I have been taking lessons at a sports training center called Athletic Republic. Athletic Republic has an outstanding workout program specifically designed for each athlete’s sport, including hockey. This place has an extremely rare device, the hockey treadmill. It is a treadmill made of synthetic ice that allows you to perfect your stride, increasing speed and form. The hockey treadmill can go up to 16 miles per hour and can tilt up to 36 degrees. Only a handful of people in the world can do 16 miles per hour at 36 degrees. The tredmill works for everyone. Well unless you cand do 16 miles per hour at 36 inches for 12 seconds if you can I am sorry and this review was a waste of your time for, but you are likely already in the NHL, so don’t worry about it. Athletic Republic also has a sheet of  synthetic ice for targeted shooting drills. These lessons allow me to work on skating technique, shot power & shot accuracy in a state of the art manner. I also do plyometrics.

“Plyometrics (also known as “plyos”) is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, providing explosiveness for a variety of sport-specific activities.”

I was amazed to see that in a few short weeks my shot and aim as well as my skating power and speed has improved dramatically. The saying over their door is true,

“Today I will do what most athletes won’t, Tomorrow I will do what most athletes can’t”

Visit Athletic Republic at www.arocspeed.com

I have had several lessons with a coach, here in Southern California, named  Ben Frank. Ben is originally from Toronto. he has had an outstanding record in hockey and a passion for the sport that is contagious.  I have done six lessons with him and while I started as a non scoring, decently quick, not well positioned, hockey player. I am confident today because I am able to make top shelf corner shots, I skate as fast or faster that anyone else on the ice in my division, and I seem to be in the right place at the right time. I am pleased to write about him here because I think other players could benefit from his tips and helpful support of their ambitions. He is one of the best coaches I have ever met and also one of the nicest.

Coach Ben has taught me many things over the time i’ve known him and those things have allowed me to excel. Like a overspeed drill I have learned from him which allows you to get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to be as fast as possible. From this I learned a few tricks that have really improved my speed. If you are a young player, or know a young player who is tired of being just another player, I suggest you talk to Ben, he has the experience to take your game to the next level

THANKS BEN!!!

Learn more about Ben Frank at: www.BenFrankFockey.com

I was one of the many players who started frantically searching for a travel hockey team on June 25th. My mom, my dad and I were going to rink after rink all weekend. Sunday we were even up at 4:30am to make an early tryout in Artesia! We would drive from one rink to the next, and just sit there and relax in the car when we had time between tryouts. This was the most boring part of the series of tryouts. Even though sometimes those breaks did actually help. They helped when I was tired from tryouts and wanted just to relax which, was often.

In between tryouts I would sometimes go in hallways at the rinks and shoot a ball into the air. This seemed to be the only thing that I was able to do for a little break from the tryout stress. The sad thing was, it got pretty boring shooting a ball into the air repeatedly. Even though it was enjoyable to begin with it could have been better. Plus, when kids joined me I got mad at them for not listening or for making it competitive when competitive was exactly what I was trying to get away from.

For some reason tryouts felt as if I was trying out for the same team over and over again and again. The same drills, followed by some scrimmage time, repeat, repeat, repeat. Even though the tryouts were repetitive I decided to still try my hardest. Eventually this made time go by faster. I was happy after every tryout, whether I made the team or not, because it was done.

I tried out for the Beach City Lightning and turns out I was the only one there except for the coach because the first tryout was invite only and never posted on their website. One of the great side effects of being the only one there, the coach let me skate on the ice all by myself for a few laps. An entire sheet of ice all to yourself is something only pros usually get to do, it was fun. I did some one on ones with the coach and power skating and other simple stuff but he also taught me new things. After the tryout he said he wanted me on the team but he had to find enough players. Beach City held another tryout a couple days later. I knew every kid that tried out, either from other tryouts of from my old tournament team.

After the tryout, as we left the ice, we were handed letters explaining whether we had made the team, been cut or asked to tryout again. We then went back in the locker room and read my letter. I am now a member of the Beach City Lightning PeeWee B team. The next day I was still so very, very happy. That day seemed to be one of the happiest days of my life.

Tryouts are not really done. We still have to finish filling out our roster and the coach likes me to be there for that. But for me the stress is over… Until the season starts.

Yesterday I  was at Westminster Ice to try out for The Rinks Tournament Team. I got there early and decided to do stick time, which was a lot of fun and a great way to warm up.

Eventually I signed in and then had to wait till it was time to do the tryout.  I was sitting on a bench waiting for it to start when I remembered the last time I tried out for the Tournament Team. I didn’t make the team and I felt miserable but when I got home I put on my gloves and stick threw done a puck and started stickhandling. I was not going to let that happen again.

Then it was time to go on the ice and tryout this time I was prepared, I would not be denied again, I was sure of it. We did some drills and  the most important one came at the very end,  the “3 on 3″ drill. I don’t know why its always at the end but you have to prove that you want the puck and that you can score plus you have to use everything in your arsenal or you don’t make the cut.

After the 3 on 3, Coach Hutch called us over and listed the names who aren’t going to make the team, he said a couple names then he stopped and said congrats to all of you who didn’t get there names called and good luck in the tournament.

It took a second to sink in, He didn’t read my name!

I made the team!

After a moment of silence in memory of former Ducks’ GM Brian Burke’s son Brendan, who died Friday, the Ducks and Kings renewed their battle.

The Ducks we’re looking to extend their 9 game home winning streak and also for payback after a tough loss to the Kings Thursday in LA. The Kings were looking to extend their franchise record 9 game winning streak by defeating Anaheim for the 4th time this season. With a 9 game streak coming to an end either way, fans were expecting a great game. They got one.

The game started with the Ducks dominating, but it was the Kings’ Oscar Moller who scored first at 12:31 of the first period. The Ducks answered at 18:30 when Teemu Selanne put a rebound past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick on the power play. The power play goal tied Selanne for 10th on the all time PP goal list.

The 2nd period started like the 1st, with the Ducks coming out strong. This time it was the Ducks who scored first when Ryan Getzlaf scored 3:27 into the period. Two minutes later Getzlaf got tied up with Kings captain Dustin Brown and left the game with an ankle injury. Ducks center Saku Koivu put the Ducks ahead by 2 at 6:24. The Kings scored at 18:06 making it a one goal game. A comeback was not going to happen for them because the Ducks scored just 24 seconds later when Corey Perry scored a sweet goal shooting the puck past Quick from the faceoff circle.

The third period was back and forth with both team having good scoring chances and both goalie making some amazing saves. But the Ducks would not let the Kings score again and the Ducks won their 10th straight home game. the Ducks tied a franchise record for straight home game wins and ended the Kings winning streak.

It was a very good game by the Ducks and one more step towards making the playoffs. There are just 3 more games before the NHL takes a  two week break for the Olympics, where the Ducks have an NHL leading 9 players playing. Getzaf is “day to day” and is expected to play in the Olympics for Canada. Canada and the Ducks need Getzlaf if they want to win.

I have finished reading The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Book One. This is the start of the Percy Jackson series written by Rick Riordan. I was given this book by Bradley Smith, Thank you Bradley!

This book has a great plot. It was full of suspense, had some surprising twists and left me wanting more. It is exactly what a first book in a series should be. in my opinion the plot is the best part of this book. I hope the rest of the series can stay at this level.

The Lightning Thief is set in modern day New York, Long Island to be precise. Rick Riordan describes this setting in a way that makes it easy to picture in my head. I felt like I could almost see the lunch tables at the boarding school in the opening of the book.

The characters in this book are well developed. It is easy to understand their purpose and motivations. I like the way that they interacted with each other, it seemed very realistic. I also liked the way they resolved the problems they encountered.

Overall I would give The Lightning Thief a 9 out of 10 rating, because nothing is perfect, but this book is pretty close. I would recommend this book to friends but think it is best for ages 12 and up. It is 375 pages long, which might be a bit much for younger readers, plus the story has some advanced grammar.

Monday night the Ducks played the Calgary Flames at Honda Center. They had a good rivalry when the Ducks eliminated them from the playoffs in 2006 and they had one of the biggest bench clearing brawls in NHL history, so you never know what to expect when the Ducks play the Flames.

Getzlaf Scores (AP Photo)

This was a very weird game. Calgary scored first at 13:44 of the first period, former Ducks prospect Curtis Glencross scored on a breakaway, assisted by Olli Jokinen and Cory Sarich. But the ducks fought back, first Bobby Ryan scroed with an assist by Corey Perry at 15:47. This was Corey Perry’s 15^th game in a row getting an assist. Then at 16:55 Ryan Getzlaf made it 2-1 Ducks with an assist by supreme Sushi-Chef, Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski.

There was no scoring at all in the second period but a lot of penalties. Overall I though the Ducks had the better period. After two period Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, looked very good, and seemed to be playing like the Giguere we all remember.

The Ducks held their 1 goal lead until late in the third period when Calgary pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Jerome Ignila scored to tie the game with just 18 second left in regulation. This surprised Ducks fans who were all on their feet and excited for the victory.

It was time for the five minute, 4 on 4, sudden death over time. Overtime is always exciting. The overtime wads a back and forth battle with neither team managing to score. This game was going to be decided in a shoot-out!!!

Ducks Goalie Giguere held all three Flames shooter scoreless and Selanne scored on his attempt to make the final score 3-2 Ducks in the shootout!

After the game my Dad and I along with my cousin Hayden went down to the glass to try and get a stick from one of the players. My dad lifted me onto his shoulders as they announced Ryan Getzlaf second star of the game. Getzlaf skated from the bench towards us, as he got close he saw me on my dads shoulders, and signed his stick before handing it over the glass to me. I held it over my head as the fans nearby cheered and told me “good job”.

Ducks met the San Jose Sharks, Saturday night at Honda Center. This was their first meeting since an embarrassing Ducks loss to the sharks in their home opener. The Sharks were also looking for some revenge after being eliminated by the Ducks in the playoffs last season.

When the game started there seemed to be some obvious penalties judged by the crowd’s reaction but nothing is called by the refs. After a the first period passed with no goals it goes into intermission.

The Ducks were looking to change things in the second period and they did at 1:20 with a goal by James Wisniewski, assisted by Koivu and Whitney. Sadly the Sharks would tie it up at with Ryan Clowe scoring at 8:08 with an assist by former Duck defensman Kent Huskins. Then the Sharks scored again on a power play goal by first year Shark Danny Heatley, assisted by “Jumbo” Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau at 10:54. I was hoping the Ducks could come back and they answered my request at 19:46 with a goal by Whitney, assisted by Perry and Anaheim Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer.

The third period was a back and forth battle with both teams looking for the go ahead goal. It was the Sharks who made it happen at 8:49 when Heatley scored his 2^nd of the night, assisted again by Thornton.

That would be the final goal of the game as the Ducks had problems getting possession of the puck long enough to pull Jonas Hiller from goal for an extra attacker. Ducks lose 3-2.

I have to say even though the Ducks lost it was a very entertaining game because it went back and forth from the Ducks leading and then the Sharks leading giving them the win and their revenge sadly. At no time did it seem like the Ducks were out of it.

When the Ducks meet the Sharks again I hope they get their turn for revenge for this loss. Whatever happens, Ducks vs. Sharks is always a great rivalry game.

The Ducks were looking to get back on the right track following a disappointing road trip when they took to the ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday night at Honda Center.

Corey Perry (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The first period started quickly with the Ducks putting pressure on the Lightning right away. As a result, the Ducks got an early lead with a goal by Teemu Selanne off a great cross ice pass by Ryan Getzlaf at 6:25 of the first. It was his 11^th goal of the year and 590^th of his career. At 18:12 Selanne returned the favor with a nearly identical pass to Getzlaf to make it 2-0 Ducks going into the intermission. That assist by Selanne also ties him with Peter Forsberg for career assists. Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski left the game during the 1^st period after injuring his right foot blocking a shot.

3:10 into the second the duck’s Mike Brown and Tampa’s Zenon Konopka fought to the joy of the crowd. Soon after, Ducks left wing Bobby Ryan was cut above his right eye on a high stick by Tampa’s David Hale. Bobby returned to the ice to score on the 4 minute penalty to Hale at 6:52, before returning to the bench so the trainer could tend to his still bleeding eye. But Tampa Bay wasted no time responding. 31 seconds after Bobby’s goal, Tampa’s Jeff Halpern made it 3-1. Steven Stamkos made it 3-2 just 18 seconds after that. The Ducks were able to regroup and and hold off Tampa to take their 1 goal lead into the 3^rd period, but Todd Marchant’s tripping penalty at 19:59 would mean the Ducks started the 3^rd on the penalty kill.

In the 3^rd, it was Tampa Bay who got off to a quick start, Martin St. Louis scored on the Power play just 1:38 into the first making it a 3-3 tie. At 15:46 of the 3^rd the Duck’s Corey Perry took a very bad penalty for tripping Steven Stamkos behind the Tampa goal. But the Ducks were able to kill off the penalty to force overtime.

Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone quickly took his own bad penalty when he cross-checked Ryan Whitney right in front of the referee just 11 seconds into overtime giving the Ducks a 4 on 3 man advantage. Ducks fans know what 4 on 3 means for the Ducks. Scott Niedermayer will prove why he is one of the best player sin the game. Just 41 seconds after Malone went to the box, Scott did exactly that, scoring the game winning goal with assists by Selanne and Getzlaf. It was Scott’s 13^th career overtime goal, making him 5^th all time for OT goals.

Next up for the Ducks, their division rival San Jose Sharks on Saturday at Honda Center. The Sharks are a much harder opponent than the Lightning and that game will be a a real challenge.

When the Ducks and Coyotes meet it’s always a heated division rivalry.

After being suspended for two games for his brutal hit on Phoenix Coyotes Captain, Shane Doan, Ducks Defenseman James Wisniewski returned to the ice Saturday to face, yes, the Coyotes.

It didn’t take long to see some action. This time it was on the scoreboard when Teemu Selanne scored on the power play from Scott Niedermayer and Ryan Whitney at 2:49.

The score stayed 1-0 until 12:44 in the 2^nd period. This time it was Bobby Ryan again with an assist by Niedermayer. 2-0 Ducks. Then again at 17:07 Corey Perry get’s it done with assists by Ryan Getzlaf & Coyote killer James Wisniewski. Ducks take a 3-0 lead into the 2^nd intermission.

When the third period commenced, the Ducks again scored quickly. Mike Brown buried one at 3:31 putting the Ducks up 4-0. But Phoenix who started the season as one of the hottest teams in the league, were not going to go down without a fight. At 6:27 Keith Yandle of the Coyotes scored unassisted, ending Ducks goalie, Jonas Hiller’s  shutout streak at 117 minutes. It didn’t take long for the Coyotes to score again, 38 second later Scottie Upshall scores making it 4-2 Ducks. Then at 14:36, Shane Doan himself scores making it 4-3. The end of the game is stressful as the Coyotes pull their goalie for an extra attacker to try and send the game to overtime. But the Ducks hang on to win 4-3.

That’s 2 wins in a row for a Ducks team that had started the season poorly. Let’s hope there is more winning to come.

After the game, Ducks winger Bobby Ryan was on the radio show. My sister Haili and I went down to watch the show and get Bobby’s autograph. Bobby knows my sister by name, because he is friends with former Duck, Drew Miller who knew Haili well and visited her in the Hospital. Bobby is always nice and both of us got our stuff signed.

Haili even got some advice as Bobby left, “Stay out of trouble Haili”.

Pretty funny when you think about her unfortunate habit of breaking bones.

I also gave Bobby a note telling him to visit my blog.

Hi Bobby!