Hockey Culture, Rankings & The Bigger Picture
The hockey jacket controversy wasn’t really about jackets. A hockey mom on what it reveals [...]
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Rink Reviews
Two sheets, two food options, parking under the building, and a Wesco sister store with [...]
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Athlete: Warm-Up
Controlled movement to get game-ready. Do it in the hallway, in gear if you have [...]
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Athlete: Warm-Up
Joint stability from the ground up. The one that keeps you out of the trainer's [...]
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Athlete: Warm-Up
Deep core plus dynamic mobility. Where balance on the ice actually comes from.
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Youth hockey tryouts in Fairfield County reveal something fascinating every year. Parents become anxious, conversations become tense, and behaviors sometimes emerge that seem… out of character. Which raises a strange question. Why are parents so emotionally invested in something they are not actually participating in? The players are the ones trying out. Not the parents. […]
A lighthearted guide to surviving hockey tryout season If anxious energy could be measured with a thermometer, Fairfield County would be in the middle of a heat wave. It’s hockey tryout season. The nervous chatter. The heightened gossip. The speculative “I heard they’re taking six forwards from the A team…” All hallmarks of tryout uncertainty. […]
This post is the origin story behind why Grit Kore exists. For the current free program, resources, and how to join, visit the Grit Kore Project page. In today’s high-pressure youth sports environment, mental toughness and emotional resilience are often left behind in the race for rankings, trophies, and scholarships. But what if we could […]
Some players bring fire every shift; others skate flat. Why? It often comes down to passion, and that’s built not just on love for the game, but on the security to risk failure. Parents can help by focusing less on stats, and more on connection. As a coach and a curious observer, I’m often standing […]
Hey hockey‑parents, this week let’s talk about: “The Ever‑Shrinking Grit Score.” I promise it’s relevant to your rink‑runs, drive times, and weekend tournament wars. Let’s lace up. We used to talk about grit like it was baked into the game, into life. You earned it through sweat, setbacks, and showing up when nobody else wanted […]
Let me hit you with something simple, but powerful: The Passion Score. It’s a concept that’s become a bit of a compass for me when I’m talking with parents or watching our young athletes grow. Here’s the formula: Multiply by 100 if you want to get fancy with a percentage. If that number is below […]
Growing up in locker rooms, playing ice hockey and rugby, I learned that games are won less by isolated brilliance than by habits repeated and plays executed seamlessly across the whole team. More recently, after my day job in finance, I spent evenings and weekends coaching youth hockey across all ages and abilities. I began […]