New Skills Development Program Offered By Pownal Minor Hockey Association

The PMHA wanted to make our Members aware that beginning late October 2015 and running through to late January 2016 we will be introducing a new development program for all Players in Initiation to PeeWee AAA.

Part of this new development program is called "Shared ice skill development program".  This will see like age teams join together to participate in a “Skills Development” practice where mentoring coaches will lead the players through the fundamental skills of hockey (skating, puck handling, passing and shooting skills).  There will be goaltenders skill development ice sessions as well where goaltenders will have the opportunity to participate in weekly training sessions to work through fundamentals such as setup, balance, and body placement.

Participation of all minor hockey coaches will be expected at each session and they will be helping to run the practice under the direction of the mentoring coaches.  Each ice session will consist of 5 stations, which will allow the players to stay engaged and active and help achieve high levels of repetition where players will spend 7-10 minutes per station before switching to the next.

We are very excited to be able to offer this to our players and our development team has been working hard over the summer to ensure we are ready to start when the new hockey season begins.

Corey McNabb, Director of Player Development for Hockey Canada offered the following advice in regards to shared ice practices, "Shared ice practices are a great way to get more ice time, more skating and more puck touches.  So much of the full ice game happens in small area on the ice, that it only makes sense to practice that way too.  If you can get on the ice an extra time per week, 4 times per month or 24 times per year that will make a big difference in development and it doesn't have to cost you any more money.  Why not share the ice with another team, we do it in games all the time, and don't even blink an eye to the fact that 2 thirds of the kids aren't even moving they are standing on the bench waiting on their turn.  Invite another team to your practice and vise versa, it will provide extra ice time and doesn't cost any extra money.  Shared ice practices is one of the easiest ways to enhance skill development."

More information will follow once everything is finalized.  Should there be any questions please ensure you contact pmhaexecutive@pownalminorhockey.com