Reply To: Game Sense, Play Reading

[Tom Molloy]

I remember HNIC had a show with a lot of players from the Oilers during their dynasty. Messier, Anderson, Coffey, Gretzky and I think it was Ron McLean but maybe someone else. They were sitting at a big table and having a few barley pops and just talking.

Messier asked Gretzky why he seemed to be able to see the play better than anyone and appeared to know what was going to happen before it did. Gretzky thought for awhile and said somehting like this.
'When I was a kid I scored one goal my first year. The next season I scored something like 230. After I scored that one goal my dad and I were at the breakfast table and he asked me "Wayne where were all of the players when you scored that goal?" I didn't know but he took the cups, the salt and pepper shakers and everything else on the table and showed me where everyone was and why I scored that goal. The next year we went over every goal the same way and I think that is why I started to look where everyone was and learned to recongnize what play would work in which situation.

I wish I could find that video. I think there is a lot to learn from it.

Dean did I give you 2 dvd's. I know I burned 2 of the NHL practices and it is driving me mental that I can't find one. I have attached a picture to show you the Duff beer bottle I brought back from Salzburg.

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