Growing up as a huge NBA enthusiast (my tenure as a fan began when I was about 8-10 years old with Julius Erving and ended with the retirement of Sir Charles Barkley), I was no Chicago Bulls fan, but once Michael Jordan entered the scene, you just knew you were seeing something special.

And like Gretzky (indeed perhaps the only viable similarity to Gretzky), whether you loved him or hated him, you certainly had to grant the man his place in sports history.

Over the years, many have been tempted to compare the likes of Wayne Gretzky’s dominance in the sport of ice hockey to Michael Jordan’s own personal statistical stranglehold on professional basketball. Still others are tempted to compare Tiger Wood’s dominance in professional golf to the statistical marvel of the Great One.

Any such comparisons are done in vain.

Yes, each of the aforementioned superstars dominated (or is dominating) their respective sport. But no one did it with the sheer inescapable magnitude of Wayne Gretzky over his twenty year career in professional ice hockey.

To put Gretzky’s feats in perspective, if Michael Jordan were to match the Great One’s single-season scoring record—statistically speaking—he would have had to average over 70 points per game.

Gretzky started playing Junior B hockey at 14 years old, winning a challenge to existing Canadian amateur hockey rules. That first season, he won rookie of the year, totaling 60 points in 28 games.

As many well know, over his career in the NHL, Gretzky had more assists (1,963) than second place on the all-time POINTS list (Mark Messier with 1,887).

His record of 2,857 points will never be surpassed.

All said, Wayne Gretzky holds:

40 regular season records

15 playoff records

6 All-Star records

He won 4 Stanley Cups (Oilers), garnered 9 MVP awards, and was the leading scorer in the NHL 10 different seasons.

Not only is he the only player to ever tally more than 200 points in a single season, he accomplished the feat four times. He scored over 100 points in a season 13 consecutive times, with a total of 15. He also turned 50 hat tricks.

Arguably there has never been a player with such a natural sense of puck flow, ice position, and the ability to create time and space. It was said the Great One had eyes in the back of his head.

In one game, he scored on the drop of the face-off puck twice, against the same goalie.

His greatest attribute, perhaps, was not exemplified by his grace with a stick and puck but rather his presence without them. No dominant force was ever so humble. Rick Reilly, senior writer for Sports Illustrated, once proclaimed the biggest challenge of interviewing Wayne Gretzky was getting him to say anything about himself.

Whether you loved him or hated him, to deny him his place in history is impossible. He was an ambassador for the sport, and reinforced the notion that hockey could be (and is) a game of grace, skill, and honor.

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Robert Guthrie is a freelance writer who spends most of his spare time chauffeuring a 15 year-old ice hockey player who can’t yet drive himself. He lives in the beautiful mountains of Colorado with his wife, son, and two enigmatic blue healer mixes.

http://home-ice.blogspot.com

http://denver.yourhub.com/~manilowswardrobe

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2-on-1 Shot Blocking
The first of the drills for field hockey goalkeepers is a simple shot-stopping drill. To set up this drill, spread as many balls as desired around the circle edge. For this drill, one or two players make their way around the circle shooting the balls one at a time at the keeper. The goalkeeperâ??s job is to save as many ball as possible. To up the competitive spirit of the drill try keeping score, where the shooters earn a point for every shot that makes it past the goalkeeper, and the goalkeeper earns a point for every shot they block.

To keep things fresh and interesting during this drill, make sure the shooters employ a variety of shots including but not limited to slapshots, wrist flicks, and pushes. Another great way to keep the goalkeeper on their toes is to allow the players to pass the ball between them a few times before taking a shot, which forces the goalkeeper to pay attention to the action.

Dive In!
When teaching drills for field hockey goalkeepers it is important to integrate a variety of drills that teach players how to make different types of saves, all of which are necessary during game play. One of the most important skills that any goalkeeper must learn is how to make a dive save.

To set up, place six balls in a line slightly off center anywhere from 8 to 15 yards from the top of the circle. Have one player assume the role of the shooter, who stands at the line of balls. The aim of the goalkeeper during this particular drill is to move sideways across the goal to save as many shots as possible. At the start of the drill, the goalkeeper should be standing in their ready position with knees bent, head up and shoulder relaxed next to the left post.

To begin the drill, the goalkeeper shuttles sideways across the goal and taps the right post with their stick, the signal for the shooter to commence the drill. The shooter is to fire one of the balls towards the lower left hand corner of the net. As soon as the shot has been made, the goalkeeper is to shuttle sideways towards the left post and dive to make the save. Make sure to dive through the path of the ball in order to block the shot from going in.

Continue in this manner until all 6 balls have been shot, then allow your goalkeeper a short rest while the drill is set up again. The second time around the direction is reverse so the shooter will be taking shots at the lower right hand corner.

Make sure to emphasize that the goalkeeper keeps their head pointing towards the ball with their eye constantly following it after theyâ??ve touched the post and given the signal. To up their chances of successfully blocking the shot, encourage the goalkeeper to save using both gloves.

About The Author
Blair McKinney has been playing and coaching field hockey for nearly 28 years. You can get instant access to hundreds of field hockey practice plans and drills by visiting Blair’s website:
http://www.Field-Hockey-Drills.com
For a limited time, all coaches who visit Blair’s site will also get a free copy of his special report: “The 7 Biggest Mistakes Field Hockey Coaches Make”.

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Hockey, whether played on the grass or on the ice, has legions of fans and viewers. These same fans and viewers are poised to cheer any player on, whether he is the neighborhood hero or Wayne Gretzky himself. They are likewise interested, sometimes even obsessed with finding NHL autographed memorabilia at low prices.

If you are interested in hockey, or if you are new to the game and are planning to collect NHL autographed memorabilia, start inquiring at your local collectorâ??s stores on what NHL autographed memorabilia are available, or what NHL autographed memorabilia you can afford. There are also many online sites where you can buy, auction, or trade NHL autographed memorabilia. Beware of such sites, however: like many other trading sites, there are lurkers and predators aplenty that can promise you wares without sending them to you, or promise to pay you for your NHL autographed memorabilia but do not do so.

Here are a few examples of NHL autographed memorabilia that you can avail of online. Although this list is by no means complete, it can give you a good idea of what most websites will offer. Prices will differ depending on the age of the NHL autographed memorabilia, who signed it, and the quality of the signed merchandise.

- NHL jerseys are the most commonly traded, sold, and bought items online. Signed and autographed by the players themselves, such jerseys become gems to collectors. If you are able to avail yourself of such a jersey, do not simply stash it away or keep it in a box. Frame it, not only to display the signature, but to preserve the autograph and jersey as well.

- NHL hats and caps are also attractive, as they can be used at games to proudly display the autograph of a fanâ??s favorite player. If you are able to buy autographed hats and caps, do not wear them too often unless you are in an air-conditioned stadium. Acidity and moisture can wear away cap quality and can damage the ink used to sign the autograph. Keep such hats and caps in a glass display box, along with some dehydrating salts, to protect them from humidity.

- Many other autographed NHL memorabilia can come in the forms of photographs, posters, and books. Take care of such memorabilia by either storing them in glass cases, or covering them with protective plastic. Keep any paper away from heat, acidity, and humidity, as these can easily destroy them. Photographs should also be kept away from direct sunlight, as these can cause photographs and the inks used to sign the autograph to fade.

- Hockey pucks and sticks are also available online, and, once signed by hockey players, can become so precious, their owners will refuse to use them to play any amateur game. Such autographed memorabilia should also be kept in glass cases, and should be free form moisture, since humidity can damage puck and stick materials.

- Made of stronger material, signed NHL helmets can withstand humidity, but the ink used to sign the helmet can melt away or fade. Store autographed NHL helmets in glass cases or cardboard boxes, and keep them away from acids or water.

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For more information about authentic autographed sports memorabilia and collectibles, visit http://www.sportscollectionz.com . Read articles from contributing writers in our blog site at http://sportscollectionz.wordpress.com

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Hockey supplies on the Internet

There are a great number of websites on the Internet that sell hockey supplies. Simply type what you are looking for and in just a few seconds, you will soon see a long list of suppliers willing to answer all your hockey needs. From secondhand hockey sticks to brand new skates, they all have them. Training equipment are available as well. You need to have a credit card to be able to purchase online, of course. Aside from the actual price, you will have to pay for shipping and handling as well.

If you do not need to buy anything but want to sell your hockey equipment and gear instead, then some of these sites can help you in advertising them to a larger audience. Some sites may charge you for advertising your products, but if you want to post them for a minimal fee, you can register and post them in auction sites.

The dangers

The problem with these sites is that it is sometimes hard to trust the actually quality of the items without seeing them first. Sometimes there is no way of telling which ones are the legitimate sellers. Many people have been fooled by fraudulent sites that offer these products but never deliver your goods or even send you defective ones. Always be careful when buying hockey equipment online. Make sure that you purchasing them from reputable sites.

Hockey Equipment provides detailed information on Hockey Equipment, Ice Hockey Equipment, Ice Hockey Goalie Equipment, Field Hockey Equipment and more. Hockey Equipment is affiliated with Hockey Tickets.

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The Sunglasses Option:

One option is to wear sunglasses under the mask. Polarized lenses with full UV filtering will provide the best protection for your eyes and cut down any glare from reflections on the playing surface, the boards, or other players’ helmets.

What style works best under the mask?

While wrap around style offers the best sun coverage, they aren’t easily accommodated by the fit of the mask. If the wrap projects too far from the temple then you run the risk of rubbing the frame against the inside of the cage or mask, resulting in the glasses moving as your head moves.

Classic style sunglasses offer less coverage but have the advantage of staying put as your head moves laterally with respect to the mask surrounding it.

Sweat can be a major nuisance while wearing sunglasses under the mask. Taking the mask on and off your head is hard enough without taking the extra care to avoid knocking the glasses out of place in the process. You will want to keep a towel handy in case the glasses require cleaning during a game stoppage or a face-off at the opposite end of the rink.

The Sport Contact Lens Option:

Another option that became available only recently is the tinted sport contact lens option.

Commercial optics technology has finally made available sport contact lenses that offer disposable optical wavelength filtering as effective as sunglasses with the ability to meet the needs of your eye prescription. These lenses offer a choice of wavelength spectrum filtration that allow optimization for various types of sports environments. Your color selection will be based on a number of factors, including the color of the playing surface/surroundings and the color of the puck or ball.

Let’s compare the advantages of the two options:

A package of 6 pairs of disposable sport contact lenses retails for around $78 (available in both prescription and non-prescription). A respectable pair of polarized sunglasses costs between $10 and $30 at your neighborhood discount retailer.

Other players might tell you that you look really cool wearing mirrored sunglasses that match your team colors under the mask. When wearing colored sport contact lenses under the mask, other players might think you look possessed (some might consider this an advantage).

Sunglasses can be removed easily when the clouds roll in or when you are playing at the end of the rink that has the sun to your back. Contact lenses are in place before you arrive at the rink and come out after you leave (don’t risk damage to you eyes by inserting and removing while you are gearing up or down at rink-side)

Sunglasses can smear with sweat and become displaced when you get bumped around. Contact lenses tend to remain securely in place and sweat acts as a natural lubricant.

Both options offer the goalie essential protection from UV harm and sun blindness that make the mission easier to carry out. Don’t let the sun play in the opposing team’s favor.

Please share your experiences with either of these options by leaving a comment on this article. Play hard!

Brian Thorward is a contributing writer for Bright Red Tech Hockey, an online portal for hockey equipment information/shopping. Brian spends endless hours scouring online hockey resources for useful information to pass on to fellow hockey players and parents.

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Key 1: Go Up The Middle Robinson told Stevens that when he’s moving up ice, go up the middle, not along the sideboards. Why?

Many young defencemen will have a tendency to stay along the board hoping to bounce-pass it off the boards and out if they’re about to get checked. They also figure if they’re travelling up the ice on, say, the right side, the defenceman playing the left point will cover the rest of the ice.

So, let’s say for example, you’re a defenceman carrying the puck up ice and you’re hanging out by the right boards. What happens if an opposing player comes in to check you? Well, you’ve got one of several choices:
1) Stick-handle around him.
2) Bank the puck off the boards to someone else or go around him and pick it up yourself.
3) Make a cross-ice pass to your defensive partner or advance the puck to a clear forward.

In scenario 1, if he’s a better forechecker than you are a stick-handler, you could get beat, then he’s in one-on-none on your goalie. So let’s chalk that up as a bad idea.

In scenario 2, as my mom used to say, people make better doors than windows. If you can’t see past the opposing players, how confident are you that a) one of your forwards, or b) you will get to the bank-pass before an opposition player? As long as your team has control of the puck, the opposition can’t score. I’m not saying never use a bank pass, just to use it effectively.

In scenario 3, the opposing forward has just pressured you into making a cross-ice pass, possibly without you being aware of the position of the rest of the players on the ice. If you send a cross-ice pass in your zone or in the near neutral zone and it gets picked off, it ends up as another potentially one-on-none situation with your goaltender. Let’s chalk this one up as a bad situation, too.

So, why would you want to carry the puck up the middle? There’s a few reasons, and my favorite is simply that you have more options. Again, let’s think about it logically. By going up the middle, the center or one of the wingers should drop back to cover your position, and the other defenceman should be trailing you. This leaves you four pass outlets instead of one or two (two forward, two back), all of which should be a considerably shorter distance than the options you had if you had gone up the boards. Also, if you go up the middle, your lateral movement isn’t limited by having the boards to one side of you. And when you have more (and safer) options, you should be able to react better in any given situation.

Pete Fry is the founder of Puckmasters Hockey Training Centers, the worlds first and largest hockey training center franchse.

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