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CONTENTS6 STATE OF THE UNION

LEAGUE PRESIDENT JOHN GARDNER WEIGHS IN ON THE MINOR HOCKEY ISSUES OF THE DAY.

8 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT SCHEDULEWITH THE HOLIDAYS FAST APPROACHING, WE LIST SOME OF THE MUST-SEE TOURNAMENTS. BY BLAKE DILLON

10 HEADLINE-MAKERSWITH THE SEASON WELL UNDERWAY, A NUMBER OF INTERESTING GTHL ON-ICE STORYLINES HAVE EMERGED. BY PETER KOURTIS

12 NEWS AND NOTESBY MARK KEAST

14 CHART-TOPPERSMANY OF THE OHL PLAYERS MAKING HEADLINES SO FAR THIS SEASON ARE GTHL GRADUATES, A TESTAMENT TO THE GTHL’S “BEST-ON-BEST” PROGRAM. BY RYAN METIVIER

16 EURO TRIPHOLIDAY TIME HAS TRADITIONALLY MEANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL HOCKEY YOUTH TO PLAY IN TOURNAMENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE. BY BLAKE DILLON

18 LIFE OF RIELLYCURRENT MOOSE JAW WARRIOR AND TORONTO MAPLE LEAF DRAFT PICK MORGAN RIELLY TALKS ABOUT HIS HOCKEY ROOTS. BY TERRY KOSHAN

22 SPOTT ONBREAKOUT CHATS WITH STEVE SPOTT, GTHL GRAD, COACH AND GM OF THE KITCHENER RANGERS, AND HEAD COACH OF CANADA’S WORLD JUNIOR TEAM IN THE UPCOMING TOURNAMENT IN RUSSIA. BY DUSTIN POLLACK

26 JOURNEY TO THE TOPCANADA’S NATIONAL MEN’S DEAF HOCKEY TEAM GEARS UP FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. BY RYAN METIVIER

28 PEAK PERFORMANCEFORMER NHLER GARY ROBERTS ON EATING RIGHT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER A GAME.

30 HALL OF FAME WEEKENDA LOOK BACK AT HOCKEY HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONIES, FEATURING THOSE IN THE PLAYER CATEGORY – PAVEL BURE, MATS SUNDIN, JOE SAKIC AND GTHL GRAD ADAM OATES.

32 SNAPSHOTCOMPETITIVE LEAGUE ACTION, PLUS THE MARSHALL DREWNOWSKY MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT FOR SELECT PLAYERS, HELD IN VAUGHAN. A COLLECTION OF IMAGES BY ERIN RILEY

36 BEST IN CLASSIT’S SHOW TIME FOR SOME OF THE GTHL’S TOP MINOR MIDGET PLAYERS, IN THE ANNUALGAME SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 16 AT HERB CARNEGIE ARENA. BY DUSTIN POLLACK

37 SHUT-DOWNIN THIS HOCKEY INSTRUCTION PIECE, COACH JONATHAN FINE TALKS ABOUT HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SHUT DOWN YOUR OPPONENT.

38 SICK DAYSHAS THE NHL FINALLY RUN ITS COURSE WITH HOCKEY FANS? BY ROY MacGREGOR

GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUE265 RIMROCK ROAD, UNIT #4, TORONTO, ONTARIO, M3J 3C6TEL: 416-636-6845FAX: 416-636-2035EMAIL: GENERALINFO@GTHLCANADA.CAWEBSITE: WWW.GTHLCANADA.COM

GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUEBOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERSPRESIDENTJOHN GARDNER1ST VICE PRESIDENTKEN SMITH2ND VICE PRESIDENTDON WEST3RD VICE PRESIDENTJOHN NEVILLETREASURERJOHN TRIMBLECORPORATE SECRETARYMICHAEL PENMANDIRECTORSBOB CRANSTONCHICK EVANSBOB FLETCHER (M.H.L. PRESIDENT)DAVID LEATHEMMIKE LEWICKIGORDON McDONALDGEOFF SHAWDUNCAN STAUTHBOB SVANEFELT (N.Y.H.L. PRESIDENT)WALLY TURNER

OFFICE STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTORSCOTT OAKMANMANAGER, ADMINISTRATION & FINANCEVANDA SLANEYMANAGER, HOCKEY OPERATIONSPETER KOURTISMANAGER, MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & EVENTSJEFF STEWARTCOORDINATOR, REGISTRATIONJOSH HAMILTONCOORDINATOR, DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS & RISK MANAGEMENTMICHELLE FATARECEPTIONISTPATTY CIDDIOCOORDINATOR, LEAGUE SCHEDULEKEVIN HUCALUKCOORDINATOR, OFFICIATINGCHRIS WHITINGCOORDINATOR, HOCKEY ADMINISTRATIONJENNIFER CRAWFORDCOORDINATOR, ADMINISTRATIONBRIAN KYLA-LASSILACOORDINATOR, MARKETING AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPSDAVE LOWES

BREAKOUT MAGAZINEEDITORMARK KEASTMKEAST4537@ROGERS.COMART DIRECTOR/DESIGNJAN HARINGAPHOTOGRAPHYERIN RILEYHOCKEY HALL OF FAMEWRITINGJOHN GARDNER, MARK KEAST, ROY MacGREGOR,DUSTIN POLLACK, GARY ROBERTS, JONATHAN FINE, RYAN METIVIER, BLAKE DILLON,PETER KOURTIS, TERRY KOSHAN

TO ADVERTISE OR GET RATECARD INFORMATIONCONTACT DAVE LOWES, GTHL, AT 416-636-6845 OR DLOWES@GTHLCANADA.COM

ON THE COVER: THE NORTH YORK SELECT HOUSE LEAGUE TEAM AT LAST MONTH'S MARSHALL DREWNOWSKY MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT IN VAUGHAN

6

his message is not meant to offend the vast majority of peoplein minor hockey. In my opinion, 98 percent of the parents and

coaches in minor hockey today are pretty decent people.However, in that “no two people are exactly alike” vein, there is that

two percent that appear to be unhappy and critical of most things in life,including hockey.

Criticism of referees is a popular sport for these people. Rememberthat referees, like parents, players and coaches are not perfect and occasionally are prone to the odd mistake.

NHL referees who make up to $200,000 a season make errors aswell. So let’s be reasonable in your judgement of minor hockey officialsbefore you sound off with a lot of negative rhetoric. It helps when youkeep reminding players of this fact.

Also, unfortunately there are a few coaching staff members who forgetthat players are human beings and not commodities. If any coach refusesto discuss a problem being encountered by a player or parent, the mattershould be brought to the attention of the club General Manager orPresident, hopefully for a satisfactory resolution.

At the same time, coaches should remember that in situations whenthey are confronted by an unreasonable parent or player issue, they tooshould refer the matter to the club G.M. or President immediately.

Sometimes delays in dealing with this line of communication leads to more frustration and the problem will only deteriorate further.

Any party that is unreasonable in endeavouring to find a mutual resolution to a problem risks taking the fun out of the game for any player.

Both parents and coaches must remember that in order for players to have fun and be able to gain the advantages and challenges the gameof hockey offers, they should always put their son’s or daughter’s participation in a positive light.

Now let’s briefly deal with the issue of player releases. Only in cases where a player is subjected to verbal abuse or serious

demeaning issues should there be a necessity of requesting a release. The GTHL is the only hockey league in Canada that provides players

of all ages with free agency at the conclusion of each hockey season.

Once a player and parent commits to signing with a team, they aremaking a commitment to stay with that organization for the entire season.Requesting a release for what might be considered frivolous reasons isnot recommended.

Parents must realize that commitments are not made to be brokenand trying to break that commitment is not teaching their hockey sonor daughter about similar challenges as they get older. Remember as wellthat when a player signs a player’s registration form, he is signing withthe club, not the coach. So if a coach has to leave a team because his jobtakes him out of the local area, this is not a justifiable reason to ask for a release.

Of importance are the benefits that come from playing hockey. In addition to the game on the ice, there are the benefits of physical

fitness, good health and comradeship, just to mention a few.Enough said! Any players who are experiencing difficulties should

feel free to contact the GTHL. After all, this game is theirs and theyshould be our No. 1 priority.

My next editorial in Breakout will deal with the confusing world of scouts and agents. Until then, enjoy the game to its fullest.

John GardnerPresidentpresident@gthlcanada.com

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THE TORONTO MARLBOROS INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY CLASSICDECEMBER 26–30Location(s): Canlan Ice Sports Arenas (Etobicoke and York, Ontario), Chesswood Arenas (Downsview, Ontario), and Westwood Arena (Rexdale, Ontario)Age Bracket: Minor Bantam, Bantam, and Minor Midget 'AAA'Description: An annual tournament for more than two straightdecades, the Toronto Marlboros holiday tourney is one of themost successful tournaments of its kind. Notable Alumni: John Tavares, Jason Spezza, Rick NashDid You Know? The tournament is often host to hundreds ofscouts – some from the various junior ranks, and some frompro hockey.

THE BAUER CHALLENGE CUPDECEMBER 27–30Location(s): The Hershey Centre (Mississauga, Ontario)Age Bracket: Peewee 'AAA'Description: Hosted by the GTHL, the 2012 Bauer ChallengeCup serves as an outlet for the continent's most skilled Peewee players to exhibit their craft. Notable Alumni: Steven Stamkos, Patrick Kane, BrendanShanahanDid You Know? Don Cherry of CBC’s Coach’s Corner often attends this tournament as a spectator.

THE PAUL COFFEY INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTDECEMBER 27–30Location(s): Westwood Arenas (Rexdale, Ontario)Age Bracket: Minor Atom to Midget 'AA'Description: GTHL alumnus Paul Coffey’s holiday tournamentis a yearly event hosted by the Mississauga Jets of the GTHL. Did You Know? The tourney is celebrating its 27th year of play.

THE INTERNATIONAL SILVER STICK VAUGHAN REGIONAL TOURNAMENTDECEMBER 27–29Location(s): Sports Village (Vaughan, Ontario) Age Bracket: Minor Atom through to Midget 'A'Description: Silver Stick is a 54-year-old event, made up of 19 American regional tournaments, 26 Canadian regionaltournaments, and 13 championships. Did You Know? Over 300 players who once played in the Silver Stick tournament have gone on to play in the NHL.

THE GARDNER CUP SHOWCASEDECEMBER 27–30Location(s): Ted Reeve Arena (Scarborough, Ontario), Scarborough Gardens (Scarborough, Ontario)Age Bracket: Juvenile 'AAA'Description: Typically, the top eight GTHL teams showcasetheir worth against a handful of skilled teams from acrossNorth America. Did You Know? The tournament usually takes place over theAmerican Thanksgiving Weekend, but was bumped to the holiday period this year.

FIVE OTHER HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTSWORTH CHECKING OUTTHE STREETSVILLE HOCKEY LEAGUE CHRISTMASCLASSICDECEMBER 26–28Age Bracket: Minor Novice to Midget House League

THE CANADIENS CUPDECEMBER 26–30Age Bracket: Minor Atom & Minor Peewee 'AAA'

THE NORTH TORONTO CHRISTMAS SELECT TOURNAMENTDECEMBER 26–31Age Bracket: Tyke to Midget, Select, MD, AE, Inter-City

THE FAUSTINA CARL GORDANEER MEMORIALCHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT DECEMBER 26–31Age Bracket: Tyke to Minor Midget Select

WILLIAMS REYNOLDS X-MAS TOURNAMENTHosted by Parkdale Hockey AssociationDECEMBER 1-3Age Bracket: Novice and Atom House League

8

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s the GTHL heads into December there are some great storylines playing out in almost every division.

Here are just a few:• In the Under 21 “AAA” division it looks like a dynasty is in the

making as the Humberview Huskies are perfect so far this year.They are looking to follow up last year’s GTHL regular season,play-off and OHF Championship. The Huskies are averaging closeto nine goals a game on offence and it looks like just a few of theteams in this group can knock them off. The big question will behow will this team stay sharp without a competitive field this year?

• The West Hill Golden Hawks have followed up last year’s regularseason and playoff championships in Minor Atom “AA” with astrong start to their Atom “AA” season. The team’s record of 13-1-1is slightly overshadowed by the Mississauga Braves, who lost to theGolden Hawks last year in the GTHL championships. The Bravesare 14-0-0 and have only allowed three goals in those games. Coulda repeat of the Minor Atom “AA” GTHL final play out in theAtom “AA” this year?

• The Bantam “A” East once again sees the Ted Reeve Thunder incontention for a regular season championship. This year they maybe looking to book a ticket once again to the championship final.However last year’s playoff champion Vaughan Panthers had amajor makeover and this team is involved in a four-team race in theWest. Will the Panthers gel in time to push for first place?

• The 2012 Minor Bantam “AA” champion North York Knights can’t look too far ahead this year as the Toronto Aeros lead theEast. While both teams have a razor thin margin to deal with whenit comes to winning the East they can take solace in the fact thatanother great race is taking place in the West, where last year’schampions, the Mississauga Jets, are in another great race with theIce Warriors. Will the East and West races come down to the finalweek of the season?

• The GTHL was left with just six teams that have perfect records.The challenge for these teams will be to stay perfect when youknow the entire league is gunning for you. They are the MinorAtom “A” Vaughan Rangers, Atom “AA” Mississauga Braves, Atom“AAA” Jr. Canadiens, Minor Peewee “A” West Mall Lightning,Minor Midget “AA” Hillcrest Canadiens and Under 21 “AAA”Humberview Huskies. •

Peter T. Kourtis is the Manager of Hockey Operations for the GTHL and

is an active Level IV Hockey Official who covers the GTHL, OHL and AHL

for Rogers TV.

A

10

AS THE SEASON PUSHES INTO DECEMBER, A NUMBER OF INTERESTINGSTORYLINES ARE STARTING TO EMERGE BY PETER T. KOURTIS

HEADLINE-MAKERS

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Looking to Raise Money to Offset Your Child’s Hockey Expenses?

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• You can access this money at any time, you can use the money to pay for current hockey expenses or you can feel free to foward the balance to the next hockey season.

READY TO SCORE SOME SAVINGS? REGISTER TODAY!

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12

NEWS&NOTES BY GTHL STAFF

VAUGHAN OUTREACH PROGRAMEveryone knows that the growth of the game in our community will inlarge part come down to making the game affordable for more peoplewhile also reaching out to new Canadians.

The people behind the City of Vaughan Hockey Association arespeaking with their actions.

Last September, they organized an event called “4 on 4 at theMosque”, a ball hockey event promoting minor hockey, held at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Mosque.

“We got strong numbers,” said Barry Harte, president of the City of Vaughan Hockey Association. Harte is confident some future icehockey players may have come out of the event.

“I would like to think that a few may take it up,” he said.And that’s the point, of course. It’s a matter of education, for people

who come from parts of the world where hockey isn’t the primary sport.Two ball hockey courts were set up in the parking lot of the mosque.

The association’s fund covered the cost of the 200 t-shirts handed out,and food.

“We were so well received and the community there was very helpfulin assisting with the event,” Harte said.

Special guests included Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua andVaughan native Andrew Cogliano, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks.The GTHL set up a hockey shooting apparatus for the kids.

KRAFT LAUNCHES NEW HOCKEY PROGRAMWith the ongoing NHL lockout, Kraft Canada cancelled its 2013 Kraft Hockeyville program, but announced a new program called KraftHockey Goes On.

The program will award $1 million to Hockey Canada affiliatedminor hockey associations across the country.

The idea is to celebrate volunteerism in the game, and to recognizethe people who are really the backbone of hockey.

Through the program, Kraft Hockey Goes On will recognize thetop five volunteers and award his or her local hockey association with$100,000. The program will also recognize an additional 20 volunteersand award his or her local hockey association with $20,000, as well asprovide $100,000 to Hockey Canada to distribute to Learn to Skateprograms at local levels.

In January, communities can nominate local volunteers from January 21 to March 8. A panel will choose the top 100 individuals.

Canadians can vote for their local hockey volunteer starting March 23. The top five communities will be announced March 30.

Communities can now go to www.facebook.com/KraftHockeyGoesOnto find out how to get involved.

LEARN THE GAME On the House League front, “Learn to Play” programs are an inexpensive way to introduce kids to the game, as Michael Wren, president of the North York Knights of Columbus, is finding out.

The league presently has over 300 kids across three arenas on the ice,every Saturday morning, for 23 weeks. Costs are low – around $300 forthe year. Kids are on the ice for an hour at a time, go through skatingdrills, and usually scrimmage near the end.

“The idea is to eventually feed the house league,” Wren said.That’s what it’s all about – getting into the trenches, further building

the game, one kid at a time.

GTHL EVENTS TEAM The GTHL plans to have a greater presence in the rinks with thelaunch of the events team program.

The team will be present at various tournaments, GTHL specialevents, and league games at busy arenas, interacting with people.

It also allows the GTHL’s sponsors and partners another way to engage with members of the league.

The team will also be at community events that are not hockey related, allowing the league to reach new audiences and attract new participants to the game.

The events team vehicle was supplied by Addison GM as part of theongoing partnership with the GTHL.

HOCKEY ASSIST Also, on the Addison front, the GTHL has created a program with Addison called Addison Hockey Assist.

If an individual buys a vehicle from one of their dealerships, Addison will give that individual’s hockey association $400 towards registration costs.

Go to www.addisonhockeyassist.com for more information.

13

he path to a professional hockey career is different for everyone, but some of junior hockey’s brightest stars all seem

to have one thing in common. Take a look down the OHL’s league leaders and you’ll find countless

players who have graduated from GTHL programs.Actually, no matter the position, you will find GTHL grads who

have already had their names called in NHL drafts, players who are still fine-tuning their games to make that next step. Others are in the“phenom” category, like 15-year-old Connor McDavid, who has alreadytaken the league by storm as the OHL’s youngest member.

It was less than a year ago that McDavid was dazzling GTHL fanswith his talents as a member of the Toronto Marlboros.

After being granted “Exceptional Player” status by the OHL (onlythe third player ever), McDavid was drafted first overall by the Erie Otters, one year early in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.

McDavid has made an immediate impact for the Otters, and his 12points during the month of October gained him OHL Rookie of theMonth honours.

The 12 points were actually only a part of a 16-game point streakwhich included a goal and assist in only his second OHL game. McDavid was also named to Team OHL as part of the Subway SuperSeries, which puts his name in the running for a spot on the World Junior team as well.

GTHL executive director Scott Oakman believes the league’s “best-on-best” environment has a lot to do with the success GTHLgrads have had at higher levels.

“We are fortunate to have 12 AAA teams in a relatively small geographic area and they play 33 league games, plus playoffs and tournaments, and this type of regular competition expedites their development,” he said. “That, combined with the off-ice training opportunities that exist in the GTA, provides a terrific opportunity forelite players to develop.” 

Nearly half of the OHL’s top 20 scorers were from the GTHL, including Ryan Strome, Max Domi, Scott Kosmachuk, Riley Brace,Antony Camara and Ottawa 67’s teammates Sean Monahan and Tyler Graovac.

CHART

T

TOPPERS

THE SUCCESS OF GTHL GRADS SO FARTHIS YEAR IN THE OHL IS A TESTAMENT TO THE GTHL’S “BEST-ON-BEST” PROGRAMBY RYAN MÉTIVIERIMAGES COURTESY CANADIAN HOCKEYLEAGUE

14

CONNOR McDAVID

MAX DOMI

Graovac, a seventh round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2011, choseto play his minor hockey in the GTHL because he felt it was the bestplace to put him in a position to get drafted to the OHL.

“Being drafted by Minnesota was a huge success for me and a hugeaccomplishment,” he said. “Having my name called on draft day was one of the greatest moments of my life.”

Graovac fondly remembers his time in the GTHL with the Mississauga Reps and gives some advice to young GTHL players.

“I would tell them to just keep working hard,” he said. “The mainthing that my dad told me going into the OHL draft was to take everygame like you never know who’s watching.”

Defensively, players like Matt Petgrave, Frank Corrado, Matt Finn,Darnell Nurse, Jordan Subban and Adam Pelech all got their start in theGTHL and are also excelling at the next level.

For Mississauga Steelheads’ goaltender Spencer Martin, a TorontoJunior Canadiens graduate who’s now in his second year in the OHL,he’s looking forward to potentially having his name called in the upcoming NHL draft.

Martin, as well as fellow netminders Jordan Binnington, MalcolmSubban and JP Anderson, are all representing the GTHL well this year.

Martin enjoyed playing on a competitive Canadiens team that he felt prepared him for the OHL.

“My advice would be to enjoy every day of it (the GTHL),” he said.“It’s a lot different once you get to the OHL because it’s a business now.It’s a lot of fun too, but people carry themselves differently off the ice. A lot of these guys are just a step or a couple steps away from being prohockey players now. So enjoy the time with your friends and teammatesand work hard every day to try and improve yourself.” •

15

“My advice would be to enjoy every day of it (the GTHL)... It’s a lot different onceyou get to the OHL because it’s a business now. It’s a lot of fun too, butpeople carry themselves differently offthe ice. A lot of these guys are just a stepor a couple steps away from being prohockey players now. So enjoy the timewith your friends and teammates andwork hard every day to try and improveyourself.” – Spencer Martin, a Toronto Junior Canadiens graduate

SPENCER MARTIN

TYLER GRAOVAC

16

EUROhe holiday season is a time where wishes come true.

Some kids get a new bike, some kids get new video games,and, if they play in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), somekids even get to travel the world.

It’s not just any camera-around-the-neck type of travelling, though.These particular players get to play competitive hockey at unique destinations across Europe.

This year, though, only one GTHL team, a major bantam club basedout of Markham, Ontario, is scheduled to head overseas for a holidaytournament. The team is headed to Prague, Czech Republic.

“Because it’s fairly expensive, it’s hard to predict what participationwill be like on a year-to-year basis,” said John Gardner, President of theGTHL and travelling companion of the lucky teams who do end upheading to Europe. “It varies. It can be really high one year, and dropright off the next.”

The latter is the case this year. But it’s for this reason that the leagueoften veers to registering in tournaments held in places like Germany orSwitzerland, where the European feel and history is still rich, but theairfare is more affordable and the flights aren’t too painful in terms oflength – it really helps on-the-fence parents in their decision to committo or not.

Those very moms and dads, though, need to understand that themoney, the time‚ and the effort that goes into organizing one of the tripsis so “worth it,” as Gardner urges. He goes as far as to describe the in-volvement and support of parents as “critical.”

T

TRIPEVERY HOLIDAY SEASON, GTHL TEAMS MAKE THE TREK OVERSEASBY BLAKE DILLONPHOTOS BY JOHN GARDNER

4

1

2 3

And it is. Because a simple “yes” or “no” could mean the differencebetween capitalizing or missing out on an opportunity that they maynever get again.

“These trips are as much about education and culture as they areabout the sport,” he says. “Hockey is just the vehicle for teaching. Andfor that, the parents are benefiting, too – and in more ways than one.”

Gardner reminisced about old times in Helsinki, where the traditionof going overseas began. He mentioned players by name. He talkedabout attending parties held at the various Canadian embassies of theworld. He gleamed of the stories and memories that he and the kidswho have gone on these tourneys share. He only hopes that more kidswill soon take it all in, too.

“It’s an experience of a lifetime,” he says. “It’s something that they’llnever forget.” •

11

NHL EXPANDING TO EUROPE?THE PRESIDENT OF THE GTHL THINKS SO

John Gardner, President of the GTHL, says that, in a few years, the players in his league won’t be the only hockey players travelling to Europe for meaningful games.

“I personally believe that it’s only a matter of time before the NHLexpands to Europe,” he says. “If there’s a decent market out there, they’ll find it.”

He could be on to something. Since 1938, the NHL has been sending teams over to the various parts of Europe for everything fromtournaments to preseason games to regular season games to tours to full-on interleague playoffs.

The most recent case was during the beginning of the 2011-2012season, when four teams from the NHL – the Anaheim Ducks, theBuffalo Sabres, the Los Angeles Kings, and the New York Rangers –saw their opening night pucks drop on Euro ice.

It was the fifth consecutive year that teams had opened there, hinting that the trend of hosting NHL games on overseas soil is onlygetting more consistent.

Providing that a new collective bargaining agreement is in place intime, it’s almost certain that more games will be played there next year.And beyond that, who knows? Well, Gardner thinks he does.

“It’s likely that they'll just establish a division out there and havethem meet North American-based teams on special occasions,” he says.“I do see it happening, though – and sooner rather than later.”

17

5 6

7 1. GTHL BANTAM PLAYERS IN MOSCOW. 2. GTHL WINS RUSSIAN ELITE BANTAM CHAMPIONSHIP IN MOSCOW.

VLADISLAV TRETIAK PRESENTS THE TROPHY.3. GTHL CHAMPIONS CELEBRATE A TOURNAMENT WIN IN MOSCOW.4. A NORTH TORONTO PEEWEE AA TEAM IN A TOURNAMENT

IN SWITZERLAND.5. NORTH TORONTO PEEWEES RECEIVING THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP

TROPHY AT A SWISS TOURNAMENT.6. OVER 5,000 SPECTATORS WATCH THE GTHL WIN THE RUSSIAN

BANTAM ELITE CHAMPIONSHIP IN MOSCOW, IN 2007.7. A MCDONALD’S EXPERIENCE IN MOSCOW.

hen Morgan Rielly one day patrols the blue line for theMaple Leafs – and the majority of hockey observers figure

it’s just a matter of time – he won’t have forgotten his roots.The 2012 first-round pick by the Leafs knows there will a spotlight

on him wherever he goes in Toronto, whether it’s on the ice or off. But it has been that way since Rielly started playing minor hockey in hishometown of Vancouver.

“He has always been in the limelight when it comes to hockey,” Rielly’smother, Shirley, said. “When he was six years old and he was scoringnine or 10 goals as a defenceman on his team, people would alwaysmake a fuss. And it has carried all the way through, when he was atNotre Dame (in Wilcox, Sask., for Grades 9 and 10), all of it. He alwayshas taken it in stride and it has always been a part of who he is.”

Rielly doesn’t have many comparables when he is carrying the puckup the ice for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.There are not many players his age who boast the same kind of smoothskating ability, and it’s that talent which has helped set him apart fromthe majority of his peers. His ability to read the play, usually one or twostrides ahead of everyone else on the ice, and pass the puck already is at the National Hockey League level.

And speaking of the NHL, Rielly has had it on his mind sincearound the time he first laced on skates.

“I think I went through these stages when I was young where Iwould tell everyone I wanted to be a pro hockey player,” Rielly said. “In Grade 9, I told myself I wanted to do it, but did not know if I could.I played on the Hounds (at Notre Dame) and I was named captain andhad a great year. In Grade 10, I knew if I did everything I could andkeep training harder, it was certainly achievable.”

Rielly was so good at the Leafs’ prospects camp in July in Etobicokethat he would have been given a long, hard look at training camp inSeptember had it not been wiped out by the NHL lockout. But all thelockout has done is delay the inevitable.

And the 18-year-old Rielly has no qualms thinking about the attention he is going to get from a Leafs Nation starved for any good newsemanating from the Air Canada Centre. In fact, it already has started.

“I don’t seek extra attention, but being drafted to Toronto, I mighthave to get used to it,” Rielly said. “I have a pretty good understandingof what people expect. There is a whole lot of pressure, but I think thathelps me. I have always played better on a stage that has had a lot ofpressure. I’m pretty comfortable.” •

18

LIFEOFRIELLY

LEAF TOP DRAFT PICK MORGAN RIELLY IS USED TO THE LIMELIGHTBY TERRY KOSHAN

W

LIFEOF

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The ScotiaHockey™ NHL® VISA* card was formerly known as the ScotiaHockey™ VISA* card. All ScotiaHockey™ NHL® VISA* cards have Visa payWave. Visa payWave™ is a trademark of Visa Int./Lic. NHL, the NHL Shield and the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2012. All Rights Reserved. * Visa Int./Lic. user The Bank of Nova Scotia. ®* Registered trademark of FGL Sports Ltd. All rights reserved. ™ Trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. ® “You’re richer than you think”, “Scotiabank”, and the logo “Scotiabank” with the flying ‘S’ symbol are registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia.

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t’s the best birthday present Steve Spott says he has ever received. Last May, on the same day that the Kitchener Rangers head

coach turned 44 years old, he got a phone call from Brad Pascall, Vice President of Hockey Operations for Canada’s national teams at Hockey Canada.

Pascall had good news. After being shortlisted, and having gonethrough an extensive interview process, Spott had been named headcoach of the under-20 Canadian national team and would be leadingthem into Ufa, Russia, for the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships.

“You’re just never prepared for that call,” Spott said. “You’re hoping to get it but when it actually comes through you go numb for a second.It was a really special day.”

Along with feeling honoured, Spott also recognizes the tremendousamount of responsibility that comes along with coaching the country’s

junior team. Canada hasn’t won gold since 2009 and last year’s tournament was the first time in more than a decade that the Canadiansdidn’t qualify for the gold medal game. They settled for bronze instead.

Spott isn’t troubled by the pressure though. He feels his experience as an assistant coach for the world junior team in 2010 and as headcoach for the national under-17 and under-18 teams have prepared him for the upcoming tournament.

“One thing that Hockey Canada does is it prepares you for that expectation and pressure,” Spott said. “There are years of experience thatgo with becoming the head coach of the world junior team, but I don’tfeel any more pressure than I did when I was coaching our under-18team. It comes with the territory.”

For Spott the opportunity to coach Canada is another accolade inwhat’s been a lifelong career in hockey both as a player and a coach.

22

STEVE SPOTT, FORMER GTHL PLAYER, ANDCURRENT KITCHENER RANGERS COACH,

PREPARES FOR HIS NEW ROLE AS HEAD COACH OF CANADA’S WORLD

JUNIOR TEAM BY DUSTIN POLLACK

IMAGES COURTESY CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

I

ONSPOTT

It started in the rinks in and around North York, where Spott grew upplaying in the Metro Toronto Hockey League, now known as the GTHL.

He spent the majority of his minor hockey days with the TorontoYoung Nationals, as well as playing stints with the Wexford Raiders andToronto Marlboros. His calling wasn’t as a player though.

After four years at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, Spott spent a combined two seasons in the AHL, ECHL, and playedprofessionally in the Netherlands, before retiring as a player. He then returned home to Toronto, moved back in with his parents and begansupply teaching at an elementary school in Scarborough. It was then thathe was first introduced to coaching.

“A gentleman by the name of Don Baenen was with the school boardat the time and he had asked me if I had thought about coaching at all,”Spott said. “He hooked me up with a gentleman named Cam Brothers

and Cam was kind enough to bring me in as a young coach with the Nats.”Slowly he began building his resume behind the bench, eventually

taking on his own MTHL team with the Markham Islanders beforelanding what he refers to as his first break at 26 years of age, coachingthe men’s team at Seneca College.

Spott led the Seneca Braves to an OCAA championship in 1995 andwas the league’s coach of the year.

“That was really the time where in the back of my head I started saying, ‘Hey, maybe I could make a career at this,’” he said.

He has been climbing the coaching ladder ever since. In 1996, PeterDeBoer, who was then the head coach of the Plymouth Whalers, offeredSpott an assistant coaching job.

Although it only came with a $15,000 salary, Spott says accepting the opportunity was the best business decision he has ever made.

23

ON“Now you have to find different ways to motivate them andI think that’s thebiggest challenge,getting them to understand that theydo have to earn opportunities andthey do have to earnice time. That’s thebiggest challenge thatwe deal with today.”– STEVE SPOTT

24

That first job as an assistant led to a 14-year career behind the benchin the OHL. He has spent the past five years as the head coach andgeneral manager of the Kitchener Rangers.

Looking back at who perhaps has influenced his coaching style most,Spott is quick to point out Randy Ward and Bill Guenter, both of whomcoached him during his MTHL playing days with the Young Nats.

Spott says he has tried to take aspects from their very differentcoaching styles and implement them into the way he leads behind thebench with the Rangers.

“Randy was very much a players’ coach, [he was] involved in our livesboth on and off the ice. Bill [was a] a taskmaster, very in your face andvery hard on us,” Spott said. “I was around some elite teams during thattime and I think both those coaches recognized the talent they had towork with and found different ways to motivate.”

But the mentality of junior hockey players has changed over the yearsand that forces Spott to constantly be willing to adapt.

“It’s the day-to-day maintenance of the players. I think that is wheremy teaching background comes into play,” he said. “You realize that kidstoday have a different outlook on life with regards to expectations andthe biggest challenge we have now is the word ‘earned.’ It just doesn’tseem like these players come in willing to earn where they did 15 yearsago and before that.

“Now you have to find different ways to motivate them and I thinkthat’s the biggest challenge, getting them to understand that they dohave to earn opportunities and they do have to earn ice time. That’s thebiggest challenge that we deal with today.”

Coaching internationally brings on a whole different set of challengesas well. Not only does Spott have to handle the various personalities ofhis players, but in a short period of time he has to make sure his team ofjunior stars buys into the coaching staff ’s system and accept their roleswithin the lineup, because expectations will be high when Canada takesthe ice in Russia for the 2013 world juniors.

“Once you put that sweater on, or, as a coach, once you put that blazeron, you understand the expectation, and it’s to win gold,” he said.•

“One thing that Hockey Canada does is it prepares you for that expectation

and pressure... There are years of experience that go with becoming the head coach of the world junior team,

but I don’t feel any more pressure than I did when I was coaching our under-18

team. It comes with the territory.”– STEVE SPOTT

JOURNEYTOP

t’s been a long time since Canada’s men’s national deaf hockey teamhad a chance to compete for a gold medal.

That could all change this March, in Vantaa, Finland. After a silver medalfinish at the 1st World Deaf Hockey Championships in 2009 in Winnipeg,the team was forced to miss their next major national competition when the 17th Winter Deaflympics were cancelled in 2011 in Slovakia.

“It’s a great honour to be picked and to represent your country forthe second time,” said forward Matthew Sheffield who plays on theGTHL’s U-21 West Mall Lightning. “I think it’s awesome that there’san organization (Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation or CDIHF)that gets people that are deaf and hard of hearing together to play thesport they love.”

Sheffield is one of the many young faces that will dress for Canada, a team with a lot of the same faces since Slovakia.

“We are very, very young, and very fast,” said new head coach DonMcKee. “We felt the reasons for taking a young team were, number one,we felt we would be better able to meet the challenge of the U.S. andFinnish teams, which are very skilled. The second was because of the bigice that we’re playing on over there, and the third was that this would betterprepare these players for the 2015 Deaflympics scheduled for Russia.”

Several veteran players will be returning, including captain Steve Devine,who is also the assistant coach with the University of Toronto Blues.

“Steve is a very skilled hockey player and has been a leader for us,”said McKee. “He can play both forward and defence, can play every roleand is an unbelievable leader for these young guys.”

Roy Hysen, executive team director, is excited about the mix of newand returning players to the Team Canada roster.

“We have an excellent chance to recapture the gold medal as ourteam is very young and has a great opportunity to blend with several of our veteran players,” he said.

After two successful camps already behind them, Team Canada willnext convene on March 24, at Maple Leaf Gardens, for three days,where they’ll focus on team building exercises, before they depart forHelsinki, Finland, for another three days of training prior to the start of the tournament.

Without funding from Sport Canada, the Deaf Team is solelyfunded by the Canadian Deaf Sports Association (CDSA), CDIHF,and the players themselves.

The CDIHF was formed by Hysen in 1983 and is a non-profit charitable organization intended to promote, administrate and operate a hockey team comprised chiefly of deaf and hard of hearing players to represent Canada at the competitive level in international hockeytournaments.

Players must have hearing loss of 55db in their best ear and must remove any support systems during play to be at an equal playing levelwith all players.

One of the key differences is most communication is done throughinterpreters provided by the CDSA, and rather than whistles to stopplay, strobe lights are used. For more information on the team and tofollow their “Journey to the Top” visit www.cdihf.deafhockey.com. •

26

CANADA’S MEN’S NATIONAL DEAFHOCKEY TEAM EMBARKS ON THEIRWORLD CHAMPIONSHIPQUESTBY RYAN MÉTIVIER

I

TO THE

hat I have come to learn over the years – sometimes thehard way – is that success in sports is all about how you

prepare to play. It’s skill, or conditioning, and eating right. It’s all those things

combined with another key ingredient – commitment. There is no doubt that there will be challenges along the path to

success, but if you build a strong foundation in how you prepare to playyou will be able to forge ahead.

I faced the greatest challenge in my career when I was 30 years old. I was a young man facing retirement because of injuries. My body wasn’table to withstand the style of hockey I needed to play to be successful.

I came to realize that if I ever wanted to play again I needed to makedifferent lifestyle choices with respect to training and nutrition. Withthe help and support of many people I spent that year of retirement focusing on rehabilitation that included regeneration therapy, strengthtraining, conditioning, and proper nutrition.

I was very fortunate to come back to be part of the NHL for 13 moreseasons. The high performance program that I now offer evolved out ofmy personal experiences. I am motivated to share what I have learned.

W

PLAYFUEL UP WITH THE PROPER NUTRITIONCHOICESBY GARY ROBERTSPHOTOS BY ERIN RILEY

PREPARETO

28

GARY ROBERTS, 21-YEAR NHL VETERAN AND STANLEY CUP WINNER.NOW RETIRED, GARY IS A LEADER IN HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAININGAND NUTRITION FOR PROFESSIONAL AND JUNIOR ATHLETES. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GARY ROBERTS HIGH PERFORMANCECENTRE VISIT: WWW.FITNESSINSTITUTE.COM/GARY-ROBERTS-HPC/.

TRAIN, REFUEL, RECOVER... PERFORMThat’s the Gary Roberts High Performance Training Program.

Success in my program is built upon the foundation of each component,and specifically, how they tie together. The gains from training are directly influenced by how you refuel and recover. What is often over-looked is how critical proper nutrition is to achieving peak performance.Paying close attention to food choices before and after games will helpyou stay mentally and physically sharp for the next game.

A good test for successful preparation is a tournament. Can you feelas sharp in the final game as you did in the first game? I can tell you thatwhat you eat and drink will play a huge role.

My suggestion for success – pack your own cooler. Fill it with plentyof good carbohydrates that provide long-lasting energy, lean proteins,fibre, healthy fats and lots of quality spring water and some coconutwater to replenish lost electrolytes.

On all of the Gary Roberts Training and Nutrition Programs, contact jdupont@fitnessinstitute.com. If you need help preparing yourown tournament cooler, contact gary@berettafarms.com. •

PLAY

WHAT I PUT IN MY COOLER• Lots of quality spring water (a least one 500ml bottle per

game and more to sip on between games)• Coconut waterBREAKFAST• MUESLI – I combine rolled oats, seeds, nuts, unsweetened

coconut, dates, raisins and ground flax seeds which I soak in coconut water or water for five minutes and then mix with berries, and half a sliced banana. You can also add a couple tablespoons of Greek yogurt if you wish.

• Two slices of whole grain bread spread with unsweetened almond or pumpkin seed butter, honey and sliced banana.

FOLLOWING EACH GAME• I have either a post game recovery shake or snack.

For the shake, I combine berries, half a banana, 4 oz. water, 4 oz. coconut water, one scoop of naturally sweetened vanilla protein powder and a handful of baby spinach. For young players, I would recommend replacing the protein powder with a couple of tablespoons of vanilla yogurt. A portable blender, like The Magic Bullet, makes this very convenient.

• For the snack, I have chocolate milk and a banana, or fruit and yogurt.

PRE-GAME MEALS• Whole grain sandwiches with either lean nitrate-free meats

(e.g., roast turkey, grilled chicken, lean roast beef), tuna or egg salad. I always include some vegetables, some greens and some healthy condiments like an avocado spread.Cut fresh vegetables with a dip, which is usually hummus or some other type of bean dip.

• Grilled filet of salmon with quinoa and mixed vegetables.SNACKS BETWEEN GAMES• Healthy trail mix, which could include some or all of the

following: almonds, cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, goji berries, dried cranberries and blueberries, unsweetened coconut, raw cacao nibs.

• Apple with unsweetened almond or pumpkin seed butter.• Healthy granola bars or cookies made with raw oats, nuts,

seeds, dark chocolate, and healthy oils like coconut oil or sunflower oil.

29

HONOURBOUND THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME CELEBRATEDTHIS YEAR’S INDUCTIONS WITH A LAVISHCELEBRATION

1. TSN PRESIDENT STEWART JOHNSTON, THE LEGENDARY BOBBY ORR AND HOCKEY HALL OF FAME CHAIRMAN AND CEO BILL HAY UNVEIL HOCKEY'S FIRST 3D FILM, STANLEY’S GAME SEVEN 3D, NOW PLAYING IN THE TSN THEATRE AT THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME. PHOTO: STEVE POIRIER/HOCKEY HALL OF FAME.

2. THE CLASS OF 2012 – MATS SUNDIN, PAVEL BURE, ADAM OATES AND JOE SAKIC (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) – PROUDLY DISPLAY THEIR HONOURED MEMBERS BLAZERS IN A PRE-GAME CEREMONY AT THE HAGGAR HOCKEY HALL OF FAME LEGENDS CLASSIC AT THE AIR CANADA CENTRE. PHOTO: GRAIG ABEL/HOCKEY HALL OF FAME.

3. 2012 INDUCTEE AND GTHL GRAD ADAM OATES ADDRESSES THE CROWD AFTER BEING INDUCTED INTO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME ON NOVEMBER 12. PHOTO: MATTHEW MANOR/HOCKEY HALL OF FAME.

4. ONE OF THE GREATEST HOCKEY STORYTELLERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME – AND BREAKOUTCOLUMNIST – ROY MacGREGOR RECEIVES THE 2012 HOCKEY HALL OF FAME ELMER FERGUSON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HOCKEY JOURNALISM.  PHOTO: DAVE SANDFORD/HOCKEY HALL OF FAME.

5. A CAPACITY AUDIENCE IN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME’S ESSO GREAT HALL INTERACTED WITH THE CLASS OF 2012 IN THE PORTER AIRLINES FAN FORUM. PHOTO: STEVE POIRIER/HOCKEY HALL OF FAME.

30

1

3 4

2

5

xcited hockey fans flocked to the Hockey Hall of Fame November 9–12 to pay tribute to this year’s Inductees. 

The weekend’s festivities included the official launch of the HockeyHall of Fame’s new 3D film, Stanley’s Game Seven, interactive Q&Afan forums, limited edition autographed giveaways, the annual LegendsClassic and culminated with the Induction Gala Celebration.  

E

SNAPSHOT

32

COMPETITIVE LEAGUE ACTION, AND THE MARSHALL DREWNOWSKY MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT, FOR SELECT LEVEL HOUSE LEAGUEPLAYERS, HELD IN VAUGHANPHOTOS BY ERIN RILEY

33

SNAPSHOT

34

35

4

36

n January 16, 40 of the GTHL’s most talented minor midgetplayers (15 year olds) will take the ice for the 4th annual

Scotiabank Top Prospects Game at Herbert Carnegie Arena in NorthYork.

Scott Oakman, Executive Director of the GTHL, says the game is another chance for the GTHL’s best to showcase themselves in front of junior scouts.

“Obviously being scouted throughout the season, tournaments andplayoffs is very important as well as scouting through the OHL Cup,”Oakman said. “But much like the CHL prospects game, this certainlygives scouts an opportunity to see players play against the best in a format that they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to [see].”

Former NHL players Nick Kypreos, Wendel Clark, and Kris Draperalong with former NHL general manager and head coach DougMacLean will coach the two teams.

Kypreos played 442 games over eight seasons in the NHL, includingtwo years with the New York Rangers, a team he won the Stanley Cupwith in 1994. He’ll coach alongside Clark, who played 14 years in theNHL, 12 of which were with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Draper and MacLean also bring plenty of NHL experience as theleaders of the opposing bench. Draper played over 1,000 NHL gamesand won four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings, while MacLeanspent more than 17 years as a coach and general manager in the NHLand American Hockey League.

Oakman believes getting former NHL players and coaches involvednot only adds to the profile of the event, but it gives the players an opportunity to learn from those who’ve worked and played at the game’shighest level.

“Those guys can lend some perspective to the players because they’vebeen through it,” he said. “Having been drafted, scouted, and havingcompeted in similar type games and knowing the pressure that can beput on the players, I think they have some unique insights having gonethrough similar situations themselves, and they’re able to communicatethat and support the players.”

Over the past three years several of the Prospect Game participantshave gone on to impressive careers in the OHL – London Knights

forward Max Domi, who had 49 points in 62 games in his rookie seasonlast year, played in the second annual game in 2011; Guelph Storm forward Matt Finn, who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs 35thoverall in 2012, played in the 2010 game; and just last season ConnorMcDavid, now a rookie with the Erie Otters, took part in the ProspectsGame.

Leading this year’s crop of OHL prospects are Marlies forwardsDylan Strome and Mitchell Stephens, Jr. Canadiens teammates NikitaKorostelev and Zach Wilkie, Mississauga Rebels defenseman AustinClapham and Don Mills Flyers goaltender Jack Lafontaine.

Oakman feels every player who participates in the event takes something different away from the experience, but if he had to point to one thing, he said, “I think in the end it allows [the players] to takestock in what their strengths and weaknesses might be when they’re on the ice with the best players in their age group.” •

BESTINOCLASS

IN THE UPCOMING SCOTIABANK TOPPROSPECTS GAME, THE GTHL’S TOP MINOR MIDGET PLAYERS HAVE A UNIQUEOPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS IN FRONT OF JUNIOR SCOUTSBY DUSTIN POLLACK

(TOP PHOTO) DON CHERRY, SAM BENNETT, LAST YEAR'S TEAM KYPREOS PLAYER OF THE GAME (TORONTO MARLBOROS), AND SCOTIABANK BRANCHMANAGER GERARD BERGIN. (BOTTOM PHOTO) DANTE SALITURO, LAST YEAR’S TEAM CLARK PLAYER OF THE GAME (DON MILLS FLYERS)

key to winning a hockey game is understanding that the correct hockey play at any given moment is dictated by the situation of the moment – the score, the time left in the

game, who is on the ice for each team, the importance of the game, andso forth.

There comes a time in most games when the team with the leaddoesn’t need another goal. In these situations, that team has to knowhow to change its style, to play what I call “shut‘em down hockey”.

The keys to “shut’em down hockey” are as follows:• YOU DON’T NEED ANOTHER GOAL: So your mental focus

should be solely on defence and killing time. • ALWAYS PLAY THE DEFENSIVE SIDE (D-SIDE) OF THE PUCK:

Don’t give the other team free passage towards your goal. You must position yourself between the puck and your goal.

• STAY IN THE PLAY: Don’t do anything that can take you out ofthe play (for example, getting tied up with an opposing player orgoing too low in the offensive zone).

• ALWAYS MOVE THE PUCK DOWN THE ICE (AWAY FROM YOURGOAL): For example, in their zone, never pass back to your point(because it may get intercepted or get by your defenceman).Keep the puck deep in the other team’s zone.

• DUMP THE PUCK IN QUICKLY: Too many times I see playersthat should be playing shut’em down hockey, trying to carry thepuck into the other team’s zone, which increases the chance of a turnover and saves the other team valuable ice and time,which is exactly the opposite of what you are trying to do.

• PLAY WITH URGENCY: Get the puck over the blue line quickly,whether it’s your blue line or theirs.

The best way to trap the other team is by using a high 1-2-2forechecking system, making it difficult for them to exit their zone with possession of the puck. Every player has a specific responsibility in the high 1-2-2:

• The first forward’s (F1) job is to pressure the puck carrier to tryand force an errant pass and to steer the play into the trap.

• The other players form a high, box-shaped trap. • The trap must be a dynamic trap as opposed to a passive trap,

meaning that the player closest to the puck makes an aggressive move on the puck with the objective of keeping the puck in, or forcing an errant pass.

• If the puck gets by a player, he must race back towards the defensive zone to provide support to the trap. You want to makea series of aggressive moves on the puck all the way down theice if necessary, all with a view of trying to force an errant pass,keeping the puck deep in the other team’s zone, keeping thepuck out of your zone. •

Jonathan Fine is the Head Coach of the North Toronto Midget Jr. "AA" team.

This article is an adaptation of excerpts from his books Coaching Championship

Hockey and Hockey is A Very Simple Games (s), Volumes I and II. Mr. Fine can

be contacted at jfine@finedeo.com.

SHUTTHERE COMES A TIME IN A GAME WHEN

ALL FOCUS SHOULD BE ON DEFENCEBY JONATHAN FINE

A

DOWN

37

uch irony.The newest issue of The Hockey News landed in the mailbox a short

while back and opened up immediately to a full-page advertisement fora cold medication, Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla on the ice inone photograph, in the next sleeping contentedly in bed.

“In professional hockey,” the ad read, “there are no sick days... or nights.”Ha! As this dispiriting fall unfolded professional hockey – at least at

the National Hockey League level – may never have been as sick.No matter if November saw a resolution or the lockout continues

on into December, this has not been 2004-05. In that previous Lockout,Canadian fans were genuinely concerned with the issues, worried fortheir franchises and convinced that the argument for “cost certainty”made some sense. Forgiveness was swift when the game finally returned,as it was a re-invented game: faster, more skilled, more entertaining.

Fast forward to 2012. Canadian franchises have never been healthier– including a brand-new one back in Winnipeg. The league, by its ownbragging, has never been more prosperous. The players, in spite of thesalary cap they accepted begrudgingly, have never been wealthier.

And yet the two parties cannot seem to agree on anything, evenwhen to meet. The widespread condemnation that this is a catfight between “billionaires and millionaires” is simplistic but deadly accurate.

As one outside labour expert put it in the Globe and Mail, evenkindergarten kids can figure out how to split a Popsicle before it meltsand vanishes on them.

The 2012 (perhaps -13) Lockout was profoundly different from theoutset. There was no fan agonizing – who would waste their emotions,let alone their time, on such folly? – and there was a growing sense fromthe start that, this time, that a league that has now taken its fans forgranted three times in less than 20 years had presumed too much.

Did they not see the contempt we have for NHL ownerswho sign players to 13-year contracts one day and next daydemand five-year limits on contracts?

Only the foolish among us paid any attention to those players who fled to Europe – good unionmembers all, bumping fellow players out of jobs they need far worse than the NHLersneed to satisfy their egos and fill their time.

And yet, in turning their backs on the NHLthis fall, no matter how long this Lockoutlasted, hockey fans were able to discover …hockey.

And they are finding hockey almost everywhere they look for it in the land that gave the world this, the greatest game on earth.

Fans have discovered a hidden gem in college hockey, games superblyplayed by mostly former junior players at a price, $10-$12, that makesNHL season ticket holders wonder why their tickets did not comewrapped in a Rolex watch.

Fans will turn to the World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa,Russia, on Boxing Day, will flock on Dec. 28 to watch the Bell CapitalCup in Ottawa, the “world’s largest hockey tournament” for players agednine to 12 and to the legendary Quebec International tournament forpee wee teams that begins on Valentine’s Day. All winter long they willfollow teams in the lead up to the Telus Cup (midget), RBC Cup (junior A), Allan Cup (senior) and dozens of provincial championships.The entire country will be watching when women’s teams from aroundthe hockey world gather in Ottawa this coming spring for the WorldChampionships.

Closer to home, fans can take in the Scotiabank GTHL Top ProspectsGame in January, where many of the best 15-year-old players in theworld will show they are eligible for the Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection.

Closer yet, they can head to the local rink any Saturday morning, aswell as most weekday evenings, and see youngsters of both sexes playingtheir hearts out. Playing not for money, but for fun, for satisfaction, for the small glory that usually amounts to little more than a tap on thehelmet from a coach and a Slushy at the snack counter.

And closest of all, there are the back streets, the driveways and thebackyards, where the national game is being re-invented every time thepuck (or ball) is dropped.

The game in our imaginations hasnever been healthier.

It is the game played bythose who lost their

minds in the fall of2012 that turned

sick. •

38

S

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