GOALTENDING AT THE YOUTH LEVEL

By Brandon Gwidt

In hockey, a fan from afar will tell you to find the biggest player you have and put him in between the pipes because he takes up so much room. This player might not be able to skate very well and may be the least athletic person on the team. I see this situation all the time at the youth levels, and I even experienced this problem when I was trying to become a young net minder.

At higher levels of hockey and even with successful high school teams, the clumsy, oversized kid who can barely skate from blue line to blue line is no longer the goaltender. Instead, the strongest skater, who is the backbone of the team, is now sitting in the blue paint rather than scoring goals.

Goaltenders in hockey have to be extremely strong on their skates because goaltending requires a great amount of footwork and coordination that does not always meet the naked eye.

So, before you see your youth hockey coaches throw the nose tackle of your football team in between the pipes, ask if that is really the smart choice to benefit the individual in the net and the rest of the team. When youth organizations do this to a young talented team, it can have devastating consequences from squirts on up to high school or midgets. 

MY 2013 NHL PICK "EM"

By Brandon Gwidt

Northeast Division

1. Boston Bruins

2. Ottawa Senators

3. Buffalo Sabres

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

5. Montreal Canadiens

Atlantic Division

1. New York Rangers

2. Pittsburgh Penguins

3. Philadelphia Flyers

4. New Jersey Devils

5. New York Islanders

Southeast Division

1. Carolina Hurricanes

2. Washington Capitals

3. Tampa Bay Lightning

4. Winnipeg Jets

5. Florida Panthers

Eastern Conference Seeds

1. New York Rangers

2. Boston Bruins

3. Carolina Hurricanes

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

5. Philadelphia Flyers

6. Ottawa Senators

7. Washington Capitals

8. Buffalo Sabres

Eastern Conference Finals

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Central Division

1. St. Louis Blues

2. Chicago Blackhawks

3. Detroit Red Wings

4. Nashville Predators

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

Pacific Division

1. Los Angeles Kings

2. Dallas Stars

3. Phoenix Coyotes

4. San Jose Sharks

5. Anaheim Ducks

Northwest Division

1. Vancouver Canucks

2. Minnesota Wild

3. Colorado Avalanche

4. Edmonton Oilers

5. Calgary Flames

Western Conference Seeds

1. Vancouver Canucks

2. St. Louis Blues

3. Los Angeles Kings

4. Minnesota Wild

5. Dallas Stars

6. Chicago Blackhawks

7. Phoenix Coyotes

8. Detroit Red Wings

Western Conference Finals

Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild

Stanley Cup Finals

New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks 

OPENING DAY

By Brandon Gwidt

                The National Hockey League finally got back into action on Saturday, January 19, 2013 after its 113-day lockout. Opening day was much delayed due to the lockout, but for hockey fans across North America, the wait seemed well worth it after just one day of action.

                Instead of focusing on the large amount of hockey we have missed out on and whether we are putting the blame on Commissioner Gary Bettman and the owners or the National Hockey League Players Association, fans can now look forward to an exciting and intense season of hockey.  

                With NHL Center Ice offering a free preview throughout the month of January, there was no better time than opening day to tune in and watch 26 of the 30 NHL teams play in 13 thrilling games.

                At times it may have been difficult to decide which game to watch because there were so many great storylines heading into this lockout-shortened season.  Whether you were watching players like Rick Nash, Zach Parise or Ryan Suter suit up for their new teams or catching the end of a thrilling finish between conference rivals Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, there was not a dull moment on opening day.

                The opening day of the NHL season after a long lockout made me appreciate the great game that the NHL brings to the fans. Fans packed arenas and social media was buzzing as NHL teams embarked on their 48-game schedules, which shows how loyal hockey fans are. Despite their frustration with the missed hockey due to the lockout, fans came out in full force and supported the game they love.

                If opening day is any indication of the way this season is going to go for the NHL, I think the lockout will not cause any long-term negative effects due to the great fans that support the game of hockey. 

IF YOU HAVE TWO GOALIES YOU HAVE NO GOALIES

By Brandon Gwidt

In society, the perception is that the more you have of something the better off you are. When it comes to the most important position in hockey, the goalie, a team is better off having one go-to-guy.

The importance of having one starting goalie does not diminish the necessity of having a solid backup to come in and win some games if the starter gets hurt or needs some rest. A backup goalie can be a very important part of a team’s success throughout the long grind of a hockey season.

However, to have an ongoing competition and rotation in the starting spot between goalies can have a negative effect on both goalies and the long term success of the team.

If you look at the past champions in hockey at multiple levels, the evidence supports that teams need to have a solid number one goalie that plays the majority of the regular season games and is the backbone of the team in the playoffs.

A goalie is not like a pitcher in baseball who plays every fifth game. A goalie is called upon each and every game where his success or failure is likely correlated with his team’s success or failure.

Competition is a great motivator in sports, but it can also harm the psyche of athletes and, as we all know with goaltenders, they can be a bit fragile.

So whether you are a coach, player, or fan, ask yourself if you want two number one goalies or one solid starter with a backup who can fill in if called upon. It’s a question worth asking.