Reply To: Diary of a Season 2011-12

[Tom Molloy]

I got an official update about what happens in August and will have my first face to face meeting with the other coaches and the administrators next week.

The most effective goalie I had at the college women's level, i.e. the one who played best in big games, has agreed to work with my goalies.

I am also talking with a player I coached last year, who is on the National Team, about being an assistant coach. Her schedule is really tight. It would be great for the girl's to have a model to look up to who has been a NCAA All American and played in the World Championships.
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Agenda for next weeks coach meeting sent to me.

A couple of important dates upcoming:

1) sometime in the next week or so, I need to meet with you and the other coaches to finalize the draft procedures for the upcoming tryouts. I have attached a preliminary doc that we are currently working on. Please review and let me know what questions and suggestions you have. Please note, this is a work in progress so some points may yet be revised.

2) Aug 15-19: GHC s hosting its first ever AAA midget prep camp. We have 2 groups of 22 skates and 4ish goalies that you and the other 2 midget AAA head coaches will be working with on the ice in a conditioning camp format. I have asked all 3 coaches to work together and run the camp. The camp is 1.25 hours long. The idea is to run the girls through drills for the first 50mins and then let them play pond hockey for the remaining time.

3) Aug 22-28: Midget AAA Tryout camp: This will be where you get to sit and watch the girls play to determine who you want to try and draft to be on your team.

4) Aug 29: Midget AAA Draft

5) Aug 30th: First team practice

6) Sept 11: Roster cut day

7) Sept 16: League play begins.
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I still have to call the coach from last years team and ask who he would protect before the draft and get info on the league and how he approached it. Considering he had the top Calgary team and is a former NHL player I am sure he has many worthwhile insights.
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A note concerning Women's Hockey.
Mrs. Snider has donalted 2 million to help develop female hockey. They just oppened a 4 plex that has 3 practice rinks and a 3000 seat arena and female hockey will get priority booking and it will be the home rink of Team Alberta, which replaces the 4 team league I coached in the last two seasons. They will have a permanent dressing room and play 3 game home and home series with the 5 teams in the east. 3 in the Toronto area, 1 in Montreal and 1 in Boston.
The league is trying to work out a deal with the NHL similar to the one the Women's BBall association did with the NBA to help it become viable.

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