“Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.”

Our 27th year of hockey camp was, in a word, awesome! We trained so many talented and hard working youth hockey players with dreams of playing at the next level. For some, that meant making the top team this winter. Some talked about winning the league championship this season. Others talked of playing prep hockey, college hockey and even in the NHL!

Whatever your hockey dream, now is the time to chase it. The skill level of youth hockey players is better than ever. Skating is faster, shots are harder and dreams are bigger! This season take what you learned at summer hockey school and continue to work on skills in all areas of your game. The best players with the biggest dreams never quit training and working on skills. When other players stop practicing shooting, they shoot another 100 pucks. They are the first to the rink and last to leave.

A coach once told me that what makes great hockey players is when raw talent intersects with an insatiable work ethic. 

This season get out there and chase your dream. Work hard to make it happen. Apply what you learned at summer hockey school and focus on skill areas that need improvement. Keep your eye on your dream and don’t ever give!

Thank you for reading and we look forward to seeing you at the rink soon!

We are wrapping up another successful summer – our 27th! – of teaching youth hockey skills to players across the country, and what a summer it’s been! We have seen some incredible work ethic from players in all age and skill categories, all skating hard to become better hockey players.

It seems like with each passing summer the skills of youth hockey players continue to improve. Shot speed and accuracy. Edgework. Speed. Agility. Powerskating. Passion! 

And now with the 2021-22 youth hockey season just around the corner, it’s time to reflect on all of the skills you improved on over the summer. And, it’s time to put them to work!

For some players this means having the best tryouts you can. For others who are already on a team for the season, it means showing up the first day of practice primed and ready to go.

A few key questions to ask yourself prior to the season:

• What skills did I need to improve on over the summer and did I achieve my goals?
• What did I learn at summer hockey school that can help me contribute to my team this season?
• What are my goals for this season for myself and my team?

We hope that you enjoy the final few weeks of summer and that everything you learned at summer hockey school translates into a successful season. Remember, success comes before work only in the dictionary! If you are the hardest working player on the team, great things will happen this season. 

Thanks for reading and we look forward to seeing you at the rink again soon! 

Looking for more hockey instruction and tips from our Pro Staff? Check out our full library of Player Tips!

As youth hockey players plan their goals for training at summer hockey school, keep in mind these 3 key traits that are common among the best hockey players in their pursuit of greatness:

Passion

Many years ago at summer hockey camp we were running a drill focusing on edgework. It was a fairly technical skating drill and required players to concentrate on their inside and outside edges. After a few repetitions of the drill one player seemed to be just going through the motions. I skated over and asked that player if he knew why we were doing the drill. The response was ‘To finish it and get back in line to do it over again’. As I explained the purpose of the drill and importance of edgework, and how it fits into stride and great skating, I could see the lightbulb turn on. The better the stride, the faster the skater and potentially, the more goals he would score! Suddenly his passion for this technical drill exploded.

Practice and play with passion. 

Persistence

Continually working on becoming a better hockey player is a key to success. At summer hockey school we teach skills that once learned, can be repeatedly practiced throughout the year. We identify fundamentals that need improvement and focus on teaching – using the CARTER Method – the proper way to train. The best players are relentless in their pursuit of greatness and never give up trying to master a skill.

Be persistent and you will reach your goals! 

Patience

We have talked about the importance of patience many times in our Player Tips section of our website. There is no fast track to the “A” team and success definitely does not happen overnight. Hockey development is a marathon, not a sprint. If youth hockey players approach summer hockey school and each practice and game with passion and persistence they are well on your way to maximizing your full potential.

Stick to your goals, keep your eye on the prize and be patient!

Thank you for reading! As an official partner of Mass. Hockey, we invite you to train with us this summer at one of our hockey camps in cities across 11 states, including Concord, Massachusetts. Space is limited at most locations to be sure to claim your spot in the starting lineup before they’re gone!

When parents drop their child off at summer hockey school they wonder a few things on the drive home; will they improve and will they make new friends? With any luck, they will both improve and also meet a kid just like Billy.  

It’s hard to remember the exact year, but it’s easy to recall the exact moment that he walked into the locker room. Billy was just one of those players that looked like he was going to be the best player on the ice. It turned out he was the best player on the ice. He was also the best player off the ice.

One of the great things about going to summer hockey school is that youth hockey players get to train with kids from outside of their club and community. When Billy announced in the locker room that he was from Canada the locker room went silent. Players sat staring, mouth wide-open, in disbelief. 

Then suddenly the locker room was full of kids mumbling in confusion. Half not really sure where Canada was, only having heard stories from their old man about the legendary players from this far away land. The other half just continued staring, convinced they were undoubtedly in the presence of the best youth hockey player on Earth. 

And then it happened, into the locker room walked Billy’s father. This was a man so grand in stature that no one dared say a word. He was not only in great physical shape with leg muscles larger than most tree trunks, but he had a face so intimidating and rough that you could strike a match on it. 

One of the camp instructors introduced him and the fact that he played in the NHL. One kid could be heard telling his buddy to shut up because he thought that Sammy’s dad was about to say something. And say something he did. 

With a smile on his face larger than any goal crease, he told everyone to enjoy the week and to welcome Billy because he didn’t really know anyone at camp. From that moment forward, it was game on.

We were right, Billy was an awesome hockey player. And an even better kid. He showed everyone moves that his dad had taught him. He skated faster than anyone. He shot harder than anyone. He worked harder than anyone. And best of all he smiled more than anyone.

I think every hockey player improved their skills that year at summer hockey school, in part because everyone wanted to be as good as Billy. This summer we hope your hockey player meets someone just like Billy and inspires them just as Billy did for us at camp so many years ago. 

After 26 years of summer hockey camps we always find special inspiration each week for the players. Sometimes that’s what it takes to bring their game to the next level.  We hope to inspire you this summer and invite you to train with us at one of our camps in 11 states. Check out our website for all of the dates and details! 

Thanks for reading! 

Hockey players love to play in great facilities. There is something special, motivating and inspiring about lacing ‘em up at TD Garden, Agganis Arena, Conte Forum or any other storied facility where great players have scored legendary goals, won championships and created history.

The NHL Outdoor Series last month set on the shores of Lake Tahoe created a new dream for players wanting to one day skate on the same ice where their heroes play. Unfortunately, the mid-day ice conditions did not cooperate and the game had to be postponed until after sunset. 

However, the beautiful setting of the white frozen ice built next to the mystical blue waters of Lake Tahoe, all in the foreground of the Sierra Nevada’s created a setting unlike any we’ve seen in hockey. Lake Tahoe is already considered one of the most beautiful places in the world and when you add an ice rink to the scenery, you have one of the most beautiful hockey settings in the world!

As you work hard over the next few weeks to win your end of the season playoffs and advance to play on the biggest stage at some of the coolest rinks, remember that it’s the hard work and dedication away from the limelight that gets you to the spotlight.

In the great movie Hoosiers, the coach brings his small town basketball team to play for the state championship in a gym – and setting – larger than they have ever seen. In a classic scene, the coach breaks out a tape measure to show that even though the facility is giant, and the stage enormous with the state championship on the line, the basketball hoop is still 10 feet from the floor; the exact same height that it is in their small town gym back home.

Playing end of the season tournaments for the championship creates a lot of crazy emotions. One important thing to remember is that, just like in Hoosiers, the goal is still 6’ x 4’. The ice is still ice and the game is still the game. Focus on putting all of the skills you have developed throughout the season to use and block out the rest of it.

Even if it is the most beautiful rink sent on the shore of a beautiful lake in a beautiful mountain range!

Thanks for reading and good luck in your playoffs. Please reach out to us with any questions about our summer hockey schools located in 11 states this summer. We invite you to come train with our Pro Staff and take your game to the next level!