Category Archives: Columns
From the Trainer’s Room: Know the details of the new concussion law in California
February 14th, 2017A new concussion law in California was enacted on Jan. 1, 2017 – an amendment of a previous law that covered high school athletes that now covers all athletes under the age of 18. The purpose is to provide specific safety protocols to protect athletes from injury. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE “This bill places California…
Chalk Talk: Improving hockey awareness boils down to two questions
February 10th, 2017It’s common to hear coaches, parents, and players all talking about what can be done away from the rink to help player development. We hear all about stickhandling, shooting, sprint/plyo programs, weight lifting, and sometimes we hear about watching video. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE In the NHL today, we are seeing many young players jump…
Taking Liberties With… Mitch Wahl
January 6th, 2017MITCH WAHL Position: Forward, Vasterviks IK (Sweden) Hometown: Seal Beach Youth teams: Huntington Beach Lightning, Anaheim Jr. Ducks, California Wave, LA Jr. Kings Hockey has taken Mitch Wahl many places in parts of eight professional seasons. Wahl, a second-round draft choice of the Calgary Flames in 2008, was a co-captain of the 2004-05 California Wave…
From the Trainer’s Room: How to diagnose, deal with, treat groin injuries in hockey
January 5th, 2017Groin strains are common injuries in the game of ice hockey. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Previous reports in the NHL have shown than up to 10 percent of all injuries sustained have been due to strains of the groin or adductor muscle group. In today’s NHL, it is a little tougher to note since these…
Chalk Talk: Let’s sit back and discuss the performance bell curve
January 2nd, 2017Recently, during some down time at the rink, I happened upon a father I knew watching his son take a private lesson. Whenever his son missed the net or lost the puck in a drill, the father would raise his hands up or pound the table in frustration. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE I approached him…
Taking Liberties With… Emerson Etem
December 16th, 2016EMERSON ETEM Position: Forward, San Diego Gulls (AHL) Hometown: Long Beach Last amateur team: Medicine Hat Tigers (Western Hockey League) Youth teams: Huntington Beach Sun Devils, Long Beach Jr. Ice Dogs, LA Hockey Club Emerson Etem has been playing the transition the past few months. In the midst of training camp in Vancouver, he and…
From The Trainer’s Room: Tips to avoid burnout during the long hockey season
December 16th, 2016The demands placed on athletes today in any given sport has increased immensely over the last ten years and it is not uncommon for California hockey players to play on a club and high school team at the same time. This means 3-4 practices a week and 2-3 games a weekend, not to mention dryland…
Chalk Talk: Hitting from behind not safe, has no place in this game
December 15th, 2016Hitting from behind is a very dangerous part of our game and as coaches, I think we can do a better job of preventing this from happening. Hitting from behind can be broken into two categories. The first one is intentional. This hit has to be addressed by the coach immediately and the player needs…
Taking Liberties With… Matt White
November 16th, 2016MATT WHITE Position: Forward, Milwaukee Admirals (American Hockey League) Hometown: Whittier Age: 27 Last amateur team: University of Nebraska-Omaha (then WCHA) Youth teams: Beach City Lightning, Huntington Beach Sun Devils, L.A. Jr. Kings READ OUR LATEST ISSUE White went to his first NHL camp this fall with the Nashville Predators after playing well for their…
Chalk Talk: Grassroots hockey development – why it’s the best route
November 15th, 2016How do you teach the most difficult sport in the world to all children and adults? It’s easy. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE You make it fun and you bring it to them every day in their communities. Hockey is contagious; I have experienced many new hockey families that try it, fall in love and never…