Always Have At Least One Eye On The Puck -- ALWAYS!

IN TODAY'S POST--Paul Lubanski Harkens Back To His Squirt Outdoor Rink Playing Days To Pass On One Of THE Most Valuable Pieces Of Advice He Has EVER Received As A Player Or Coach.

By Paul Lubanski

"Son, I am about to give you the most valuable piece of advice you will likely ever receive from a hockey coach and it is the following: never let your opponent get you in a position that doesn't allow you to have at least one eye on the puck. You see kid, you ALWAYS need to know where it is but even more importantly, where it is HEADED so you can get your rear-end there!" Coach Bob Thomas formerly of the Junior A Flin Flon, Manitoba Bombers as told to me somewhere-in-time when I was a second-year Squirt on an outdoor ice surface in Oak Park, Michigan.

With Bob's declaration having been served oh so long ago,  you would think that something as fundamental as seeing/knowing where the biscuit is on the surface AT ALL TIMES would be consistently emphasized and practiced at all levels--even the NHL--wouldn't you?

Not true--sadly. Want a very recent and prime example? Here goes...


Todd Bertuzzi of the Detroit Red Wings blatantly made the elementary mistake (NOT keeping a minimum of one-eye on the puck) I reference above in OT last week against Dallas and it cost his team the game. He became so wrapped-up in attempting to cover/check a Stars' forward who was sliding left-to-right just a few feet in front of netminder Howard--that he lost sight of the puck about to be rifled from the left-side point. Consequently, he helped "screen" the Wing goaltender and was never able to adjust in time to at least attempt a shot-block. Result? Game-winner short-side-high to an inferior road team at The Joe. What made the miscue ever so additionally painful and palpable--is the fact that it occurred in a four-on-four situation when there is generally much more room (space & vision-time) on the surface.

Lesson learned? I would hope so.

Just goes to show that there are fundamental, sometimes serious mistakes both physical and psychological made on almost every shift--at every level. You can only hope that "error" doesn't end-up special-delivering a game-winning goal as described above.

In closing--coaches, parents and players, here-in presents a unique opportunity to remain one small step ahead of an NHL All Star. How? By--as so eloquently pined above by Mr. Bob Thomas, making certain to: NEVER allow the opposition to place you in a position that doesn't make it possible for you to have at least one-eye on the puck! Coaches and parents--preach that refrain please. And players, you MUST work hard to adhere to the "THOMAS RULE!" Doing so will not only serve your current team well but also getting in the habit of practicing said rule will help you climb the competitive ladder more gregariously.

Best of luck.

Coach Lubanski


BONUS TIP

The simple "THOMAS RULE" I outline above is a perfect one to aid parents in becoming "pseudo" ice hockey coaches to/for their youngsters WITHOUT interfering with the coach of any team at any level.  Since this rule is universal-in-nature--as essentially basic as keeping your stick on the surface at-all-times--it's compliance can be judiciously monitored by mom and dad in the stands. By the way, do watch to make certain that "stick-on-the-ice" rule is not broken too often as well! Neither gets in the way of what a coach is attempting to accomplish on the surface--quite the contrary.""



You can find Paul's delightful and entertaining children's books--"Bonky, a Moose and the Magic Hockey Stick" and "Just Leave it to Coopie" on www.amazon.com--keyword Lubanski.

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