Reply To: Articles

[Tom Molloy]

Unti about 12-14, in the Golden Years of Development, before puberty the kid's should play as many sports as possible but after that they need to play as much hockey with good players and great coaching if they want to be elite. This isn't theory but my experience. Still play other sports but focus on hockey.

All of the players I know who are now playing pro played spring hockey. I can think of 2 NHL, one Hobey Baker winner and two minor leaguers all born in 85 who played spring hockey. An 81 NHLer and his 84 brother who is playing in Europe also.

These are ones I have coached. I encouraged them to play baseball, lacrosse, soccer as well and some did.

Just like learning the violin, you need to put in the hours with good coaching and sometimes the only good coaching they get is on spring teams. My grandson has one of my former university players who played in Europe and is a PE teacher coaching the spring group he is with and he runs a terrific program. Much better than the volunteer during the season who gave a lot of effort but didn't have the expertise.

So we should be careful how high and mighty we get looking back to the 'good old days'. Hockey is now an indoor game and kid's don't play it very much without coaches around. That is our 'New Reality' and if you want to become an elite your best chance is to play on teams with better coaching in the spring.

'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'