On the Ice

USA Hockey’s first-ever 24-Hour Hockey Game, in which one 30-minute running-time game in each of the nation’s 50 states will be played consecutively beginning in Maine, will commence at 12 noon ET on Friday, Feb. 29.

“We’re very excited about the 24-Hour Game,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “February 29 has been designated as the worldwide day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation and our 24-Hour Game is a unique and fun way for us to be engaged in the celebration and also bring visibility to our great sport.”

USA Hockey’s 24-Hour Hockey Game will begin in Hallowell, Maine, at 12 noon ET on Feb. 29 (see complete schedule below). Hawaii and Alaska will both play a 30-minute running-time “overtime” game with the 24-Hour Game ending at 1 p.m. ET in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Saturday, March 1.

In Utah, a blended team of DCYHA Squirts and PeeWees will comprise the Stars team and the Stripes team. Our local event begins at 7:00 a.m. Saturday Morning at the South Davis County Recreation Center.

Players of all ages, backgrounds and skill sets will participate in the event. The mite (8 & Under), squirt (10 & Under), pee wee (12 & Under), bantam (14 & Under), midget (18 & Under), high school, junior, college (non-varsity), disabled, inline and adult levels of hockey will be represented, spanning across 100 teams.

In each state, one team has been designated as “Stars” and one team as “Stripes.” A national running score will be kept at the event website — 24HourHockeyGame.com.

What is the best caption for the above image? Submit your answers in the comments section below. Winner of the best response will receive an autographed puck and will be spotlighted in the next DCYHA newsletter.

Last month’s winner - Gus Erekson!

Your player has the puck and is breaking down the ice. It appears that he has a clear shot at the goalie but is penalized from behind. The referee’s arm shoots up signifying a delayed penalty. Will it be a penalty or a penalty shot? How can we tell? This edition of “Ask a Ref” looks more closely at the criteria that should be used in awarding a penalty shot.

The Penalty Shot - USA Hockey Rule 406 

This one is relatively straightforward and simple. The Basic Officials Manual outlines the five key criteria used in distinguishing between a penalty and awarding a penalty shot. In order to be awarded a penalty shot, all five of the following criteria must be met:

1. The player must be in possession and control of the puck. The key word here is control. For example, a player who shoots the puck slightly ahead in a controlled manner in order to skate faster is still considered in possession and control of the puck whereas a player who is trying to dig the puck out from between his skates while he is moving may not be considered to have enough control.
2. The player must be beyond his/her defending blueline.
3. There is no opponent present between the player and the opposing goalkeeper. (Note, the opposing defensemen does not have to be directly in the player’s path but simply between the player and the opposing goalkeeper.)
4. The player must be fouled directly from behind. an opponent who has an angle on the breakaway player and commits the foul from the side should be penalized, but no penalty shot shall be awarded.
5. The player must have been deprived of a reasonable scoring opportunity. (Note, a player who still has a reasonable scoring opportunity, even though fouled from behind, should not be awarded a penalty shot.)

Like most rules, these criteria are somewhat subjective and while USA Hockey does provide additional guidance on defining the terms “possession,” “control,” and from “behind,” (meaning outside of a reasonable peripheral view), the term “reasonable scoring opportunity” is left to the official’s discretion. By the way, you can download a complete version of the USA Hockey Rule book and the USA Hockey Rules and Casebook (much more detailed “what if scenarios”) from the USA Hockey Website.

EXTRA Credit

Did you know that a team is allowed to change goalies just for a penalty shot?

Did you know that in cases where the infraction would normally have resulted in a minor penalty, the coach of the non-penalized team can opt to have the penalized player serve a 2-minute penalty instead of taking a penalty shot?

You Make the Call

During a penalty shot attempt, the puck is shot over the goal, rebounds off the glass, hits the goalkeeper in the back and enters the goal. Should the goal be allowed? (Answer will be posted in the next DCYHA newsletter. Click here to subscribe.)

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Do you have a hockey question you would like to ask? Ask our Expert.

by Tim Bergquist

The most-used item in ice hockey is probably one of the least understood by the new hockey player. As players we use whatever stick we buy without giving much thought to how it’s design can make our game better or worse. Many players pick a stick because their favorite player uses that model, or because they like a certain brand, or because it looks cool.

While those are certainly things to consider when buying a stick, perhaps the most important is the pattern of the stick. We all see sticks with an NHL pro’s name on them, but what does it really mean? Yes, it’s patterned after the stick which a pro uses, but what do you really know about the stick pattern? Your favorite pro’s pattern may be just the wrong thing for you because it may not fit your personal size and style of play.

There are several key things that constitute a stick blade pattern: lie angle, curve type, curve depth, face angle, toe shape, and blade length. Each of these     aspects affects a player’s shot and passing. Here’s a bit more information about each of the factors that makes up a stick and how it might affect what you do with that little black biscuit.

Read the rest of the article:

January 18th will be DCYHA mite nite at the Utah Grizzlies. Our hometown heroes will battle it out with the Phoenix Roadrunners in game 2 of a 3-game home stand. Discount tickets are available through DCYHA so make sure you catch all the action and cheer on our amazing Mites during the first intermission. More Information

Announcement: Don’t miss our upcoming goalie clinic - Don’t miss our upcoming goalie clinic on January 30th at the SDRC (5:30 - 8:00 p.m.). More Information.

Playing goalie requires a special kind of player, very specific skills, strong determination and focus…and it helps to be just a little bit crazy.

But seriously, goaltending is a tricky area (one that usually contributes greatly towards winning or losing championships). Unfortunately, because 99% of goaltending focuses on one or two players on a team, there is rarely enough time to develop these skills in a regular practice.

In addition, most coaches have never played goalie, have received very little training on how to coach goaltending, and are usually overwhelmed by other aspects to really be able to pay proper attention to this very important aspect of the game.

In fact, most practices are unknowingly designed around the 18 “skaters” of the team with very little thought or time given to goaltending. Even worse, while a semi-circle “warmup” is great for players, it immediately throws a goalie into a very intense, physically demanding workout at the beginning of practice.

DCYHA is incredibly fortunate to have its very own coach just for goalies. Larry Nickels is a fantastic resource and has done a great job developing programs, conducting clinics, and providing support for this critical aspect of our game. He works with goalies individually and in group workshops throughout the season and is a tremendous asset to our organization!

Our own DCYHA Bantam Travel team skated away with another victory over the holiday season. Entering the local High School Christmas Classic in the Junior Varsity division, DCYHA went undefeated for another tournament win. Next up…Las Vegas Invitational!

The DCYHA Bantam Travel Team won the Predator Invitational Tournament in Provo at the Peaks Ice Arena on December 9. The team went undefeated over the weekend with 4 wins to clinch the championship spot.

The first game on Friday night was against the Salt Lake County Lightning, with the Wind coming out on top with a 6-2 victory. Goaltender Isaac Richardson was named Team MVP by the Lightning coaches for stopping several outstanding shots.

On Saturday morning, the team came out strong against the hometown favorite Provo Predators of TAHA. In a tight 4-2 competition, goaltender Taylor Nickels was named Team MVP by the Predators coaches for his skilled netminding. Brandon Pike, the DCYHA Travel Team’s point leader got a hat trick in the game, and 3 of the team’s goals were made shorthanded.

Sunday morning’s game against the Ogden Junior Wildcats was a hard-hitting, but lopsided 10-1 contest with Brandon Pike scoring another hat trick and taking home the Team MVP Award. This win clinched the number one spot for the championship round Sunday afternoon.

The afternoon game was a wild, momentum-change game with the lead swinging back and forth between the Wind Bantams and the Predator Bantams. DCYHA jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the game, to see it evaporate to a 5-4 advantage for the Predators. The Wind changed the momentum once again and came back with 3 more goals to make the score 7-5 with about a minute to go in regulation time. The momentum shifted again, with the Predators scoring two quick one-timer goals on crisp passes by their attacking forwards to tie the game with 6 seconds remaining. Regulation time ran out leading the two teams to a 3 man sudden death shootout. Jared Pike bagged a hat trick in the game with three strong goals.

The Predators shot first with their skater advancing slowly and putting a weak shot into Isaac Richardson’s glove - an easy save. DCYHA’s Brandon Pike - the team’s scoring leader for the weekend - took the first shot for the Wind, going for the 5-hole. The goaltender covered the shot easily, leading to the second round of the shootout. The Predator Player shot high to the blocker side, and Isaac Richardson made a tough blocker save, deflecting the shot into the corner. Next up for DCYHA was Dylan Duehlmeier, who made a strong deke to the goalies blocker side and shot low, only to have the goaltender read the shot and make a nice pad save.

The Predator player for round three made a low blocker-side shot which Richardson saved with his leg pad. The last player up for DCYHA was Andrew Bergquist. He moved quickly down the center of the ice, made an agressive head fake to the goaltender’s glove side, drawing him over and then shooting back to the open net on the goalie’s stick side clinching the win for DCYHA. Bergquist was awarded the Team MVP award by the Predator coaches for his tournament-winning shot

What is the best caption for the above image? Submit your answers in the comments section below. Winner of the best response will receive an autographed puck and will be spotlighted in the next DCYHA newsletter.