NEW WEBSITE AND TEAM & PLAYER STATS PAGES

WWFHA announces the launche of its new website on September 1st. The site features news, team details, information about the association, a calendar, registration and scholarship information, links to hockey resources and rinks, and more!

Check out http://www.wwfha.com for the latest in WWFHA happenings! Be sure to keep an eye on the calendar for the latest on practice and game times. Thanks to Daria Schubert for her efforts!

Also launched with the WWFHA website is an exciting new addition this year -- the Team & Player Stats pages where team stats, player rosters, news, photos, and information will be posted, as well as player profiles and individual statistics. Team and player stats will be archived by season and stats will be preserved for each player during their tenure while playing for WWFHA, including a tally of overall career stats! Check out the Team &Player Stats page by clicking here and keep an eye on the site in the next of couple weeks as player photos and information are added; check back weekly when game results are posted for each team. -- ZH

PHOENIX OPEN IN PORT ALBERNI

The Phoenix U-14 team’s season opened last weekend with a trip to Vancouver Island for the Port Alberni Female Hockey festival.  After a long car and ferry trip to Port Alberni, the Phoenix played Saturday afternoon.  The “car legs” or “summer legs” were evident as the Phoenix went down 2-0 early in the first period.  After a few shifts the Phoenix settled down into a competitive game, scoring late in the 1st to get it back to 2-1.  The Phoenix really started to come together in their season opener as the game progressed.  However, Port Alberni’s star forward was a bit too much for the travel weary Phoenix as she scored her fourth goal late in the 3rd to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 victory.

After the game, the Phoenix and the Bulldogs enjoyed a pizza party hosted by Port Alberni Minor Hockey.  That night the BCHL Port Alberni Bulldogs invited the Phoenix to their game against the archrival Nanaimo Clippers.  The Bulldogs presented Phoenix Coach Patrick Keaney with a pink Bulldogs Jersey in recognition of the Phoenix season dedication to Canadian hockey player, Mandi Schwartz, who is battling against acute myeloid leukemia.  The Bulldogs ended the feel-good day with an overtime victory, which sent a tired Phoenix team back to the hotel.

Sunday morning began with a pancake breakfast at the Female Hockey Festival.  The Phoenix players were then treated to a presentation by the director of BC Women’s Hockey on female player development and getting to the collegiate hockey level.  After that the WWFHA players met with Canadian Olympian Gina Kingsbury, of the 2010 Gold medal Team Canada – her second career Gold medal.

After the inspirational meeting with Gina, the Phoenix was ready to hit the “big” ice at the Multiplex.  They responded to the challenge of the day with a 2-2 tie in which the only thing that kept the Phoenix from a victory over the Bulldogs was some outstanding goaltending.  The Phoenix pressured their opponents throughout the game and outshot them in every period. The continuous pressure allowed the Phoenix to neutralize the Bulldogs’ star player late in the game.  The Phoenix players were almost able to pull out the win with 20 seconds left; however, the shot went just high of the crossbar as time ran out, resulting in a tie. -- PK

MANDI SCHWARTZ RECEIVES JERSEY PRESENTED BY PHOENIX

On Saturday night, September 18th, at the Port Alberni BCHL game the Phoenix U-14 team was presented with a pink Alberni Valley Bulldogs jersey with #17 Schwartz on the back.  Mandi Schwartz is a Yale women’s ice hockey player from Wilcox, Saskatchewan currently residing in Seattle to treat the acute myeloid leukemia she was diagnosed with in December of 2008. The WWFHA team has dedicated their season to her recovery by donning the #17 on their jerseys and naming Mandi as an honorary coach.

Phoenix defenseman, Stefani Wachter, presented Mandi with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs jersey, joking that this was “another Bulldogs” jersey for her collection.  It was not the first time that a Schwartz jersey has graces the Port Alberni MultiPlex, with Mandi’s brother Jayden participating in the U17 World Championships in 2009.

Despite Mandi just finishing another round of chemotherapy, she was right on top of things Monday night after the Phoenix draw against the Port Alberni (B.C) Lady Bulldogs -- drawing out practice plans with Phoenix defenseman Stefani Wachter. They reviewed skating drills and flow breakout drills that might help the girls in Orange this year when they head north again.

 Meanwhile, the Phoenix eagerly waits for Mandi to be able to take the ice and run a few practices with the team.  Until that time the Phoenix will continue to load her up with game film for her comments and analysis.

For more information on how you can help Mandi in her battle with leukemia, please visit www.becomemandishero.org -- PK

MONTHLY HOCKEY TIP

A key part to becoming a competitive ice hockey player is having a proper hockey conditioning program both during the season and the off-season. While nothing replaces on-ice conditioning, through either drills specifically designed for conditioning and/or by players pushing themselves at a high intense pace in each drill, off-ice conditioning is also essential for becoming an elite player.

Before a player begins any conditioning program they should work with their parents, check with their doctor, and ensure they work with certified conditioning professionals. Moreover, working with a professional knowledgeable in hockey-specific training will ensure that hockey players not only perform workouts with the proper technique, but also conducts the type of training that is designed specifically for the game of hockey. All conditioning programs are not created equal, nor are they designed for all sports. For example; training designed for football is vastly different than for hockey. Make sure you thoroughly research conditioning options and get a program that is specific for you and your sport.

USA Hockey also emphasizes that becoming an overall athlete is important in improving hockey performance and conditioning. Being a better athlete means better mobility, stability, speed (starting, acceleration, top-end, agility and quickness), muscle strength, muscle power, muscle endurance, aerobic power, aerobic capacity, anaerobic power and capacity, and body composition. Playing a variety of sports helps this, as does hockey-specific conditioning.

In a recent speech, the USA Hockey Women’s National Team’s Conditioning Coach emphasized the following hockey-specific training principles:

• Warm-up dynamically (meaning, through movement)
• Make core stabilization strength a top priority - Train movements – not muscles!
• Core means: no sit ups / pushups!! Focus on stability (stable spine) through static stability (example: hold the push up position and work up to 2 minutes vs. doing repetitive push-ups)
• Master body-weight first (ability to lift your own weight)
• Train with the feet on the ground (using no machines, limited seated exercises; take your shoes off as much as possible to train for better balance and stabalization)
• Train on 1-leg (exercises that incorporate 1-leg activities)
• Train on unstable surface (helps with unilateral stability, like on a skate; use a stability ball)
• Train FAST to be FAST (hockey is anaerobic power game; train the body for 40 yard spurts)
• Monitor your progress
• Keep it fresh, fun and competitive (change things up, work as a team)
• Emphasize regeneration (accelerate recovery & reduce injuries); included post-exercise stretches, self massage, and cold water immersion; Look into performance nutrition to help your body.

Ice hockey is an anaerobic, intermittent game 65% of the time and aerobic 35% of the time. The conditioning coach from the National team also said, “An average hockey shift involves 5-7 short bursts lasting 2-5 seconds. It is important to train your body off-ice in that type of environment for the best results on the ice. The USA Hockey Women’s National Team trains this way and the average player is 5’7” tall, 155 lbs, 14.5% body fat, has a vertical jump of 21” (vertical jump directly correlates with speed on ice so it is important to improve), has a long jump of 85”, can bench 98% of their body weight, and do 10 pull-up in numerous reps.”

Again, it is important to adopt a training program that is right for you and is created and monitored by a professional that knows how to set up a program for ice hockey athletes.

Where to start? Most NHL and collegiate hockey players use two main professionals:

• Mike Boyle - http://www.bodybyboyle.com/
• More pros use the Boyle method; however, only located in Boston
• Peter Twist - http://www.twistconditioning.com/ 
• Facilities located in Vancouver and Portland, OR

Otherwise, locally there are gyms that specialize in core-strength training such as:

• Cross Fit - http://www.crossfit.com/
• Locations from Bellingham, Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Renton, various Seattle locations and everywhere in between.

WWFHA does not sponsor or support the above mentioned businesses; however, mentions them as options to investigate. Whichever program you decide to engage in be sure to do your research so that you get the program that best meets your needs. -- ZH

ELITE ATHLETE PREPARATION – Honor the Game

As you work towards being a better ice hockey player, sportsmanship is vital part of your success much like being mentally tough or your off-ice conditioning program. When coaches talk about sportsmanship, or what it means to be a “good sport” you probably think about playing fair or not cheating. This is true and very important; however, in order to get the most out of each season and yourself consider that sportsmanship also includes “Honoring the Game.”

The following information about “Honoring the Game” and the “Roots” concept is from the Positive Coaching Alliance.

You can think that “Honoring the Game” goes to the ROOTS of the matter — R-O-O-T-S.
Each letter in ROOTS stands for an important part of hockey that we must respect.

•             The R stands for Rules
•             The first O is for Opponent
•             The next O is for Officials
•             T is for Teammates
•             S is for Self

R is for Rules - The rules of hockey are what allow us to keep the game fair. Respect for the rules is important, even when it’s possible to break them without getting caught. Play by the rules, even if you think you won’t get caught if you break them. Breaking the rules dishonors the game, even if it means that we win.

O is for Opponents - Without opponents, we could have no game. A good opponent makes us do our best. Sometimes your opponents are friends of yours and sometimes they are not. Respect your opponents, and remember they are out there to have fun, learn and get better just like us. Try your hardest to win, not because you hate your opponent, but because you want to play your best.

O is for Officials - It is very important to respect officials. Often, this can be the most difficult part of Honoring the Game, so remember to keep it as a focus when you play. Officials have been selected and trained to enforce rules, and they have a very hard job. Without the officials the game would be unsafe and unfair. Officials are not perfect (just like coaches, athletes and parents!) and sometimes make mistakes. However, there is no excuse for treating officials with disrespect when they make errors. Show respect for officials, even when you disagree with the call.

T is for Teammates - A big part of hockey is the team. Being with your teammates should be fun. Later in life you will often be part of a team, and it is important to learn to work together. You should feel a commitment to each other as teammates and that agree to always play as hard as you can in practice and games. Please encourage and support each other on and off the playing ice.

S is for Self - Some people only Honor the Game when their opponents do, but Honor the Game no matter what the other team or its fans do. Be the kind of team that Honors the Game even when others aren’t because we set our own internal standards. And we live up to them no matter what. We have so much respect for ourselves that we would never do anything to dishonor the game.

If you do these five things of “ROOTS”, you are “Honoring the Game” that you love, and you and your teammates will get the most out of our season and grow to be better athletes.

-- Positive Coaching Alliance, script for Honoring the Game; http://www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=161

COLLEGIATE HOCKEY PREPARATION ZONE

To play NCAA Division I or Division III Women’s Ice Hockey it takes several years of preparation both on and off the ice. This month’s article will focus on the high-level NCAA recruiting rules for student-athletes in their senior year of high school, since going to college is less than a year away.

First, seniors should already be registered in the NCAA Eligibility Center (may do this after the end of their junior year) in order you get your academic and amateurism certification. You should also ensure that your high school guidance counselor sends a copy of your transcript to the center. If you have not done this yet you should do this immediately regardless of where you think you will end up playing or not. The eligibility center ensures that you have taken the 16 core-course requirement in eight semesters, earned a minimum required grade-point average in core courses, and earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches the core course grade-point average and test-score sliding scale. (For example, a 3.000 core-course grade-point average needs at least a 620 SAT). The eligibility center can be found online at: http://eligibilitycenter.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.html

It is important to check The Guide for College Bound Athletes and the NCAA Toolkit online for more information and become intimately familiar with each section. The key areas for eligibility are:

• Academic Eligibility
• Amateurism Eligibility
• Certification Process
• Recruiting Rules
• Financial Aid

There are also several key recruiting or engagement rules to abide by when engaging with NCAA DI programs during your senior year, as indicated by the NCAA:

• You may receive recruiting materials from coaches
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense
• Coaches may call you once per week starting July 1 after your junior year
• You may make off-campus contact with coaches

- A college coach may contact you or your parents/legal guardians not more than three times during your senior year off the college campus

• You may make an unlimited number of Unofficial Visits

- The NCAA says: An Unofficial Visit is any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time. The only time you cannot talk with a coach during an unofficial visit is during a dead period.

• Official visits are allowed beginning on the opening day of classes your senior year. You are limited to one Official Visit per college up to a maximum of five official visits to Divisions I colleges.

-  The NCAA says: An Official Visit is any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. The college may pay all or some of the following expenses:

• Your transportation to and from the college; 
• Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college; and
• Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.
• You can have up to seven contacts and evaluations by a college coach during your senior year

For seniors working towards playing NCAA Division 1 you must also ensure the following for Academic Eligibility:

• When taking the ACT or SAT, request test scores to be sent to the eligibility center (the code is "9999").
• Complete amateurism questionnaire and sign the final authorization signature online on or after April 1 if you are expecting to enroll in college in the fall semester. (If you are expecting to enroll for spring semester, sign the final authorization signature on or after October 1 of the year prior to enrollment.)
• Have your high school guidance counselor send a final transcript with proof of graduation to the eligibility center.

The Division III schools have a slightly different set of rules. Review the list below and check out the NCAA website and The Guide for College Bound Athletes for more information.

• Recruiting materials
• A coach may begin sending you printed recruiting materials September 1 of your junior year in high school.
• You may receive printed materials any time.
• Telephone calls
• A college coach may call you once per week beginning June 15 between your junior and senior year.
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
• No limit on number of calls or when they can be made by the college coach.
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
• Off-campus contact
• A college coach can have contact with you or your parents/legal guardians off the college’s campus beginning June 15 after your junior year.
• A college coach is limited to three in-person contacts off campus.
• A college coach may begin to have contact with you and your parents/legal guardians off the college’s campus after your junior year.
• Unofficial visits
• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits any time.
• Official visits
• You may make official visits starting the opening day of classes your senior year.
• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Divisions I and II colleges.
• You may make official visits starting the opening day of classes your senior year.
• You may make only one official visit per college.

The above rules do not apply the ACHA non-varsity colleigate (club) teams, where you pay to play much like a youth hockey association, although ACHA teams do abide by most of the on-ice rules once you join a team and actually abide a stricter grade-point average than NCAA teams. ACHA teams do recruit and reaching out early to a coach of a school you are interested in is advisable as they may be able to meet you on campus, give you a tour and introduce you to the team – all beneficial in making your collegiate decision.

For more information on NCAA DI and DIII rules and regulations visit the NCAA website and check out the tool kits each division at: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Student-Athlete+Experience/Becoming+a+Student-Athlete/

To learn about ACHA teams and rules, visit: http://www.achahockey.org

Next month we will cover the steps and rules for Junior in high school, which is one of the biggest years for a student-athlete in their preparation to play collegiate ice hockey.  –ZH

-- NCAA, Becoming A Student Athlete; www.ncaa.org

PLAYER PERSPECTIVE

Each newsletter we hope to interview one of the players in the association and ask them about a hockey or non-hockey experience that has impacted their life. This month's interview is with Rowan Graham and her experience this summer at the Canadian Hockey Enterprises' Just for Girls Hockey Camp.

Rowan Graham plays for the Phoenix and is a 13 year old eighth-grader at the Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning. Rowan attended the Canadian Hockey Enterprises' Just for Girls Hockey Camp in Kelowna, British Columbia from July 26th through July 30th this summer. Joining her from the WWFHA organization was also Bailey Ingalls, Jasmine Schubert, Julia Takatsuka, and Nora Keaney.

Like most camps, Rowan’s schedule was: get up in the morning, stretch, morning ice session, off-ice dry land, and then an afternoon ice session; however, what made the camp special for Rowan was the opportunity to meet Megan Agosta and Tessa Bonhomme who both played for team Canada in the 2010 Olympics. 

When asked what Rowan learned from the Olympians she said, “I learned that every girl takes playing hockey differently. For example, Megan's method is work, work, work, whereas Tessa's attitude is that it's okay to goof -off a little and have some fun; however, every single girl on that team needs to be committed to hockey, sticks with their dream, and trains hard almost every day.”

The Olympians also brought their Olympic Gold medals for the campers to hold. Rowan was especially impressed by this year’s medals as they were wrapped in a square of fabric that had four different Native American drawings on it; each one of Orca whales. The whales were chosen to represent the Olympians for their athleticism and how they work together by traveling in pods. Rowan was told that the medals were a first of their kind – they not only were the heaviest Gold medals ever made, but they were also curvy in order to resemble waves. Each medals had a different patterns stamped in the gold and if you held two of the teammate’s medals up next to each other one would have the first part of the pattern and the other one would have the remainder. Rowan said, “Tessa even let us hold her medal and it was amazing!”

Rowan was impressed with the world-class Canadian and American instructors that were skilled and supportive as coaches. She felt that she improved in two main skill areas while at the camp – her slap shot and her overall skating. She said, “In my entire life I had probably taken about two slap shots before this camp, and I knew I wasn’t good at them. So, when one of the instructors asked me to show her ‘my slap shot’, I got a little worried. I swung at the puck, and missed!” It turns out, all I had to do was lower my bottom hand a little, and now my slap shot is great.”

She continued to say, “And in respect to my skating, I have been told by virtually everyone I’ve skating in front of that I need to bend my knees more while I'm skating, and I know it's true. The instructors at camp explained how bending your knees helped and I forced it upon myself. I guess when an Olympian tells you to bend your knees, you bend them! After that, skating just became so much easier when I bent my knees. My skating has much improved.”

While Rowan learned a lot from the camp on the ice in respect to improved hockey skills, what really made an impact on her was the emphasis by the instructors of the role that teamwork plays in successful teams. She said, “I learned how much teamwork is involved. You have to trust and rely on your teammates to be truly successful in ice hockey. It’s important to understand your teammates, and their way of playing so you can anticipate what they’re going to do and react.”

Rowan also learned a bit about herself at the 5-day, overnight camp as she explains, “I learned that although this camp was phenomenal and I loved it, I didn’t enjoy staying in the dormitories. For most girls it would be no problem and I thought it would be no big deal for me either; however, after just the first night I realized I wasn’t that comfortable in that sort of situation.”

The camp also provided a new challenge for Rowan, which she had to adapt to quickly.  She said, “For me the hardest part of the camp was our off-ice/dry land time. It was very hot in Kelowna and there was no shade since we were on a soccer field. Thankfully we had water, but being from Washington state I'm not used to a lot of heat. But we managed. Plus, the conditioning was helpful, effective and worth the effort to overcome that situation.”

All in all Rowan had a wonderful experience at the Canadian Hockey Enterprises' Just for Girls Hockey Camp and would definitely recommend it to other players. She said, “The camp would be especially helpful for beginners because you master all the basics and you are being taught by some of the best hockey players in all of Canada and the U.S. If you are more experienced, I would recommend the Elite group. In the Elite group, you focus more on technique and more advanced moves, and there's always room for improvement.”

For more information about the camp, ask Rowan, or visit: http://www.chehockey.com/just-for-girls-hockey-schools-camps

-- ZH

DO YOU HAVE YOUR WWFHA SIGN?!

The WWFHA roadside signs have arrived! Do you have one in your yard yet? If not, let us know. We are also looking for adult volunteers to put up the signs in the community. If you have a couple hours to put up a few signs or want one in your front yard, let us know!

Please zoeharris@yahoo.com if you would like to help get the word out so we can grow the association and serve more girls in the sport of ice hockey!

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS THRU WWFHA

Promote your business through WWFHA sponsorship packages. Get the attention from active and healthy family, friends and fans by promoting your business through WWFHA.  Get your company and logo seen on the WWFHA website, at games, or on jerseys. We are working to raise money to host ‘Learn to Skate’ session in order to get young female student-athletes out on the ice for the first time. 

Please contact zoeharris@yahoo.com with businesses that you think we can approach.

NOW ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Contact WWFHA if you would like to apply for a scholarship for the 2010-2011 season. Partial scholarships are now available to apply for and will be handed out on a case-by-case basis based on financial need. Look for application forms and requirements on the WWFHA website in the ‘Registration’ section. Contact cindydayley@yahoo.com for more information.

MAKE A GOOD PASS AND PASS THIS NEWSLETTER ON!

We encourage you to distribute this newsletter to as many people that may have an interest in female hockey, whether they currently play or may have interest in playing in the future. We thank you for your commitment to girls' hockey and your help in sharing news and information with others.

If you don’t already receive this newsletter directly from WWFHA and would like to, please send an email to zoeharris@yahoo.com. If you want to read past issues of the newsletter please visit the newsletter archive at www.wwfha.com.