NEW YORK, N.Y. - Richard Bachman's second NHL win was hardly routine. It's not often a goalie has more open-ice hits than goals allowed.

The Dallas Stars newcomer followed up a victory in his first start with a 34-save effort in a 1-0 win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.

Bachman wasn't beaten by any pucks, and he even earned a tie in a race for one in the first period, when he sped out of his crease in a chase for a loose puck in the left circle. The goalie arrived at the same time as onrushing Rangers forward Carl Hagelin and collided with him.

Hagelin was sent off for charging, Bachman shook off the hit and went on to a flawless performance.

"You kind of expect to get hit, but I didn't expect my helmet to fly off, and I am sure that made it look a lot worse than it was," said the 24-year-old goalie from Salt Lake City. "No way do I blame him for hitting me. I came out and we both kind of got to the puck at the same time, and that's what happens."

No one could have predicted that would be the keynote play in the game until defenceman Trevor Daley broke the deadlock with just 4:59 left.

Since being recalled from the Texas Stars on Nov. 27, Bachman has played in three games — the past three on Dallas' schedule. After stopping all 11 shots he faced in a one-period relief appearance at San Jose last Thursday, Bachman made 27 saves in a 2-1 victory at Los Angeles on Saturday.

Two starts, two wins, one goal against.

"I don't think it really has sunk in quite yet," Bachman said. "As the game goes on and stuff, I tried just to settle in and not think too much about what was going on and the score and where I was playing.

"When you look back and think about the game we just had and the win, it's pretty exciting."

It seemed neither team would break through, as few scoring chances were generated during the slogfest that included multiple whistles for icing and offsides. But Daley finally found the net, finishing off a give-and-go play with Mike Ribeiro in the closing minutes.

Henrik Lundqvist was the hard-luck loser despite making 27 saves and shaking off a second-period injury. The Rangers lost for only the third time in 10 games (7-2-1). It was a disappointing finish forBrad Richards, who played his first game against the Stars since he signed a US$60 million, nine-year deal with the Rangers in July.

After defenceman Jeff Woywitka turned over the puck in the New York zone, Daley fed the puck to Ribeiro, took a return pass from him and streaked down the middle to beat Lundqvist from in close for his third goal this season.

"I tried to stay patient," Lundqvist said. "He kind of went side to side a couple of times, and Daley finally threw it between my pads. I probably could've played it differently and made the save. It's frustrating not to come with any points."

That was all the offence Dallas needed to win for the fourth time in six games.

New York went 0-for-4 on the power play, including two chances in the third period — one after Dallas took the lead — and was shut out for the third time this season.

"This is a grind game," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. "We just wanted to make sure we utilized their bench a little bit and kept the game in the trenches so we could give ourselves a chance on the road."

The Rangers received a major scare in the second period when Lundqvist was felled by a drive from Stars defenceman Sheldon Souray, who is known to have one of the NHL's hardest slap shots.

Souray wound up from above the left circle and sent a sizzling shot that struck the New York goalie in the area of his left collarbone as he jumped in anticipation of the impact. He managed to stay in the play for a few seconds until the puck was frozen, and then crumpled forward while leaning on his knees. After flexing his left arm while being attended to by a trainer, Lundqvist got back up on his skates and remained in the game.

He skated to the bench for television timeouts later in the period, but appeared to only drink from a water bottle and not receive any more medical attention.

The Rangers nearly broke the deadlock late in the second when defenceman Ryan McDonagh fired a drive while New York was short-handed, but Bachman turned it aside.

An uneventful first period, in which each team recorded eight fruitless shots, was highlighted by the collision between Hagelin and Bachman. The crash, that also included Dallas defenceman Alex Goligoski, resulted in a questionable penalty for charging.

Rangers coach John Tortorella vociferously protested from the bench, and said after the game he told Hagelin to do the same thing if the opportunity arose again.

"The goalie came out 20 feet," Tortorella said. "Sometimes they feel they have to call something. It should've been a non-call."

NOTES: The Stars have scored 14 of their 27 third-period goals in the final 10 minutes and are 10-1-1 when scoring in the last 10 minutes. ... Richards played in his 800th NHL game. Dallas LW Loui Eriksson suited up for his 400th. ... The Stars are three games into the trip that began with two games in California. The trip, that will conclude with games against the New York Islanders andNew Jersey Devils, will cover over 6,500 miles. The last time the Stars went from the Pacific to Eastern time zone on one trip was in December 2009. ... The Rangers (17-7-4) are tied for the fewest regulation losses in the NHL. ... New York has killed 16 consecutive power plays over four games.

Texas A & M has the "12th Man," Notre Dame has the legend of "Rudy" and the University of Denver hockey team has Zack Hope (5'7" 145 lbs.).

Hope, a Junior at the University of Denver, watched DU hockey games in the stands as a fan last season, never imagining that one day he would be playing for the seven-time national champion Pioneers.  This time last year he was staying fit by playing on the University of Denver club rugby team.

This weekend Zack Hope will be in Boston backing up Adam Murray, while two other DU goaltenders, Sam Brittain and Juno Olkinuora, stay home in Denver and watch the games on TV.  Brittain is rehabbing a knee injury and Olkinuora is serving a three game NCAA mandated suspension for playing in a semi-professional Finnish hockey league several years ago.

But the story may not end there.  Adam Murray, DU's starting goaltender this weekend, is not 100%, and there is an ever so slim chance that Hope could see action this weekend against the #1 ranked Boston College Eagles or five-time national champion Boston University Terriers.

Mike Chambers Blog has details on Murray's injury and why the DU coaching staff may not have slept too well over the weekend.  Murray practiced on Monday, but he didn't go through his normal practice routine and the coaching staff kept his workload lighter than usual.

Which brings us back to Zack Hope.  He played four years of Prep School Hockey at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  And he did see five minutes of exhibition action last Friday night against the U.S. National Development team, while facing no shots in mop-up duty.

The Zack Hope Saga continues on Friday night in Boston against BC. The game will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network at 5:30 PM MT.

This offseason, the Admirals Hockey Club hired Stu Gould as its new Hockey Director. Stu is a well known figure in the hockey world as the founder of the Good as Gould goalie schools. Stu has dedicated 27 years to Illinois youth hockey and the development of its players. In addition to his Goalie School, Stu has held coaching positions with the Chicago Steel and Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL , New Trier High School, and several youth hockey clubs. In addition to his Hockey Director and coaching duties at the Admirals, Stu is currently the Assistant Coach and Goalie Coach for the Loyola Academy Varsity Boys Hockey Team.

In its five seasons of existence the Admirals Hockey Club has always placed its focus on the development of individual skills and a love for the game of hockey. Stu's leadership will allow that focus to expand further to excellence in goaltending and the building of teams from the net out.

The Admirals will be bringing a core competency approach to the skill development program whereby each player will be individually tracked through the skill acquisition process as they move from pre-hockey
through Midget.

At the Admirals, players can expect to not just exhibit their strengths but also address and improve their weaknesses, ensuring that they are always ready for the next appropriate step in their development. "Stu brings a level of enthusiasm and experience that matches the love of the game seen in our membership. I am excited to see what the addition of Stu will bring to the development of our players," Jeff Schoner, President of the Admirals Hockey Club.

The Admirals field teams in both the NWHL and NIHL. The total team count at the Admirals has grown from 2 in year one to 18 in 2010. In addition to these teams, the Admirals also have a Mighty Mite house program for players under 8 who are new to the game. This house
program had 8 in-house teams in 2010. The Mighty Mite program is fed by the Admirals Pre-Hockey Skills Program which is available to all new hockey players 8 and under and provides free "try it" sessions on a regular basis for parents who want to stick a toe in the pool prior to making a commitment.

As hockey grows within Illinois it is critical that entry points to the game are provided outside of the usual Pre- Hockey to Mighty Mite to Mite and beyond progression. Our game is seeing an increase in the addition of new players above the Mite level. For several seasons the Admirals Hockey Club has offered a No-Check House League for 9 and over players new to the game and has been successful in moving these new players on to NWHL and NIHL teams at every level after a period of
time.

With Stu at the helm, the Admirals will continue to provide a fun introduction to the game for all players, regardless of their age and skill level.

"I am thrilled to be at the Admirals and believe that the entire Club can take our programs to all new heights in the coming years.

We will build our success on the skill development of our own players and provide them unrivaled access to the best programs and coaches we can.

The Admirals will be home for any hockey player that wants to get better in an environment that emphasizes the fun of the game in a great family atmosphere. And I will do everything I can to make this the best destination in the state for goaltenders at every level who want to anchor our teams and take their game to the next level." Stu Gould, new Hockey Director at the Admirals Hockey Club.

For information about the Admirals Hockey Club program, including tryout and evaluation dates please go to www.AdmiralsHockeyClub.com or call Stu Gould at (630)790-0292.

The Admirals Hockey Club is based at Center Ice of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

It’s a steamy late-summer day outside, but inside Seven Bridges Ice Arena in west suburban Woodridge, it’s freezing.

Hockey parents are bundled up in the stands, watching their 8- to 12-year-olds bundled up on the ice in head-to-toe protective gear as they finish their first day of goalie camp.

In two decades of coaching hockey, camp director Stu Gould has seen plenty of concussions. He said the helmet is one part of the sports budget parents shouldn’t skimp on — and not just because he sells $1,400 custom masks of his own.

“It’s your head, for God’s sake,” Gould said.

Jennifer Crowley of Lombard has twin 8-year-old sons, Aaron and Patrick, who both play hockey. She said she got them to wear mouth guards by giving them a lecture about concussions.

“I said, ‘They don’t care about your teeth. They care about your head, because if your teeth get knocked together, you can get a concussion,’” she said.

She waited outside the locker room with fellow hockey parent Jon Grant, also of Lombard. His son Stone, 9, is a goalie, and Lars, 8, is a forward. Grant sustained a couple of concussions playing football when he was younger.

“That’s why I don’t let my kids play football,” he said.

Concussions — brain injuries from a bump, blow or jolt to the head — can occur in any recreational activity, even sports considered non-contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And complications can occur in both the short-term and long-term, including headaches, dizziness, mood changes and death.

The CDC’s national concussion awareness campaign encourages athletes to report any head injury because all concussions are serious — and not to let themselves, coaches or parents pressure them into returning to the game before they’re ready.

Illinois and Indiana are among 21 states that set stringent concussion rules for student athletes. Signed in July, Illinois’ concussion law says:

School boards must work with the Illinois High School Association to develop guidelines to educate coaches, student athletes and parents of the nature and risk of concussions.

Students and parents must sign a concussion information sheet and return it prior to practice or competition.

School boards must adopt a policy requiring a student athlete with a suspected concussion or head injury to be removed from the practice or game at that time.

Student athletes removed from play cannot return until after evaluation and written clearance by a health care provider.

Tim McManus, a licensed clinical psychologist with the Ingalls Concussion Program in south suburban Harvey, said the law is a good start. He recommends that all student athletes get a baseline neurological test along with their annual sports physical. It offers an accurate picture of normal brain function so the student can be better evaluated in case of a concussion.

Dr. Michael Terry, orthopedic surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and team physician for Northwestern University athletics, said the law’s education part is key.

“I love high school football and what it has to offer and what it teaches our kids,” he said. “I don’t want people avoiding sports, but I hope that they get actively involved in their kid’s athletic career. I hope they focus on educating themselves and keeping their kids safe.”

Submitted by: David J. Laliberte, MSS, MA - Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association

Abstract

Cutting-edge technologies and space-age synthetics are dramatically recreating ice hockey sticks today. But how does current scholarship view these high-priced innovations, particularly during performance of the slap shot, hockey’s most explosive maneuver? This literature review on both slap shot biomechanics and technological developments in ice hockey sticks suggests that player technique and strength exert much greater influence on slap shot puck velocity than does stick composition. Moreover, this study illuminates how stick flexibility, rather than composition, should be the key mechanical consideration in stick selection, since highly flexible sticks can enhance both stick deflection and strain energy storage, two important variables in the velocity of slap shots.

Biomechanics of Ice Hockey Slap Shots: Which Stick Is Best?

At its historical core, hockey is a game rooted in the natural environment. First played on the frozen lakes and rivers of upper North America, ice hockey—begun as the Native American game of shinny—featured carved wooden poles as sticks and hand-sewn fabrics as balls (Oxendine, 1988). As Europeans took up the game, they applied their technologies to this traditional equipment, gradually yet substantially changing the hockey stick by constructing it out of multiple pieces of wood, curving the stick blade, and wrapping the stick in fiberglass and laminate plastics to increase its durability and performance (Pearsall, Montgomery, Rothsching, & Turcotte, 1999).

Now, however, burgeoning technologies are virtually recreating hockey sticks with each passing day. Wood sticks, once the paragon of the sport, have largely been replaced by high-tech—and high-priced—graphite and composite models. Because of the seeming popularity of these “one-piece” composite sticks amongst professional players, hordes of youth and high-school-age hockey participants are now outfitting themselves with these technological marvels, much to the delight of proliferating hockey equipment companies. Certainly, the need for scholarly research on hockey technology has never been greater: Thousands of participants in the sport stand to benefit from a deeper understanding of the new developments in hockey stick technology.

This paper, then, provides a scholarly education on hockey sticks, both by analyzing the biomechanics of ice hockey shooting and by investigating the extant literature on hockey stick research. In particular, this essay explores the implications of stick technologies and biomechanics for the hockey slap shot, presenting the stick selections and key bodily mechanics that stand to enhance performance of this complex and critical hockey skill.

Slap Shot Mechanics

The Slap Shot’s Six Phases

A variety of scholars have explored the biomechanical aspects of ice hockey, with studies centering primarily around skating (Bracko, 2004; De Koning & Van Ingen Schenau, 2000) and shooting (Doré & Roy, 1978; Hache, 2002; Pearsall, Turcotte, & Murphy, 2000; Roy & Doré, 1976). Of these, several studies have analyzed the mechanics involved in various types of hockey shots, including the wrist, snap, slap, and backhand shots, performed both while stationary and when skating (Carr, 2004, p. 42; Doré & Roy, 1976, 1978; Hache, 2002, p. 84; Alexander, 1964, cited in Pearsall et al., 2000, p. 689; Cotton, 1966, cited in Pearsall et al., 2000, p. 689; Furlong, 1968, cited in Pearsall et al., 2000, p. 689). The slap shot in particular has garnered much scholarly attention, with researchers dividing the shot into six distinct phases: backswing, downswing, preloading, loading, release, and follow-through (Pearsall et al., 1999; Villasenor, Turcotte, & Pearsall, 2006). Three of the six—the preloading, loading, and release phases—concern the mechanical behaviors exhibited by the stick after its contact with the ice surface. This blade-ice contact time has been the intense focus of the majority of researchers investigating the hockey slap shot.

Blade Orientation

Past studies have uncovered several key differences between elite and novice performers of this critical blade-ice contact portion of the slap shot. For example, researchers have cited the orientation of the stick blade during its contact with the ice as an element differentiating elite from recreational performers. For instance, in their study of 15 college-age hockey players, Lomond, Turcotte, and Pearsall (2007) reported that experts tended to demonstrate a unique blade orientation whereby on contact with the ice, the stick blade was tilted forward (or cupped) more than recreational players’ sticks. In addition, Lomond et al. described a distinctive “rocker” component between the loading and release phases of the shot, during which the cupped stick blade almost instantaneously tilted perpendicular to the ice, infusing the puck with additional kinetic energy generated from the slight recoil of the stick blade itself. The authors noted this “rocker” component in the slap shot execution of all subjects in their study, both elite and recreational; blade “rocker” would seem, then, to be a component of slap shots in general. The Lomond et al. report does, however, emphasize the importance of the more tilted blade orientation demonstrated by expert players, a finding corroborated by greater puck velocities during their slap shots (Lomond et al., 2007).

Hand Position

In addition, researchers have cited player hand position as a distinguishing factor in expert slap shot performance. Wu and colleagues, studying male and female collegiate hockey players, noted that a lowered bottom hand, even past the midpoint of the shaft, generated additional stick bend and thus more strain energy, resulting in greater puck velocities (Wu et al., 2003); work of Canadian physicist and hockey enthusiast Alain Hache has seconded these mechanical benefits (Hache, 2002, p. 88). Thus, while it remains unquantified for now, some contribution to force generation in the hockey slap shot seems to result from a low bottom-hand grip on the stick, even past the shaft midpoint.

Impulse Duration

Beyond blade orientation and hand position, two additional factors likely play considerable roles in determining slap shot velocity. The first of these significant contributors is impulse duration, or the force applied to an object over time, the elongation of which increases the transfer of force to an object (Carr, 2004, p. 38). Carr cites the “whiplike” effect of a kinetic chain—a progressive increase in velocity from the most massive to the least massive body parts—as one key technique that allows for a lengthened application of impulse which imparts greater force to the struck object (2004, p. 39). Hockey players employ this “whiplike” technique in a slap shot by rotating the torso, the shoulders, the biceps, and the forearms in sequence, elongating the duration of stick blade contact with the puck. This extended impulse duration has been noted as a primary factor in heightened velocities of hockey slap, wrist, and backhand shots (Roy & Doré, 1976).

Further, Villasenor, Turcotte, and Pearsall (2006) found that among 20- to 30-year-old male slap shot performers, both expert and recreational, the longer the blade contacted the puck, the greater the final puck velocity. Moreover, all elite players in the study demonstrated longer blade-puck contact time than their nonelite counterparts (an average 38 ms for elite players vs. an average 27 ms for nonelite players), corresponding to substantially greater slap shot velocities for experts than for novices (averaging 120 km/h for elite players vs. 80.3 km/h for nonelite players) (Villasenor et al., 2006). Clearly, extending the blade’s contact time with the puck provides an advantage for players seeking greater slap shot velocity.

Stick Bending

A final (and perhaps most important) area contributing to the speed of slap shots is the bending of the stick’s shaft, which begins when the stick blade contacts the ice and lasts through the recoil of the stick just before a player’s follow-through. Hockey scientists David Pearsall, Rene Turcotte, and Stephen Murphy have gone so far as to attribute 40% to 50% of final slap shot velocity to the amount of deflection, or bending, in the stick shaft (Pearsall et al., 2000, p. 690), and photographs in Alain Hache’s Physics of Hockey attest to the considerable stick bend generated by contemporary National Hockey League players (Hache, 2002).

In exploring the stick-bending phenomenon, Villasenor et al. (2006) determined that several crucial relationships exist between stick bending and increased slap shot velocities. First, they noted that elite hockey performers initiated stick bending at the instant of, or shortly before, first contact with the puck, whereas recreational players commenced stick bending after contacting the puck and fully halfway through their stick blade’s contact time with the ice. Expert players also spent a greater percentage (28.8%) of the ice-stick blade contact window bending the stick, in comparison to their nonexpert counterparts (18.2%). Finally, elite performers employed a lower “kick point”—or area of maximum deflection—along the stick shaft than less skilled players did, which has spurred current hockey stick companies to engineer composite sticks designed to lower this spot of maximum bend (Hache, 2002, p. 95). Overall, Villasenor et al. describe a “strong relationship” between final puck velocity and maximum angle of stick deflection, underlining the importance to hockey athletes of initiating considerable stick bend during their slap shots (Villasenor et al., 2006). Alongside blade orientation, hand position, and impulse duration, stick bending contributes to the multiplicity of mechanical factors generated by the player during the performance of this most forceful of hockey skills.

Stick Composition

Beyond each hockey player’s individual slap shot technique, an additional facet of the shot remains variable: the stick. With the onslaught of new hockey technologies over the past decade, no shortage of stick options exists. Whereas hockey sticks were once constructed almost exclusively out of Rock elm, then in the 1990s from aluminum for the shaft and wood for the blade, 21st-century trends now incorporate space-age composite materials like graphite, Kevlar, and carbon in hockey stick design (Sports Materials, 2005; Hache, 2002; Marino, 1998; Pearsall et al., 1999; Wu et al., 2003). Technological advancement, however, has not come without cost, both in monetary terms (most composite sticks retail for at least $100, compared to $40 for a wood stick) and in reduced sensitivity for puckhandling (“feel”) attributed to composite sticks (Barpanda, 1998; Hache, 2002, p. 94; Hove, 2004; Marino, 1998). Nevertheless, today’s hockey players largely face three distinct stick options: an all-wood stick, a stick with a composite shaft and wood blade, or a fully composite stick. The remainder of this paper explores mechanical differences that can be discerned among these construction types during the performance of hockey slap shots.

Stick Construction Materials’ Role in Shot Velocity

Key to enhancing slap shot velocity is maximizing strain energy stored in and released from the hockey stick. Indeed, the current revolutions in hockey stick materials are efforts to capitalize on this mechanical principle. Several scholars have recently studied the effect of hockey stick composition on slap shot velocities, yielding intriguing and somewhat unexpected results. In a study of wood, graphite, and aluminum stick constructions and their role in slap shot velocity, for instance, Wu et al. found that puck velocity was influenced not by stick type but by player skill level and overall body strength. Although the authors reported stick bend to be a key factor in force generation during a slap shot, they attributed any significant differences in stick bend (and therefore puck speed) to the athlete’s bottom hand placement rather than to differences in stick composition (Wu et al., 2003).

Analyzing synthetic-shaft sticks in slap shots performed by varsity high school players, Rothsching found that, although relatively flexible sticks achieved the greatest puck velocities overall, “substantial variation between subjects occurred, emphasizing the greater importance of player technique and strength” (1997, cited in Pearsall et al., 2000, p. 691). Similarly, in an experiment with identical models of wood sticks with laminate shafts, Villasenor et al. (2006) found that stick deflection angles and subsequent puck velocities were significantly higher for elite versus recreational players, indicating that slap shot speeds generated by identically constructed sticks vary greatly from athlete to athlete. To date, then, and contrary to much conventional belief, scholars have not linked any particular stick material to increased slap shot velocity. Rather, what has surfaced from research reports is the clear primacy of the athlete’s variables—technique and strength—over any differences in stick composition.

Stick Stiffness and Flexibility

Beyond the individual athlete’s overriding influence on slap shot speeds, what has also emerged from recent scholarly investigations is the notion that stick flexibility, not stick composition, is of primary concern. In fact, several slap shot studies involving both wood and composite sticks demonstrate the influence of stick flexibility on shooting velocity. For instance, in a study of composite sticks exhibiting eight different stiffness levels (from “low” to “pro-stiff”), Worobets, Fairbairn, and Stefanyshyn (2006) found that in wrist shots, highly flexible sticks stored the most strain energy during the loading phase. Complicating matters, however, are the authors’ conclusions that the benefits of utilizing a flexible stick did not extend to slap shots, where “it is the athlete and not the equipment influencing shot speed” (p. 191). With this conclusion, Worobets et al. issue hockey players a strong reminder of the primacy of their own performance over any technological innovations in hockey sticks.

In a related investigation, Pearsall et al. (1999) explored slap shot velocities generated by four different “flexes” of carbon-fiber composite shafts with wood blades. The authors reported that, for each of the 6 college- and professional-level hockey player subjects, puck velocities were highest with the least stiff stick (“medium flex”); conversely, puck velocities were lowest when the subjects used the “extra stiff flex” stick. A “significant advantage” for puck velocity during slap shots was attributed to those hockey sticks with less shaft stiffness (p. 9). Qualifying such positive language, however, the authors also noted that variability in shooting velocity across subjects was greater than variability across shaft stiffness, concluding that “the subjects themselves are perhaps more important in determining slap shot velocity than the stick characteristics” (p. 10).

Finally, exploring slap shot velocities produced by 11-year-olds utilizing wood sticks of two different stiffness levels, Roy and Doré (1976) found that using the more flexible stick produced slightly higher slap shot speeds (56.8 km/h) than did using the stiffer model (54.4 km/h). The results prompted the authors to advise flexible sticks for use by younger players, since with flexible sticks, “lower forces are required to achieve the same puck velocity” recorded with stiffer shafts (Roy and Doré, 1976, cited in Pearsall et al., 2000, p. 690). Overall, then, the findings of Worobets et al., Pearsall et al. (1999), and Roy and Doré strongly suggest that the use of flexible hockey sticks contributes substantially to final puck velocity during the slap shot, especially when used by younger players. If any characteristic of a stick deserves to be considered for its effect on the slap shot, then, it appears to be stick flexibility, not stick composition.

Improved Slap Shot Performance

This review suggests that both player techniques and stick characteristics are important to slap shot success. Technical aspects of hockey shooting that may, if performed correctly, heighten ensuing puck velocities include intentionally tilting the stick blade forward to cup the puck and gripping the stick shaft low, even beyond the stick’s mid-point, to generate increased strain energy throughout the stick. In addition, expert shooters contacted the ice roughly 1 foot behind the puck to initiate stick bending at or before first contact with the puck—a crucial factor in maximizing shot velocity. Finally, accelerating the downswing phase first with the torso, then with the shoulders and arms, allows a hockey player to create a “whiplike” kinetic chain, lengthening the duration of impulse application to the stick, thereby increasing final puck velocity. Clearly, hockey coaches and players stand to adjust a variety of technical details to hone their technique and positively influence their level of success in the slap shot.

Recommendations for Hockey Stick Selection

Equally clear as the need for these technical adjustments is the extant literature’s recurring theme that player technique and strength are the most important variables influencing slap shot velocity. Across studies of players from youths to professionals and of sticks from wood to composite, stiff to flexible, the preeminence of player influence on achieved slap shot speeds rings consistently true and thus deserves to be the primary focus of performance-driven hockey coaches and players alike.

That said, this review has uncovered several findings relating to hockey sticks themselves. First, current research does not clearly demonstrate any advantage for one particular stick composition (wood, aluminum, or composite) over others. Instead, scholarly findings point to stick flexibility as the key mechanical consideration in stick selection. Several investigations attest to the mechanical benefits—most notably in stick deflection and strain energy storage—achieved with highly flexible sticks. It would seem sensible for coaches to advise hockey players to use the most flexible sticks possible (without incurring constant breakage) to maximize shooting velocity. This recommendation seems particularly apt for younger, less powerful players who may generate more stick bending with less applied force. Research suggests, then, that attention to hockey stick flexibility over any particular stick material may best aid players in heightening slap shot speeds.

While shooting remains only one of a multitude of hockey stick tasks—including the precision skills of stickhandling, passing, and receiving—players nevertheless stand to positively affect slap shot performance by supplementing the principal concerns of player technique and bodily strength with the use of flexible hockey sticks. In this regard, improvement in various aspects of ice hockey slap shots contributes toward every player and coach’s ultimate goal: enhancing athletic performance.

Energy: In honor of Jason Ritchie & His Family 

2/27/2011
By Jackson Blair, former Director of External Affairs at The Winchendon School and homestay parent to Jason Ritchie.  

A very special weekend has just been experienced here in north central Massachusetts: The dedication at The Winchendon School of their ice arena in honor of former student and Winchendon hockey player Jason Ritchie, Class of 2005.  

This event reminds me that life is fragile, bad things happen to good people, and something good can come out of the bad.

After graduating from The Winchendon School Jason went on to college and continued his interest in hockey. Tragically, an auto accident claimed his young life. As his parents, Bob and Donna, and his brother Jon, dealt with their grief they also sought to find a way to honor Jason by helping other young men and women get a good education and learn to play hockey, especially those who otherwise would be unable to do so.  

Their commitment resulted in the formation of The Ritchie Hockey Foundation, which will provide financial assistance to youngsters who love the sport, and need some help with the hefty costs of both an education and of playing hockey.

The Ritchie family returned to Winchendon a year ago to name the boys’ home locker room in honor of their son. From that visit grew a bigger idea: why not name the entire ice arena for their son and create a vision for all who play hockey there that a young alumnus’ interest in the sport combined with the love and forward thinking of his family, resulted in a partnership that will help hundreds of youngsters, in his name, as the years march by.  

This large financial commitment on the part of the Ritchies was celebrated along with the good that it will do this past Saturday when Craig Patrick, one of the coaches of the famous Olympic Miracle on Ice team (when the U.S. defeated the Russians for Olympic Gold), came to speak at the dedication. Patrick is a Hall of Famer and coached and managed many NHL teams in his career.

Motivational speaker and entertainer Paul Cardall came from Utah to join in the dedication and to provide encouragement and entertainment to those gathered to honor Jason.  

People from around the country traveled to Massachusetts to be part of this special day. The event “sold out” days before it took place. Members of the town’s Board of Selectmen, the school’s Board of Trustees, Representative Bastien and Senator Brewer and so many others came to share in the celebration.

Jason, who believed life is energy, will forever be associated with an ice arena where not only Winchendon School students learn and grow but the people of surrounding communities also.

The Jason Ritchie ’05 Ice Arena will stand as a beacon to the life of a wonderful young man and the magnificent heart of his family.  

Life is short.

Bad things do happen to good people.  

BUT

A short life can have an eternal message of faith and hope and be an inspiration to others.  

AND

[edit] Playing career

[edit] Early career

During his time at Cushing Academy, Bachman compiled a GAA of 1.28 with 3 shutouts in 28 games.[1]
While at Cedar Rapids, Bachman compiled a .913 save percentage in 26 regular season starts.[2]

[edit] Colorado College

During his freshman year, Bachman became the second player in WCHA history to be named player and rookie of the year in the same season.[2]
As a sophomore, Bachman posted a .914 save percentage with a 2.63 GAA.[3]

[edit] Dallas Stars

Bachman was chosen in the fourth round, 120th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars.[2]

On March 27, 2009, Bachman signed a three-year entry level contract with the Dallas Stars ending his college career.[3]
On December 8, 2010, Richard Bachman was called up to his first NHL game with the Dallas Stars, backing up Andrew Raycroft .[4]

[edit] References
Stu Gould Good As Gould Goalie Equipment, Inc. Good As Gould Goalie Schools 1212 S. Naperville Blvd. STE 119-371 Naperville, IL 60540 (630) 753-9645 Office 847-344-9072 Cell

BOSTON — Rob Madore stopped 32-of-33 shots, leading Vermont to a 3–1 win over hosting Northeastern.  The Catamounts seized a 2–0 first-period lead, weathered a strong second period by the Huskies, then traded third-period power-play goals for the final score.

Anthony DeCenzo, Jack Downing, and Sebastian Stalberg all contributed goals for Vermont.

“Our team played real hard from start to finish tonight,” UVM head coach Kevin Sneddon said. “Everybody contributed in one way or another to make a special play, whether it was a shot block, a backcheck, taking a hit to make a play, or making an offensive play.  We just did a lot of really good things.

“It was a total team effort.  We weren’t relying on one line or one part of our game.  It was a well-balanced effort by all of our guys including our goaltender.”

Vermont started the season in rough fashion, winning only a single game through Dec. 8, but has now won three of its last six, albeit this being the first of those within Hockey East.

“It’s been tough,” Sneddon said.  “I give our guys a lot of credit.  They’re resilient.  They brush it off and keep swinging.  I’m proud of their effort tonight.”

The Catamounts dedicated the win to one of the program’s founding fathers, Wendall Barwood, who was celebrating his 86th birthday.  Sneddon said the team would be sending him the game puck.

“We hope he feels some joy in this win tonight,” Sneddon said.

The loss was a disappointing one for Northeastern.  The Huskies came close with many opportunities—one goal was disallowed and another glittering opportunity hit the post.  Even more so, however, was the lost opportunity within the standings after taking four points last weekend to insert themselves into the home ice race.

“It’s frustrating,” NU head coach Greg Cronin said.  “We hit posts and had the goal disallowed.  It’s frustrating because it would have made us 6–6 [in Hockey East] and right up there with Maine and Merrimack.

“Vermont played a real smart road game. They played it for 60 minutes, They got pucks deep.  They threw pucks to the net.  We had some chances and just didn’t bury them.”

The Catamounts seized control of the game in the first period, taking a 2–0 lead.

The Huskies had an extra jump in their stride in the opening minutes, but Vermont rallied and got on the scoreboard at the 7:00 mark.  Stalberg put a shot on net and the rebound caromed to the far post where DeCenzo backhanded it into the wide-open net.

Three minutes later Drew MacKensie hit Downing with a home run pass and the senior took off on an uncontested breakaway. He put a great fake to the forehand on Chris Rawlings, then tucked it in backhanded.

At 13:23 Northeastern went on essentially back-to-back power plays, the only man advantages of the period, but mustered only two shots and nothing on the scoreboard.  The period ended with Vermont leading, 2–0.

Nearly six minutes into the second period and on the power play, Northeastern put a loose puck in the crease into the net but the potential goal was waved off.  Referee John Gravallese had lost sight of the puck.

The Huskies threatened again on the same power play with Tyler McNeely redirecting the puck from the right post to a wide-open left post, but Steve Silva couldn’t control it and knock it in.

The close-but-no-cigar opportunities continued minutes later when Garrett Vermeersch made a terrific move to gain separation from a defender to the left of the slot only to hit the post with a backhander.

Rob Madore and Rawlings then traded excellent saves, Madore’s coming off a scramble in front of the net and Rawlings foiling Connor Brickley on a brief breakaway.

The period ended with the Catamounts still holding a 2–0 lead.

Two minutes into the third period Rob Dongara took a breakaway pass and broke in on Madore but the Catamount netminder again stymied the Huskies.

Northeastern made it a 2–1 game at 6:35 on a Steve Silva power-play goal assisted by Wade McLeod, but Stalberg reestablished the two-goal margin less than three minutes later, helped by a great Connor Brickley screen.

The two teams face off again at Matthews Arena on Saturday night at 7:00.

Read more: http://www.uscho.com/recaps/2011/01/14/madore-stellar-in-net-paces-vermont/#ixzz1BUnVZR7Y

Chicago (Nov. 10, 2010): The Good as Gould goalie School announced today its Holiday Goalie Clinic with the presenting sponsor being the Jason Ritchie Hockey Scholarship Foundation. The Clinic will be held at ellenton Sports Complex, Ellenton, Florida December 20-22, 2010 and is open to hockey goalies and those interested in the game from 8 to 25 years of age. The clinic costs $200 and enrolling is simple at www.goodasgould.com with pay pal payment instructions. Enrollment is limited to a first come, first serve basis and clinic capacity is 20 students.

The Clinic's presenting sponsor, the Jason Ritchie Hockey Scholarship Foundation has partnered with the Good as Gould school to host the Clinic and advance the game of hockey to student athletes in the central Florida area. Foundation Chairman, Donna Ritchie, said "My son, Jason Ritchie, had a passion and enthusiasm for being a hockey goalie that was second to none. In his memory, our Foundation wants to instill this same passion in as many young athletes as possible."

The Holiday Goalie Clinic's director and coach is Stu Gould, owner of the good as Gould Goalie School headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Coach Gould is a 30 year hockey veteran specializing in goalie schools, camps and clinics nationwide and has taught over 1,500 athletes proper goalie techniques. Coach Gould commented "Hockey is more than just a sport -- it builds lifelong character and promotes commitment, teamwork, and persistence. Learning the sport at a young age is not only fun, but rewarding."

In addition to the Holiday Clinic, the Good as Gould school is also planning two specialized goalie schools in June, 2011 in Florida: One school, "The Fundamentals of being a Hockey Goalie" is open to ages 6 to 14 and will teach hockey enthusiasts proper skills.

The second school is called a "Highly Dedicated Goalie School" for the older and dedicated goal tender. The Highly Dedicated school will be for athletes 15 to 25 years of age with an advanced hockey goalie skill set.

About the Good as Gould Hockey organization:

Good as Gould is owned and operated by Stu Gould. Stu is currently the goaltending coach for the Loyola Ramblers High School team. Also Stu works with the Flames youth hockey program. In his history he was also the assistant coach of the 5-time defending Illinois State High School champions, New Trier Green.

About the Jason Ritchie Hockey Scholarship Foundation:

The Jason Ritchie Hockey Scholarship Foundation was established by the Ritchie family in memory of Jason Ritchie, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2009. The Foundation's mission is to provide resources and mentoring to deserving youth who share in Jason's drive and dedication. Funded exclusively by individual and corporate donations as well as grant funding from other services, the Foundation focuses on helping children realize their dreams by providing them the tools needed to succeed.

Chicago, IL (May 1, 2010) – Sixteen year-old Alex Galchenyuk of the Chicago Young Americans has been chosen by the Sarnia Sting as the first overall draft pick in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority draft. The draft was held May 1, 2010, at 9:00am EST. He is the first ever Chicago youth hockey player to be drafted first overall, and only the third American in 30 years.

As the first pick overall, Galchenyuk will be presented the Jack Ferguson award and have his name enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Recent first overall OHL picks include John Tavares (one of 2010’s NHL rookie scoring leaders) and Steven Stamkos (leading goal scorer in NHL).

Galchenyuk, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dominated the top youth ‘AAA’ league in the US.  Standing 6’1” and weighing 180lbs, he recorded 87 points in 38 games, including 44 goals. He finished 16 goals and 33 points ahead of the runner-ups in both categories, and finished the season with a 30-game point streak.

“Alex is the most talented player I have ever coached at his age,” said Bruno Bragagnolo, head coach of the CYA midget minor team. “His work ethic is second to none. He absolutely loves to play hockey. He is a great example of the elite youth hockey being played in the Chicago area.”

The Chicago Young Americans hockey club is one of only four Tier 1 "AAA" hockey organizations in Illinois. CYA has won seven national championships and has helped move over sixty players on to Division I college hockey. Several Chicago Young Americans have advanced to the NHL, including current players Joe Corvo, Craig Anderson, Jared Boll, and Brett Lebda.

The Ontario Hockey League is part of the Canadian Hockey League, the premier Tier I junior league in the world for players aged 16-20. Approximately 30% of players on active rosters in the NHL have come from the OHL. Alumni include all-time greats Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, and Gordie Howe.

For more information or to arrange a phone interview with Alex Galchenyuk, please contact Bruno Bragagnolo at bragagnolob@aol.com or at 847-921-4543.

St. Petersburg Times - May 3, 2009

Jason Ritchie knew what he wanted out of life by age 4. He woke up one day and told his parents he was going to play hockey. They told him to learn how to skate. When he came to them three years later and said he wanted to switch from forward to goalie, he had a plan for that, too.

His mother worried about him being in the net and told him that if he was serious, he'd have to collect signatures from 25 friends who said he was good enough for the position. "Two days later he came home with those signatures," said Donna Ritchie. "If he put his mind to something, he went head on."

Ritchie, 22, died early Friday morning. The St. Petersburg College student was heading east about 2:35 a.m. on U.S. 301 near Doris Road when his car missed a curve and overturned, according to the Bradenton Herald.

He was on his way home from a latenight league hockey game in Ellenton, his family said. "For Jason, hockey was a life metaphor," said his father, Bob Ritchie, owner of the Tampa-based American Integrity Insurance Group.

In the rink, Ritchie learned teamwork. Learned how to conquer his fear. Learned how to shoulder the responsibility of knowing that his mistakes were the only ones that ultimately determined what went on the scoreboard.

Those lessons stayed with him throughout life, his father said, even as he picked up other passions. Ritchie loved nature, music and writing.

In March, he started a new job, at the St. Petersburg Times.

As a telemarketing sales representative, Ritchie didn't mind making calls to people he'd never met, his family said.

He had a plan.

He wanted to work his way up to the sports department. And someday, he wanted to write about hockey. There will be a memorial for Ritchie at 2:30 p.m. today at the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex, 5309 29th St. E, Ellenton.

Click here for Jason's Obituary

Cook named GDI Goalie of the Month

Phil Cook is in his third NAHL season, his first with the Ice Dogs.

The North American Hockey League announced today that Fairbanks Ice Dogs goaltender Phil Cook has been named the GDI/NAHL Goaltender of the Month for November.

In seven appearances, Cook fashioned a 7-0 record, including a 36-save shutout against Kenai River on Nov. 28, to go along with a 1.85 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.

“Phil gives us a chance to win every night,” said Ice Dogs head coach Josh Hauge.  “He stops all the shots he should and one or two I’m not expecting him to.  He’s a leader in the locker room, too, and he gives the guys confidence because they know he’s been through a lot.”

Cook, a 20-year-old from Wheaton, Ill., played the previous two seasons with the Springfield Jr. Blues.  Last year, he posted a 21-17-4 record in 44 regular-season appearances to compliment a 2.86 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.

“We’re starting to get on a roll and come together as a team,” said Cook.  “I’ve had some success because our team defense has gotten better by keeping shots to the outside and making my job a lot easier.”

On the season, Cook holds a 13-3-2 record in 18 appearances along with a 2.39 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.

University of Vermont freshman Rob Madore is quickly adjusting to college life and hockey.

With the season in full swing, the first year goaltender from Venetia, Pennsylvania has already found success on the ice, with wins against Princeton, BU and Lowell, helping to boost the Catamounts national ranking to #15.

The road to Vermont has certainly been a journey for Madore. He shares that he, “started playing organized hockey when [he] was 6 years old, though [one] could say that [he] was [his] Dad’s shooter tutor since birth.” Madore’s big break came when he joined the Chicago Steel organization in 2006. In his two seasons with the Steel he reached national rankings as first in the USHL in saves (1,260), second in minutes played and sixth in save percentage. However, he is currently finding differences between Juniors and collegian hockey, as he notes, “the main difference between college hockey and Juniors or AAA is that the players are smarter and stronger. At every level you’ll find that the players make decisions with the puck quicker than the level before, I think the key to adjusting between levels is to make sure you have solid fundamentals and always work on your skating."

Madore embraces the changes and challenges of college hockey, and views them as helpful steps to reach his future goals. He has a positive and enthusiastic attitude toward his career at Vermont, for he shares that he “would like to win a National Championship, something the University of Vermont has never achieved. I feel like we have a solid group of guys and if the chips fall the right way, we can make a run at it the next few seasons. Other than that, I would like to establish myself in college hockey as well as complete my degree in four years.”

He credits his success to his family and coaches, as they have shaped him into the athlete and person he is today. Madore specifically notes working with “coaches such as Steve Poapst and John Weibel (currently with the Chicago Steel). Though the person that has influenced [him] most has been [his] Dad, as he always demanded 110% effort from [him] and taught [him] the concepts of humility in competition.”

Additionally, Madore acknowledges the improvements he made while working with Stu Gould. “I thoroughly enjoy working with Stu, for those that know Stu personally you understand that he always keeps the mood light which helps tremendously with the mental side of the game. One thing I enjoy about Stu is that he won’t try and change your style of play; he tries to work to enhance it and offers a different perspective on the position than many other coaches. In my time working with Stu, I see an improvement in my mental game as well improving my fundamentals.”

The future is clearly bright for Madore, and his recent success only seems fuel his determination to improve. His drive and work ethic are apparent in his advice to younger players, as he shares, “if I could offer any advice for younger players it would be to always work your hardest and never give up on your dreams. Things may not always go well or as you have planned, but hard work can take you a long way.”

Maimed at Marriuci: MSU goalies get sliced in action

Mariucci Arena has become a dangerous place for Minnesota State goaltenders.

Both Mike Zacharias and Dan Tormey have shed blood in the Minnesota Gophers’ home rink.

Two years ago, Tormey raced to the Mavericks’ bench with blood dripping from his hand after taking a skate blade across his thumb while making a save. He ended up needing surgery and missed a couple of months of his sophomore season.

In overtime Friday night, Zacharias lost his facemask after taking a hard shot off the head and then got his forehead split open by the errant heel of teammate Kurt Davis’ stick blade.

“We’re going to have to sign a liability form next time we come here,” Zacharias joked after he helped the Mavericks secure a 3-3 tie and after getting six stitches to close up the ugly wound below his hairline.

Blood flowed down his face like a perfect spooky mask for that Halloween night, and he raced to the bench to get cleaned up so he could get back in his crease. Tormey was ready to go, sent out to warm up between the pipes as MSU trainer Sean Donley quickly wrapped medical tape around Zacharias’ head like he was winding up a kite string.

“I wanted to go back in,” Zacharias said.

Zacharias missed no time and he made one more save after Donley “Rambo-ed me up” to finish the night with 47 stops. That number tied the career high he had against the Gophers in the third game of last March’ playoff series.

Zacharias has been anything but a liability for the Mavericks since becoming the team’s No. 1 goalie.

“He’s probably our best player right now,” said Davis, a sophomore defenseman who leads the Mavericks’ top scorer with two goals and seven assists.

Zacharias has started 35 consecutive games for the Mavericks and is now tied for fifth place on Minnesota State’s career wins list with 34. Only Eric Patemen (49 wins, 1998-2002) has more wins in the program’s Division I era. As it stands, his career save percentage of .910 is an all-time high for the school.

“He’s played extremely well for us,” MSU coach Troy Jutting said.

Indeed, Zacharias has carried the Mavericks to their 3-2-1 record, the same mark they had last year at this time.

The senior and reigning team MVP is currently third in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with a .920 save percentage and fifth with a 2.80 goals-against average. Of the 17 goals he’s allowed, only five have come during even-strength situations (he’s also allowed a short-handed goal and another when Bemidji State had pulled its goalie for an extra attacker).

“Zacharias was really on top of his game tonight,” Gophers coach Don Lucia said. Friday. “He’s a good goalie.”  What Zacharias needs is for his teammates to stay out of the penalty box. In his two losses, North Dakota and Minnesota combined to score seven power-play goals. On Saturday, the Gophers worked extra hard to get traffic in front of the goal in order to get pucks by Zacharias.

“(Ryan) Stoa had a great screen in front of Zacharias, and he had no idea where the puck was,” said Minnesota freshman Jordan Schroeder, who scored two power-play goals Saturday. “I had a wide-open net in front of me.”

In a league and in an era where goaltending rules, Minnesota State has a good one who is capable of leading the Mavericks to the NCAA tournament.

As he showed Friday night, Zacharias can be scary good.

Shane Frederick is a Free Press staff writer. Access his college hockey blog through www.mankatofreepress.com.

September 1, 2008
Goalie of the Month - Mike Zacharias

Senior goalie Mike Zacharias certainly has a great deal going for him. With three successful collegian years at Minnesota State University under his belt, he is looking forward to his last season by setting goals, like winning a National Championship and making the WCHA final four. Ambitious, some may say, for each achievement in itself will be a struggle. However, his apparent love for the game and confidence in his team’s abilities will undoubtedly prove to be one of the driving forces behind a great foreseeable year for the Mavericks.

The Plymouth, Minnesota native has truly grown up with the sport, as pivotal moments of his youth are tied hand-in-hand with hockey. Shortly after his first steps on solid ground, he began taking his first strides on the ice. Around age four, when many begin preschool, Zacharias was also beginning his first hockey lessons and league play. His early start can in large part be attributed to his father, a former goalie, who served as his son’s first goalie coach. In his mid-teens it was evident that Zacharias not only had a love for the game, but that he was also extremely talented. Two year of high school hockey was followed by participation in four different junior hockey teams, which resulted in recruitment by Minnesota State.

Although demanding, the road to MSU left Zacharias with many memories. In 2001, he was part of the successful US17+ team, and their championship win in Slovakia is still one of his favorite memories, as he recalls the, “unforgettable experience of standing on the blue line, hearing the National Anthem.” Traveling across the country and world can put stress on any athlete, and Zacharias attributes his perseverance to those with whom he is closest to for their continual support. In particular he credits his family, especially his father, for their unremitting motivation, and his juniors coach Bliss Littler for instilling in his game intensity and focus. In addition, Zacharias has worked with Stu Gould, and recognizes Gould’s, “motivation and knowledge of a goalie’s mind.” He also observes that on top of being a goalie coach, “Gould is [also] a great guy to talk to.”

It is hard to say what the future may bring, but it is certainly bright for this young athlete. After college, Zacharias shares that he would ideally, “want to continue to playing by signing with a team in the NHL.” However, his focus is on the present, as his final season is already underway. Without compromising his goals, in general, he is looking forward to a new season and opportunity for improvement in his team and himself. His advice to other athletes only solidifies his work ethic and love for the game, as he states, “have fun and find [your] passion. You have to work hard and listen, no matter what sport you play.”

-Amanda Schmidt

August 1, 2008
Goalie of the Month - Charlie Effinger

Within minutes of meeting Charlie Effinger it is clear that his positive attitude and relaxed demeanor are the platforms to his success. He shares that it’s “important to take one day at a time,” and to look at every opportunity as a “learning experience.” As he reflects on past memories, like winning CCHA goalie of the year his sophomore collegian season, he still looks forward to future accomplishments.

Effinger began his hockey career at age seven, playing for a house league near his hometown of Belleville, IL. As most leagues go, a young player is encouraged to try each position, and after a few games as a forward Effinger had his turn in the goal and has never looked back. He developed a passion for the game that grew along with his talent. As a high school sophomore he played for the St. Louis Junior Blues team, preparing him for his college career at Miami University of Ohio. Now a recent graduate, Effinger is looking forward to pursuing his dream in the National Hockey League, which may be coming true, as he has recently signed with the Atlanta Thrashers.

As his goals become within reach, Effinger credits those closest to him, specifically his family and coaches Rick Zombo and Jeff Blashill, for creating a solid support system that shaped him into the athlete and person is today. In addition, Effinger praised the work of Stu Gould, someone who forces not only him, but also other goalies, to “work hard on both mechanics and mentality, as the two go hand in hand.” He also commends Gould’s unremitting loyalty to his goalies, and his excitement to promote and expose his players to new opportunities.

After a successful four years at Miami, he is “looking forward to a fresh start and a chance to play with a new team.” His humble disposition is never absent, as Effinger realizes he still has a long way to go, but he will embrace his first year with the Thrashers organization as another step forward in his hockey career.

-Amanda Schmidt

April 13, 2008

Mavericks Dole Out Team Awards for 2007-08;
Zacharias Named MVP; Linder, Bruess, Wiley and Berge Also Feted

Mankato, Minn. — The Minnesota State men’s hockey team named the recipients of its team awards at the annual Maverick Hockey Awards Banquet held at the Holiday Inn in Mankato Sunday. The award winners are listed below.

Most Valuable Player - Mike Zacharias (Jr., Goaltender, Plymouth, Minn.) — Junior netminder Mike Zacharias, who started the last 29 games of the season, ranked 12th in the country with a school-record tying .924 save percentage and was ninth in the nation with a school-record 2.08 goals against average. Twice named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week during the course of 2007-08, Zacharias was credited with a career-high 47 saves in MSU’s double-overtime loss to Minnesota in the WCHA play-offs. The Plymouth, Minn., native had 114 saves on 121 shots for a .959 save percentage in the three play-off games vs. the Gophers. Zacharias had least 30 saves in a game on ten occasions in 2007-08, including the last six games of the season in a row. Zacharias, who had a school-record five shut-outs during the course of the season, had an 18-13-4 won-loss record for the season. His 18 wins are the most by a MSU netminder since Eric Pateman’s 21 victories in 1999-2000.

Most Improved Player Award - Jason Wiley (So., Forward, Bloomington, Minn.) — Sophomore forward Jason Wiley improved his offensive output from four points his freshman year in 2006-07 to 18 points in 2007-08 for a 14-point increase. Wiley, who completed the 2007-08 campaign tied for second on the team with 11 goals, was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in a two-game sweep over St. Cloud State Jan. 25-26 during which he racked up two-goals and two assists vs. the Huskies. The Bloomington Kennedy High School product amassed 11-7--19 in 34 games to finish eighth on the team scoring charts. His + 10 for the year tied for third amongst the Mavericks and his .200 shooting percentage (11 goals on 55 shots) ranked second.

BW3 Star of the Year Award (most Three Star of the Game selections during MSU home games) - Mick Berge (Jr., Forward, Oklahoma City, Okla.) — Junior forward Mick Berge led the Mavericks with 20 goals and ranked 24th in the country in goals per game with a .51 mark. A first-year assistant captain in 2007-08, Berge owned the team lead with four game-winning goals and led the team in shots on goal with 110. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native established a personal season-high for goals (he had 12 as a sophomore) and finished 2007-08 with 10-4—14 in the final 16 games of the season.

Mr. Hustle Award (Hardest Worker) - Trevor Bruess (So., Forward, Minneapolis, Minn.) — Now a two-time recipient of MSU’s Hardest Worker Award, sophomore forward Trevor Bruess topped the 2007-08 Maverick scoring charts with 9-21--30. Bruess, who scored the GWG in MSU’s 1-0 double overtime play-off victory over Minnesota March 14, also led MSU in assists (21), shorthanded goals (3) and plus-minus (+22). The Minneapolis, Minn., native ranked second on the team with 20 penalties and 54 PIMs.

Unsung Hero Award and Don Brose Leadership Award - R.J. Linder (Sr., Defense, St. Cloud, Minn.) — A three-time WCHA All-Academic pick, senior defenseman R.J. Linder completed his four-year MSU career with two goals and 13 assists in 124 career games played. The St. Cloud, Minn., native finished second on the team in 2007-08 with a +13.

Head coach Troy Jutting also announced the forward Mick Berge will serve as team captain next season and that forward Trevor Bruess and defenseman Blake Friesen have been appointed assistant captains.

MSU finished the 2007-08 campaign with a 19-6-4 overall record and completed the WCHA regular season with a 12-12-4 mark.