We actually didn’t even know that we were being evaluated until the results came in. So, we thought we’d let you know so that you can celebrate with us! HockeyMonkey is committed to continuing the practices and policies that won the EXCELLENT ranking in the first place. With customer satisfaction being a top priority and a strong commitment to fast and efficient order processing and a fair return policy, HockeyMonkey strives to be the first choice among players and coaches.

About STELLAService
Founded in 2009, STELLAService is an independent company that rates the customer service performance of online stores. The company has created the most robust evaluation methodology ever assembled — stress testing more than 300 different elements of the online customer experience.

Although fighting in the NHL has bumped up against its share of criticism, it is a considerable draw for some spectators. Fans expect it and the players deliver. While the NHL doesn’t really have its own version of boxing’s “tale of the tape”, we do know that the unwritten rules of fighting dictate that players only fight players of a similar size. Enforcers typically only fight each other, etc etc.

Check out these hockey fight statistics:

Ice Hockey

Hockey, by nature, is a rigorous sport that requires agility and stamina since the average hockey player will be on the ice a full 15-20 minutes during a 60-minute game. But simply playing during the season is not enough. Your off-season workout should incorporate cardiovascular training as well as strength and flexibility exercises to help with your endurance during the hockey year. A somewhat short 1 hour game will incorporate short, intense sessions of high-speed skating and aggressive body to body contact that cannot be mastered without continuous training.

Cardiovascular Exercise
Physically demanding sports, like hockey, can lead to serious injury if you are not in proper shape. Cardiovascular fitness during and after the season will help a player meet these stringent demands and will aid in the healing process in the case of injury. To establish good cardiovascular health, start with a 4 day a week workout regimen that concentrates specifically on the lower body for 2 days and the upper body for 1 day. Be sure to focus on strong aerobic exercises that really get your heart rate up. Exercise bikes or treadmills are great when used for at least 20 minutes at a time. Sprints will get your heart rate up to optimal levels while running for distance will increase your endurance.

Strength and Flexibility Training
A well-rounded workout routine also involves strength and flexibility exercises that will help prevent injury on the ice. Flexibility exercises stretch tight muscles and improve joints’ range of motion. Adults can start weight lifting 3 to 4 times a week, but children should only use their own body weight for their strength training (push ups, pull ups, etc). Be sure to take a day off between workouts for muscle recovery and rest.

Other strength and flexibility exercises: squats, jump rope, sprints, stair climbing, fast push-ups and power crunches.

Endurance Training
Training for endurance involves intensity and duration, much like that of a long distance runner. Endurance training is about training your body to endure long periods of intense exercise or other physical activity. It is also about training your muscles to continue working even after strenuous exercise. Endurance is key to your success in hockey. The quick bursts of action can quickly tire you out if you have not reached ideal endurance levels. There are three forms of endurance training: aerobic endurance, anaerobic endurance and speed endurance.

Composite in all the right places, this hybrid skate combines the lightweight structure of Easton’s Stealth skate with a fully heat-moldable Fusion Foam in the boot quarter for an ideal custom fit. The Synergy EQ5’s composite frame is strategically placed to optimize response and long-term performance consistency, while maintaining a balance of structure and fit.

The Synergy EQ5 utilizes thermally activated anatomical ankle foams and a felt-based tongue to enhance the overall comfort of the skate and give players an optimal fit, while its texalium composite outsole, highlighted by Easton’s Dry Flow™, sets the standard for moisture management. The stiffness of the boot offers the proper level of protection needed to keep you performing at your best.

FEATURES:
COMPOSITE ENERGY RETURN
A strategically-placed framework of composite reinforcement optimizes response and long-term performance consistency

HEAT MOLDABLE PERFORMANCE
Lightweight, fully-moldable Fusion Foam quarters form to your foot for a customizable fit

IDEAL-FIT SYSTEM
This fit system for Synergy® skates encompasses the foot with thermally activated, anatomical ankle foams and an extremely comfortable felt-based tongue

TEXALIUM COMPOSITE OUTSOLE
This new lightweight, stiff design adds composite power and Easton’s Dry Flow™ sets the standard for improved moisture management

HFT: fully moldable Fusion Foam plus Tepex® composite responsiveness
Ideal Fit™ EPE foam heel lock ankle
Light, stiff texalium composite outsole with Dry Flow™
Pro-style black felt tongue with flexible lace-bite protection

Check out the Easton Synergy EQ5 Hockey Skates!

Each manufacturer produces a skate that will feel a bit different, so you need to know your size in the particular make and model that you are interested in. Also keep in mind that a hockey skate boot is designed to fit tightly on your foot to reduce movement while on the ice.

When trying on skates, be sure you are wearing the socks you normally skate in. Avoid using two pairs of socks to compensate for incorrectly sized skates, socks do not provide enough of a cushion to prevent blisters or cramps. Skate sizes tend to run about a size to a size and half smaller than your shoe size (so a typical 7.5 shoe size will take a size 6 skate), but this range varies from person to person, so it’s important to try them on first. Older model Mission skates (2010 or before) tend to run the same as your shoe size, but many of those skates are already off the market.

For children who are still growing, the consensus is to make sure you can wedge your finger into the heel of the skate. This will give the player enough room to grow a bit without the skate being too big. You don’t want “wiggle room”, so just an index finger width in the back should do the trick.

For seniors where growing is not a concern, the skate should just fit your foot without much room to move. A loose-fitting skate can lead to blisters, cramps, discomfort and in some cases injury. This does not mean that you should be uncomfortable. Make sure that your foot is not squished or you will dread putting them on.

Keep in mind most skates can be baked to reduce the amount of time required for break-in and alleviate some of the pressure points. Most medium to high-end skates have certain materials that become pliable and moldable when heated. When the skate are heated and tied snugly around the skater’s foot, the materials form a customized fit. Baked skates should be allowed to set for at least 24 hours before the first use. Skate baking should NOT be used to make up for ill-fitting skates. Your skates should fit perfectly prior to baking them, baking will make the fit that much better.

Once the skates are on, you should stand up and lean back to position your heels as far back as possible. Lace the skates tightly, but be careful not to pull them so tight that you are cutting off circulation. Never decide on a pair of skates without lacing them first. Like with shoes, you want to walk around to be sure that the skates feel right and be sure to try on different styles of skates to find your most comfortable fit. When you lace the skates up and walk around in them, pay close attention to your heels. At no point should your heel lift from the foot bed, if you notice this it is likely that your skates are not sized correctly. If the skates have painful pressure points, then you should consider a different size.

If you are unable to find a correctly fitting skate for your foot, you may want to think about custom ordering skates. Custom skates can be more expensive and you may have to wait 6-10 weeks, but you can’t go wrong with the perfect fit should you be unable to find it with stock skates.

WHAT DOES D/AA, D, E, EE MEAN IN TERMS OF WIDTH?
While the width of the skate will vary by brand, you can use this as a general guide:

Standard Width
“D” or “R” (Regular): For narrow or average feet. Most players will fit in a standard width skate.

Wide Width
“W” (Wide), “E”, “EE” or “EEE”: For wide to extra wide feet.

WIDTH BY BRAND:
Reebok/CCM uses a very simple model of “D” for regular and “E” for the next widest and “EE” for the widest. They confuse things a bit with the D/AA classification, which is essentially a “D” width skate with a narrower “AA” heel.

Bauer/Mission also use “D” for regular and “EE” for wide, but they skip the “E” classification since Bauer skates tend to run more narrow in comparison to Reebok & CCM skates.

Easton now uses their own classification system, simply calling it “R” for regular and “W” for wide. You may see the “D” and “EE” system in older Easton skates.

What exactly is Dump and Chase?
With a standard rush, the player carries the puck with him across the blue line… but with the Dump and Chase, the puck is actually released into the offensive zone. This strategy is somewhat risky as it relies on the speed of the offensive player to get to the puck before the opponent does.

While this entire interaction may look like the offensive player is giving the puck away, the Dump and Chase is actually more calculated than that. When trapped, the player is going around the defense (rather than through them) in an attempt to regain possession. The defensive player is at a disadvantage since he is turned backward and the other offensive players have already lined up to regain control of the puck. If done properly, the advantage is definitely in the favor of the offense.

What are the risks of Dump and Chase?
The obvious risk with this play is that you lose control of the puck when you release it and you give the opponent the opportunity to regain possesion and set up their own scoring situation.

Another risk is that the Dump and Chase can easily turn into an icing penalty (See “Icing Rule Explained” http://site.hockeymonkey.com/blog/2010/09/10/icing-rule-explained/). When dumping the puck, you must do so from the opponent’s side of center. Just be sure that you skate up to the red line before dumping the puck.

How do I Dump and Chase?
To effectively execute the Dump and Chase, it’s a good idea to shoot the puck into the corner to avoid a return shot from the goalie. You want to be sure that you shoot lightly enough for your forwards to get to the puck before the defensemen, but with enough force to get the puck where you want it to go.

PRACTICE TIPS:
1. Practice at half speed until you get the move down
2. Don’t come in too hard and steep… you are more likely to be injured
3. Always shoot for the corner to avoid a goalie return
4. Practice shooting speeds… you don’t want to shoot too lightly or too hard
5. Make sure the offense can read your signs and are ready for the move
6. Avoid icing by skating up to the red line before the dump

Learning when and why to pass takes time for some players, but here are some tips to remember:
1. Do not take a shot just because you happen to have the puck.
2. Obviously, you first want to look for the shot, but if you don’t have one, you’ll need to look for a pass.
3. Make sure that your passes have purpose. You don’t want to move the puck just for the sake of passing.
4. If the recipient is no better off to make a move, then the pass loses its value.
5. Your target will be moving and so will you. Keep their speed, your speed and the speed of the puck in mind.

The following instructions are written from the perspective of a right handed player.
Use the forehand pass when your open teammate is on the opposite of your dominate hand (receiver should be on your left side if you are a right-handed shooter and vice versa). Otherwise, use the backhand pass.

FOREHAND PASS
For the forehand pass, be sure that you have proper grip on the stick. The top hand should be at the butt-end of the stick and your hands should be a forearm length apart with your shoulders up and knees bent. With the puck on your blade move both hands in the direction of your target. Be sure to keep your stick in contact with the puck, but avoid swinging your stick in an arc, which will cause you to release the puck inadvertently. Start with the puck behind your back foot and sweep the puck while shifting your weight from your back leg to your front leg in a pushing motion. With both the forehand pass and the backhand pass, your stick should follow straight through the line. Keep your stick low to the ice and sweep the pass (rather than shooting it) to avoid an airborne puck that will bounce and can be easily missed.

BACKHAND PASS
The backhand pass is similar to the forehand pass except that it is made using the backside of the blade. For the backhand pass, be sure that you have proper grip on the stick. Place your right hand midway down the stick with your left hand at the butt-end. Start with the puck behind your back foot and sweep the puck, keeping it on the middle straight section of the blade close to the shaft. Rotate your wrist so the blade tilts slightly over your puck. Shift your weight to the leg closest to the puck.

Regardless of the type of pass, be sure to keep your eyes on your target. Your arm can then follow your line of sight to achieve your goal. Also remember that your target is moving, so your eyes should actually be on the spot they will be in when the puck reaches them not where they are when you start the pass. Keep their speed in mind as well as the speed of the puck.

Most parents are very supportive and try not to complain. Furthermore, most issues are non-issues and have a way of working themselves out over time. If you are well-organized, coaching well, are modeling great sportsmanship and your teams are competitive, you won’t hear many complaints.

Many parents are simply misinformed, don’t really understand the game or just love to complain. The bigger issue is usually the “player agents”… akin to stage moms. These parents believe that their child is special and have a career ahead of them and their agenda is far from hidden. Regardless of which type of parent you’re dealing with, there are steps to improve the parent-coach relationship. After all, it’s supposed to be about the kids, right?

Disagreements between a parent and coach typically begin when the parent believes that their child is not on the field enough, but a fair amount of problems involve disagreements with coaching style or competitive level of play. Playtime is by far the top complaint. Parents want to see their child play as much as possible. Unfortunately for you as a coach, you have a team full of kids whose parents would love to see their child playing a good portion of the game. You also have to do your best to ensure a win or your coaching style will be called into question. Some days it would seem that you just can’t win (and with some people, you just can’t. Try not to dwell on that).

TREAT PLAYERS WITH RESPECT
This rule needs to be the basis of all interactions. This will go very far in helping your cause when there is an issue. If your players feel respected, they will respect you. Hot tempers are often the result of feeling disrespected. Respect also needs to be paid to the parents, even the angry ones. The way you treat people will more often than not alleviate much of the frustration that caused the parent to confront you in the first place. Respect is easy to spot and don’t think for one second that these parents aren’t watching your interactions.

DON’T FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE
As with respect, learning how to coach self-confidence into your players will dispel much of the impending conflict. More than anything else, parents want their child to play their best. They want them to exhibit confidence in who they are and their ability even if their child is not the best player on the team. You don’t want your players to feel belittled or unworthy.

Being a coach is an awesome responsibility. You have self-esteem in your hands and it can grow under your care or it can be shot down very quickly. You should be reinforcing the idea that, while everyone wants to win, the important thing is that everyone do their best.

THIS IS YOUR TEAM… ESTABLISH THE RULES AHEAD OF TIME:
Now that we have coaching style dealt with, let’s discuss the importance of setting rules and boundaries. This should be done before the season starts. If possible, call a meeting before the first practice (definitely before the first game) and explain what you expect from parents and what they can expect from you. Remember that many of these parents and players have worked with other coaches and they may come into the season with pre-conceived expections. Parents and players will come into the season with pre-conceived expectations. If you, as the coach, do not articulate what the expectations should be for your team, the parents will use their uninformed expectations as the standard by which you are measured. You want to emphasize that your rules are non-negotiable, but that you are willing to keep the door open for discussion.

Be sure to open the discussion to hear their concerns as well. By getting everyone’s expectations out up front, you can understand their position and assure them that you will do your best to make sure that everyone has a good time. Let them know what type of behavior and attitude is expected and accepted.
Describe your goals for the team, your coaching style, and how your style will help the team attain the goals. Explain to both the players and parents how you will determine play time and how much emphasis will be placed on winning games. Set these expectations early, but don’t stop there. Include parents in a little pre-game pep talk in which you go over the team’s goals and expectations. Keep this short and be sure you’re not singling anyone out.

Even when you set player and parent expectations up front, there inevitably will be times when conflict arises and it is important to have a conflict resolution policy in place to reduce the emotional impact and maintain the team’s positive attitude.

USE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP PARENTS UPDATED
These days, it’s so easy to keep the lines of communication open. Set up a Facebook (and.or Twitter) page for your team and post updates as needed. Not only will this cut out many of the calls you get about schedules and events, it also becomes a place where parents can express concerns in a neutral setting. If you are having a recurring issue that isn’t a hotbed topic, bring it to the forum and get input from the parents.

RESOLVE CONFLICT WITH CIVILITY
As a coach, making yourself available for discussion with the player and parent (an open door policy if you will) goes a long way to keeping anger at bay. Be sure that parents feel comfortable approaching you, but not so comfortable that they begin to invade. The open door policy allows you to resolve issues as they come up without them boiling over and exploding later on.

Many coaches prefer a player managed policy in which parents don’t get involved in issues, but rather allow the player and coach to hash things out on their own. Obviously, this type of conflict resolution is reserved for middle school, high school and college when children are able to make thought out decisions on their own. With this style, it is the player’s responsibility to voice their grievance. Coaches that successfully use this policy listen to the player’s concern to understand the underlying issue but also know the best communication method to reach each player.

Every coach, regardless of how effective their communication style is or how passionate they are about coaching, will have player and parent conflicts. If you are prepared for it, the whole process will go much smoother and any disagreements can be worked through in an effective manner. To keep any misunderstandings down to a minimum, set the expectations early in the season, let both the player and parent know how and when they can approach you to voice their concern, and then listen to them and agree to a resolution path. Calm heads and open communication will lead to a successful season for all involved.

Cartoon by Randy Glasbergen