I ask? Well, I play D currently. I am not quick enough to be a
forward - that I can tell. But I was wondering what it takes to play
goal... My team currently doesn't have a goalie, and I was thinking of
asking my coach to consider training me... But along with the "late
starter" type thread, I am wondering if this is a silly idea - after all,
having an inexperienced goalie would put our team at a real
disadvantage... But how would one become experienced in the first place! ;)
Why do I think I might be able to play goal? 2 reasons:
1) My current profession deals with visual search - looking for "target"
items among "distractors" - so by default, I have been highly trained in
picking out items in my visual field... both stationary and
moving...sometimes moving quickly... so perhaps I could track a moving puck?
2) My first hobby as child was dance. I was a dancer for 15 years, was a
member of several performing divisions, etc... So I have agility,
flexibility, and strong legs.
Why am I nervous about asking my coach?
1) I am only 5'3. Hardly imposing.
2) My team doesn't want swiss cheese until I become practiced...and I
wonder how long it would take to be decent.
3) I am shy about suggesting that I could be such an important player...
4) Goalie equipment is expensive...so it would be quite a committment
without knowing if I'd be good at it (of course, borrowing equipment at
first is an option)...
What do you all think? How did you find your niche in your team? Did any
of you try several positions before settling into your current one, or
did the coach just assign you to something?
Thanks for your help!
Kari
------------------------------
End of WOMEN-IN-HOCKEY Digest 675
*********************************