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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • OUR CAMPS
    • RESULTS
    • INSTRUCTORS
    • GALLERY
    • LOCATION
  • OUR CAMPS
    • AFTER DINNER CLUB
    • AUGUST power skating Camp
    • Shooting Camp - 2nd Chance
    • Body Checking Camp
    • 6 WEEK CAMP
    • Shooting Camp
    • Backwards Camp - 2nd Chance
    • Backwards Camp
    • Adult Camp
    • FORWARD POSITIONING Camp
    • Defenseman Camp
    • power skating Camp
    • FORWARD HOCKEY SKILLS Camp
    • Tri-Cities Camps >
      • TC - FORWARD POSITIONING Camp
      • TC - Body Checking
    • ALASKA CAMPS >
      • AK - FORWARD POSITIONING Camp
      • AK - Body Checking Camp
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THE RIGHT LENGTH FOR YOUR STICK

3/11/2020

 

What's the correct length of stick for my Athlete?

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What's the correct length of stick for my Athlete?
I get asked a lot by parents what's the correct length of stick for my Athlete?
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While stick length is a preference a few rules should apply. As a general rule of thumb longer sticks are usually used by Defenseman, they are helpful when getting the stick on the puck to eliminate scoring chances. They are also helpful when battling for puck possession in the corners.
Shorter sticks are used generally by playmakers, you will see players who have shorter sticks have quicker hands and puck control a bit more than others.

The Consensus

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The consensus I think is while your Athlete is on their skates the stick should rest between the bottom of their chin to the tip of their nose. This allows about 3 inches of discrepancy and gives them the flexibility to figure where their comfort level is.

The biggest mistake made and one that I see often is parents who are trying to do the right thing, they buy an expensive stick and after spending a lot of hard-earned money on that stick, do not cut it or size it properly therefore not at all allowing the stick to serve its purpose because their afraid their Athletes will outgrow it too soon.
While that is completely understandable, it truly does them a disservice because a stick that is too long affects many skill sets they are working on, the biggest impact it has though is on their skating. You see, the longer the stick the less bend you need in your knees.

Please measure and cut your Athletes stick accordingly.

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Year after year little Jenny or Johnny is brought to me with the same complaint, the parents say they don't bend their knees when they skate. That is indeed the truth but one of the reasons is because bending your knees is tiring, it's taxing on your body, you must build the necessary muscles to be able to stay in hockey stride for any length of time. We do not help them whatsoever by allowing their sticks to be long (eye height or above). With a longer stick, there is no need to bend their knees or practice their skating stride as much, it allows them to straighten up while on the ice and this goes against everything we teach at our camps.

Therefore I'm asking you, parents of Pro Edge 2020, please measure and cut your Athletes stick accordingly.

You have presented them with a wonderful opportunity to improve, please don't handcuff them by leaving their sticks to long. Most hockey shops sell plugs, these are used in the situation that you over cut their stick and need to add 4, 6. 8 inches, they are inexpensive but do a Wonderful job in elongating the life of a stick.

Skate Toward Your Dreams.
As always if you have any questions comments or concerns please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Coach Vaughan Rody


JUMP INTO IT!

3/9/2020

 
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The third period of the hockey season is in full swing, your body is tired, muscles are sore, workouts become more of a mental challenge than a physical one, now is the time to switch some things up to keep activities fresh.

A fantastic cardio exercise, jumping rope or skipping rope is a low impact workout that is awesome for your foot speed, stamina, and agility. It increases your core strength, calves, glutes, all muscles directly used to improve our skating speed and functionality.

Studies have shown us that 10 minutes of jumping rope is the equivalent of 30 minutes of jogging, as well it's a wonderful way to get your muscles moving before you step onto the ice.

If you're serious about improving your game this is a serious exercise that must be brought into your training program. A $10 skipping rope investment is a must for the player looking to gain an edge on their opponent.

Your equipment bag is your toolbox, it holds what you need for work, gloves, helmet, skates are necessities for this trade, so too is a Jump Rope.
​
Skate Toward Your Dreams.
Looking forward to seeing you at camp!
Coach Vaughan Rody

ARE YOU OFF YOUR "ROCKER"?

2/26/2020

 
​We spend an awful lot of money on new skates for either ourselves or our Athletes. Once you have found the skates that fit your budget and personal preference a couple of things have to happen.

The first thing after being properly fitted is the "Rocker" you choose for your blade. The Rocker or Profile is the curve of your blade from heel to toe that touches the ice.
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Hockey player skate profiles can range from 7′ to 13′ rockers with the most popular being 9′ and 11′, while goalie skates are usually around a 28′ rocker. On average only 60% of the blade will be profiled, centered around the balance point of the skate, which can be placed in the center of the blade or also altered towards the toe or heel of the blade as well for different skating styles. The very front 20% of the skate blade on the toe and very back 20% on the heel are much more rounded to allow for proper starts, stops, and full skating stride extension.
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BALANCING POINT & PROFILE

The Center point of your blade is the Balance point of your skate and knowing this allows you the opportunity to change that point to benefit your skating stride.

Changing this balance point will pitch or feel as your leaning forward if you move it back or have you sit down in your skates if you move the balance point up.

A skater who is leaning forward more will have an increased knee bend, more agility, and quicker acceleration, the downfall is your muscles will tire faster. A forward or puck-moving defenseman would benefit from this Rocker. Contrary as well the movement of your rocker up your blade might benefit the stay at home Defenseman as it keeps you seated in your blades.
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Over time and sharpenings your Rocker will move this will happen because the individuals sharpening your skates are grinding the blade down too much, be aware of this and maintain your Rocker at your preference.

Competitive Edge, always!

2/20/2020

 
Competition makes us better, that is what you always hear, it creates more skill, makes you harder to play against, allows you to make plays in pressure situations. 

Let's take it one step further and discuss what one of if not the most important attributes of being a Great Athlete is....and that is being Ultra Competitive in sport and life.

Great athletes are competitive, make no mistake but they don't just like to win, more importantly, they HATE to lose. 

You see everyone likes to win, it's fun, you feel good being on a winning team, your coach is happy, teammates are happy, Mom and Dad are happy, you might get an ice cream...heck you might even be presented with a trophy, ok, who are we kidding, everyone gets a trophy nowadays, even if you didn't win. 

Now that takes me to my next point, being competitive means HATING to lose or even finish second, it gnaws at you, it drives you to practice or play harder next time. It makes you train harder or longer at the gym, it causes you sometimes to have a restless night. 
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"We always sit with each other, and he has to win," Fleury once said of Sidney Crosby, arguably the best NHL's best player for the last 10 years. "At anything. Throwing a ball of tape at the garbage can. He wants to win that and if he doesn't, he wants to play another game. Fleury joked that "sometimes, it gets annoying," Fleury learned long ago that he shouldn't take Crosby's fierce desire to win personally, after all, it's not only about video games, training camp scrimmages or who can fling a wadded-up piece of tape most accurately. Put Crosby in any setting in which a score is kept or a winner can be determined by any means, and he'll respond the same way. "He doesn't like to lose ... at anything, really," winger Beau Bennett said. "All the best players really have that in common, that competitive edge. Not just in hockey, but whatever they do, they want to win. "Even when we have a three-on-three game and say his team is down or something, we'll take it from a best-of-three to a best-of-five". Crosby's competitive ferocity can't be quantified, but probably contributes as much to his on-ice accomplishments as his exceptional hand skills, instincts, and conditioning. What's more, teammates say, his attitude can go viral. "It pushes everybody else in the room to play hard, in practice or in games" Fluery once said. Crosby said he isn't sure precisely when he realized the passion to compete had consumed him but vows that it's not a trait he plans to shed. "As you get older, you realize that some people shake stuff off a little easier than others," he said. "I just didn't like to lose at all. I didn't really accept that."I'm not saying that it's not going to happen, but I'm definitely going to do everything I can to avoid it".

While there are many attributes that makeup greatness and all of them are important I would argue that the most important one is the will to not lose.

BE EXTRAORDINARY

Looking forward to seeing you at camp!
Coach Vaughan Rody

BE EXTRAORDINARY!

EMOTIONAL GOALS

11/9/2018

 
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​They are an important part of every athlete's make up.

Emotions are both good and bad but they are controllable by you.

Great athletes use Emotions as motivation to improve, whether it be skating, fitness or your shot, improving your skill means improving one's self. Improvement does not come easy, it requires work, which pushes one out of their comfort zone. Pushing your effort out of your comfort zone puts you in an uncomfortable position. We at times get complacent, we are happy when we make a team, are on the second line, are a top 4 D man pairing, Great athletes aren't satisfied with that, they challenge themselves to improve, they strive for being the best and they work to become the first line player or the top D man pairing or the starting goalie.

Failing to manage your emotions can and will lead you nowhere. Allowing them to control you will lead to reckless play, playing out of position, not allowing you to focus on your responsibilities, that will lead you to lose your Coaches trust, your teammates may think you to be selfish and most importantly it shows a lack of maturity that is unacceptable in a team sport.

Proper emotional management though allows you to stay the course, see the big picture of what you and the team are trying to accomplish and focus on acting and not reacting to situational things happening in the game.

Ask Yourself 2 Important Questions:

  1. Do my emotions make me apologize for my actions?
  2. Do I look for instant revenge when I feel a call has been missed on me or an opponent has gotten the best of me?
If you answered yes to either of these 2 questions you may need to focus on controlling your emotions which starts with a little self-control, self-control leads to self-discipline and self-discipline leads in most cases to successful goals.
When you are in control of your Emotions you will turn them into Goals both on and off the ice.

Sincerely, Coach Vaughan Rody
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Payment POLICY for CAMPS: All funds paid towards Pro Edge Skating & Hockey Skills Camps will be reimbursed if requested in writing 31 days prior to camps commencement minus a $100.00 fee for account management. No monetary refunds of any kind will be permitted under any circumstances 30 days prior to camp commencement. Pro Edge will though allow the funds paid to be used toward another Camp selection at a later date.
*All days and sessions are at the availability ice and are subject to change