Page 10 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 149

10 Issue #149 June 2025 www.sportsenergynews.com

Spring Hockey Tryouts, My Thoughts….

Over the Boards tryouts. As a long time coach, I Kids grow over the off-season as Our Seaway Valley AA players
see things that benefit players and well. It’s a natural thing. Especially will have a five week summer
teams but also things that may not around the age of puberty. A player on-ice program to participate in,
By Brad Robertson be of benefit. in February won’t look the same in starting in late July, and take them

August if they shoot up a few inches up to the date that they are allowed
For one, I am of the camp that the
off-season can be used to improve or gain a few pounds. The end of a to reconvene for the season. Teams
your game before the next season. long hockey season means anyone that are formed in spring aren’t
Taking the spring and summer to that had some minor or nagging supposed to have formal on-ice
injury can recover properly in the workouts. Our summer program
work on aspects of your game that
off season. Decompression after pairs up age groups and it’s simply
need improving to try and reach the
a season is good for any athlete. development ice as opposed to teams
next level is beneficial to athletes.
Players can work on things both Spring tryouts don’t allow much practice ice. Most of our summer ice
on and off the ice to improve, and time for either. is mornings for the majority of our
improvement can be noticeable As a coach it can be beneficial to groups. We do this so that it doesn’t
interfere with their other sports they
come late August when tryouts put your team together in the spring.
may be participating in like soccer,
used to be held at the AAA and AA For instance, I am coaching a U14
level. Now its finish one season and team this upcoming season and I baseball, or lacrosse.
or the upcoming 2025-26 tryout for the next. Very little time am not familiar with many of the Spring tryouts and formulating
Fminor hockey season Hockey to prepare yourself if you wanted families. I have had this age group teams eases pressures for the
Eastern Ontario (HEO) mandated to get stronger physically, improve out at our SVMHA summer ice respective hockey associations
spring tryouts for AA hockey which
your shot, skating, or puck handling program and am somewhat familiar and their equipment and apparel
was preceded by the AAA hockey
skills. with some of the players, but I can personnel. These individuals who
now plan a few events that can be perform these roles for associations
Cornwall’s Oldest Paint, geared towards team bonding and can order jerseys, socks, and team
Blind & Shutter Store. getting to know the group better. I apparel now and have everything
Family owned Business Since 1988
look forward to this. I can establish well before the season starts. That
Presents “Famous Sports Quotes” my form of communicating with is a bonus for sure as there is a lot
the team and start sending info less pressure to acquire these things
“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” that I want them to focus on, i.e., than in the old, shorter time frame
team play styles (offensively and in the fall.
H.L. Menken
defensively) that I favour, power It was a learning curve for us at

play sets that I like (puck retrievals, Seaway Valley Minor Hockey. We

  breakouts, offensive zone set ups, adjusted to things on the fly. Our ice
face offs etc.), penalty kill options
scheduler had a tough task working


 
that I like to incorporate, and other with the city of Cornwall to acquire
details that I want the players to
     familiarize themselves with. I can the ice necessary to run tryouts for
eight teams. When all was said and

do this systematically and slowly. done, we did it and learned from the
I am a firm believer in multi-sport
athletic pursuits so I wouldn’t want experience as we move forward.
to overwhelm my players in the off- Congratulations to all our players
season with too much stuff. They that successfully earned a spot on
need to play other things and have their respective teams, and great job
Since 1988 a life outside of the hockey world. to the coaches and evaluators that
Celebrating 38 years Establishing my seasonal plan this constructed these teams. Now the
far ahead, and in stages, is doable hard part, waiting for the season to
Quality & Service At The Right Price!
Paints, Blinds, Shutters over the course of the summer with begin, lol…
the team already made. Coach Brad
240 Pitt Street • 613-933-8924 • www.jas-mar.com