Improve Accuracy with New EZ Goal Target Pockets!

Great for collecting pucks and improving shot accuracy, the Hockey Goal Corner Netting Targets includes 4 removable corner targets. The 4 targets install in minutes and attach to any 4'x6' goal. The puck stays in the pocket target so you know when you hit the target—offering a great, fun way to improve shooting accuracy, particularly with top-shelf shots.



Price: $19.95 for 4 corner targets

Product Features:
• Heavy-duty, puck-proof net.
• Reinforced, heavy-weight, UV-resistant net.
• Laces to all 4'x6' goals.
• Removes in minutes.
• Easy assembly.
• Perfect for hard corner shots.

See It In Action:



Final Period: The EZ Goal Corner Targets are ideal for helping you improve your shot accuracy. At only $19.95, it’s an affordable goal accessory!

Editor’s Note: For a limited-time, when you use the code “teamcares″ at HockeyShot.com, you will receive 10% off any purchase.

How Visualization Helps You Achieve Success in Hockey

While researching his new book, 7 Pre-Game Habits of Pro Hockey Players, Brett Henning discovered that every star performer, from Navy Seals to CEOs, consistently employs visualization to achieve their level of success. In this summary, Henning shares how you can use visualization to elicit positive emotions such as confidence and eliminate negative emotions such as anxiety.

• Visualization is the ability to see your self positively completing or reliving a scene only in the mind.


• It’s been proven to mentally raise a players confidence, decrease anxiety/fear, and physically improve his performance in the specific visualized area.


• The most common form of visualization is seeing yourself completing a specific task in the future. We’re going to use it for hockey by visualizing scoring goals, making the big save, winning the last-second faceoff, etc.


• You already use visualization everyday whether you know it or not. When you lie in bed on Sunday night and think about everything you have to do that week. When you think about what you’re going to say to the cute girl sitting beside you in English class. When you go to the grocery store and plan the night’s/week’s meals. When you think about the weekend’s hockey games. These are all some form of visualization. You will get deeper and clearer thoughts by practicing visualization techniques regularly.


• Limits begin where vision ends. The problem with most people is they think negative thoughts about future activities. One surefire way for success is to stay positive.


• “80/20 rule”: Nearly everything in life falls under this concrete rule. Applied to hockey this means that 20% of the on-ice actions you take, make up 80% of the results. Use this rule to narrow down what you want to visualize about.


• The most important aspect of visualizing is that you have to actually feel the experience in all of your relevant senses—sight, hearing, touch, and smell. The more intense and real the feeling, the greater the impression is created on the brain.

Visualization’s 3 Steps

1. Relaxing the body and mind

• Muscle relaxation


• Breathing exercises


• Listen to relaxing music

2. Visualization: Vividly experience the game in advance:

• Slow Motion


• Game Speed


• Fast Forward

3. Let It Go: Slumps are mental obstacles that have become bigger than life for the person going through it. It’s a negative loop. There are two ways to get out of a slump:

• Cure it through laughter.


• Reframe the obstacle/belief 7 different ways.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Brett Henning of Score100goals.com for this story. Click here to download the full Visualization chapter.

Total Hockey: Virtual Skate Fitting

The great thing about shopping online is that you can always find what you want. But what happens when you’re not sure what you want? What happens when you find so many options that it’s more baffling than beneficial. That’s how shopping for ice skates online can be—visit TotalHockey.net and you’ll find 97 different ice skates from 7 brands. The information overload is enough to make you head for your car keys.



Anyway, why would you even contemplate buying an item online that requires perfect fit for comfort? Convenience. No driving to the store, which may be 30 minutes away or more. No try-ons with staff who may or may not be helpful. No trip to another store when the skate you want turns out to be out of stock. When I heard through the grapevine that Total Hockey offers virtual skate fitters—customer service personnel specifically trained to help you select skates via phone or chat—we had to try it.

Select skates in the time it takes to drive to the store…

My 13-year-old son and I had 30 minutes before a practice one day, so we made the call on speaker phone in front of the computer. My son asked for “a pump skate” he was interested in. Our skate fitter helped us immediately find the skates, and then started asking and answering questions:

• How old are you?


• How many hours a week do you skate?


• What model skates do you have now?


• What size are you wearing now?


• How do your current skates fit?


• What is your interest in these particular skates?

After confirming that the skates we were interested in were ideal, we started in with our questions:

• What is the difference between this year’s model and last year’s?


• Are these good for narrow feet?


• How will these help with his ankle problems?


• What is the life of these skates, given how many hours he skates?


• Will he outgrow them before they wear out?


• Can you take off the lace lock?


• Can you get another color?


• How is the blade?


• What if we need to return them?


• Why these skates? What makes them so special?

Our knowledgeable skate expert answered all our questions, with no hesitation, no matter how obscure. He helped us place the order for these skates, with assurances that we can just call UPS to pick them back up at your house if they don’t work.

Then on to my 8-year-old. We described his boxy feet, his aggressive skating, his current shoe and skate size—and, of course, our price range for a rapidly growing kid. Our virtual skate fitter helped select the perfect skate and size for him as well, a bargain at under $100.

But do they fit…

The order process was painless and took less time than driving to store. But the big test of the virtual skate fitting occurred when the skates arrived. Do they fit? From what we could tell, yes. But for the purposes of this story, we took them to a brick-and-mortar store to check. (Plus, we still needed heat molding and the all-important first sharpening.)

The fitter at the store confirmed that my 13-year-old’s skate choice was ideal, especially for his specific ankle issues. In fact, the employee even mentioned that the skate was “far and away the most comfortable skate he’d ever worn.” My 8-year-old’s skates turned out to fit perfectly as well. And it wasn’t a waste of time buying online and then heading to a store for molding—because the junior skate, a brand-new model, wasn’t in yet and the youth skate was out of stock.

Give it a try…

Total Hockey’s virtual skate fitters are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time, at 866-929-6699. Or, visit TotalHockey.net and click Chat in the lower-left corner. The product specialists can help with all your hockey needs—sticks, pads, helmets, etc.—and answer all your questions.

Glossary: Crease

Close your eyes and you can almost hear a fan at a hockey game yelling: “He’s in the crease! He was in the crease!” He would be talking about that blue half-circle in front of the net, the area where the goaltender hangs out. And his excitement would arise from the fact that referees can wave off a goal scored when an opposing player is in the crease. So why not just be like basketball and call it “the paint”? Rumor has it that players used to make physical creases in the ice—with their skates or other objects—to mark the playing area before painted lines were introduced.



The crease is designed to allow the goalie to perform his/her duties without interference. In most leagues, an attacking player is not allowed to be in the crease before the puck. Goals can be disallowed if a referee determines an attacking player interfered with the goaltender’s ability to play the puck.

What else is there to know? You can learn all about the crease, including details such as the width of the red line outlining the blue crease (2 inches) on pages 4–5 of the 2007–09 Official Rules of Ice Hockey booklet available at www.usahockey.com (pdf).

See it in action: A goal is disallowed when a Colorado Avalanche player interferes with the goalie while in the crease.



Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kristin Carlson, member of Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota, for this article.

Top 5 Snacks for Hockey Players

When kids are having a snack attack, how do you get beyond the junk food to something satisfying they will actually eat? First, be sure you keep these 5 everyday snack foods on hand, in your car and in the hockey bags to quash the hunger before you end up succumbing to the lure of vending machines and convenience stores. Everyday snacks—that you eat when you’re hungry and it isn’t mealtime— play an important role in keeping energy levels up throughout the day and taming hunger. (Later, we’ll take on the topic of performance boosting snacks required before, during and after practices and games.)



The top 5 snacks for hockey players are:

5. Go nuts for nuts! All nuts contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and are therefore a great choice for snacking. Each type of nut also contains a different array of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. And the best part about nuts? They are portable so you can carry them with you in hot or cold weather.

4. Cereal. Opt for a high-fiber, low-sugar cereal for an everyday (not game time) snack and you’ll get plenty of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. In fact, for those who don’t eat red meat, cereal is one of the better sources of iron (although this source isn’t absorbed nearly as well as iron in meat and poultry).

3. Dairy. Dairy is the number one source of calcium and vitamin D in our diet. This is especially important for growing kids, who are not only growing upward but are also building bone density (we build bone density up until our early 30s). Dairy also contains magnesium, a mineral important for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including muscle and nerve functioning. And, the benefits of dairy don’t stop there—dairy protein is among the top sources of protein for building and maintaining muscle tissue. Try yogurt, cottage cheese, low-fat cheese on top of crackers or apple slices, and, of course, milk!

2. Vegetables. Most Americans only get half the fiber they need everyday. By incorporating vegetables at snack time, you’ll increase your overall vegetable intake, load up on fiber and get an array of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. If plain veggies sound boring, add a little natural peanut butter or hummus for a delicious snack.

1. Fruit. Add as much color to your diet as you can and switch things up. If you typically eat watermelon over the summer, try berries in your yogurt or on cereal, make a power smoothie with frozen mango and mix fresh pineapple into cottage cheese. Why does fruit make the #1 slot? It’s loaded with carbohydrates—the nutrient that fuels performance. And, like vegetables, fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals that are important for overall health and performance. Some fruits contain anti-inflammatory compounds that could help decrease muscle soreness and bruising as well. These include pineapple (fresh), mango and dark purple, red and blue berries.

Load up on these healthy snacks and you’ll feel better, play better and improve your overall health.

Editor’s Note: Marie Spano, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS is a sports nutrition expert who works with athletes throughout the country. Her website is: www.mariespano.com

Total Hockey: Bauer Vapor X:60 Pro Series Gloves

Overview: You really can’t go wrong with any pro series glove for the obvious reason that they’re worn by pros. And the Vapor Pro Series gloves are so light and comfortable, you should seriously consider them when looking for a new pair of gloves.



The Vapor Series: Compared to other gloves, Vapor gloves have more of a tapered feel. They feel more like actual gloves and seem to become one with your hand. Many finesse players prefer this feel as opposed to classic fit of a pro roll glove.

What’s the difference? The Vapor Pro Series is made up of nylon and cable mesh, which makes the gloves lighter and game-ready as soon as you put them on.

Additional Pro Features:

• Poly inserts and dual density foams enhance protection level


• Free flex thumb


• Two-piece index finger (the Standard has 3)


• Thermomax (inner) Liner

Skill Level: Although Pro Series gloves imply they are intended for pros, coaches, high school and men’s league players can wear them just the same and experience a better glove for their game.

Competition: Easton Synergy EQ5, Reebok 9K, Warrior Dolomite gloves.

Conclusion: If you like a tapered glove and the lightweight feel of any pro series glove then these are certainly for you.

Retailer: Total Hockey is your source for all hockey equipment, including the Bauer Vapor X:60 Pro Series gloves. With a huge selection of equipment from the world’s leading manufacturers, Total Hockey has it all. Visit totalhockey.net today. Total Hockey, We Don’t Do Anything Else.

Develop Magic Hands with X-Deviator

The X-Deviator™ training device enhances your puck control, reaction speed and hand-eye coordination. You can even configure this lightweight, portable device in many ways to challenge players of all ages and skill levels.



Purpose: The X-Deviator is an innovative training device designed to enhance your puck control, reaction speed and hand-eye coordination. Using patent-pending technology and an innovative design, the X-Deviator can be configured in many ways to challenge players of all ages and skill levels. The versatility of this product keeps training fun and allows the user to create their own drills, so players are only limited by their imagination. The X-Deviator’s flexibility of design, ease of configuration and ultimate portability make it perfect to train with both on and off the ice.

See It In Action


Top Features

• Improves stick handling, reaction speed and hand-eye coordination.


• Ideal tool for enhancing puck control skills.


• Keeps training fun and allows users to create their own drills.


• Flexibility of design, ease of configuration and ultimate portability make it perfect for training both on and off the ice.


• Perfect for players of all ages and ability levels.

Final Period: The X-Deviator’s flexibility of design, ease of configuration and ultimate portability make it easy to train both on and off the ice. It’s a valuable stickhandling tool that will help you develop into a better hockey player!

Editor’s Note: For a limited-time, when you use the code “teamcares″ at HockeyShot.com, you will receive 10% off any purchase.

Used Hockey Equipment: What Is It Really Worth?

There’s no doubt that you can save money by buying used hockey equipment. But can you really make much by selling your used equipment? Is it worth the time and hassle of cleaning it up and then trying to sell it yourself or dropping it off at a resale shop? It depends on what your time is worth. A peek inside the workings of Play It Again Sports (PIAS) gives you an idea how much you’ll really get for equipment in good condition.



Play It Again Sports got its start in Minnesota in 1983, and now has 340 franchises across North America. Each store caters to its local market with 70% of its inventory new and 30% used. We talked with them to find out more about how they operate.

Q: Does PIAS consign or buy equipment outright?
A: Actually, there are three options—buy, trade and consign. Franchises purchase items outright for cash and/or in-store credit (trade). You can also put items on consignment, where you get the money after the store sells the item. Most people—in fact, 95%—sell or trade-in their items outright rather than putting them on consignment.

Q: If you consign an item, what if it doesn’t sell?
A: Your item has 90 days to sell. If it does not sell, you need to pick it up or ask the store to extend the amount of time needed to sell it. For a time extension, the store usually requires the item to be marked down to improve its chances of selling.

Q: What is the average percent a customer could expect to get back?
A: If it’s a newer product (1 year old or less) and in good condition, it might go something like this: Say the product sold new for $100 a year ago and is on sale for $75 today. PIAS sells it used for $40 to $50. The customer gets $20 to $25 in trade value or $10 to $15 in cash.

Q: How much could you expect to get for the most expensive item you’ve invested in?
A: It’s based on the above formula. On the high end for a high-quality, in-demand product, a customer could expect 40% to 50% of the used retail price (in cash). On the lower end, you could expect 25% to 35% of the used retail price.

Q: How do I prepare gear before bringing it in to PIAS?
A: Clean the equipment and make any minor repairs needed. PIAS will not take any products that are unsafe or could cause harm.

Q: What is the best time of year for hockey equipment?
A: July through October, but franchises will buy it anytime. Call your local store to see what they’re currently buying.

Whether a return of roughly 15% to 25% of the original cost is worth the effort of reselling equipment is up to you. If so, load up the car! If not, find a kid in need of hand-me-downs or a program in need of donations (your local Play It Again Sports may have a tip for you). Check out www.playitagainsports.com for more information on Play It Again Sports, and to find the nearest location to you.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kristin Carlson, member of Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota, for editing article.

Glossary: Shoot Left, Shoot Right?

Ever scrambled around the rink, begging to borrow a stick because your player’s was lost, broken or—as is usually the case—forgotten at home. (Or, and we’ve all been there, locked in your spouse’s car. At work. Or at the airport.) When this happens, you’ll find out right away that you need to worry about more than the height of the stick. You need to know whether your kid “shoots left” or “shoots right.”

Lefty vs. Righty

You might think the question is whether your player is left-handed or right-handed. But what it actually means is which hand is lower on the stick and which side of the body he or she shoots from—which does not necessarily correspond with the hand the player uses for writing. To “shoot left” means your left hand is lower on the stick and your right hand is on top. To “shoot right” means your right hand is lower and your left hand is on top. Interestingly, most Canadian players shoot left, while Americans tend to shoot right. (Poke around online on this topic and you'll see that experts disagree on whether having your dominant hand on the bottom or the top is better for shooting and stickhandling. Click here for an interesting article from The New York Times about this subject.)

Before the introduction of the curved stick in the 1960s, both left and right shooters, Americans and Canadians, used the same stick. Today, players who shoot left use a stick that curves right, and players who shoot right use a stick that curves left. This slight curvature allows players to get off a stronger shot from one side of the body. If, in a panic, you borrow a stick with the wrong curve, you’re essentially dooming your kid to shoot backhand for that whole game or practice.

See It In Action

In the 2010 Olympic Final, the left-shooting Canadians triumphed over the American team. Watch as Sidney Crosby shoots left to win the Olympic gold and become a Canadian hero.


Knowing this little bit of hockey lingo helps you temporarily solve the problem of the forgotten stick. The long-term solution? Always take the stick out of the car when you get home. And assign your player to remember his or her stick. Believe me, a session or two with a borrowed stick is sure to improve your kid’s memory.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Rose Conry for this story. Rose, an intern with the Grow the Game Initiative, studies journalism at Northwestern University. She loves all sports and sails competitively with the university’s club team.

Why 20/20 May Not Mean Perfect Vision

You know about visualization, right. In a player’s mind, he sees himself making the perfect pass to his linemate or imagines the puck whizzing past the goalie into the net. He feels the satisfaction of moving the puck down the ice and the excitement of scoring. But what if it doesn’t work for your kid? Your child winds up frustrated because his shot didn’t look the same on the ice as it did in his mind. Before you decide hockey just isn’t his sport, let an optometrist (not the pediatrician) check his eyes. Your child might have 20/20 eyesight, but still have a vision problem.



Does your child:

• Misjudge the distance of a pass?


• Shoot wide of the goal?


• Skate past the puck?

When a sport involves eye-hand coordination, the right moves depend on the accuracy and processing of the information coming from the eyes to the brain. Vision doesn’t occur in the eyes, it occurs in the brain.

According to optometrist Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, author of See It. Say It. Do It!, most children are born with healthy eyes, but they have to learn how to use their eyes and coordinate them with the rest of their body. Vision therapy can put the pieces together. An eye exam by an optometrist can catch problems such as double vision, blurring, tracking difficulty, and even relieve headaches, eyestrain and motion sickness. Ask the eye doctor:

• Do you do “near point testing”?


• Do you provide vision therapy or refer to someone who does?

Most kids don’t complain about a vision problem. They just avoid activities or behaviorally act out. Vision therapy can give kids strategies to up their game on the ice—and in school!

Editor's Note: Optometrist Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, O.D., FCOVD, FAAO, has been a pioneer in vision therapy for more than 30 years. See It. Say It. Do It! provides easy, practical, step-by-step strategies and activities to enhance children’s visualization skills.

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