Read issue 3 of the AIHA newsletter now

Issue 3 – May 2015
Auckland Ice Hockey Association Inc.
NEWSLETTER
Paradice Avondale, 150 Landsford Cr,
Avondale, Auckland
Paradice Botany, Cnr Botany Rd & Ti
Rakau Dr, Botany Downs, Auckland
Postal Address:
AIHA Secretary, PO Box 15-318, New Lynn,
Auckland.
Welcome all players, parents, coaches and managers to the 2015 season.
At the AGM last year I talked about the exciting changes planned for 2015 that will see the players being able
to realise significantly more ice time, and for the younger players significantly more opportunity to spend time
with the puck on the stick. Well these initiatives are underway, and I am pleased to hear the resounding
positive responses from the parents and the players. Well done to all those who helped initiate these ideas
and to the coaches that are helping to support them. Well done everyone.
At the moment the number of players is down slightly from the numbers at the end of last year, but
considering we do see a flurry of late registrations once the season has started, I am confident we will see
some growth in our numbers from 2014. BUT, we do need to focus on growing our sport. So if you know
anyone who may be in the slightest bit interested, drag them along. And don’t forget, the first Learn To Play
session for any new player is free, so they can try it out. So, bring a friend or bring your son/daughter’s friend,
and let them give it a go.
Let’s all have a great 2015 season
Regards
Dan Biggs
President
Upcoming Events
09/05/ - 10/05/2015
U10 Tournament in Dunedin
After hosting the first U10 tournament in Auckland in
February 2015, Dunedin is ready to host 2 of our U10
teams the upcoming weekend!
Good luck!
Coaches & Managers for 2015 Rep teams
NZPIHL (U13s)
NZMIHL (U16s)
Csaba KercsoMagos
NZJIHL (U20s)
Csaba KercsoMagos
NZWIHL (Womens)
Coach
Jeff Boehme
Assistant
Coach
Csaba KercsoMagos
Ed Lisowski
Nick Craig
Jonathan (Panda)
Albright
Manager
Mary Alice Simon
Wayne (Spider)
Curtis
Robert Airlie
Philippa Kaisser
Assistant
Manager
Frank Mueller
We look forward to an exciting 2015 season!
www.aiha.org.nz
Andreas Kaisser
Issue 3 – May 2015
Auckland Ice Hockey Association Inc. – Newsletter # 3 – May 2015 Page 2
Schedules
Midget League 2015
The season is well underway, with each of the teams having the opportunity to play against their 3 opposing teams. From
what I’ve seen it looks like all the players have been enjoying themselves. The Midget league is somewhat light on
numbers this year, so Csaba and I will be addressing this by recruiting some younger player from the U13
Representative Squad. (The plus side of having lower numbers at the beginning of the season is more ice time and
increased fitness.)
Our focus in this league this year will be on player’s skill development, as we have many new and young players. So
before we can teach game strategy & tactics, skating skills must be developed first. So that the player can easily move to
the next stages of development. (Puck control, Passing and Shooting (in that order)).
I would also like to welcome the team managers and coaches for the following teams.
Team
Pythons
Torpedoes
Seawolves
Representatives U16
Team Manager
John van Mulbregt
Paul Taillon
Jenny Jones
Wayne Curtis
Coach
Edward Lisowski
Ritchie Hopkinson
Scott Randel
Csaba Kercso-Magos
Practices times for ALL MIDGET Players are as follows:
6.45 - 7.45pm Tuesdays Avondale
6.45 - 7.45pm Thursdays Botany
th
8.45 - 9.45am Sundays Alternating rinks please confirm on schedule - next Sunday practice at Botany May 10
Also please ensure all your ICE Fee payment are up to date. Pay before the due date to avoid the late charge.
NZWIHL (Womens)
The Auckland Women's Rep Team is pleased to announce its Coaching team for the upcoming season:
Coach: Andreas Kaisser - Assistant Coach: Jonathan (Panda) Albright - Manager: Philippa Kaisser
The new season will commence towards the end of the year and will run until March next year culminating in a finals
weekend which will probably be held in Dunedin again. Details to be confirmed later.
It is hoped that some practices
will be arranged for all women
and girls, independent of whether
they want to participate in the rep
team or not, in the upcoming few
months. More details to follow later.
The team last year came away with
the gold medal having won 10 out
of their 12 games, including not
losing a single game at the finals
weekend.
www.aiha.org.nz
Issue 3 – May 2015
Auckland Ice Hockey Association Inc. – Newsletter # 3 – May 2015 Page 3
In the interview with Goalie Coach Perry Wilson
Perry: “I’m impressed with the battle skills of your goalies.”
Auckland - The NZ Ice Hockey Federation recently hosted Canadian Goalie Coach Perry Wilson. Perry ran a number of
Goalie and Goalie coaching clinics around New Zealand. Before he left NZ, Paul Harrison had a chance to chat with
Perry about his Goalie coaching and New Zealand hockey.
Perry, what were your objectives with this trip?
Perry Wilson: My objectives coming here have been to firstly help the Goalies to get better and secondly to help educate
the coaches on how to work with Goalies. If the goaltending gets better here, then the New Zealand game gets better.
How is Goalie coaching different from standard hockey coaching?
Perry Wilson: Being a Goalie is a challenging and unforgiving role.
Players can often make a mistake out on the ice and get away with it. But
if a Goalie makes a mistake then the result of that mistake often ends up on
the score board. A Goalie coach has only two or three players to focus on
and is responsible for the preparation of the goaltender, as well as making
sure the goalie is involved in the structure of the practice. I feel that a
dedicated Goalie coach is a real asset to each team as he or she can analyse
the opposition Goalie, identify their weaknesses and help the players with
scoring. It’s much more than helping the goalies to just make saves.
How do New Zealand Goalies compare?
Perry Wilson: I’m impressed with the battle skills of your goalies. I find that they are very reactive, which is something
I like. However they tend to struggle with the intricacies of the position; they need to know where they are at all times in
the crease and I feel that they tend to play far too deep. Goalies here must understand that the game is much faster than
they are. It is essential that they learn to play the perimeter of the crease to be more effective. It is important to stay
square to the puck and I have found with just a little guidance, there have been great strides made. All the Goaltenders
I’ve coached during this trip want to get better but there isn’t much focus on their development. It’s not rocket science
and I believe that we have found some competent leaders and coaches for the goalies in this country.
The NZIHL coordinated a series of both Goalie clinics and
coaches’ clinics around the country. How did these go and
what would you do differently in future?
Perry Wilson: The camps went well but I would have loved to
work with more senior goalies; there was a misconception
that these camps were just for kids. I would love to have an
elite camp for the NZIHL goalies, that would also incorporate
layers but with a goalie focus. The cost that NZIHL charged
was exceptionally good value and many participants seemed
surprised at what they got out of the camps. I feel that if it
were marketed as an Elite level camp there would have been
more interest from senior goalies. So I guess what I am saying
is that two tiered camps are the way to go.
Any final thoughts?
Perry Wilson: Kids are the same all over the world. Your younger goalies are just as hungry here as anywhere. I like to
focus on positional play so that the Goalie can do their job and make the save. My first session had no pucks on the ice
and the kids loved every second of it. The improvement after one session was dramatic! You do not have to know the
technical skills to help the goalies and setting up a mentorship program will have a great impact. With a little more
structure, very talented hungry goalies can have a tremendous impact on the game.
Interview: Paul Harrison
www.aiha.org.nz
Issue 3 – May 2015
Auckland Ice Hockey Association Inc. – Newsletter # 3 – May 2015 Page 4
www.aiha.org.nz