HOCKEY WEEK MA L RCH Y 2, 2011 Vol. 37, Issue 15 $2.00 Hw w w . h o c k We y w e e k l y . c o m TRYOUTS INSIDE! 12 PAGES, 250+ SKATES YOUR #1 AMATEUR HOCKEY CONNECTION HAPPY IN THE HOOD There was a lot of celebrating going on at Hockey in the Hood 7. At left, a Pee Wee B Kensington Valley Destroyers’ player jumps with joy; at right, Wasilla (AK) Bantam goalie Ben Spencer rejoices. Both their teams won their respective divisions at the annual event, held at Detroit’s Jack Adams Arena. HW Editor Paul Harris’ story and more pictures are on Page 3. Hockey Weekly photos by Rena Laverty A Capital sandwich The Lansing Capitals’ Kyle Loridon (19 in red) battles for the puck with the DC Capitals’ Brent Lafayette (14) and Michael Chen (4) in an 18U game during the North American Prospects Hockey League Playoffs at the Troy Sports Center. HW Editor Paul Harris’ story about the AAA NAPHL and more pictures are on Page 5. Hockey Weekly photo by Rena Laverty SSIIGGNN UUPP FFOORR DDEETTRROOIITT SSEELLEECCTTSS TTRRAAIINNIINNGG CCEENNTTEERR -- PPAAGGEE 22 PAGE 2 HOCKEY WEEKLY MARCH 2, 2011 2011 Detroit Selects Training Center Detroit NHL Instructor has been named for 2011 - Mark Ciaccio Mark Ciaccio was our first NHL instructor when we launched Detroit in 2009. He works as the power skat - ing instructor for the Phoenix Coyotes. We are excited to get Mark back to Detroit. He is a joy to have around and the kids and parents will love him. DO YOU THINK YOUR KIDS WILL LEARN FROM MARK? The Pros do! Sign up Today at the following link: http://www.selectshockey.com/sign-up.php Mark with some of the Legends of NHL Hockey. From left are Doug Sulliman, Grant Fuhr, Mark Ciaccio, Wayne Gretzky, Ulf Samuelsson. • Saturday/Sunday Sessions to allow Cougar families more time to enjoy their summer. • 7 individual team skill practices, 10.5 hours of ice. • 6 hours of professional off ice training at 5 Star Hockey. • 3 day Elite Camp. Friday session includes 1.5 hour on ice and 1 hour off-ice. Saturday 2 ice sessions & 1 off-ice, stick handling, meals/drinks. Sunday 1 ice session. • 4.5 Hours kick off clinic with NHL professional coach on ice instruction. • 21 total hours of professional on ice training. • National skill level evaluations allowing players to work on areas in need of development. Here is Mark working with Peter Mueller. • Professional coaching staff. • Positive learning environment. • Fundraising opportunities. • Improved Tournament opportunities for all levels of play. Mark Ciaccio working as the power skating instructor with the Phoenix Coyotes. www.greatlakeshockey.co m Last Chance Spring Shootout Hockey Fights Cancer March 18-20 A p r i l 1 5 - 1 7 May 20-22 MARCH 2, 2011 HOCKEY WEEKLY PAGE 3 Hockey in the Hood 7 accomplishes goal despite obstacles By Paul Harris At left, a Hockey Weekly Editor Columbus The theme of the seventh Hockey in the Ice Hockey Hood was “Hockey Is for Everyone,” and Club player that was certainly the case … even a goalie tries to who plays barelegged aside from his pads score and hockey pants. against the The tournament’s last contest, at Detroit’s Jack Adams Arena on Feb. 20, fea - Allen Park tured the above-mentioned goaltender – the Huskies Wasilla (AK) Wild’s Ben Spencer - shutting Squirt B-2 out the Bantam B Novi Panthers 2-0 in the team in the Bantam championship game. Hockey in And though this year’s edition of the the Hood tournament that featured 21 teams from Squirt both minority-based organizations and sub - Champion- urban Detroit-area organizations had chal - ship game, lenges – the economic situations of the which City of Detroit Recreation Department and Columbus the Detroit Hockey Association, the death won, 6-1. of tournament organizer and DHA President Will McCants’ mother the day before Hockey in the Hood 7 and an inoperable Zamboni at Southwest Detroit’s Clark Park only days before the tournament – everyone agreed it was a success. Hockey Weekly photos by Rena Laverty “I think we changed a lot of people’s view of Detroit,” McCants said. “I really believed it was a festive atmosphere … Having the suburban teams here, they all said it was great.” That includes Pee Wee B Kensington Valley Destroyers’ coach Bob Harde, whose team won the Pee Wee championship with a 7-2 win over Columbus (OH) Ice Hockey Club in the title game. Harde said he entered the tournament at the last minute, after talking to parents, after getting an e-mail from McCants ask - ing for additional teams. Above is action from the Pee Wee title “It was awesome!” Harde said. “It’s fan - game between the Pee Wee B Kensington tastic, it really is. I’m going to make it an Valley Destroyers (white jerseys) and the annual event for my team.” Columbus Ice Hockey Club. Below, a Already scrambling, McCants’ load was Columbus player celebrates after scoring increased significantly by the death of his one of his team’s two goals. mother in Toronto. But he had no thoughts of canceling the tournament because his mother was a huge hockey fan – and would not have wanted him to do that – who faithfully followed the Montreal Canadiens. Even on her deathbed, McCants said, his mother talked about the Canadiens. Hockey in the Hood, which ran from Feb. 18-20 – which was also Hockey Weekend Across America – also featured outdoor games at Clark Park. However, that venue was in jeopardy the pre - vious week because its Zamboni broke down. But two neighborhood businesses came to the rescue. “We had some donors come up with some money,” Clark Park Coalition President Above, a Detroit Dragons player gets up off Anthony Benavedes said. the ice ahead of a Midget B St. Clair Central Auto Parts donated the necessary Shores Warriors' skater in the Midget parts and George Campbell & Sons championship game, which was won by installed them. That was a value of about Detroit 6-1. $400, according to Benavides. So the games went on at the outdoor rink, At right, Alaska goalie Ben Spencer is located just off I-75 at the Clark St. exit. about to cover the puck with a Bantam B Spencer, Wasilla’s goalie with no hockey Novi Panthers' player on his doorstep in socks, only wears something on his legs the Bantam title contest. Spencer earned a when he plays or practices outside. And 2-0 shut out win. even then, he only wears pajama pants. Spencer says one of the reasons he plays finals. Perfect,” Lanam said. barelegged is that he has an injured growth In Sunday’s other championship games plate behind one of his knees and he can’t Columbus beat the Allen Park Huskies have surgery on it until he is 18. Squirt B-2 team 6-1 for the Squirt title and Wasilla coach Greg Morrison said the the Detroit Dragons, coached by McCants, association only sends its Bantam team on beat the St. Clair Shores Warriors 6-1 for the long journey from Alaska to Detroit for the Midget crown. Hockey in the Hood each year because of the Briefly expense of the trip and because of a reward Clark Park’s Zamboni is once again in for kids who continue to play hockey. He working order but its is still over 35 years old. added fundraising is done the entire year to Benavides said the Clark Park Coalition finance the trip. would likely soon start a fundraising drive Novi Panthers’ coach Scott Lanam said for a new Zamboni. his team looked forward to playing the Anyone wishing to donate for a new squad from Alaska. Zamboni, or donate equipment for the kids “We got here and saw they weren’t in our of Southwest Detroit, can contact division but we end up playing them in the Benavides at 313-841-8534. PAGE 4 HOCKEY WEEKLY MARCH 2, 2011 Wings’ 5-game winning streak snapped in loss to Sharks he Red Wings had been playing great Jiri Hudler picked up a holding penalty said. “He stops in front of the net to battle defensively and were on a season- with 20 seconds left in the opening period for the puck and that’s how he scored his Thigh five-game winning streak until WINGS against the Sharks with the game scoreless goals tonight.” running into the San Jose Sharks on Feb. after the pressure, icing and lost face-off. It Cleary has thrived on a line with Pavel 22, at Joe Louis Arena. only took Joe Thornton 12 seconds to put Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler, who assisted on The previously tight defense loosened BEAT in a loose puck from just outside the crease both of Cleary’s goals against the Sharks. and, as a result, Detroit suffered a 4-3 loss to for his 300th career goal. “They’ve been excellent,” coach Mike a Sharks’ team that was hot itself. San Jose By Paul Harris Devin Setoguchi scored his first of two Babcock said. “They’ve been working. won its fourth straight and was 13-3 in its goals, which broke a 2-2 tie, with 1:17 left Their legs are going and they’re competing last 16 games. in the second period. hard. When you do that you have a chance to “They got a good team; talented forwards, RED WINGS “Any goal late in a period, the team that be successful.” big and strong, scores the goal gets a little boost of confi - and they’re good STATS dence and the other team kind of goes down Good run for Bertuzzi on the cycle, they a little,” Thornton said.