Kukla's Korner Hockey
Next entry: Sinden Another Senior Consultant Option
Previous entry: Canes Still Looking For A Center
The Art Of Decking An Opponent
by Paul on 07/14/07 at 08:13 AM ET
Comments (2)
from the Pioneer Press,
Thursday night, about two dozen players ages 12-18 paid $50 apiece to learn from the Boogeyman and his protégé, Aaron, his youngest brother and a former Wild prospect now under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The kids learned how to leverage their strength when decking an opponent, protect themselves against punches from various angles and condition their bodies for the physical play that is the cause of, and solution to, the NHL’s identity crisis.
The second “Derek Boogaard Fighting Camp,” which includes T-shirts splotched with blood-red dye, was staged inside a stuffy miniature rink with boards, glass and plastic ice.
added 12:07pm, from Russo’s Rants,
Trevor Lakness, who runs Puckmasters and first had the idea for the Boogaard’s to run the camp, has received several complaints from parents about the Boogaard’s teaching children how to fight.
The Drew Remenda Show on CJME has also received calls from angry parents referring to it as a “Goon School.”
Boogaard, however, says he’s not trying to teach kids how to fight or “hurt people.” He feels fighting is inevitable in hockey and he’s trying to teach these children how to defend themselves and not to get hurt.
Filed in: Hockey Related Stories | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
Out on the pond, on the streets, and in the tennis courts those of us who couldn’t quite crack the varsity team played on, there were and are no refs. You do what you have to do to win battles for pucks and take guys out of the play, and if that involves hacking, whacking, clutching, or grabbing, so be it. If you go over the line, play stops, guys protest, and they talk out your penalty.
Fighting...A little self-defence is necessary if you’re headed to play junior hockey, where guys will try to pummel you to stand out to scouts who’re offering Major Junior spots or scholarships, and it most certainly has its place in professional hockey as a deterrent.
I can see that, but if some yutz wants to drop ‘em in a senior league, you need to learn one and only one thing--how to defend yourself while that yutz is tossing ‘em, and that doesn’t necessarily mean learning how to punch. It means learning how to get leverage, drop him on his butt, and skate away. All you need is a good slew-foot.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/14/07 at 10:05 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
NHL Needs To Set A New Standard
Yzerman Likes Chemistry Between Players For Team Canada
Pat LaFontaine Is Still A Difference Maker
About KK Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
Hockey Links
I don’t have a problem with fighting in the NHL. I even enjoy watching it and believe it does serve a purpose and have a place there. I’m not as convinced that the same is true in youth and junior levels of hockey. Those players aren’t super-rich stars and league enforcement is probably much more effective at policing the game than is fighting.
It’s a rough game and some tempers are bound to flare at every level of play, even in “non-contact” leagues, but I think teaching and institutionalizing the NHL style of fisticuffs to youths and junior players is a bad move. Leave those fights to the pros.
Posted by false_cause from DC on 07/14/07 at 01:31 PM ET