Hockey Clothes Dryer Tags

It's not that we will or should agree with every decision the DOPS makes. Even its members have told me they don't want or expect that. It's just that we'll wring our hands over suspensions far less if we understand a few important rules and misconceptions. The next time you...

A lot of times a forward will deke himself out. He′ll have the goalie beat but he already has his mind made up that he′s going to do something else. He′ll actually fumble it before he can shoot it. Remember make the goalie make the save. Don′t make it easy...

Chest Protector. The size of a goaltender's chest protector should be determined by the goaltender's height. After gathering a goaltender's height the next step is to match the height with the selected company's size chart to determine the appropriate size....

Don't forget the parents. Most coaches kick off the season with a parents' meeting to lay down a few ground rules discuss philosophies and map out a course for the season. That's all well and good when the season is young and everyone is refreshed and ready to go. Keep...

Blocker. Proper blocker sizing will allow a goaltender to control the face of the blocker. This will lead to better rebound control and protection. Similar to fitting for a glove from the end of the finger channels to the tips of a goaltender's fingers there should be no more than...

MENTAL PREPARATION The game of goaltending is 80 percent mental. Prepare your mind before you hit the ice. Take five to 10 minutes and find a quiet spot where you can be alone to focus. Visualizing plays and seeing yourself make the right play will help you immensely. It may...

This is the time of year when the days get shorter and the temperatures drop. The hockey season is in full swing and it sometimes feels like there's no end in sight. It can be hard to keep the energy levels up and the enthusiasm high among players parents and...

It′s important to keep your head up when passing the puck. Most bad passes are caused by not looking up to spot your intended target. You should also be aware of where you are on the ice. Blind cross-ice passes are the leading cause of grey hairs among hockey coaches....

A lot of times a forward will deke himself out. He′ll have the goalie beat but he already has his mind made up that he′s going to do something else. He′ll actually fumble it before he can shoot it. Remember make the goalie make the save. Don′t make it easy...

Sometimes a player makes the mistake of carrying the puck in front of him so the goalie knows what he′s going to do because he can′t shoot the puck from that position. As you get close to the net bring the puck to your side so you can either take...