Hockey Journals

Hockey journals are a great way to record past events such as practices, games, camps, and tryouts during your hockey career. Many things can be recorded, such as feelings, accomplishments, strategies, health habits, goals, etc. It is a positive way of remembering and reinforcing things you have done that day.

I would suggest a "hockey" or "practice/goal" journal as an everyday thing.

Content

Anything you write in your journal is personal preference. It should be positive and constructive, but not negative in any way. It is a place to write down your true thoughts and perhaps to help yourself get a healthier mindset with your progress. 

           Suggestions:

• Goals
• Thoughts
• Feelings
• Improvements
• Solutions
• Accomplishments
• Strategies
• Health habits

I always write down how I felt I did and what I thought I could improve upon as well as health habits every once in a while.

Format

Any format is just fine! Bullet points are easy and quick, but if you prefer to write journal-style in paragraphs, then that is your personal choice. 

I always use bullet points in an outline format.

The Actual Journal

Something that is small or that you can keep with you may be the best option for someone who wishes to write in their journal right after a practice or game, etc. If you plan on writing in it later at home, any size would work. 

Don't be afraid to get creative with your journal! It's supposed to be fun and constructive. Maybe you'll buy a plain journal and end up decorating it. Or maybe you'll purchase one that has crazy designs already there. Either way, find something that is good for you and that makes you want to keep journaling.

That's another thing. In order for this journal to be useful to you in the future, it is very important to be consistent with your format, content, and when you journal. Keep this in mind, and you will benefit from your past experiences throughout your hockey career!

Any questions, please e-mail me or add a comment. :)

Taping Sticks

        First of all, you're all probably wondering why I'm even doing a post on taping sticks. It's easy, right? If you've had a lot of practice -- then yes. But if you wanted to learn more about it or see what else is out there then this post is perfect for you. I'll explain certain aspects as to not only the tape job but also about extra things such as wax and how you tape the knob. Everything you do to your stick is about preference, so here are some ideas that will help you.

The Blade:

    Most players like to tape their sticks all the way from the heel to the toe. Others prefer taping the last half or two-thirds of the the blade towards the toe. This makes the release of the puck from the heel to toe quicker. All in all, tape is there to keep the moisture off of your stick for better stickhandling.

                                

Before you tape your stick completely, it's a good idea to put a small strip of tape on the bottom of your blade and onto the toe (you can see this in the first picture). This helps protect the blade and it makes the tape job stronger. This is important because this is the part of your stick that touches the ice the most.

    If you're wondering how to tape the blade all the way to the toe, here's how:

1. Tape your stick all the way to the toe, leaving extra on the outside of the blade.

2. Get scissors and carefully cut around the toe, cutting off all extra tape.

3. Press down the edge of the toe to make sure the tape is secure and sticking together properly.

Easy as that!

    If you're looking for another way to avoid moisture on your stick, then wax or other substances similar can be handy. Using these types of materials are very common. The most common types of wax I see players using are Mr. Zogg's Sex Wax Hockey Stick Wax and Top Shelf Stick Wax.

   

Another option is rubber gripping tape or a spray. I've never actually seen anyone use the spray, so I would assume that wax is the better choice. I have, on the other hand seen rubber gripping tape and it seems to work really well. It is slightly more expensive though, so you may want to consider that before experimenting with it.

The Knob:

     Now, as I said before, taping a hockey stick is all about preference. Some players like big knobs, and some none at all. I would suggest having one because it helps when poke checking or even picking up your stick. If you want a better grip, you can use rubber gripping tape and/or a spiral of tape. If you twist the tape into a small rope and wrap it 3 or 4 times in a diagonal fashion a couple inches apart and then tape over it, you make a pretty nice handgrip. Here's an example:

                  

Having a handgrip is really useful when shooting or stickhandling. It's important to figure out what works for you and gives you the best grip.

The Shaft (Optional):

       Taping the shaft is not very common. The reason that a player might want to tape it is for better grip for shooting, but it is not normally needed. It's not recommended because it usually does very little for a player. You can always try it out, but as I said earlier, taping a hockey stick is all about preference.

       Hope that this helped with any questions you had on taping a stick! Any questions please e-mail me or comment.

Getting Started

    

        Hockey is probably one of the best sports out there. That's why I'm here to help anyone who needs hockey advice or whoever just wants a couple tips. Here, I will post all of my past experiences with hockey (road trips, pre-game nervousness, camps, etc.), hopefully for the rest of the hockey world to learn from. Despite what people may think, there's a lot more to hockey then throwing on your skates and being ready to play. Preparation is key in the game of hockey, and in this blog, you'll learn exactly how to do that. Have fun! Any questions, e-mail me or add a comment.