HOCKEY WEEKLY JULY 20, 2011 Vol. 37, Issue 24 $2.00 HW TRYOUTS INSIDE! 10 PAGES, 200+ SKATES! www.hockeyweekly.com YOUR #1 AMATEUR HOCKEY CONNECTION No turning back Hockey Weekly photos by John Castine Above, from left, MAHA Coach-In-Chief Jack Witt, MAHA Attorney Steve Stapleton, Parliamentarian Maurice Henderson and MAHA Executive Secretary Kerin Wear tally the votes for the proposal that made the ADM principles mandatory at the 8 and Under levels in Michigan. At right, MAHA Wes Danielson Award winner Tyler Anderson is presented the award by MAHA Director-at-Large Larry Johnson. HW Editor Paul Harris’ stories and more coverage of the MAHA Summer Meetings are on Pages 3, 5, 8 and 25. Red Wings in training At right is action from the Red Wings prospects camp, which was held July 7-14 in Traverse City. left to right, in front of the net during a no-defense drill on goalie Evan Mosher are Mitchell Callahan (65), Brooks Macek (50), Sebastien Piche (54) and Jake Chelios (77). HW Editor Paul Harris’ column Is on Page 4. Hockey Weekly photos by John Castine BenefitBenefit forfor injuredinjured coachcoach -- SeSeee HoHockeyckey UUnitniteedd,, PPageage 77 2011 MAHA SUMMER MEETINGS HOCKEY WEEKLY JULY 20, 2011 PAGE 3 ADM 8U proposal passage ripples across Mich., MAHA By Paul Harris Hockey Weekly Editor Repercussions were already being felt only a few days after the long talked-about and long-debated American Development Model proposal was passed at the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association’s 50th Anniversary Summer Meetings, held at the Grand Traverse Resort July 7-10. The proposal, which makes the ADM principals mandatory at 8 and Under levels in Michigan, got three more than the neces- sary two-thirds of the MAHA directors’ votes (39-16) on July 10 in a roll-call vote, after being amended several times. The most contentious issue of the pro- posal is that it mandates almost exclusive half-ice and cross-ice play for Mites (7- and 8-year-olds). The debate has split MAHA – the District 4 Council ran ads against the proposal in Hockey Weekly – and had sparked a threatened movement from MAHA Hockey Weekly photos by John Castine to another governing body by many if the From left, Wyandotte Warriors Hockey Association President Lee Shifflett gives his opinion on the ADM principles proposal. Standing to ADM proposal passed and families didn’t his right are District 3 Director Brian Garves and Novi Youth Hockey Association President Bob DeSpirit. have the choice to allow their Mites to play National champion coach Joe Smaza discusses the pros and cons of ADM on Page 25 full-ice hockey. District 4 Council Chair Rick Rogow had year) teams. But the 2004 teams were wait- But just after the vote in Acme, which is no comment after the vote. But the next ing to see what MAHA did before.” near Traverse City, USA Hockey ADM day, an organization called Hockey When everything shakes out, he says he Regional Manager Bob Mancini was obvi- Michigan had its website – www.hock- thinks he’ll have more than 20 teams. ously happy the proposal was passed. eymichigan.org – up and run- Kloock said he’s also getting “Now we can take up the challenge of pro- ning. interest from Mite B coaches. viding the best program for the kids,” he Hockey Michigan is the orga- “I don’t have any comment,” said nization that has been put MAHA’s President George Kloock disagrees with that, at least where together by longtime Trenton Atkinson said. “It’s been pretty 8-year-olds are concerned. coach Keith Kloock, who has quiet since Sunday.” A longtime member of the Trenton been against limiting 7- and 8- But there was also more strife Hockey Association, Kloock actually start- year-olds to cross- and half-ice from within MAHA. ed District 2’s Michigan Half-Ice League, hockey. Hockey Michigan is a In a letter to the editor to which features three-on-three half-ice governing body that is an alter- Hockey Weekly (see Page 5 for games for Mini-Mites (6 & Under) and native to MAHA. Instead of the full letter), Dale Buss, St. younger. He started the league before USA being an affiliate of USA Hockey Clair Shores Hockey Hockey originally announced the ADM and – which MAHA is – Hockey Association coach, Travel rep was formerly a member of the MAHA ADM Michigan’s national governing and ice convener, expressed out- committee. body is the Amateur Athletic Keith Kloock rage at the District 3 Directors He resigned during MAHA’s Annual Union (AAU). who voted for the proposal after Winter Meetings in Southgate last winter “I’ve got quite a lot of people expressing assuring the district’s association presi- because of differences over the original pro- MAHA President George Atkinson knows interest and wanting information,” Kloock dents – who were against it by a wide mar- that people have a lot of questions about said. “I know where I stand with 2003 (birth gin – they would vote against it. See MAHA, Page 8 the proposal that was passed. Speaker doesn’t pull any punches about parents, coaches By Paul Harris entertained by her child’s participation in Hockey Weekly Editor hockey. With his British accent, knack for saying “I ask you, exactly who are those rules what’s on his mind and razor-sharp tongue, for?” he asked at the MAHA meetings. “I bet Dr. Steve Norris might remind many of tele- a great majority of them have nothing to do vision chef Gordon Ramsay. with children.” But Dr. Norris isn’t concerned about He also pointed out that many great ath- recipes or fixing failing restaurants, but letes, before they were teenagers, were main- with the age-appropriate development of ly trained by either creating their own space young athletes. and regimen – Tennis legend Bjorn Borg hit- Dr. Norris, who is a physiologist with ting thousands of balls off his garage every the Canadian Olympic Program, was the day – or just playing with their friends where keynote speaker during Saturday’s general all of the kids gather – kids in African coun- meeting at the Michigan Amateur Hockey tries who develop incredible skills by just Association Summer Meetings, which were playing soccer in a field every day, some- held at Grand Traverse Resort July 7-10. times with an improvised ball, urban youths And while many have been convinced in the United States who play basketball on that the American Development Model a court every day and Canadian kids playing principles is the best way to develop hock- street hockey. ey players, Dr. Norris’ presentation is defi- “Adults need to get a life. Stopping chil- nitely the most compelling argument for dren from having fun,” Dr. Norris said. “It’s the ADM. pathetic.” The basics of the ADM is the scientific He also spoke during the ADM committee data that there are certain age windows that meeting later in the day. youngsters best learn and develop the vari- ous athletic abilities. Hockey Weekly Photo by John Castine Briefly And with the vote on the ADM 8U propos- Dr. Steve Norris during his presentation at the MAHA General Meeting makes his pitch in Former District 3 Council Chair Jim al coming the next day, that age group was favor of the ADM half-ice mandates for 8 and under players. Cosgrove was elected MAHA Executive Vice the focus of his presentation. But he also President to fill the year left on Sal touched on all levels of youth development. athletic learning has to be while they’re He asked why she didn’t like that system for Giacalone’s term after he resigned recently. “Every kid coming though a youth sys- having fun and continually moving … her child and her answer was that it was bor- Cosgrovedefeated former Immediate Past tem ought to be able to say two things,” Dr. without the rules of traditional games. ing for her and she wasn’t entertained. President Mickey Jesue, MAHA Disabled Norris said. “1) I had a great time and 2) I He told a story about talking to a mother When Dr. Norris asked but what about your Director Carol Schwanger and District 7 learned a lot.” who didn’t like the half- and cross-ice child, her response was she was the one Council Chair Mike Corso in an election And for 8 and Under athletes, much of that games and stations of the ADM principles. paying the bills, so she deserved to be that took two ballots. 2011 MAHA SUMMER MEETINGS HOCKEY WEEKLY JULY 20, 2011 PAGE 5 Ralph Bammert and Judy Niemi present the 35-year service Bob Yohe (left) receives MAHA's prestigious Donna Piper presents the Earl Piper Coach of the Year Award to award to Dave Wiitanen (middle). Kellogg Award from Ray Kraemer. Glenn Patrick (left) along with Gordon Bowman. 2011 MAHA AWARDS Spina bifida hasn’t slowed Danielson winner WES DANIELSON AWARD By Paul Harris Dan recalled that even when his brothers Tyler Anderson Hockey Weekly Editor were playing soccer in the front yard, Tyler Tyler Anderson has participated in sports would wind up being the goalie in his KELLOGG AWARD for his entire life. wheelchair. Bob Yohe In addition to playing hockey, basketball Always a Red Wings' and Grand Rapids and soccer, the 20-year-old Grand Rapids Griffins' fan, Tyler started playing Sled resident and student at Grand Rapids Hockey when he was 11. EARL PIPER AWARD Community College also skis, plays ten- “When I had the opportunity to play, I fig- (COACH OF THE YEAR) nis, kayaks, snowmobiles and cycles.