Diary of a Season 2025-2026

Fire Black Practice – 09-05-25
Time: 16:30-17:30 Venue: Stew Hendry
Lines: 8 D, 15 F, 3 G
Two puck game
Notes: Focus is on breakouts-goalie pass

Kozak breakouts – goalie passing
High low shooting
Tomas RG and breakouts
Russian Scrimmage
D100 3-3 – no dump ins
C6 – Jursi Continuous 1-1 Out of Corners x 2 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FxFe5eNiV/
Team cheer

Really good high paced practice. Players caught on to things right away and did them with high tempo. They can really skate and have good skills. It will be hard to decide the two D, three F and one G to name as affiliates. Play two ex games vs. Okotoks this weekend.
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Fire Black Practice Plan – 09-08-25
Time: 16:30-17:45 Venue: Seven Chiefs
Lines: 3 G, 7 D, 12 F

Kaylin with goalies
A200 – Chaos Puck Handling
B202 Pass to All Players
D2 – Goalie Training and Keepaway x 3
B6 – Timing Around Circles – Dizzy
B6 – 2-0 Regroup 3-0 Middle Lane Drive – Pro
DT100 Continuous 2-1, 2-2, 3-2
E1 Speed Scoring 2-1 to 2-2
Cheer

Won both weekend games vs. Raiders. 9-3 and 2-1 in OT/ Played better game two outshooting them 62-20 but their goalie was stoning us. Still deciding on the line up and have to release 6 players by next Sunday.

T – Team Play Review with Magnetic Rink

T2 – Faceoff Play A

T2 – Overload PP Options – PK Review

T4 – Diamond PK vs 1-3-1 and Forecheck Review

T4 – 4-5 PK vs Umbrella

T4 – Low Press 4-5 PK

T4 – High Press 4-5 PK

Team Play Review with Magnetic Rink
http://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/forum/viewtopic.php…

Team Play Description not bad but video isn't great and need to be redone.)

T4 – 2-1-2 Forecheck

T2 – Attack Triangle and 5 Player Attack

T2 – Breakout Options

T4 – Defensive Zone Coverage

Fire Black Practice Plan – 09-18-25
Time: 20-00-21:00 Venue: Seton
Lines: 2 G-12 F – 6 D
Notes: Individual defensive skills

Transition skate shots Small horseshoe
Game of quick transition Swedish angling along boards
Stick on puck Jusi continuous 1-1 out of corners
3-3 game with no dump ins Team cheer in middle
Meet with parents to organize volunteer roles

Focus was on defensive skating, stick on the puck, tight gaps and staying on the net side. Taught bumping the puck when taking a pass. In games the focus was on transitioning between the 4 roles of puck carrier, puck support, checking puck carrier and covering away from the puck.
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Fire Black Practice Plan – 09-19-25
Time: 19:00-20:15 Venue: Max Bell
Lines:
2 G, 13F, 5 D
Notes: Breakout options, stick on puck, puck protection

Goalie Training – 30’
Handle 2 pucks each.
A500 – Protect Puck Inside Circles https://www.facebook.com/share/p/185rURMqNw/
T3 – B500 – Stick on the Puck – RB Pro
C500 1-1 – Race for Puck – Protection Battles – C U18 W
T2 – 5-0 Breakout Options Routine – Russian U20
B6 – 2 Pass-Double Zig-Shot x 3 x 2 – U15 G https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17my66NEeg/
C6 – 1-1 to 2-2. D join rush – F backcheck – U15 G https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17wSa3WTcg/
D100 – Power Play Game 1-1 to 5-5 – U15 G https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dfjmt8Q9t/
Cheer in middle

Puck protection. Practiced gaining the lane first in puck battles, stick on stick and always on the ice. Rush and backcheck and D defend then join rush. All situations in the power play game. Breakout options; tight turn and up, wheel, counter, wide rim, reverse. Need to reverse to F next time

Fire Black Practice 09-25-25

Fire Black -: 09-25-25 Time: 18:30-19:45 Arena: Max Bell
Lines: 2 G, 7 D, 12 F
Notes: All players walk through the forecheck 2-1-2 with pinch on a rim.

A300Puck handling around and at dots.
B6 – Zig zag with pass and shots https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17zVugcMzX/
30’ Goalies with Marlene
T3 – 1-1 Puck Protection-Stick on Stick – C U18 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LLFgwv35D/
T3 – Blocking Shots – from the net out.
C6 – Poddy’s 1-1 to 3-2 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18HUP7QqJQ/
T4 2-1-2 Pinch on a Wide Rim – walk thru
B600 – Tomas Neutral Zone Regroup 3 F – U15 G – Dump in https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1g6132PVBp/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JA8yFDYFX/
D100 – Power Play Game – All Situation https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Kw6dTC3vu/

Pre Game Warm up https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fqar6SFsP/
D500 – Four Stations – Goalie Training – 3×3-3 Keep away https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HcN2mhSKz/

Players learned our forecheck and we did it with the Tomas regroup and dump in. I changed the practice a little from the pdf and added the zig zag as I wanted Marlene to watch our goalies getting shots. .
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Fire Black Practice Plan – 09-29-25
Time: 20:00-21:15 Arena: Bowness
Notes: Breakouts, passing, support

F – Overspeed Skate with Tight Turn –
B6 – Machine Gun – 2 Pass x 2 – Shot – U15 G
D4 Two Pass Game x 2 – 4-4 – 5-5 – only forehand passes (face play, eliminate blind back hand passes)
T2 – Kozak Breakout sequence https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CJfmV2akG/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B7TBNZv84/
DT400 3-3 Krusel Battling Game https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FrsmDB31T/
DT100 – Continuous 2-2 to 4-4
D100 – 3-3 – One pass each zone
Team Cheer

We did a lot of good things on the weekend but shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers. We need to be a lot better at passing and receiving, make eye contact before passing, skate between dots with puck, basic puck management. We won battles and then turned the puck over by not looking or passing into coverage. Our D backed into our slot allowing them to shoot from the prime scoring area. Tight gaps and engaging more quickly will fix that.

These things are all achievable.

We practiced the breakout for 20' using Wally's sequence. All skated how I want them to keep moving on the wing. Everyone got a pass from a coach, then passed to goalie, then took a slapshot moving. We all then did C low and slow, then 2-0 to wing and back to C. Then 3-0 W – C – W slashing across. Goalies moved back to far blue on 3-0. We will build from here with D dump and making the passes.

Fire Black Practice Plan – 10-07-25
Time: 10-12-25 Venue: Village Square
Lines:12 F, 6 D, 2 G
Notes: agility with puck, breakouts, goalie training, neutral zone attack, transition-D zone coverage, low dzone, gap control, shootouts

A300 – Moves at dots, tight turns
B6 – 3 Shots, 3 Zig-zags, 3 Shots
T2 – Breakout Sequence – Wally Kozak https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17NnUSQd9B/
G – Kaylin both goalies 10', then 10’ with each – RG BO https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ESnXBeBGL/
B600 – Continuous 3-2 Regroup – Tomas https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FsmxiTik8/
DT400 3-3 Krusel Battling Game
C5-C6 – Continuous Low 2-1
C1-C6 Pass Regroup – 1-1 and 2-1 x 2
E1 – Two Shot Shootout
Team cheer in middle

B6 – Dizzy Passing https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AYHCQr5ni/
Goal vs Red Deer – https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1H8TcjLnn2/
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Played our best game vs defending Provincial champs Red Deer on Saturday. Did what we practice moving the puck, hard back pressure, battle hard. Got a 6-2 win on some great shots.
Last practice until driving to Kelowna for a tournament where we play about 5 games.

Went to Kelowna for a ten team tournament. We played 5 x 60' stop time games in four days. Our pool of five teams wasn't that strong and Airdrie and us beat the other three teams pretty easily. Played Airdrie in semi final and won 6-4. In final we played Grande Prairie, another team from Alberta and lost 3-5. Had ten bad minutes where they score 4 goals. Shots were 22-26 for them. Some of our younger players looked tired and didn't have a great game.
Got home after one in the morning and gave the skaters the day off and only goalies will practice tonight with Kaylin our goalie coach. Our season starts this weekend.
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Fire Black Practice Plan -10-16-25
Time: 16:00-17:30 Arena: Henry Viney
Notes: 12 F, 2 G, 7 D

A300 Puck Handling vs. Defender Warm-up – U18 F https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18K388yBLK/
B6 – 2 Pass-Double Zig-Shot x 3 x 2 – U15 G
B6 – Breakout 2 F Shoot – D Point Shot – College M https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AnU2xdXfW/
D4 – Two Pass-Forehand – Scissor https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CC4SR3BQE/
C3 1-1 to 2-2 – D Join F Backcheck-Pro https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GyNMV3ZFw/
C3 – Total Hockey – 3-0, 3-1, 3-2 – U18 F https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18caqZZo4H/
T2 – T4 – PP and PK 10’ x 2
T2-4 – Power Play-Penalty Kill Sequence
Team Cheer
Jim with magnetic board teaches 2-12- with pinch on wide rim. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14bGdjGr4iu/
Jim USA Women 5-3 Power Play https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17MUbTVwLC/
T2-4 – Specialty Team Scrimmage and Principles of the Power Play and Penalty Kill https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ap2w9FCN7/
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5 games in 4 days on weekend, so only goalies practiced on Tuesday while skaters rested after getting to bed about 1:30 Monday night after the 8 hour bus trip. Went 4-1 in Kelowna tournament, lost 3-5 in final to Grande Prairie from the Alberta northern division of our league.
Goal of practice was to improve general individual and team skills. We have to get rid of blind back hand passes and improve our passing game. I taught the players close support in the drills and they are getting better at it. Our pk let us down in the final, so we worked on that with the new pk group.

Lost 3+0 to Fire Red in the league opener. Outshot them 30-21 but gave up three breakaways that they scored on. We did a lot of good things and dominated the last half of the game but no goals.

Game two we played Airdrie. Lots of shots but no goals and were behind 0-1 until the last two minutes of the second period. We finally scored the first goal of the season and then another a minute later. We got two more goals in the third to win 4-1. Outshot them 40-9.

Fire Black Practice Plan 10-28-25
Time: 18:00-19:15 Venue: Village Square
Lines:12 F, 6 D, 2 G

A300 – Moves at Dots and Tight Turns
B2 – Transition Skate Shooting
D-F Scissor and pass to F https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CPr5NpvQt/
G – Goalies at one end with Kaylin
B202 – 4 x 2 Chaos Overspeed – College https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DrFzUCCBn/
T1 – Scoring Stations c U17 m https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HgkQnhQSg/
B – Hinge Rotation in Neutral Zone https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GqLB1KdCE/ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/187cT3WpTB/
T2 – B5 – Triangle – F1 Pass Behind F2 – F3 – Shoot https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CScDkSdcz/
T2 – B202 – Four Chamber Attack – College M https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ENwHProWi/ Pt2 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14XRxhsrUXG/
C3 – 3-0 – 3-1 – 3-2 Contest – U18 F https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ak5ZJSR3s/
D100 Two Second Game – 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DBYZJNbUw/ https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PEFjLtL5X/
Cheer in middle
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Fire Black Practice Plan 10-30-25
Time: 16:00-17:30 Venue: Max Bell
Lines: 2 G, 12 F, 6 D
Halloween Game Practice

B6 – Shot x 3 Passes x 3 Shots x 3 – Pro
B6 – Machine Gun – 2 Pass x 2-Shot – U15 G
C3 – Reijo 1-1 Both Sides – Gap Control – RB Pro
D100 – Full ice 5-5 Halloween Game
E1 – 2-0 x 2 Game Cheer in middle https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ap8hsgY27/
Team Cheer
Video
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1WstGx9xAv/
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Only one game this weekend. Sunday vs. Southern Alberta in Lethbridge.
It was a strange game with 28 minutes in penalties and only 32' of even strength. They took 11 penalties and we took 3. So players who kill penalties didn't get the ice time they would when we roll four lines at even strength and they are on the pk.
Our pp wasn't moving the puck like we have been but ended up scoring three times, one 5-4, one a 5-3 and one into the empty net at the end of the game while we were on the pp.
We dominated the first but only scored once. They dominated the second and each team score a goal. We scored on a 5-3 PP and they scored a nice goal on the pp and we led 3-2 until they took a late penalty but pulled their goalie and we scored an empty netter.
Hard to get a flow going in a game like this. We go the 4-2 win.
We go back to Lethbridge next weekend. All 15 teams will be there and we play three north division teams to lessen the road trips. One game each day Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It will be a hard weekend but if we keep the good discipline and work ethic we will do ok.

Fire Black Practice Plan – 11-11-25
Time: 11:40-12:30 Venue: Crowchild
Lines: 15 Skaters 2 Goalies

A300 – Moves at Dots and Tight Turns
B6 – Pass-Agility-Zig-Shoot x 2 – U15 G
B6 – Timing Around Circles https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DsVakfybB/
T3 – C202 – 1-1 Angling – College M https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PaTxYhnq/
DT100 – Continuous 2-2 No Positions https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BiHEZqDBQ/
D100 – Power Play Game – All Situation https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CqYQuLWMu/
Team Cheer in Middle
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Fire Black Practice Plan -11-13-25
Time: 16:15-17:45 Venue: Crowchild
Notes: PP, PK, blacking shots, puck support, point shots, give and go, back track, D join rush

B6 – 1 High 1 Low Shooting – Pro https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D6mRz7ZYW/
D4 x 2 – Clear Zone – Give and Go to Score https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cbd5V54fQ/
B600 D Regroup x 2 Point Shot – Pro W https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CLoZCMyDU/
D100 – Game-One Pass Each Zone – U15 G https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AgEz96k3B/
C6-600- 1-1 D Join F Backcheck 2-2 – Pro https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18LH31pAES/
T3 – Blocking Shots
Jim PP 1 – Tom PP 2 Tom High Press pk https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Wp1Uk7Xm2/
Jim PP 2– Tom PP Tom High Press pk
T2-4, D4 – Power Play – Penalty Kill Sequence https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AndVDw6T6/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C8mHS6Rw9/
Team cheer
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First game this weekend was with Airdrie. We got outshot something like 39-34 which is about 10 more shots against than usual. We got 3 pp goals and won 6-4. They have a good, fast, big team with the top U15 player in the Province. Not pretty but we outscored them.
Don't want to have to score 5 to win a game.

Second game was vs. perennial Provincial champs Red Deer. They don't have the natural scorers like other years but do play the game really well. Pass the puck and go hard to the net.
It was a good fast game. They got up 1-0 at start of third and we got a pp goal, then a nice goal from a nzone turnover, they tied it with a pp goal and then we scored another pp goal with just over a minute left and won 3-2. We had a good first and third period and were sloppy in the second.

Fire Black Practice Plan – 11-25-25
Time: 18:00-19:15 Venue: Village Square
Notes: New lines and worked on dzone coverage.

A300 – Moves at Dots and Tight Turns
B2 – Shot-Pass-Shot x 3 x 2 x 2
B6 – 2-0 x 2 Cross Pass x 2 – Finland U20
G – Kaylin Goalies
D2 – Four Station Skills and Games Station
T4 – Defensive Zone Skating
DT400 – Perry Pearn Game Rotation-Defender Sticks Over
C3 1-1 Both Sides – C-D No Sticks
DT100 Continuous 2-1 with D Joining Rush
Team Cheer

Video
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fi3E2EsY8/
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Fire Black Practice Plan-11-27-25
Time: 16:00-17:30 Venue: Henry Viney
Lines: 10 F – 6 D – 2 G

A200 – Vladimir Jursinov – Big Moves Jim lead
A6 – 3 Shots, 3 Zig-zags, 3 Shots
B6 – Machine Gun
D4 – Clear Zone to Attack – Rule-At Least One Scissor
C600 2-1 x 2 – Finish Play – Pro
C3 – 3-0 – 3-1 – 3-2
PP 1 – one end PP 2 other – Switch at 10’
T2-4 – Specialty Team Sequence
Team Cheer
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Busy weekend with three road games vs. Northern Division teams. Roads can be brutal this time of year but the snow held off until later in the night we got back. First 3.5 hours to St. Albert, 45 minutes to Sherwood Park and 2.5 hours to Lloydminster then 6 hours to get home Sunday night.

Overall we played hard and scored a lot but gave up too many scoring chances and goals against. Our mantra is to give up 2 or less goals and score 3 or more. We are outscoring our mistakes right now averaging about 4 GF a game and a little more than 2 GA per game.
10-2-1 so far and we have 3 in the league top ten scoring.

This week at practice we will change up the lines to make them more balanced and work on team and individual defensive skill and continue getting better in all the individual skills like skating, passing, shooting, etc. Better players equal a better team.

We changed the PP and PK with a new PP 2. All of the centres are now on PP1, so we will have the wings and all the D kill penalties. We went over the PP and PK at practice. Everyone now has been on both PP and PK

Bus company moved departure time to Red Deer up an hour. Snow lately but clear out today. Plan is to meet with every player on the bus trip.

Played pretty well vs. Red Deer winning 4-3 and are 11-2-1 so far. They are a very good team that moves the puck and well coached.
We were good 5-5 but didn't score. We allowed a couple of late goals on scrambles when up 4-1 and need to box out and take sticks in our slot. Our specialty teams were really good. Three pp goals, 2×5-4, 1×5-3 and one 4-4 goal. We had new lines with Molly and McKenna moving to centre.
We need to create better angles checking in the neutral zone and prevent attacker walking off the wall in our end. Passing and receiving are improving but still need a lot of work.
The 2012 players are getting used to the speed and size in the league and contributing more each game. This is a key to any success we will have in playoffs. Overall we did a lot of good things.