Minnesota Hockey announced today the schedule of its fall skill development clinics, including two new options. This series of skill sessions are designed to supplement the player development initiatives provided by our community based associations and ensure Minnesota continues to be a leader in the development of all players.
Starting in late August and running through early November, Minnesota Hockey will offer skill sessions focused on body contact, defensive skills and goaltending. Each of the practices will led by professional coaches who will design sessions that emphasize long term athlete development and maximize the number of high quality repetitions each player receives.
Below is a description of each type of clinic being offered this fall, as well as a list of current dates and locations. New clinic dates and locations may be added in the future. To register for any of the clinics listed below, click here.
Body Contact and Checking Clinics
Minnesota Hockey will continue to offer its popular body contact and checking clinics this fall and will also be adding a series of advanced body contact sessions. All Peewee and Bantam player will remain eligible for the standard body contact and checking clinics, but players must have completed at least one year of Bantam hockey to participate in an advanced clinic.
Both types of clinics will utilize station based practices that facilitate the development of body contact and checking skills by maximizing repetitions with proper technique. Minnesota Hockey will provide certified ADM instructors to teach important concepts such as angling, positioning, contact confidence, proper stick checks, safety and awareness.
“There are several key components that comprise proper body contact: body position, angling, timing, gap control, stick-on-stick,” said Guy Gosselin, USA Hockey ADM Regional Manager. “These are things that players must continue to practice at all levels. Just like any other skill, players must continually work on their motor skills and technique to refine their body-checking abilities.”
Date | Day | Time | Location | Arena | Type of Clinic |
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8/26/17 | Saturday | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Duluth | Heritage Sports Center | Body Contact & Checking |
8/27/17 | Sunday | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Grand Forks | Ralph Engelstad Arena | Body Contact & Checking |
8/28/17 | Monday | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Blaine | Schwan Super Rink | Body Contact & Checking |
8/29/17 | Tuesday | 6:10 PM - 9:10 PM | Woodbury | Bielenberg Sports Center | Body Contact & Checking |
8/30/17 | Wednesday | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Bloomington | Bloomington Ice Garden | Body Contact & Checking |
8/31/17 | Thursday | 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Brooklyn Park | Brooklyn Park Community Center | Advanced Body Contact |
9/9/17 | Saturday | 11:45 AM - 2:45 PM | Mankato | All Seasons Arena | Body Contact & Checking |
9/10/17 | Sunday | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Rochester | Rochester Recreation Center | Advanced Body Contact |
9/19/17 | Tuesday | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Burnsville | Burnsville Ice Center | Advanced Body Contact |
10/14/17 | Saturday | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Grand Rapids | IRA Civic Center | Body Contact & Checking |
10/15/17 | Sundayt | 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Duluth | Heritage Sports Center | |
11/4/17 | Saturday | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Alexandria | Runestone Community Center | Body Contact & Checking |
11/5/17 | Sunday | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Moorhead | Moorhead Youth Hockey Arena | Advanced Body Contact |
Defense Clinics
Former Minnesota North Star and Elk River High School coach Gordie Roberts, along with several other high school coaches on Minnesota Hockey’s Player Development team, will design and lead practices for bantam and high school defensemen. The sessions will emphasize skating skills for defensemen and the use of various offensive and defensive tactics in game situations.
These clinics will feature a progression from basic skills to high-paced line rushes and in-zone game situations. The players will be consistently challenged to push their skills into a new comfort zone.
Date | Day | Time | Location | Arena | Type of Clinic |
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8/29/17 | Tuesday | 7:15 PM - 9:30 PM | Prior Lake | Dakotah Ice Center | Bantam Defense |
9/9/17 | Saturday | 5:00 PM - 7:15 PM | Rochester | Rochester Recreation Center | Bantam Defense |
10/14/17 | Saturday | 2:00 PM - 4:15 PM | Duluth | Heritage Sports Center | Bantam Defense |
10/24/17 & 10/26/17 | Tuesday & Thursday | 7:30 PM - 9:45 PM | Plymouth | Plymouth Ice Center | High School Defense |
10/30/17 & 11/1/17 | Monday & Wednesday | 6:00 PM - 8:15 PM | Eagan | Eagan Civic Arena | High School Defense |
11/4/17 | Saturday | 3:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Moorhead | Moorhead Youth Hockey Arena | Bantam Defense |
Goalie Skill Sessions
Minnesota Hockey’s goalie skill sessions are designed to teach goaltenders in Minnesota the proper fundamental and advanced techniques in today’s game. Led by Minnesota Hockey Goalie Development Coordinator and Edina native Steve Carroll, the coaching staff will provide instruction on goalie specific skating, positioning, save selection, rebound control and much more.
The 90-minute practices will be offered to players at the Squirt/10U, Peewee/12U or Bantam/15U levels. A maximum 24 goalies accepted for each session. Coaches will separate the goalies within each session into age-appropriate groups to ensure each goalie is provided with meaningful instruction and feedback.
Date | Day | Time | Location | Arena |
---|---|---|---|---|
8/28/17 | Monday | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Brooklyn Park | Brooklyn Park Community Center |
8/30/17 | Wednesday | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Shakopee | Shakopee Ice Center |
9/18/17 | Monday | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Cottage Grove | Cottage Grove Ice Arena |