Month: April 2021

Before he logged a 13-year career tending goal in the NHL that saw him play 508 regular season games with the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and New York Rangers, Martin Biron represented his home province of Quebec in both the Provincial Championships – which he won in 1992-93 – and at prestigious amateur tournaments like the Quebec Peewee International Tournament. Playing alongside his younger brother, Mathieu – who played 250 NHL games in his pro career – Martin Biron honed his craft as a pro, first with the Rochester Americans (whom he led to a Calder Cup Final appearance in 1999), then with all three New York-based NHL clubs, as well as the Flyers, whom he starred for in a run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2007-08.

The 43-year-old Biron now works as a successful NHL broadcaster from his home in Buffalo, but he relishes the chance to pass along valuable advice to young up-and-coming goalies. Biron took time to speak with Elite Level Hockey about tips for young netminders and the changes he’d like to see applied to the sport’s amateur side. (Read Part 1 of our interview with Biron, where we discuss his minor hockey career and the path that took him to the NHL.)

What is the best advice you can give to young goalies?

Martin Biron: It changes for me every year. First, I always thought it was to work on your technique. But you always have to be a good skater. People underestimate how important skating is for goalies. When I started playing, they’d put players who can’t skate in net. But my father told me, he said “it would be beneficial to you being a good skater”. 

A friend of the family played goalie in senior hockey, and we’d do ups and down (butterfly exercises) and do a lot of skating, and all my coaches throughout my career emphasized skating. I’m so glad my dad stressed that. And if you don’t have fun, don’t do it. That’s a gimme when it comes to advice.

How does goalie training differ now from when you were in minor hockey?

MB: I think 12-year-olds are so much better than I was when I was their age. So many technical elements of the game I never knew until much later are taught at a very early age now. My style at 18 or 19 was different than it was much later. I also always say I don’t want kids to play just one sport. Play other sports, but if you’re going to spend a week going into a school, take the time to learn the position. 

Is there anything you are seeing in minor hockey these days that you would change?

MB: Well, I don’t like kids changing organizations. Recruiting, I don’t like that part of it. When we played in our area, we just tried to make the team in our area. Now kids change teams at 12 and 13. Now, here in Buffalo, kids (who hail) from South Carolina, are on teams here. They have an uncle in Buffalo or something like that, so they come up here. 

It’s almost more like the (big-league) market. The season isn’t over, and parents are already calling coaches and saying, “I want my kid to play for you”. So that’s much different than it was when I was at a young age. I left home when I was 16, but I was far from my parents. I saw them once every other week, and talked just for a half-hour at the rink. But I was lucky, I had people as billets who I felt like were my second family. But not everyone is that fortunate.

Any tips on breaking a goalie slump for a young player?

MB: A lot of it is mental, because you feel like everyone is watching you. I always say, “Go back to the basics.” A lot of times, goalies who struggle will try to change their games. I’d advise against that. Just be yourself, believe in what got you success. And always go back to your skating.

What is the best way to warm up as a goalie in minor hockey?

MB: A lot of it is hand-eye coordination stuff. Braden Holtby would do visualization stuff. I’m a Formula 1 (auto racing) fan, and they do a lot of things that heighten their vision before a race. In New York, I used to watch (star Rangers goalie Henrik) Lundqvist juggle three balls, and then he’d do it the other way. But just zone in. That’s my best advice.

What was your favourite practise drill as a kid?

MB: Well, I actually hated to do these, but they were beneficial: as a kid, we’d do these up and down ( butterfly exercises) all the time. When I was a kid, butterfly was just beginning. I hated to do it as a kid, but I would just do those constantly. It’s something that improves your game over time, and it improves leg strength and flexibility.

Did you have a goalie coach as a kid, or attend goalie camps? What are the benefits of doing so?

MB: A friend of the family was a goalie coach. I got him in junior one year. I did the (Francois and Benoit) Allaire goalie school, then I worked there for them. That was a way to really prepare for the season. I went to Switzerland with them one year. One coach who had a big impact on me was a man named Gilles Lachance – he was the one that installed a work ethic in me at 14 and 15 that I didn’t know I needed. He was instrumental in how my game improved and evolved.

In this series on amateur hockey scouting, we compiled responses from 20 different hockey scouts and coaches that scout representing NHL, OHL, CJHL and NCAA teams about their unique job. Many wished to remain anonymous, which we allowed in order to get more candid responses to our questions.

These hockey scouts come from varying backgrounds, ranging from former players — from the NHL, junior and college ranks — to former coaches, including some with limited hockey playing experience. Believe it or not, there is even a former referee. Some have been a hockey scout for over 30 years and others only a couple.

By PUCK CHASER

Hockey scouts have interesting perspective when it comes to debating he Canadian Hockey League or an NCAA school and possible scholarship as the route to go.

Traditionally the best players in the world are choosing the CHL route, but that is definitely changing.

Over 30% of the NHL is coming from the NCAA now. A majority of those players are American but we are starting to see some elite Canadian prospects make that decision to play NCAA hockey.  

Cale Makar and Alex Newhook are the most notable players to play NCAA hockey recently.

“Some NHL scouts have confided to me that they think the NCAA is now the best amateur league in the world,” said one NCAA coach. “Most of that has to do with the number of older players in the league, but also the influx of high end talent deciding to go that route.

“If an 18 year old can thrive in that NCAA environment, there is a very good chance he will translate to pro very well.” 

Most of that discussion surrounds the speed of the NCAA game. The older, more mature players create a very pro style compared to CHL, which is composed of 16-to-20-year-old players.

A former NHL coach said, “Both are wonderful options. Traditionally, the NCAA was for the so-called “late bloomers” while the CHL tended to cater towards the higher end, instant impact players.

“This thinking has changed for the better as both routes cater to all types of players. It is largely based on a players interest, opportunity and finding the ideal situation for the player and the person.” 

Both leagues are heavily scouted. The one major difference is that as a young Canadian player you cannot play in the CHL before choosing the NCAA route. This forces players to play in the CJHL or the USHL before attending school. 

Although the CJHL and  USHL are scouted, players are often undervalued and taken in later in the draft. 

“It is true, we see players either slide down in the draft or get taken in their second year of eligibility because they chose the NCAA path versus the CHL path,” said one scout.

Many scouts confirmed these thoughts as they found it more difficult to compare a player playing in those Tier 2 junior leagues.

There are more intangibles at play and it’s difficult to compare players from one league to another, not to mention that there are fewer views of these players in these leagues. 

“This possibility of being drafted later than expected is one aspect Canadian players must realize when they choose this route,” said one scout. “The upside for these Canadian NCAA players is that they end up getting a little more time to develop and often get second chances through free agency.”

The scout went on to say, “NHL teams like taking NCAA players — especially middle rounds — as they are investments that they do not have to spend money on as soon as compared to a CHL player.

“When you draft a CHL player, decisions on signing that player need to be made much sooner.”

BY LEANNE BROWN

Two years ago, I was introduced to a new type of fundraising platform that netted the team over $1,200 with almost no effort. All I had to do was shop as I normally do and the team would get paid.

In this day and age with technology at our fingertips, you no longer have to fund raise the same old ways. Forget about selling candy, raffle tickets, going door-to-door, or walking up to people cold to try to raise funds.

There’s an app for that. With FlipGive, you can raise funds without the hassles of collecting money and the effort to get things started is minimal.

What is FlipGive?

FlipGive is a fundraising platform that helps people raise money for important causes and for teams in a simple app that you can use from your smartphone.

The company believes that traditional fundraising methods are time consuming and often they don’t work because they take too long and require significant effort for little profit. Part of the issue is that the average individual receives so many requests for donations within a given year, that they don’t feel inspired to give.

FlipGive connects teams to major companies that are willing to fund their causes in exchange for you shopping at their company. It encourages individuals as well as members of teams to shop from the app’s partners, which increases their sales.

FlipGive was created by Mark Bachman (CEO) and Nicholas Lee (CTO) in 2015 and is based in Toronto, Canada. They realized that in order to raise funds for their school, school fundraiser programs usually had kids either sell certain products or perform particular activities such as walkathons to raise money.

These old-school fundraisers were annual events which had parents reaching deep into their pockets every single year.

Bachman and Lee understood that it was challenging for people to keep asking their friends and family members to buy products they did not want for the sake of raising money. So they created a shopping platform that would encourage major brands to give money to support groups in an app so easy and convenient that it would attract the interest of coaches, teachers, and anyone else who needed money to fund an activity that would impact the community in a positive way.

How does FlipGive work?

FlipGive is a lot like Rakuten. It is a shopping platform that gives cash back to teams and groups that are trying to raise money. The teams simply shop online. It’s that simple. There are many companies onboarding such as Walmart, Amazon, Gap, Indigo, The Keg, Hotels.com and many more.

With FlipGive, instead of getting team players to ask friends and family for money, or approaching companies for a donation, you can visit their website to make a purchase. FlipGive’s platform provides links that take you to the online stores of all its partner brands. You shop, and FlipGive will track your purchases and then deposit money into your FlipGive account in the form of cash back rewards. You are basically making money by shopping at your favorite online stores, buying movie tickets, booking tables at restaurants, and more.

Getting started

To get started with this platform, simply visit the app store or the FlipGive.com to sign up.

Once you complete the registration, you create a team, invite your team members to join and start shopping  using the links on the platform. In a few days FlipGive will deposit your money in your account. Once the money is in your account, you can withdraw it whenever you want after you reach at least $100. It is free to join so there is upfront cash outlay for the team.

Get the app

FlipGive is an app available for both iOS and Android platforms and can be found on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store through which users can access to over 600 stores online.

A great feature is that you can also use the app to find local places nearby. You can use also the app for planning team events, accepting donations, and accessing various perks throughout the year.

The money teams receive belongs to FlipGive. The brands who they have partnered with pay them commissions on every purchase team. The company gives a percentage to the teams who made the purchase.

Is it worth it?

Teams that shop on this platform can earn up to 25% cashback. The platform’s primary objective is to help local children’s sports teams raise funds. They believe that local sports teams are a vital part of a child’s development but have become too expensive. Many parents cannot afford to finance their child’s sport without some challenge. FlipGive wants to give children’s sports some help.

For any cash donation made to a team, the team gets to keep 100% of that amount. Note that the donor is expected to pay a 6% transaction fee.

While the amounts earned will vary depending on the activities of the team, the average team can earn as little as $500 or as much as $2,500 within six months.

How to succeed with FlipGive.

1) Shop Online

FlipGive has hundreds of brands that you can make purchases on to earn cash back for your team.

2) Shop In-Store

Find places near you where you can earn cash back. Simply link your card for payment or gift cards that you can redeem in stores. All you have to do is download the app to find all the places near you to shop.

3) Plan Team Events

Create earning opportunities by booking events for your team, which will allow you the opportunity to multiply your cash back. Team dinners should be planned at a place that partners with FlipGive.

4) Accept Donations

You can also accept donations from sponsors, friends, and family.

FlipGive is a solid fundraising platform that has helped more than 25,000 teams earn more than $20 million. I recommend you give it a go. Be sure to get it going at the start of the season well before the holiday shopping season.

And send out a reminder to the team once in a while to keep it top of mind. Good luck!

BY BOB DUFF

One of the few positive developments from the COVID-19 outbreak is that parents may finally see the evidence of what so many experts have been telling them for years — more isn’t better.

Every hockey player — from NHL stars like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews to youth athletes —who is used to participating in spring and summer hockey leagues and camps, are currently off their blades. For the first time in decades, there was no ice available for them to skate.

It’s not a good thing for those who earn a living at the game, but it could prove a wonderful blessing for kids participating in 12-months-a-year hockey.

“I don’t know if it’s good for the pros but it’s good for a lot of kids, having a month off the ice,” suggested USA Hockey’s Seth Appert, coach of the U.S. National Team Development Program’s under-18 squad.

Study after study displays the benefits of a multi-sport experience to youngsters but parents, with stars in their eyes, certain that their little boy is the next Sidney Crosby, continue to sign up their children for year-round hockey. Some are convinced that it will provide their child a leg up. Others fear that without a 12-month training regimen, theirs will be the kid who gets left behind.

In reality, what many of these parents are doing is dooming their children to failure — not just on the ice but potentially, in life itself.

Research shows that athletes who specialize in a single sport do not fully develop and therefore do not reach their genetic potential of agility, balance and coordination. Utilizing the same muscle movement time and again doesn’t allow their bodies to develop a full range of motion. These three pillars of athleticism are fully used by participating in a variety of sports in the elementary and secondary school years.

On top of that, overtaxing specific areas in a growing, developing body puts too much stress on bones and muscles and that can lead to serious damage being done. Studies show that athletes who specialize in one specific sport are 70-93 per cent more likely to be injured.

As well, athletes that remain in a single sport are socially accustomed to routine and predictability. These behaviors restrict the creative capabilities typically associated with different body movements, such as read and react times and problem solving. Overuse of the same muscle memory associated with a single sport also tended to lead to fatigue or adversity.

Immersed in a single-objective world, when that world falls apart — suppose, for instance, a player is cut from the team, or suffers an serious injury that jeopardizes their future in the game — it can result in consequences that range far beyond the boards of a hockey rink.

These kids are well aware of how much time and money their parents have invested in hockey. They feel that weight and in turn, are stressed emotionally from the pressure to create a return on that investment. When they fail to do so, the letdown can prove devastating from both a physical and mental standpoint.

Hockey’s been their life for as long as they’ve lived. It’s where their social structure exists. It’s where all of their friends are found.

When that’s gone, often their self-worth disappears with it.

“I see too many kids come in now and they live and die hockey, they have no life away from hockey,” former NHLer Rob Ray said. “They just have no release.”

It’s one of the major reasons that those who commit to one sport at a young age are often the first to quit that sport.

A study conducted by veteran minor-hockey observer Jim Parcels displays exactly how minute the chances are of a youngster journeying from minor hockey all the way to the big time.

Parcels followed the paths of all 32,000 Ontario minor hockey players born in 1968. From that massive case study, 122 reached the OHL and 27 more earned NCAA scholarships.

Thirty-five were fortunate enough to suit up for one NHL game and eight of those managed to play 400 career games in the show, enough to qualify for a full pension.

Factoring in the remainder of registered youth hockey players in Canada, the odds of one of those Ontario kids skating in the NHL was 46,000-1. And that doesn’t take into account players from the USA and Europe.

Submitting your kid to year-round hockey isn’t going to improve those odds but it could certainly hinder your child’s development.

Adam Graves, a two-time 50-goal scorer in the NHL, put his skates away every spring and picked up a baseball mitt.

“The big picture of things? Yes, we were very lucky, but ultimately, everyone was a winner to get the chance to play a sport they loved to play,” Graves said. “I’m sure if you talked to any of those 32,000 kids and asked if they met some friends, if they learned something along the way, I don’t think you’d find one kid who didn’t.

“That’s why it’s so important to keep minor sports about the kids, to keep it positive. Give your kid every opportunity, but try not to push too hard. It just re-emphasizes how important school is and that minor sports is about having fun and enjoying yourself.”

The message to hockey-obsessed parents is simple and straightforward. No matter how much you push your child, regardless of how much you invest in their future on the ice, the odds are better you’ll someday see the Toronto Maple Leafs skate around the ice holding the Stanley Cup aloft than that you’ll see your kid skate in the NHL.

The Hockey Players Club app is like if Wayne Gretzky invented Reddit. 

It is a community driven, user created content platform focused solely on hockey.

“Not everyone gets to grow up in a Minnesota, or Boston, or Toronto area where there is plenty of resources around them,” said Brandon Rubeo, co-founder of the Hockey Players Club app.

What started with a couple of guys selling hockey tape out of their dining room, has transformed into a growing platform where users can find, share and discuss the latest hockey content.

“From early on we were like — it is really cool to sell hockey tape and hockey sticks, but it would be much cooler and more beneficial in this community, to try and grow this online community,” said Rubeo, who founded the Hockey Players Club in 2015 with lifelong friend and teammate Matt Schwartz.

One of their goals for the app was to connect and empower communities with less access to hockey related resources.

“When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, my parents never played, none of their friends or friend’s kids played hockey, so there was no idea of like, ‘Oh, you need to get him skating lessons,’” Rubeo said.

You can now find specific hockey content and community engagement all in one place with the Hockey Players Club app.

By combining live scores, news, and online community features, the Hockey Players Club app eliminates the need to bounce around between multiple apps while providing all kinds of hockey related resources.

Its scores feed covers 30 professional leagues in 18 countries, so you’ll never miss a goal.

This extensive coverage keeps you up-to-date with all the stats and standings of your favourite teams from the NHL to the KHL, and everything in between. 

Its news coverage combines articles and stories from NHL.com, CBC, Sportsnet and more.

Users can curate their homepage to receive the exact type of hockey content they are looking for by following relatable communities.

Whether you’re looking for tips on how to perfect your wrist shot or wanting to debate the latest trades from the night before, the Hockey Players Club app offers a variety of hot topic hockey content for players, coaches, and all hockey fans. 

Plus, if there’s a topic related to hockey that you feel isn’t being covered, you can start the conversation yourself by simply creating a community. 

Ask a question, post a link, or share your own knowledge, the choice is yours and the possibilities are endless.

Users can share their own photos, videos and links to provide community engagement or even to help promote their own content.

Community settings can be set from public to private so you can either allow others to join in and share their ideas or keep the conversation personal between friends or teammates. 

Users can get in on the NHL action by participating in the HPC’s weekly picks game where they will answer nine questions predicting NHL results throughout the week.

Prizes such as gift cards for the HPC store will be awarded to the winner.

The store includes HPC merchandise like hockey sticks, clothing, skate guards, and of course tape. 

Rubeo said they are, “just trying to make a free resource for the hockey community to get a lot of content and hopefully find some other people in the community to connect with.”

Whether you’re a young hockey player looking to build your skills, a coach looking to share drill tips, a Men’s league player sharing a funny story, or just a casual hockey fan, there’s something for every hockey fanatic on the Hockey Players Club app.

Despite coaches and trainers telling their athletes to “eat healthy” and the incessant “sports performance” marketing, athletes and parents are still confused by one important question: What should I eat before a game?

The pre-game meal is, without a doubt, the number one thing I get asked about by both players and their parents.

There are three components to the answer:

Consistency

If you’ve waited until before the game to consider food as fuel, it’s a little bit like asking your coach to fix your slap shot right before puck drop. Fuelling takes consistency. Yes, certain foods can affect how you feel physically and your level of energy, but endurance, strength and recovery are built on consistent attention to nutrient-dense foods and hydration.

Timing

Because macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein) digest at various rates, when you eat certain foods is important to avoid cramping, fatigue, and energy crashes during games/practice. Within two hours of a game/practice the focus is carbohydrates as they are your main energy source. Yet, relying on pre-game candy, donuts, or juice can result in a surge of energy followed by a drastic crash before the third period. Small amounts of lean protein (chicken, fish, shrimp) can be tolerated by some athletes, but they are secondary to carbohydrates. Protein is an inefficient and ineffective source of energy for the body! Fats are another source of energy, but they are the slowest to digest. Dairy, fried foods, and burgers can leave athletes feeling full, slow, fatigued, or cramped at the beginning of the game.

Individuals Differ

Every athlete is unique when it comes to fueling before games, especially if nervousness is a factor.

All important considerations, but it still doesn’t answer the question, what should I eat before a game, right?

The focus should be carbohydrates within two hours of game time, a combination of simple and complex carbohydrates is beneficial:

• Oranges, kiwi, grapes
• Roasted sweet/Russet potatoes
• Bagel
• ½ peanut butter and jam or turkey sandwich
• Oatmeal
• Breakfast “cookies”
• ½ grilled chicken wrap
• Farro/rice/quinoa with chicken

Keep in mind, how they’ve fuelled all day and all week will play a larger role in their overall energy, endurance, and strength. Although it may seem like our growing athletes are eating consistently, I’d estimate that 90% of the athletes I work with aren’t consuming enough nutrients to match their level of activity and growth.

Questions about pre-game fuel specifically for your athlete? Wondering if they’re meeting their nutritional needs? Want the breakfast “cookie” recipe? Reach out to me on RockPerformance.net.

Pasta night is a common staple in most homes, especially ones with hectic sports schedules. Pasta is fast and convenient. But, aside from essential carbohydrates, it nutritionally offers little else. Which means many of our athletes are hungry again soon.

Unlike adult athletes, carb-loading isn’t effective for youth/teen athletes. While their bodies can hold a sufficient amount of carbohydrates, because of growth and activity, they need to be replenished frequently. But, we also don’t want our growing athletes eating us out of house and home because they’re hungry every five minutes!

Take pasta night (and their game) to a new level with chickpea pasta.

While some “healthy” pasta alternatives have a noticeably different taste and texture than traditional dried pasta, chickpea pasta doesn’t. It also has the same cooking time and comes in a variety of shapes like standard dried pasta so it’s a convenient switch or addition.

What is different, though, is its nutritional value. Chickpea pasta is a good source of fiber (digestive health and filling), iron (energy and endurance), and potassium (muscle health and recovery).

Additionally, chickpea pasta contains eight of the nine essential amino acids that the body has to get through food, which also makes it a great option for school and practice when there’s limited refrigeration … or for those nights when the chicken didn’t defrost in time.

Particular eaters in the house? Since chickpea pasta has the same taste and texture as typical dried pasta brands, making the transition to the nutrient-dense option is simple. Concerned that they’ll still notice a difference? Start small and replace some of the noodles in their favorite dishes with same shaped chickpea noodles.

Take it to practice or school

Add hot dishes to a thermos for the car ride (save some for the way home to fuel that glycogen window!) or add diced veggies and parmesan to a cold pasta salad in an insulated bag.

So, what’s the catch? Cost. Though price varies between grocery stores, chickpea pasta is definitely more expensive than traditional dried pasta.

To make it more cost effective, mix your typical brand with chickpea pasta noodles to increase nutritional benefits. Also, if you’re also using the pasta as a protein source, minimizing/eliminating animal protein in your recipe could make the meal cost the same or less than usual.

Looking for more quick meal and snack ideas? Want to know more ways to level up favorite foods? Find more answers on RockPerformance.net.

It’s not surprising news that soda has no benefits for an athlete’s game or growth. Yet, while drops in traditional soft drink sales reflect this trend, another beverage’s popularity is surging. Sports drinks have become nearly a 10-billion-dollar industry in the US alone. 

Americans could save a ton of money — and unnecessary added sugar — by focusing their hydration on water. 

How much water? The answer varies.

The general rule used to be eight, 8oz glasses of water per day. However, that number didn’t factor weight, heat, or activity level. 64 oz of water for a 200 lb. adult is much different that 64oz for a 100 lb. child.

Instead, when determining your body’s water needs, aim for half your weight- in ounces:

200 lbs = 100 oz
100 lbs = 50 oz

Those numbers should be met on a general day to day basis. Heat, humidity, and sweating increase water intake needs.

What about sports drinks?

Ideally sports drinks are used to replenish electrolytes and spent glycogen after…

60 minutes of intense workout (not a 60 minute class with 20 min of activity)

Intense sweating (especially for athletes in full equipment)

Extreme heat and/or humidity

NOT…

In class

Playing video games

Walking your dog

Too often sports drinks are used as a “healthy” alternative to soda pop. But, unless they’ve just finished an intense workout or heavy sweating, sports drinks are just providing unnecessary added sugars. 

That’s not to say that “zero” sugar, no sugar added, or “sugar-free” options are a better option.

I know it sounds boring, but your body needs water. ESPECIALLY if endurance, recovery, focus, speed, strength, and growth are important to your athlete. Bored with the flavor? Add fresh or frozen fruit.

With so many different sports drinks on the market, how do you choose one for when they are helpful? Check the label and SKIP bottles with

Artificial colors (red 40, blue 1, yellow 5)

Synthetic sugars: high fructose corn syrup — Acesulfame potassium — Sucralose- Splenda

Trying to avoid sports drinks and want other electrolyte fuelling options? Want to know about difference in sports drink brands? Find more answers on RockPerformance.net