Training camp in october

[tonguesOUT4life 17]

Because of my size I have been cut off teams the past 2 seasons and i'm learning how to play with a disadvantage of being 5'7. Durning a 5 on 5 scrimmiage it gets very tight and I I forget my game plan and start hitting because I'd rather be ready for a hit then get my asss run over. Then I draw all the bad attention to myself and there's more guys targetting me.

I want to head into this training camp with a game plan and I want to stick to it. I have learned zoo much from the previous camps I've been to and I am getting better ad better every time. Of course when you get cut you feel like it's the en of the line for you but time only makes you stronger and smarter. My game plan for camp will be

1.focus on speed small guys = speed

2.dont draw bad attention to yourself get away from hits ur not there to prove you are tough but can handle punishment.

3. If the game gets tight with hitting limit your time with the puck and pass have some patience and when you find room to move around and create.. Do it.

I know sometimes things don't go as planned but this summer I am going to work my ass off to make things happen. I want to go to Europe because I feel it would be the best thing for me unfortunally I don't have the resume for that.

I wonder what martin st.louis would say. If anyone knows the guy an where I can find him i'd go the distance just for some peice of advice.

[sickwilly 37]

Can't hit what you can't catch! Play the game you're best at, make plays with your speed and make others react to you instead of vice versa. Good luck to you. If you worry too much about getting hit, you won't do as well.

[chk hrd 164]

Can't hit what you can't catch! Play the game you're best at, make plays with your speed and make others react to you instead of vice versa. Good luck to you. If you worry too much about getting hit, you won't do as well.

always good advice. You have to match the game to your personal style and type of play. If you try to play something completely opposite of what you can it takes you out of the game. I had my son watch Darren Helm play. It is exactly the style my son plays; not the biggest guy, but one of the fastest on the ice. Helm made great plays because he plays his style of speed and hitting first. He didn't try and play like Datsyuk and stick handle around everyone or Franzen's bulldozer style.

Not everyone has great hands, blistering speed hard hitting etc. Every team has role players, once you accept what your role is it makes your game better and easier to play.

[automorph 0]

just keep in mind marty st louis and theoren fleury are anomalies (one of a kind players that i couldnt even imagine how good they were to make the show with that size)

Be the best at what you are good at....standout.....if you try to roundout your game you blend in with everybody else

[junior 1]

Can't hit what you can't catch! Play the game you're best at, make plays with your speed and make others react to you instead of vice versa. Good luck to you. If you worry too much about getting hit, you won't do as well.

couldn't have said it better. I'm a small guy myself and knowing that, I play the speed card and it works very well for me. I'm 5'6 and find that my teamates will take care of me so I don't have to worry about hitting.

[Kevin 5]

I just have a few questions to put your post in context: 1. how old are you? 2. what are you trying out for? 3 how much do you weigh? and 4. are you actually a fast skater? -- short does not equal fast.

With regard to hitting (and taking a hit), in my opinion, skating ability, strength, balance, timing, on ice awareness (vision), and center of gravity are of equal or greater importance than height.

[tonguesOUT4life 17]

I just have a few questions to put your post in context: 1. how old are you? 2. what are you trying out for? 3 how much do you weigh? and 4. are you actually a fast skater? -- short does not equal fast.

With regard to hitting (and taking a hit), in my opinion, skating ability, strength, balance, timing, on ice awareness (vision), and center of gravity are of equal or greater importance than height.

yeah when you are 5'7 180 squaring off with a 6'2 230 pound defenceman bringing down his shoulder on you while you are going forward the only hope you have is avoiding him. last training camp i was aware this monster was comming at me but and i went at him too lol. i was flying at least 3 feet before i landed on my ass. <_<

a refree once told me "son, if i was a cop id hand you a speeding ticket" :lol:

[sickwilly 37]

Get in great shape (if you aren't already) and keep those feet moving. You can avoid a lot of the open ice stuff with good awareness. If you've along the boards, just keep moving squirming and fighting to get free. The big guys (like me) will get tired before you will. You might not win all of the battles, but you can wear guys down that way. Again, good luck!

[tonguesOUT4life 17]

Thanks Guys I'm really hyped up this time around and I'm thankful for my previous experiences I've learned alot this time around I'll try to roll on confidence but at the same time not be over confident and draw attention to myself the way I did before.

[Aussie Joe 0]

I'm a small-ish guy (more in width then height) and I use my speed always. Its something I have been working on every year, to get as fast as possible in my league and this season i particular it has worked and I have managed to get to some loose pucks/odd man ops that I wouldn't have before. I usually throw a few good hits early on in a session to prove myself then go about my usual game which is to use my hands/head/foot speed to get around the rest of the pack.

Don't shy away from physical side of things, prove to the coaches you are quick, smart and can take a hit. It's always tough to prove yourself when you are smaller in our sport, but if you can stand out amongst the crowd you'll no doubt get the spot.

PS: Watch this vid on Gionta. Whenever I'm having day where I feel small I watch this and realise if Brian can do it, so can I!!!