North American Hockey Academy

 The first day of NAHA's Elite Development Camp got off to a rousing start with a jog to get everyone's eyes open, and a good dynamic flexibility routine to get the muscles ready for the day...

And then it was on to the first of many team competitions! The camp is broken up into two teams and throughout the camp they'll compete in a variety of on and off ice activities for an end of camp prize to the winning team! The first challenge was a combination team building activity and competition, the Water Bucket Balance activity. Each team begins on their backs with legs raised, and when ready a 5 gallon pail of water is placed in the middle. They have to balance this while removing their sneakers, then finding them and putting them back on again, all the while without talking! Both teams seemed to be headed to a draw when the White team hit a bit of a hitch, toppling their bucket onto themselves. Those getting soaked the most seemed to be Maggie Hunt and Amanda Pelkey!!

  The morning on ice session focused on movement, the role of the non-puck carrier in supporting the puck, and fundamental passing and receiving. During the middle portion of the day, players worked on position specific skills, with positions alternating on and off ice/lunch break. The forwards worked on improving coordination and puckhandling.

Goalies worked under the watchful eye of Corey Milan. Corey is the Union College goalie, and brings a wealth of experience to his instruction... (he's also Counselor Hannah Milan's brother!)

The defense worked on various D-specific skating skills, guided by NAHA coaches Jill Nugent and Jesse Driscoll.

We try to touch on many aspects of skill development within the format of our camp, and worked on adding some tools to the toolbox, working on 3 dekes above.

Tuesday's on ice focused on contuining to develop the principles of motion and support, and we noticed considerable improvement in the way the girls were playing the game as they incorporated these concepts into their game play in 3v3 and 4v4 play. We focused on the role of the pass receiver today, working on movement patterns where the receiver, if not available in the first support spot knew where to move next, what we call being an 'option more than once'. This improves anticipation skills in the player, as well as decision making options. We also introduced drills and games to foster the notion of moving away from pressure, and seeing where the pressure was coming from, and chosing a better alternative than moving right into it.

We had several college coaches stop by today to see the girls in action, as this is a very high end group of high school athletes and prospects.

The on ice games and challenges today saw Red take the points, showing the parity between the teams in camp!

Our off ice afternoon activity involved a challenge ladder in an Agility Ball competition. This is a training tool used by many top end athletes, including NHL players to improve athleticism and reactions, and the girls were introduced to that this afternoon. Here are some photos from the afternoon's competition! The finals was a great showdown between Shelby Moteyunas (NY) and Chelsea Goldberg (CA), and congrats to both for their great athleticism and entertaining competition!! 

We continued to work on team play, reading the cues the game presents, making good decisions and playing with good team shape. Emphasis is on supporting the puck carrier, and the players without the puck working harder than the players with the puck (and smarter)!

We worked on some odd # situations, including power play concepts.

The photos to the right show some of the movement drills we use to instill thinking and moving with a purpose.

Photos include players work on entries into the zone, the concept of stretching the ice,  moving east-west on the rink to support the puck and create better passing angles.  

 We often have teams in during the weekend of the camp, sometimes just for games, other times in organized summer tournaments. It's great to get the girls into some games while we can coach them to bring the ideas, skills and concepts we've been teaching into their games.

 On ice we continue to workto improve skills and refine the movement of the players and reading the cues of the game to make good decisions at speed. We ask the girls to get out of their comfort zones once they have perfected technique, all important parts of bringing their games to the next level.

Here U Wisconsin's Brooke Ammerman works on a challenge to coordinate hand and feet movement.

We had a great on ice session today, the girls doing a great job even though they certainly woke up on the tired side!!

On ice we continued to refine movement, support concepts within playing the game scenarios where we orchestrated movement patterns that the girls jumped into by making the right decisions on their own... an absolute home run!! We felt the day on the ice was the best day at camp, something rarely seen this late in a camp!! 

 Going home, always bittersweeet after meeting great new friends, spending time with special old friends, and having had 10 days of absolute summer fun!

Over the course of the camp we run a 'Stewbo', a friendly competition that is really a stroke of genuis! Introduced to it by one of our girls' dads who coaches after his NHL playing days ended, it raises competittive levels, helps to teach good habits and make ice time fun. We run Stewbo competitions during the camp, tracking on and off ice activities, always a ton of fun!

We hope to see you all again soon!