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Ice Hockey
Is Travel Hockey Worth It? Pros & Cons of It

Travel hockey is an option for those looking for more competition than they get from a local recreational league team. Teams hold tryouts for players so they can assess their skill level. However, there’s much more to consider with travel hockey than a players’ skill level.
Travel hockey is worth it, for those up to the physical demands, those who can commit to the rigorous schedule. Travel hockey also requires a lifestyle change for the entire family, and it’s a big financial commitment. Travel hockey demands discipline and dedication at an early age. For anyone that’s not serious about any of these things, travel hockey is not worth it.
How To Tell If Your Kid Is Good At Hockey? Look For These Signs

Whether your kid has been playing hockey for plenty of years or they’re just starting their journey, it’s a good idea to gauge how well they’re doing. When they’re doing good, they’ll be able to enjoy the experience and build on their skills. If you’re wondering how well your child is doing, you’re in the right place.
You can tell if your kid is good at hockey if they are good at puck handling, sharp turns, acceleration, and hand-eye coordination. Another invaluable trait is teamwork; Your kid should work well with teammates since hockey is all about passing and assistance. These are the fundamentals to look out for.
What Percentage of Youth Ice Hockey Players Make it to the NHL?

The reason most people play youth ice hockey is to one day fulfill the dream of playing the sport professionally. Rising from a young star to the top of the game is the lifelong goal for kids playing ice hockey at the youth level. But making it from a youth ice hockey star to a player in the National Hockey League is very difficult to do.
A player playing youth ice hockey has less than a 0.11% chance to play in the National Hockey League if they continue to play through high school from a purely statistical perspective. This is based on tracking 30,000 Ontario minor hockey players born in 1975.
What Are The Benefits Of A Shorter Hockey Stick?

Hockey sticks come in a variety of lengths and designs to suit player preferences. If the size and flex of the stick aren’t correct, then the risk of failure in performance is much greater. Therefore one needs to try out and test several lengths and sizes of sticks before they decide which one to purchase.
The benefits of shorter hockey sticks include easier handling and better puck control. Playing with them also makes it easier to have a bent posture for better balance and a faster pace. It is also easier for beginners to learn with shorter sticks as longer ones can get challenging to handle and control the puck with.
How Long are Youth Hockey Games? This Long!

Even though hockey’s origins are disputed, it has become one of the most well-known sports worldwide, with leagues ranging from ‘mini mite’ to professional. (Source: WAYHA) Whether your kid wants to become a professional hockey player, score the most points in a game, or be the fastest slapshot on a team, youth hockey is the place to start.
Youth hockey games last about an hour on average. Playing time varies in length from 36 minutes to 42 minutes, depending on the players’ age. However, tournament games are often set to three 12-minute periods due to the number of games being played.
Is There Checking in Bantam Hockey? The Truth Revealed

Hockey is a game notorious for its high level of contact between players, like body checking. Checking is considered legal in most professional hockey leagues, but the restrictions for such vary when it comes to lower levels of hockey. This leads many to wonder, is there checking in bantam hockey?
Checking is allowed in bantam hockey. They are allowed to check their opponents as long as it falls within the legal guidelines set by a national hockey league such as the USA Hockey or Hockey Canada organizations.
What Size Should A Hockey Stick Be For An 11 Year Old?

Whether playing on an ice hockey team or just some street hockey in your driveway, having the right size stick is crucial for ensuring the 11-year-old in your life is safe while they are playing! When measuring for a stick, it can result in difficulty playing or even injury if the wrong size is used.
The stick length recommended for a child in the intermediate age category, which spans from 11 years old up to 14 years old, is between 50” and 58”. However, the age group is less important than the child’s height, as this is what the stick length is based off of.
Should You Play Junior Hockey? Pros & Cons Over Other Sports

If you are a youth hockey player and are thinking about your hockey future, then you have likely given at least some consideration to joining a Junior Hockey team. After all, it is the goal of any young athlete to one day be a star in his or her sport, and many of the all-time greats of the National Hockey League got noticed by emerging through the Junior Hockey ranks.
You should play Junior Hockey if you enjoy the sport, and you understand that less than 1% of all hockey players go on to be professional stars. If you recognize this and are still willing to accept the hard work required for the trials of a hockey lifestyle, then playing Junior Hockey is a great choice.
Bullying In Youth Hockey: How To Deal With It

Bullying is an unfortunate fact of life when it comes to many youth sports leagues, and youth hockey is no different. Hockey is a historically rough and tumble sport with a history of allowing for (and even encouraging) violent competition and aggression between players. As a result, bullying is often present within hockey leagues, leaving kids in youth hockey leagues vulnerable to its effects.
Bullying in youth hockey should be addressed through monitoring, team building activities, and zero-tolerance policies. Figuring out when bullying is occurring and directly confronting the players involved is the only way to stop bullying at its source. Not doing so can have a severe adverse effect on the emotional and mental well-being of players.
Is the NCDC a Good League? Our Thoughts

As the first tuition-free junior hockey league in the Eastern United States, the National Collegiate Development Conference has worked tirelessly over the last three years to establish their name amongst ice hockey institutions and set themselves apart as a league who can turn junior ice hockey players into Division I seat holders. But is it all just too good to be true?
In our opinion, the players who dream of getting into Division I teams or the NHL from the NCDC have a much harder time than those coming from USA Hockey sanctioned leagues. The NCDC is a good league to help decent players play hockey for a few more years before going to college and then joining the workforce.