Wednesday, March 10. 2010Is your nutrition hockey-specific?
By Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS
If you are really serious about taking your game to the next level, it’s going to take a lot more than just working on your on-ice skills. Being a great hockey player is a critical piece of the puzzle, but it’s not enough. You need to take care of all the “little” things like getting stronger, faster and fitter off the ice, working on your mental game and paying attention to your nutrition.
For most young players, nutrition is merely an afterthought. And this is a big mistake. You can be a very skilled player, but if you aren’t properly fueled, you will never be able to move from good to great.
In the fast-paced and constantly-changing game of hockey, our nutrition is one of the few things we have complete control over. You can’t control what happens out on the ice, what your coach decides to do, what the refs do or don’t call or how good the other team is. But you can control what you do off the ice to put yourself in the best possible position to succeed – and nutrition is a huge part of your on-ice success.
Most of the nutrition information that is available falls short of meeting the specific needs of young hockey players. It is either adult-specific or for general athletes, but doesn’t address the critical areas that players need.
You need to know what to eat, when to eat and how much to eat so that you can perform your best every time you hit the ice. You need to know how much water you have to drink each day and understand why drinking any less than this could destroy your performance no matter how skilled you are.
You need to know the secret to recovering quickly after games and how paying attention to your game-time nutrition will help you to perform your best during tournaments, playoffs and other key games.
You need to know that making small changes to your diet is the biggest key to taking your performance to next level – and that these changes are quite simple.
I know that trying to keep the nutrition plan of a teenage child under control is virtually impossible. This is not about being restrictive – it’s about making better choices.
You don’t need to avoid all junk food, eat only organic products or restrict your diet in order to be a great hockey player. You also don’t need to follow the latest and greatest diet trends to be healthy.
Taking your nutrition to the next level is actually quite simple – once you wade through all the misinformation that is out there. Nutrition can be a very touchy subject with young athletes – especially with girls, as comments and guidance can easily be misinterpreted with all the sensitivity about body image that bombards us in the daily media.
Knowing what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat it can be the difference between having a great game and a mediocre game. And in a game like hockey where one little mistake or one big break can happen at any second, you need to have every possible advantage you can find. Taking control of your nutrition will give you that advantage and allow you to perform your best game after game.
GAME WINNING NUTRITION is a hockey-specific nutrition manual focused on empowering athletes and parents with the information you need to take charge of your FUELING needs in order to maximize your performance on the ice! To get started taking your nutrition and game to the next level, go to http://totalfemalehockeyclub.com/products/game_winning_nutrition/. Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS, is an expert in the development of aspiring female hockey players. She is a former NCAA Division I captain at Dartmouth and played in the National Women’s Hockey League for six years. She is currently the Girls Hockey Director at the PEAC School for Elite Athletes in Toronto and is the Founder of Total Female Hockey.
Wednesday, March 10. 2010Star Tribune All Metro Team
BETHANY BRAUSEN - Player of the Year
KALLIE BILLADEAU
Hopkins, goalie, senior
Billadeau, a first-team selection last season, got even stingier. She allowed two fewer goals (34) than last season and improved her save percentage almost 20 points (.954). Opponents scored more than one goal on Billadeau, a Syracuse recruit, in only eight of her 26 starts.
GINA MCDONALD
Irondale, forward, senior
A key cog in Irondale's past two state tournament teams, tallying a combined 83 goals and 73 assists during that span. Technically sound, McDonald elevated her game in the section playoffs, scoring two game-winning goals and assisting on another. Will play at Harvard next year.
CORINNE BUIE
Edina, forward, senior
Big, strong forward led Edina with 36 goals. Rarely separated from the puck. Providence recruit scored two goals in each of the Hornets' three section playoff victories. Carried over her scoring prowess from the soccer field, where she tallied 33 goals last fall.
BETHANY BRAUSEN
Roseville, forward, senior
A two-time captain and vocal leader, Brausen led the Raiders, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A for much of the season, with 33 goals and 64 points. The Gophers recruit tallied a hat trick in the playoffs against defending state champion Stillwater.
MILICA MCMILLEN
Breck, defense, sophomore
Contributed to the offense with 16 goals and a team-best 35 assists. Possessing a booming shot, McMillen does her part on the defensive end as well. Breck allowed three or more goals in only four games. Named to the all-tournament team at state as an eighth-grader.
ROSIE ALLEVA
Red Wing, defense, senior
Princeton recruit is a smooth skater with keen offensive instincts. Hard worker whose dead-eye shot stems from daily 5 a.m. shooting practice. Scored 31 goals and 26 assists. Rarely leaves the ice.
SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Hannah Brant, Hill-Murray, soph., 42 G, 36 A-78 pts.
Meghan Lorence, Irondale, junior, 46-36-82
Rachel Ramsey, Minnetonka, junior, 22-23-45
Defensemen
Allie Duellman, Roseville, senior, 13-23-36 - Bemidji State
Audrey Hanmer, Forest Lake, junior, 17-18-35
Goalie
Marah Sobczak, Stillwater, senior, .914 save pct.
THIRD TEAM
Forwards
Rachael Bona, Coon Rapids, 33-21-54 junior
Jordyn Burns, Benilde-St. Margaret's, 31-21-52 junior
Amanda Colin, Burnsville, senior, 40-27-67 - Quinnipiac
Hillary Crowe, Blake, junior, 35-48-83
Defensemen
Laurel Miller, Totino-Grace, senior 16-23-39 - Wisconsin
Maggie Pendleton, Hill-Murray, senior 12-22-34 - Providence
Goalie
Julie Friend, Minnetonka, junior, .9452 save pct.
Wednesday, March 10. 2010Ten Finalists Named for 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The USA Hockey Foundation today announced the 10 finalists for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey.
The 10 finalists are (in alphabetical order): junior forward Vicki Bendus (Wasaga Beach, Ont./Mercyhurst College), senior forward Emmanuelle Blais (Lasalle, Que./Univ. of Minnesota Duluth); sophomore forward Bailey Bram (Ste. Anne, Man./Mercyhurst College); senior forwards Felicia Nelson (St. Paul, Minn./St. Cloud State Univ.), Sarah Parsons (Dover, Mass./Dartmouth College), and Kelly Paton (Woodstock, Ont./Univ. of New Hampshire); freshman goaltender Noora Räty (Espoo, Finland/Univ. of Minnesota); junior forward Jesse Scanzano (Montreal, Que./Mercyhurst College); sophomore goaltender Florence Schelling (Oberengstringen, Switzerland/Northeastern Univ.) and senior defenseman Britni Smith (Port Perry, Ont./St. Lawrence Univ.).
The top-10 class of candidates for the 13th annual Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award represents all four women's college conferences: College Hockey America, ECAC Hockey, the Hockey East Association and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
The award selection process began in early February, when NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches were asked to nominate players for the award. Nominated players were then placed on an official ballot, which was sent back to the coaches to vote for the top 10 finalists. The independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, tabulated the ballots.
The three finalists, including the recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, are chosen by a 13-member selection committee comprised of NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches, representatives of the print and broadcast media, and a representative of USA Hockey, the National Governing Body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States.
The three finalists for this year's award will be announced March 9.
NOTES: Felicia Nelson is the first-ever top-10 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist from St. Cloud State University ... Three of the this year's finalists are from Mercyhurst College. The University of Wisconsin (2009) and Harvard University (1999) are the only other schools to have three top-10 finalists in a single year ... The 10 finalists include seven forwards, two goaltenders and one defenseman. Five seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and one freshman are included ... The 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be presented at a brunch ceremony at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center on March 20 in Minneapolis. The event is held is conjunction with the NCAA Women's Frozen Four ... Tickets to the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award ceremony may be purchased by calling 719-538-1184, or by e-mailing or faxing a completed ticket form, which can be found at PattyKaz.com. Individual seats are $75, while tables of 10 are available for $700.
ABOUT THE PATTY KAZMAIER MEMORIAL AWARD
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey each season. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.
ABOUT PATTY KAZMAIER
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman for Princeton University from 1981-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top 10 Finalists
Name Year Pos School
Vicki Bendus Jr F Mercyhurst College
Emmanuelle Blais Sr F University of Minnesota Duluth
Bailey Bram So F Mercyhurst College
Felicia Nelson Sr F St. Cloud State University
Sarah Parsons Sr F Dartmouth College
Kelly Paton Sr F University of New Hampshire
Noora Räty Fr G University of Minnesota
Jesse Scanzano Jr F Mercyhurst College
Florence Schelling So G Northeastern University
Britni Smith Sr D St. Lawrence University
Wednesday, March 10. 2010COUNTDOWN IS ON TO 2010 ESSO CUP IN REGINA
The battle for female hockey supremacy has begun as playoffs are underway across the country. Five teams will earn the right to travel to Regina, Sask. in April and join the host Regina Rebels to battle for the 2010 Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship.
Fans of all ages will soon get the opportunity to watch the best Midget AAA female hockey players and teams from across Canada compete at the highest level in Regina’s newest hockey facilities at Evraz Centre.
The Esso Cup is considered the equivalent of the well-known and long-standing TELUS Cup, which is Canada’s National Midget Championship and features the best boys’ Midget AAA teams in the country.
“There is a unique passion for female hockey in Saskatchewan,” said Lynn Tulloch, chair of the 2010 Esso Cup host committee. “Come and watch Canada’s best female hockey players compete for the Esso Cup. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”
This year marks the second for the Esso Cup – Manitoba’s Westman Wildcats earned the first-ever gold medal in Calgary, Alta. in 2009, defeating the Scarborough Sharks in the final of the five-team tournament.
The event expands this year to six teams, with regional champions from Pacfic (B.C. and Alberta), West (Saskatchewan and Manitoba), Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic (Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) joining the host Rebels.
Tulloch points to Hockey Canada’s dedicated focus on player development and the success of Canada’s National Women’s Team as the main inspirations for the growth in female hockey across the country. She said the enthusiasm for the female game, along with the fan base, increases with each Team Canada victory at international events such as the 4 Nations Cup, IIHF World Women’s Championship and Olympic Winter Games.
“Female hockey continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in Canada,” Tulloch said. “Today’s players benefit from the high performance programs specifically targeted for girls and the Esso Cup allows them to exhibit their exceptional hockey skills on a national level.”
Tulloch added that the Esso Cup and the provincial and regional Midget AAA female leagues provide outstanding opportunities for players to get an education and play hockey at universities in both Canada and the United States. The national championship also attracts coaches and scouts from many high profile university teams who are looking to recruit the next female hockey stars.
Wednesday, March 10. 2010CANADA’S NATIONAL WOMEN’S UNDER-18 TEAM ROSTER ANNOUNCED FOR 2010 IIHF WORLD WOMEN’S UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Monday the 20 players that will represent Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship, which will take place from March 27 to April 3 in Chicago, Ill.
Canada’s roster includes 15 of the 22 players who took part in a three-game series against the United States last August. Canada came out on top in the series, beating the U.S.A.’s Women’s Under-18 Select Team 4-2 in the second game on Wednesday, August 26 and winning 3-1 in the third and final game on Thursday, August 27.
The roster also includes six players who competed for Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in Füssen, Germany: Jessica Campbell (Melville, Sask./Pursuit of Excellence, Midget AAA); Christine Bestland (Brunkild, Man./Pursuit of Excellence, Midget AAA); Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./Edouard Montpetit, Collégial AA); Laurie Kingsbury (Valleyfield, Que./Saint-Laurent, Collégial AA); Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont./Ottawa, PWHL) and Jillian Saulnier (Halifax, N.S./Toronto, PWHL).
Head coach Dan Church and assistant coaches Pierre Alain and Lisa Jordan, with help from Hockey Canada’s scouting staff, used several key national and international events to finalize the roster. Those include the selection camp held from July 24-30 and the series against the United States held from August 24-27, both in Calgary, as well as the 2009 National Women’s Under-18 Championship which took place from November 4-8 in Surrey, B.C.
“The Canadian hockey team that will compete at the third IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship features many of the female game’s brightest and youngest stars,” Church says. “We believe this roster has the strength and skill to help Canada improve upon its performance at what is becoming an increasingly competitive international tournament."
Canada has settled for silver for two years running, falling 3-2 in overtime to the United States last year and losing 5-2, again to the Americans, at the inaugural IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in 2008 in Calgary.
Eight teams will compete for the gold medal at this year’s tournament. Group A includes the Czech Republic, Finland, Japan and the United States, while Group B consists of Canada, Russia, Germany and Sweden. The bronze and gold medal matches are scheduled for Saturday, April 3 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. CT, respectively
Wednesday, March 10. 2010CANADIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM WIN OLYMPIC GOLD WITH 2-0 WIN OVER U.S.
VANCOUVER – Canada is golden again in women's Olympic hockey.
The Canadian women's hockey team defended the gold medals won at the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Games with a 2-0 win over archrival U.S. on Thursday at Canada Hockey Place.
Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., the youngest player on the Canadian team at 18, scored a pair of goals in the first period, showing off her soft hands and quick release. Edmonton goaltender Shannon Szabados stopped all 29 shots for the shutout.
Szabados was an intriguing choice in net for her first start in an Olympic or world championship final. Coach Melody Davidson went with the 23-year-old over veterans Charline Labonte, the winning goalie in the 2006 Olympic final, and Kim St. Pierre, the starter in the 2002 championship game.
Szabados showed no rookie nerves to start the game, however. She came out of her net to play the puck and made glove saves with confidence. She kept the Americans off the scoreboard during five-on-three chances at the start of both the first and second periods. U.S. goalie Jessie Vetter made 27 saves.
Centre Meghan Agosta of Ruthven, Ont., was named tournament MVP.
“This medal is Canada's medal,” said Agosta. “To be able to win a gold medal on home soil is an honour. We're going to cherish the moment for the rest of our lives.”
Szabados was named to the all-star team, which also included American defencemen Angela Ruggiero and Molly Engstrom and forwards Agosta, Poulin and Jenny Potter of the U.S.
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