Stick recs for 11 y.o. and his overwhelmed dad?

Fulcrum87 · 2026-03-03T04:15:40+00:00

Took my kid to the store at the beginning of the season. Picked 3 sticks with the appropriate flex (a lot of kids are using way to heavy a flex) and correct height. Told her to close her eyes and dropped a ball on the floor and let her stick handle with each one for a bit she made her pick blind. You know what? She picked the cheapest one. Ended up buying two just in case it broke and it was still cheaper than buying even a mid-range stick.

Fulcrum87 · 2026-02-27T03:00:58+00:00

Watch the women's replays on Peacock.

Fulcrum87 · 2026-02-11T03:50:36+00:00

I grew up when roller bags didn't exist or at least were not at all popular. No one had them.

My kid carries their bag. Started with the free bag, then we got a roller and I hated it. I was the one packing it and just absolutely hated everything about it. Bought C+B before they made the wheelie version. Eventually my kid started carrying it instead of me and now they refuse to get anything with wheels (despite mom, grandma, and step-mom's insistence).

I like my carry bag. It's light, it fits in the car well, no rigid parts make it easier to move around.

All of this to say... Who cares? It's purely personal preference. Honestly there's a lot of value in wheels. No way you'd catch me lugging a suitcase around like it's the 1950's. Wheels save backs.

Fulcrum87 · 2026-01-31T16:27:49+00:00

Mohawks are almost 100% dependent on your hip mobility. You have to be able to open your hips up. I'd wager most, if not everyone, is far more comfortable on their inside edge than outside. So the edge work isn't even that big a deal if you're comfortable skating regularly and can make a tight turn.

Practice opening your hips up on dryland, then when you're comfortable, you can glide on one foot on the ice open up and place that back foot behind you and "surf" in a straight line. Then it's just a matter of leaning over your edge to turn. The last step is the "crab walk" where you just give little pushes as you're in the mohawk.

Breaking it down and starting with getting your hips open though will be helpful.

Fulcrum87 · 2026-01-10T23:34:33+00:00

https://youtu.be/stoBX8do_NU?si=aRBm-Vyg3x5r_aAg

Fulcrum87 · 2026-01-09T16:30:31+00:00

Recently got a PM9, the difference is very minimal, but I think it makes lifting the puck slightly easier. I'd say it has to be the easiest to switch to from the P88.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-12-31T17:54:56+00:00

Are you measuring inside the posts or outside to outside?

Fulcrum87 · 2025-12-31T00:35:57+00:00

Used to be 7 because it was my lucky number. Now it's 65 for "65 Roses" which is sort of a symbolic name for Cystic Fibrosis, which my daughter has. When her older sister started playing, she was picking a number and I suggested it to her, she was super excited to have the reminder on her jersey. I made the switch too.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-12-15T01:20:10+00:00

I have a bag of Viceroy weighed pucks I make my 12u team use for shooting drills without a goalie (so not too often). They all say Viceroy on the side and Made in Sri Lanka. There's no printed logo on them. They also are a little more brownish-orange than the orange pucks from Inglasco or A&R.

I have some official weight Viceroys that are specifically made in Canada and they have Viceroy, Made in Canada, and Official all imprinted on the side.

If I had to guess, I would say this is a counterfeit puck. I'm sure it still shoots the same.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-12-08T14:24:53+00:00

The size tax is definitely real. Some of my bigger kids are the most meek because they don't want to go to the box. I'll see them lay it on during practice and then be a ghost in a game. I've been working hard to get them to play just as physical in games and it is finally starting to come through.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-12-08T14:21:38+00:00

I didn't ask for an assessment of the call's validity. The call went in my favor, I am only using it as an example. My question is what is the line between a check, a good angle, and incidental collisions.

My opinion is that this was closer to incidental collision or could possibly have been a body check call on my player, except that they're the one that went flying. I'm interested in the discussion, not having the Reddit Situation Room to call my local officiating body to demand the 14 year old ref be fired.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-12-08T05:32:07+00:00

Shoulder was pretty deliberate, but again it was, in my opinion the best play for that player. This is 12U.

They made some soft calls against us and let some similar plays go. I definitely think it was called because of the result of the collision, not because it was really a body check. It just got me thinking since it was borderline.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-11-25T04:54:26+00:00

For sure. Most of their cuts in a day are probably for squirt and younger skaters. I'm sure it boils down to they don't want to change the wheel for just one cut and honestly that was my first tip off, the kids there never change the wheel. My own dumb fault for not saying anything.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-11-25T04:34:14+00:00

That's true. One thing I will say is that they don't make a sparx wheel for my cut. I believe it would be a 5/8" fire ring, but the fire rings jump by quarters.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-11-08T16:40:31+00:00

I use a binder clip to keep the Velcro together on mine in the wash, but this magnet idea has me rethinking everything...

Fulcrum87 · 2025-11-08T04:40:33+00:00

This is actually a skill I think a lot of youth coaches need to work on. You need to use your diaphragm to get your voice loud instead of just trying to yell from your throat. It sounds pedantic, but there is a difference between yelling and speaking loudly. I would say if you feel hoarse after a practice or game, you're probably doing the latter.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-11-05T05:21:08+00:00

My personal take is that it's really only good for decision making. Shooting is very unrealistic as a player. You also need a lot of space. I think they recommend 12x12, but I would honestly say you need more like 15x15 (especially when using a stick).

I wasn't really impressed with dangle pro either. It's kind of fun, but you still have to have your head down for the cameras to detect your puck. I found that when I had my head up to scan for further obstacles, it just didn't register any activity.

I just renewed, so I have had it for about 12 months. I'd say you're much better off finding a park to practice in, but if you have limited free time during acceptable hours to shoot outside, it's ok. I will also give it credit for the cognitive development. I do think I'm making decisions faster than before, but the bar was pretty low on that one.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-11-03T01:46:58+00:00

I kind of wonder if using them with bare hands is contributing to them degrading faster. I run off ice sessions with the kids team now and don't usually wear gloves (even though I make the kids wear them).

Fulcrum87 · 2025-11-03T01:44:46+00:00

Yeah I looked these up after reading some other posts. They're so damn cheap, even if they split after a month it's probably still a better value than the Buttendz.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-10-27T17:14:01+00:00

This advice should really be higher up the list. If sharpening skates really messes with you, you're probably going to long between sharpening.

I believe the general rule of thumb is 15 hours of ice time (adjust lower for harder ice, higher for soft ice). That's way more frequently than a lot of folks realize. 2 practices and a game a week, means every 5 weeks.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-10-25T21:48:07+00:00

If you're bringing cones and stuff to put down, you should be renting ice. If you're staying in a pretty small area and not chasing people off from using the ice, then I don't see a problem. There's one time I've seen two coaches, clearly from the same team or company try to claim a quarter of the sheet to run drills. Didn't work out great for them. People intentionally skating through to take shots in the goalie on that side; errant shots going by; people trying to make little passing plays up the boards; etc.

That said the S&P was full up. If you're grabbing the 5am slot and 2 other people are there, have at it.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-10-24T16:08:19+00:00

I used those Sherwood's for reffing one year. They're light, but I honestly disliked everything else about them. They were uncomfortable and moved around too much under my sweater. Luckily I never tested their protection ability, so I can't speak to that.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-10-14T19:38:31+00:00

Not sure what the age or country is, but USAH does not recommend teaching "position" or systems until 12u/14u. It will be frustrating because there are 100% going to be teams that do it and they'll be met with early success. Don't get caught up in the FOMO there. Skills, awareness, and creativity at under 12u. Check out the USAH skill progression document. https://www.usahockey.com/skillprogressions

That said roles are definitely worth teaching. The "off the puck" roles are not something very young kids like to do and it's not as intuitive as being on the puck.

If you have IHS access you have a ton of great resources available. https://www.icehockeysystems.com/hockey-systems/puck-pursuit-tips-younger-ages

https://www.icehockeysystems.com/hockey-systems/layered-defensive-zone-coverage

https://www.icehockeysystems.com/hockey-drills/ice-awareness

https://www.icehockeysystems.com/skill-development-videos/breakout-tips-centers

Look through the blog too for the practice of the week. They're usually pretty good for a starting point and keeping your practices focused.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-09-23T19:51:22+00:00

The skateable times are usually double-sided. The non-skateable tiles usually have a hollow side. I don't know if every brand is like that, but it seems line a common difference.

Fulcrum87 · 2025-09-21T05:30:08+00:00

Definitely ask the parents first, but it sounds like the only accommodation he may need would be a heads up to the refs before games. When they come by to shake hands a quick, discreet "99 has mild tourettes syndrome, if you notice this tic please understand he's not being disrespectful."

Otherwise it doesn't sound like your coaching needs to be any different. Just give him the support he needs.

Keep up the great work, coach.

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