Hockey Revelation - Russians Root for Rangers

In a recent Russian poll it was revealed that the most popular NHL team in Russia is the New York Rangers. This in itself is not astounding, but the most likely explanation for it is quite a surprise.

In trying to understand exactly why Russians feel a bond (shaken, not stirred) with the Rangers, the three most obvious explanations that come to mind are:

1) Brighton Beach, home of the largest Russian community outside of the motherland, is located in New York City.

2) Alexei Kovalev, Alexander Karpovtsev, Sergei Nemchinov, and Sergei Zubov, who were the first Russian players to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup, did so while members of the 1993-1994 New York Rangers.

3) The Rangers were the team who selected (with the 17th pick) the highly touted Russian Alexei Cherepanov in this year's entry draft, which finally stopped his freefall from one of the top five prospects in the draft (as ranked by many scouting organizations).

In fact, none of these answers seems to be correct. As it turns out, the poll indicates that the Russian hockey fans root for the Rangers because they seem to have a soft spot in their hearts for Rangers forward Jaromir Jagr.

Jagr cherished his time in Omsk, while he played for Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League during the NHL lockout three years ago. This is supported by Jagr's repeated vow that after his NHL career is over, he will return to Omsk to once again play for his former Russian team. Apparently Jagr loves the city of Omsk, as well as having great admiration for the Avangard Omsk team owner Roman Abramovich.

And apparently the Russian hockey fans have returned Jagr's affections.

Al David has over 20 years experience in writing, journalism, sales and business. He specializes in writing humor articles and business articles, while often combining the two. Al is also a professional copywriter for small businesses.

Al is a passionate hockey fan and writes humor articles under the name "The Hockey Humorist". In addition to writing, Al's other interests include sports, health, music and history.

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How to Block Shots in Hockey

Be Brave

The most important tip is to position your legs and body squarely in front of the shot. The puck should hit your shin pads straight on. If you're afraid of getting hit by the puck and turn to the side, you risk taking the puck off your ankle or the side of the leg where you have far less protection. Unless you are willing to face the shooter head on, you're better off getting out of the way altogether.

Get as Close to the Shooter as Possible

The closer you are to the shooter, the less time the puck has to gather speed. Back away from the shot, and you risk screening your goalie. You also increase risk of taking the shot somewhere on your body besides your shin pads. Somewhere more painful. Remember, you're not the goalie. If you're near your own net when the shot comes barreling at you, better to clear out of the way and let the goalie make the save.

Getting Started

Start practicing by blocking shots using a tennis ball or hockey ball until you get the right feel for it. Then move on to blocking real shots with real pucks. Maybe look into getting a pair of ankle guards.

Sliding Blocks

Once you're comfortable blocking shots standing up, try blocking on your side with a controlled slide in front of the shooter. Just like the standing block, your shin pads should be stacked on top of each other and lined up with the shot. Be careful not to slide too fast, or you might take yourself out of the play if the shot is faked.

So get past the fear and start blocking shots. The fans will be in awe, and your team will love you for your thrilling defensive play.

Check out more Hockey tips at: http://www.HockeyPlayerTips.com

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Ice Hockey Training And Conditioning - Off The Ice

Have you ever tried matching up a hockey player of our time, with the NHL player of 20 or 30 years ago? Just looking at the way they are built tells the story of how important off-ice training has become for the performance of hockey players.

In the past, ice hockey players used to train almost entirely on the ice; the awareness for how important off-ice training is was close to zero. Nowadays, this has changed dramatically. Ice hockey training has spread off the ice to build muscle mass, develop speed and agility, increase stamina, increase slapshot power, and avoid injuries.

Awareness has also risen for offseason training. It's not enough to come to training camp after lazing all summer, and start your conditioning from there; Training camp is the platform that decides the fate of players for the entire season, as teams select their rosters. In this day and age, players have to come to training camp in shape.

So what's the difference between ice hockey and other sports when it comes to conditioning?

Well, ice hockey is almost like no other sport in the variety of skills it demands - skills that are so different in nature. It's played on a different surface from other sports, which in itself requires adjustments in training and conditioning programs. It requires great stamina and power in the lower body for good skating - the bread and butter of the game; Quick hands for stick-handling; Strong arms for powerful shots; and massive upper-body to take and (preferably) dish out hits, while doing all the other things.

That's why ice hockey needs its own system of conditioning off the ice; in order to bring all these skills to their peak, you need a training and conditioning program that is specifically designed for ice hockey. If you go wrong and neglect one of these skills, your performance will suffer.

And what about ice hockey training for children? If you are a parent of a hockey-playing child, you should know that just like in anything else in life, an investment in him on her during childhood will influence his or her entire life later. If your child is conditioned properly at a young age, it will affect his or her entire ice hockey career.

of course, conditioning a child has its own set of rules; it's not the same as conditioning a teenager or an adult. The training program should be not only hockey-specific, but also match the trainee's age.

Now such a program exists in the form of an ebook. Written by a former NHL player who is also a certified fitness coach, and divided into different age groups, it provides you with everything an ice hockey player needs in order to be properly trained and conditioned off-ice. Click here to find out more about this program.

http://www.squidoo.com/train-for-hockey/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tal_Dunker

The Great Game of Floor Hockey

By Ron Damon

Anyone who has ever participated in an elementary school gym class probably has some memory of playing floor hockey. This sport allowed both boys and girls the chance to play hockey without having to worry about learning how to skate. Today it’s reaching well beyond the confines of school curriculum and there are leagues for this fun and faced paced competitive activity in many cities.

For someone familiar with ice hockey it doesn’t differ much. Not everyone has the chance or the interest to learn how to skate. Many children live in warm climates where ice is a scarcity. For them the closest they get to hockey is watching an NHL game on television. With floor hockey, though they can go through the paces of a game without having to strap on a pair of skates.

When it’s played as part of physical education class the only equipment used is generally a stick and a ball or rubber puck. This is because there are understood and strictly enforced rules of no contact. However, if it’s a league of floor hockey those rules change and in light of that more safety equipment is required.

A helmet is really a must for any child interested in this sport. They may see it as overkill since they are only playing on a floor, but serious injuries can happen when one child is body checked by another. If the league insists on every floor hockey player wearing a helmet, it’s not even a question that a child will raise.

Knee and elbow pads are a great idea as well. Just as with something like rollerblading or traditional skating, kids can fall forward pretty easily when they lose their footing. This is true in sports including soccer and floor hockey as well. A good set of safety pads under the child’s clothing can really reduce the number of bumps and bruises they’ll sustain.

You can’t play without a stick. Some kids who are already playing the game on ice will be inclined to bring in that stick for playing floor hockey. There are actually sticks just made for playing the game in this setting. It’s a good idea to purchase a stick that is a good fit for the child now. Some parents think they can save a few dollars by buying a bit larger stick that their son or daughter will grow into. This isn’t a good idea as it can present a safety problem for both the child using the stick to play floor hockey with and the other players. If it’s too big for them to easily handle it, it’s not the right stick for them.

http://yoursportspageonline.com
For more on Floor Hockey or any other sports such as baseball, bowling, fishing, basketball, running and much more visit us today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Damon

Hockey Sticks - Choose the Right Stick to Improve Your Game

By Johan Friedman

Hockey sticks come in different sizes, compositions, and materials. Choosing the best combination is vital to staying comfortable throughout the game without sacrificing performance. Here are some of important factors to consider when buying a hockey stick:

Size

Hockey sticks come in junior and senior sizes. Junior hockey sticks are about 46 to 54 inches long, while senior hockey sticks measure 56 to 62 inches. The slanted end usually extends 10 to 15 centimeters from the shaft. Generally, shorter sticks offer better control, but longer ones make more powerful hits.

Stiffness

The shaft also has different flex or stiffness levels, classified as medium, stiff and extra stiff. Forward players usually prefer more flexible shafts, while defensemen can play better with stiff shafts. If you're a beginner, start with a medium shaft and move to stiffer ones as you get better.

Lie

The lie is the angle between the shaft and the blade. This is measured with the numbers 4 to 8; the smaller the lie number, the wider the angle. Use a lower lie stick if you prefer to skate close to the ground with the puck in front.

Materials

Wood. Wooden hockey sticks are usually stiff and heavy, so they are best for strong players. They also tend to break more easily.

Fiberglass. These hockey sticks have a wooden core with a fiberglass coating, making them a lot heavier than other composites. They are the cheapest but least durable, making them ideal for practice but not for actual games.

Aluminum. Aluminum sticks have an aluminum shaft with replaceable blades. They are lighter than fiberglass and wood but heavier than Kevlar and titanium. They are ideal for those with various blade preferences.

Graphite. Graphite hockey sticks can be made of pure graphite, have a wooden core and graphite coating, or a composite of graphite and Kevlar. They are more expensive than fiberglass and aluminum, and are relatively lightweight and durable.

Kevlar. Kevlar is made from aramid fibers, either pure or mixed with graphite. They are light and highly durable, but they are the most expensive.

Titanium. Titanium sticks cost about the same as Kevlar. They are lightweight and highly durable, and usually have replaceable blades that can also be installed with torches.

More information

Picky Guide has a complete guide to hockey sticks. Picky Guide is one of the fastest growing online magazines giving free consumer advice and product information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johan_Friedman

The Great Game of Floor Hockey

By Ron Damon

Anyone who has ever participated in an elementary school gym class probably has some memory of playing floor hockey. This sport allowed both boys and girls the chance to play hockey without having to worry about learning how to skate. Today it’s reaching well beyond the confines of school curriculum and there are leagues for this fun and faced paced competitive activity in many cities.

For someone familiar with ice hockey it doesn’t differ much. Not everyone has the chance or the interest to learn how to skate. Many children live in warm climates where ice is a scarcity. For them the closest they get to hockey is watching an NHL game on television. With floor hockey, though they can go through the paces of a game without having to strap on a pair of skates.

When it’s played as part of physical education class the only equipment used is generally a stick and a ball or rubber puck. This is because there are understood and strictly enforced rules of no contact. However, if it’s a league of floor hockey those rules change and in light of that more safety equipment is required.

A helmet is really a must for any child interested in this sport. They may see it as overkill since they are only playing on a floor, but serious injuries can happen when one child is body checked by another. If the league insists on every floor hockey player wearing a helmet, it’s not even a question that a child will raise.

Knee and elbow pads are a great idea as well. Just as with something like rollerblading or traditional skating, kids can fall forward pretty easily when they lose their footing. This is true in sports including soccer and floor hockey as well. A good set of safety pads under the child’s clothing can really reduce the number of bumps and bruises they’ll sustain.

You can’t play without a stick. Some kids who are already playing the game on ice will be inclined to bring in that stick for playing floor hockey. There are actually sticks just made for playing the game in this setting. It’s a good idea to purchase a stick that is a good fit for the child now. Some parents think they can save a few dollars by buying a bit larger stick that their son or daughter will grow into. This isn’t a good idea as it can present a safety problem for both the child using the stick to play floor hockey with and the other players. If it’s too big for them to easily handle it, it’s not the right stick for them.

http://yoursportspageonline.com
For more on Floor Hockey or any other sports such as baseball, bowling, fishing, basketball, running and much more visit us today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Damon

Why Wear An Oakley Hockey Visor?

By Andrew Tudhope

Hockey is a competitive sport that entertains millions from the moment when the puck first drops at an NHL game. Magical moments on the ice may include the almost elegant glide towards a goal to an awesome save during the last seconds of a game. However, there are also the not so triumphant events that take place on the ice when streaks of red begin to stain the arena. At times, a hockey puck can soar through the air and not land on the ice or score a goal, but instead, make brutal contact with the face of a player. The result of this could be a shattered cheekbone, torn eyelid, or broken nose. Whatever the potential physical damage, a simple protective hockey visor could prevented an unfortunate trip to the emergency room.

A hockey visor or shield is a piece of equipment that is fastened to the front of a hockey helmet to decrease the chances of injury occurring to the face of a ice hockey player... or referee. Depending on the model, a hockey visor may cover the upper half of the face or provide full-face protection. While there are many hockey players in the NHL that protest making hockey visors a mandatory requirement (including a host of veteran superstars), the AHL has already made it a rule amongst their players.

When it comes to sports, most eye-related injuries are known to occur in hockey with an estimated 40% attributed to the game. There are many advantages to wearing a protective visor then, as many hockey players are sustaining serious eye injuries during game play. In the worst cases, the injury is debilitating, sometimes preventing a player from engaging in a competitive game of hockey for the rest of his or her life. Besides the obvious health benefits that hockey visors provide, the materials used in the construction of such protective equipment can sometimes give an enhanced line of sight: much better than the usual wire cages, which can cause visual disruptions in certain areas.

Hockey visors not only increase the protection of players on the professional circuit, but also aid amateur and recreational players in staying safe: visors are especially important to maintain health and safety for today's youth as well. Without a hockey visor, the face is open to an assortment of injuries that could very well be prevented through the use of proper face protection.

In the world of hockey visors, there is a collection of brands to choose from, but when it comes to selecting the highest quality with better features, the Oakley Hockey Visor puts the competition to shame. The unique craftsmanship of an Oakley Hockey Visor stands as the only visor to meet and exceed the ANSI Z87.1 standard for optical clarity, which is a demanding task to accomplish. The range of vision that players enjoy with an Oakley Visor for hockey is quite outstanding and totally free of distortion.

The Oakley Hockey Visor also goes beyond the ANSI Z87.1 standard for impact resistance: players can take comfort and pleasure in the knowledge that they are wearing shatterproof protection each time they soar across the ice. With an Oakley Hockey Visor, eagle-eye precision is enhanced through the top-notch visual clarity delivered through the patented XYZ Optics. Additional benefits associated with an Oakley Hockey Visor include anti-fog properties, scratch resistance, UV light protection, impressive durability, and non-fading or peeling decals.

Whenever you get out onto the ice be sure that you have the right protection... particularly on your face.

Andrew Tudhope writes for a number of sports sites on the benefits of protective wear. His recent articles include reviews about Oakley Visors, such as the Oakley Hockey Visor and Oakley Football Helmet Visor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Tudhope