Wax on/Wax off

Friday night pickup at the SensPlex and I felt great out there. I really felt like I was skating with some movement and purpose. Could it be my new laces?

When I was at BK Sports Repair earlier in the week I picked up some new laces. A pair of non-waxed and a pair of waxed. The guy behind the counter explained to me that the difference is that the waxed laces allow you to tie the laces up that much tighter. He said some people don’t like them because they feel they cut through the tongue of the skate, but nonetheless you can lace up skate much tighter with the waxed laces.

Of course, maybe I was just on fire last night. Monday is the Adult Dynamic Skills Course at the SensPlex, so we’ll see how the skating goes again then.

BK Sports Repair

If you are in the Ottawa area and ever need to have your gloves repaired or you skates reconditioned, BK Sports Repair is the place to go. I discovered this place after an eyelet popped out of my skates and the fine folks at Valiquette’s said ‘BK’s’ is the only place in town to go.

And so the next day I headed off to a glum industrial park and walked up a flight of stairs. Well, let me tell you, the place belongs on a movie set! Industrial sewing machines, leather hanging from the wall, unstiched gloves and pads on the work benches, and more Montreal Canadians’ memorabilia in anyplace east of Catherine and Atwater.

So the guy takes my skate, puts it on a machine, and 30 seconds later hands it back and says no charge.

Here’s the link and keep them in mind next time: http://www.bksportsrepair.com/

Skills and Power Skating Class #1

Once you get into hockey as an adult beginner you’ll quickly realize how special it is to be on the ice in full equipment in a practice situation. And of course I was reminded of this last night at the first night of the  City of Ottawa adult beginners courses.

This time last year, I was put on my equipment for the first time for the Level 1 courses. This year, it’s the level 2 courses I am taking. So in some ways it was like marking an anniversary for me. Since starting last October, the longest I have gone without being on the ice is 14 days. 14 days! That’s pretty crazy, isn’t it? 

Anyways, last night was mostly review of basic skating and skills stuff. But it was the first time I had been on the ice with a stick and puck since I had received the excellent Sean Skinner DVDs on stick handling. To be able to actually be handling a puck along the ice as opposed to a weighted ball on my basement floor was both terrifically enjoyable — but very also sobering!

The bottom line is that no matter how much doing drills with a weighted ball on a hard surface can improve your coordination, quickness, and strength, it is simply not the same as a puck on the ice. And let me say this too:  sure, it is only a small rubber disc, but to stand and go through some basic handling drills is pretty damn tiring! Certainly more tiring than standing in my basement.

Camp opens tonite

Training Camp opens tonite for me. Well, at least that’s what I am calling it.  My Level II skating and skills courses start tonite for two hours of ice-time. Next Monday, my skills course at the SensPlex starts. And when I throw in Friday night pickup hockey, I’ll then have three nights a week of hockey until November 20.

So in my mind I am seeing this time as a period to really work hard, improve and also to drop a few pounds. I am 217 now, but I am setting the goal of being at 200 by the time camp ends. How’s that for a goal?!

The other aspect of this ‘training camp’ is I want to really go out there each night, haul ass, take chances, and become a better player. Last year towards the end of my courses there was an element of being happy, “hey, look I am doing a cross-over! I am hockey player” but this time out I want to view the courses as an opportunity to get better and improve.  Last year it was about seeing if I could do it. Now though, I know I can do it, but I want to be able to do it better. And for me what this means is going out of my comfort zone and making mistakes. Or simply put, this means I am going to be falling on my ass a lot!

One shift at a time

One thing that I like about hockey is how every game is really made up of a series of smaller games that are played out on each shift. And while this influences play in a variety of ways, one way that is beneficial to the beginner is that it allows you to get a poor shift out of your mind quickly.

Think about how in soccer or basketball a player can be having an absolute howler and the only salvation is to get subbed off. But in hockey, you know you got two-minutes of going hard and then it is back to the bench where you can take a breather and get ready for the next shift, the next mini game.

What I have found also is that you can be having a stinker, but all it takes is one good shift to turn the evening around.

14 days

It’s been fourteen days since I have been on the ice. That is the longest I have gone without putting on my skates since I started last October.

That’s pretty crazy, isn’t?

Next week though I consider to be the start of the winter season. My Level II Skating and Hockey courses start up, plus the fall and winter skating schedules at the public rinks will be in full swing so I will be able to get out more often rather than having to drive halfway across the city!

As well, my kids’ skating lessons also will start up.

So maybe in hindsight having those 14 days off will be a blessing.

TapeTiger

TapeTiger is the best hockey tool I have ever bought. Period. End of Story.

This little gadget which I picked up for $14.99 at my fav local hockey store Valiquette’s is essentially a specialized cutting tool for removing tape from the blade of your stick.

All you do is simply slip the edge of the device under the tape at the heel end of the stick and simply slide it down the blade and BINGO! the tape is cut down the middle and you can peel it off like a banana peel.

Now that sounds handy, but realize that I tape my stick EVERY time out. I don’t know why I do it and I am afraid I have become a bit superstitious about it, but it is what I do. 

I would post a link to the product but puzzingly I can find no mention of it on the world wide web!

So you’ll just have to head off to Valiquette’s.