Puskar Hockey

We start week two today July 19th with much excitement here at the Rock.  Our first ever summer camp is going great.  Not that we have not done this before   We had 15 kids in our first week and have 20 kids this week participating.  In addition to our instructive drills the kids are getting, we’ve been mixing in “small area” games throughout the day.  The kids are all working hard while having fun.  I’m with the kids each day making sure everything is going well.  Wacky Wednesday is hilarious!  You have to be here to see what it’s all about.  Think about doing a week this summer.

Another good skate for the group this week.  Following a power skating focused set of drills and a fast puck moving passing drill the group was ready to get the game started.  And how can they top last week’s shootout game?  Have another game go down to a shootout with one brother against the other winner take all.  What a game?  The Dark team jumped out to a 4-1 lead at the midway point then the White team came all the way back to take a 5-4 lead with just under 5 minutes remaining in the game.  Team Dark pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker and ended up scoring with less than a minute to go.  The game went into a 3 man shootout and saw Team White score the first goal.  Both goalies stopped the next shots taken and it came down to the Home Dark having to score a goal to extend the shootout or lose the game with a save.  Can you believe it was between brothers in this one?  Big brother skated down looking to score top shelf like he did to tie the game in the third period but little brother stoned his older sibling to seal the victory.  The White team all jumped out onto the ice to mob its goaltender as Team Dark stood shocked at the other end of the ice.  Remember the Russians in 1980 with their chins on their buttends watching the Americans celebrate?  That was the scene at the Rock Ice Center this past Tuesday night.  Team Dark just cannot get the victory.  Word around the water cooler is they may look to replace their coach…

Well the summer session of our popular Adult Instructional Clinic it taking off just as fast as it finished up its spring session.  If you can remember the final game had the outcome determined by a shootout.  Well last night’s game in week two of our summer long session was a back and forth contest featuring a mix of some young legs and several veteran performers.  This mix created an exciting game following a hard power skate focusing on inside edges, stops/starts and backwards skating.  A fast paced 2 on 1 odd rush drill was worked in as well.  In the game the younger “white” team had a one goal lead with under a minute remaining.  Team “dark” pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker.  The excitement picked up ten fold!  “Dark” had two breakaways in the final minute and stoned both times by a goaltender who has 3 months playing experience.  Team “white” won the game 6-5 but its under protest.  Protest??  Yes, during the game a member of team “dark” was awarded a penalty shot.  During his approach he took a high hard wrister to the shoulder of the goaltender which at that time the referee blew his whistle.  Well, the puck jumped into the air after hitting his shoulder then landed behind the goalie and the momentum of the puck slid into the empty net.  The ref indicated he blew the whistle so no goal.  Bad break for team “dark” but a great game never the less.  Each Tuesday night, 8pm Adult Instructional Clinic at the ROCK.

Wow, what a night our Adult Instructional Clinic players had last night in the final skate for the spring session.  The Big Game had a 10 minute warm-up with nothing but Rock music cranking the Rock Ice Center.  The ref dropped the puck and away they went.  Game was tied 6-6 after regulation and went to a shootout.  White scored first and it came down to the home Dark team to tie the game or wait till next season and the White goaltender shut down “Skate Guard Stevie” to win it.  The white team piled on its winning goaltender as team Dark stood leaning on their respective sticks in disarray.  What a way to finish the season.  Next weeks starts our Summer Adult Instructional Clinic and at a new start time of 8PM.  Spaces still available.  Get in on the fun.

Well, it had to happen.  One of the teams exploded for 6 goals last night, passed the puck like seasoned veterans and made the game look easy.  The past two weeks were dominated by the two goaltenders.  Last night saw several players take the next step in their hockey development and play like “real” hockey players.  It was good to see.  Keep up the good work guys.  The “clinic” portion must be working…

Strong goaltending seems to be the theme the first two weeks in the “game” portion of the Adult Instructional Clinic here at Rock Ice Center.  Last night saw both goaltenders shut down potential goals being scored by way of respective penalty shots.  The game opened with the dark team scoring early in the first period only to have the white team score three unanswered in the second.  Both teams scored one each in the third and the game ended 4-2.  One of the comments (excuses)  in the Rock Ice Cafe following the game was that  Coach Puskar works the players too hard the first 30 minutes during the “clinic” portion of the night thus players just don’t have the legs to compete.  All the inside edge, outside edge, tight turns, forward and backward skating drills were heavily covered last night sending one player  to the showers early with a sick stomach.   A grinning Puskar simply comments, “I’m just doing my job”.   A fun night and great workout for all.  Thanks for giving 100% effort guys.