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Home , 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Captain (ice hockey), Darryl Sutter, Jonathan Toews, Mark Parrish, NHL Entry Draft

Jeff Hawkins THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Jeff Hawkins

‡‡‡ Lerner Publications • Minneapolis 2 –CG12/1/15 Manufactured intheUnited StatesofAmerica Hawkins, Jeff. ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Library Content Consultant: MarkParrish,12-year NHLveteran www.lernerbooks.com. For readinglevelsandmoreinformation,lookupthistitleat Minneapolis, MN55401USA 241 FirstAvenue North A divisionofLerner PublishingGroup,Inc. Lerner PublicationsCompany of briefquotationsinanacknowledgedreview. permission ofLerner PublishingGroup,Inc.,exceptfortheinclusion thepriorwrittenphotocopying, recording,orotherwise—without transmitted inanyformorby anymeans—electronic,mechanical, this bookmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem, or of Internationalcopyrightsecured.Nopart All rightsreserved. Copyright ©2015byLerner PublishingGroup,Inc. 796.962'64—dc23 GV847.25.H39 2015 Juvenile literature.I.Title.  1. Hockey—Juvenileliterature.2.Professional spor ISBN 978–1–4677–4729–5(EBpdf) ISBN 978–1–4677–3847–7(lib.bdg.:alk. paper) Includes index. Playing prohockey/byJef pages cm.—(Playingprospor

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CONTENTS ı

CHAPTER ONE RESPECT IS EARNED 4 ı CHAPTER TWO ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı CLIMBING THE RANKS 14

CHAPTER THREE

STAYING ı ON TOP 22 CHAPTER FOUR

STAYING

STRONG 32 CHAPTER FIVE AVOIDING ı INJURIES 40 ıı ı CHAPTER SIX THE BACKSTOP 48 Train Like a Pro 58 Hockey Equipment Diagram 59 Glossary 60 For More Information 61 Source Notes 62 Index 63

ıı

ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı CHAPTER ONE ı ı ı RESPECTı IS

5 EARNED

ııııııııııııııııııııııı ı ıııııııııııııııııııııııııııııı ı

approach to the game. the to approach ı respect of fellow players with his work ethic and humble humble and ethic work his with players fellow of respect

ı the earned Toews Jonathan center Blackhawks

player, “ Serious” never acted like it. like acted never Serious” “Captain player,

had to improve. And though he was a standout standout a was he though And improve. to had

teammates and friends could see the focus he he focus the see could friends and teammates

work ethic while growing up in Canada. His His Canada. in up growing while ethic work

in the NHL. Toews had been known for his his for known been had Toews NHL. the in

Jonathan Toews to show he belonged belonged he show to Toews Jonathan center

It did not take long for Blackhawks Chicago for long take not did It

and respect for the game. the for respect and requires a smart approach, a strong work ethic, ethic, work strong a approach, smart a requires

the NHL. To maintain a long career in the league league the in career long a maintain To NHL. the ı

into the boards. It takes special talent to play in in play to talent special takes It boards. the into

turnover. One wrong move can result in a check check a in result can move wrong One turnover.

and strong. One wrong play can result in a a in result can play wrong One strong. and

the (NHL) are big, tough, tough, big, are (NHL) League Hockey National the ockey can be a brutal game. Players in in Players game. brutal a be can ockey H ı

ı ı The Blackhawks noted his talent and his approach to the game. So the team selected Toews with the third pick in the 2006 NHL Entry . He debuted for the Blackhawks in October 2007. The decision to pick him quickly paid off. Toews scored his fi rst NHL on his fi rst . Overjoyed, he immediately raised his hockey stick in ı celebration. His new teammates mobbed him. The Blackhawks had known Toews was a special player when they drafted him. Fans quickly caught on. Toews

excelled on the ice. He had 24 goals and 30 assists in

64 games that . Toews also proved to be a natural leader. That showed when his Blackhawks teammates

ı voted him captain for the

2008–2009 season. The

captain is usually a veteran Captains Are with a lot of experience. in Charge Toews was just 20 years old. Being named team captain is a No Blackhawks captain had ı ı ı big deal in hockey. That player ever been younger. But Toews wears a C on his jersey. He is proved he was up to the task. the only player allowed to speak Toews made the All-Star to the referees about rules. And Game for the fi rst time the captain is a team leader. He in 2009. Then he did the is often the team’s most visible ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı player to the public as well. impossible. The Blackhawks Teams also have two alternate had been miserable for most captains. They wear an A on their of the previous decade. They jerseys. The alternates perform had made the just the captain’s duty when the once since 1997. Fans were captain is not on the ice. starting to stay away from

6 Blackhawks home games. Behind Toews, Chicago reached the playoffs again in 2009. Then the Blackhawks won the in 2010 and 2013. Chicago had become a big-time hockey town

As the Chicago Blackhawks’ team captain, once again. was the fi rst player to lift the Stanley Cup after the team’s victory in 2013. A Blue-Collar Sport Hockey is one of the most popular sports in North America. However, professional hockey players have long been known for their humility. The best players are often the hardest-working players. Showboating is frowned upon. And anything less than full effort is unacceptable. Players learn this approach from a young age. Hockey is an intense sport. A typical shift on the ice is less than one minute. Players are expected to go full

Respect Is Earned 7 speed throughout each shift. Hockey is also a physical game. Players get checked and sometimes even fi ght on ∂ the ice. A player who is not going all out is more likely to get injured. And a player who showboats is more likely to be targeted by opposing players. Hockey coaches emphasize hard work and teamwork as players climb the ranks. Most hockey players develop outside of the spotlight. They play in front of small crowds in high school or junior leagues. The top prospects have to sit on long bus rides and carry their equipment just like everybody else. Players learn to trust their teammates while also taking personal responsibility for their actions. Born in Canada Today’s NHL teams play in fancy arenas on ice maintained by machines. But the sport began outside on natural ice. ı As such, the sport’s development occurred mostly in the colder cities of North America. Modern Quotable hockey was invented in Canada “Everything [Jonathan Toews] in the 1800s. The Stanley Cup does presents [him] as the also originated in Canada. Many ultimate player. . . . Jonathan impacts [the] locker amateur hockey teams were room. . . . He is the playing there by the 1890s. So consummate player.” Lord Stanley of Preston, the — Kings coach governor-general of Canada, and former NHL player purchased what is now known as the Stanley Cup. The Cup was fi rst awarded to the amateur

8 ı º

ı ı

ı ı

, battle against the in white The Maple Leafs, The Toronto Rangers during the 1940 . Finals. 1940 Stanley Cup Rangers during the New York

champion of Canada in 1893. The competition for the competition for in 1893. The of Canada champion years. It eventually over the Cup has changed Stanley from and teams teams to include professional expanded ı ı

ı º

ı ı Glossary affiliated: when two independent things have a relationship

amateur: unpaid. Amateur athletes cannot earn compensation for their performance.

assist: a pass or passes that directly lead to a goal. A limit of two ı assists can be awarded per goal. body check: the act of a player bumping or slamming into an opponent with a hip or shoulder

crease: the area in front of the goal. Opponents cannot obstruct the goalie in this space.

dynasty: a team that wins many championships over a short period of time

endurance: the ability to perform for an extended period

face-off: the act of starting play when a referee drops the puck between two opposing players

junior: a stage of hockey for players ages 16 to 20. Many junior ı ı leagues exist in the United States and Canada.

off-season: the time of year when a league is inactive

: an illegal action in a game that results in time spent in the penalty box ı ı prospect: a young player with potential to play in the NHL rookie: a first-year player in the NHL

superstition: an irrational belief or practice

veteran: a player who has lots of experience

60 ı

For More Information ı http://www.hhof.com Learn all the facts and study the stats of the Hall of Famers, ’s greatest players. Kennedy, Mike, and Mark Stewart. Score! The Action and Artistry of Hockey’s Magnificent Moment. Minneapolis: Millbrook Press, 2011. This book tells readers all about scoring. It includes stories of iconic goals as well as goal-scoring technique. ı Morrison, Jessica. : Greatness on Ice. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2011. This biography tells the story of Wayne Gretzky. Many consider him to be the best NHL player ever. National Hockey League http://www.nhl.com

Visit this site for updated information on the National Hockey League. USA Hockey http://www.usahockey.com This site has all the information on USA Hockey programs around the country. ı ı

61 ı Source Notes 8 Tim Sassone, “Blackhawks MVP? It’s Got to Be Toews,” Daily Herald (Suburban Chicago), April 18, 2013, http://www.dailyherald.com/ article/20130418/sports/703189550. 25 Hooks Orpik, “When It Comes to Superstitions, Leads the Way Here Too,” SB Nation: Pensburgh, May 8, 2013, http://www.pensburgh.com/2013/5/8/4313966/when-it-comes-to ı -superstitions-sidney-crosby-leads-the-way-here-too. 31 Barry Meisel, “Dueling Goalies Roy, Vanbiesbrouck Are Keys In Wales Finals,” Philly.com, May 6, 1986, http://articles.philly.com/1986-05

-06/sports/26049966_1_john-vanbiesbrouck-patrick-roy-rangers. 33 Jon Finkel, “Windy City Warrior,” Muscle & Performance, March 2010, http://www.muscleandperformancemag.com/departments /profile/2010/3/windy-city-warrior. 34 Ibid.

37 Ibid. 37 Jeff Angus, “An Interview with Fitness Coach Andy O’Brien,” Angus Certified, October 26, 2012, http://www.anguscertified.com/an -interview-with-fitness-guru-andy-obrien/. 39 “Sidney Crosby Hosts the Best Pick Up Game. Ever,” Sidelines, ı August 1, 2013, http://sidelines.sportsblog.com/post/132852 /sidney_crosby_hosts_the_best.html. 44 Rachel Blount, “Suter Thrives Playing ‘Crazy’ Minutes for Wild,” Minneapolis StarTribune, May 3, 2013, http://www.startribune.com /sports/wild/205902451.html. 46 Ibid. 54 Kevin Woodley, “NHL Goalies Weigh In after Trying New Smaller ı Pads,” InGoal Magazine, August 24, 2013, http://ingoalmag.com /news/nhl-goalies-finally-get-to-try-out-new-smaller-pads/.

62 ı

Index Berard, Bryan, 41–42 junior hockey, 8, Plante, Jacques, 57 ı 16–18, 20, 21, positions, 50 captains, 6 23 college hockey, 18–19, Quick, Jonathan, 49 20, 21 Kane, Patrick, 13 Roy, Patrick, 31 Crawford, Corey, 54 Lundqvist, Henrik, Crosby, Sidney, special teams, 28, 30, 53–54 23–26, 37, 39 44, 46 minor leagues, 21 Stanley Cup, 7, 8–11, Duchene, Matt, 34 ı 13, 25, 31, 39, dynasties, 11, 12 NHL Entry Draft, 6, 49 13, 18–19, 20, fighting, 42 superstitions, 25, 31 23, 41 fitness, 33–38, 50, Suter, Ryan, 44, 46 NTDP (National Team 53–54 Sutter, Darryl, 8

Development Gretzky, Wayne, 31 Program), 18 Toews, Jonathan, 5–7, nutrition, 34 8, 33–34, 37 history, 8–12 , 11 workouts, 28, 30, injury prevention, Ovechkin, Alex, 20 33–38, 39, 54 42–47, 54 ı ı

63 About the Author Jeff Hawkins is a writer who resides in Huntersville, North Carolina. Hawkins is a former award-winning sportswriter who covered the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks (2003–2006) and United Hockey League’s Adirondack‡‡‡ IceHawks (1999–2003). A native, Hawkins grew up a fan of the Red Wings.

Photo Acknowledgments The images in this book are used with the permission of: © Robin Alam/Icon SMI, pp. 3 (top), 13, 32–33, 42–43, 54–55; © Dustin Bradford/Icon SMI, pp. 3 (middle), 20; © David Hahn/Icon SMI, pp. 3 (bottom), 52–53; © Marc Piscotty/Icon SMI, pp. 4–5; © Michael Tureski/Icon SMI, p. 7; © Bettmann/Corbis p. 9; ©IHA/ Icon SMI, pp. 10–11, 40–41; © Mark LoMoglio/Icon SMI, pp. 14–15; © Leon T. Switzer/ Icon SMI, pp. 16–17; © Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI, pp. 19, 22–23; © Nick Turchiaro/Icon SMI, pp. 24–25; © Paul McKinnon/ Shutterstock Images, p. 27; © Minas Panagiotakis/Icon SMI, pp. 28–29, 45; © Icon Sports Media, p. 31; © Russell Lansford/Icon SMI, p. 35; © Bill Streicher/Icon SMI, pp. 36–37, 39; © Ric Tapia/Icon SMI, p. 46; © Shelly Castellano/Icon SMI, pp. 48–49; © Chris Williams/Icon SMI, p. 51; © Harry Cabluck/AP Images, p. 57; © Brad Rempel/Icon SMI, p. 59.

Front cover: © Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images; © Valentina Razumova/Shutterstock.com, (stadium lights).

Main body text set in Eurostile LT Pro 12/18. Typeface provided by Linotype.

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are totally worth it. worth totally are

But for those who reach the pros, the long hours and hard work work hard and hours long the pros, the reach who those for But

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all, connect on your checks, outskate your competitors, and and competitors, your outskate checks, your on connect all,

punishing job. Millions of people are expecting you to give your your give to you expecting are people of Millions job. punishing

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