Game day!

Waking up
After hitting the snooze button a few times the hardest part of the game day preparation has to be waking up. Players and coaches wake up early to get mentally and physically focused for the game. Players play each game as it was there last never knowing what could happen. It’s important to get a good 8-10 hours of sleep the night before a game so your body is rested for all the exercise you’ll be doing. The more rest the more energy you’ll have for the game and if you have a late night game try and get a nice nap in about 5-6 hours before game time.

Food
Many people have different ideas about what they should eat the day of a game. My suggestion is you have 2 big meals with a few snacks between. The first meal is breakfast; you should have a complete breakfast that includes eggs, bacon/sausage, pancakes, toast and orange juice/apple juice/ water. For snacks threw out the day, have fruits like apples bananas or strawberries. Have about 3 or 4 snacks depending on how hungry you are. Dinner is the most important part before going to the rink. The best food to have would be pasta with some chicken so you have carbs and protein. Threw out the day you should also drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.

Arriving to the rink
Arrive at the rink at least one hour before game time. It’s important to be there early to be with your teammates and get ready for the game. Don’t go running around the rink, or looking for people you might know. Stay in the room until the coach tells you other wise to make him happy. Play some music something that will get you pumped as a team or individually. If you're in your home rink, find out if you can have music played during the game.

Stretch
Stretching is a must before games. Most teams have their own routine before a game to go out together for a run then stretch. It’s important to stretch all the muscles in your body especially your legs, arms, back and joints such as knees and ankles. Always count to twenty for each stretch so each muscle gets equal time. Extra exercises can also be jumping rope, jumping jacks, sprints, stairs and high knees. Stretch about 45 minutes before your game then if your game starts early, you won’t be in a rush to get dress. Remember that if you go on the ice and start skating and playing really hard with out being lose, you have a chance to pull muscles.

Getting dressed
Get dressed at your pace, take your time no need to rush, sit beside your friend, talk and focus about the game. Make sure you have all your equipment so that there is less of a chance of getting injured. People have superstitions about how they get dressed like tying there left skate before the right one or taping the stick each game, small things like that that make them play better. I’ve known people who have to listen to music or they have to sharpen there skates before each game or they think in there head they will play bad.

On ice warm up
The on ice warm up is for everyone on the team. Normally before a game, the referee gives you 5 minutes to warm up and during that time you skate around and shoot pucks for the goalies to get in game mode. Most teams have a set warm up and they pretty much look the same. It’s mostly that players skate a few laps around there zone followed by the defence and forwards splitting up to shoot pucks. The forwards go in a corner and come around and shoot then the defences stand at the blue line and shoot on net. After a few times, everyone just skates around and shoots on net. The warm up is followed by the teams cheer and shaking hands before the game.

Game time
All the work is about to be put to the test, the puck drops and the game is on its way. Games are 3 periods long and they are 15 minutes a piece. You won’t be on the whole time, but when you are out there you give it all you got. Each pass, each hit, and each shoot matters. Games can have its ups and downs but as a member of a team, you have to rely on everyone to have each others backs. It’s a fast moving game so don’t under mind your opponents because on any given day anyone can win if they have the heart.

Things can happen
Hockey has to be one of the most unpredictable games in the world to play. You can not have set plays and have a game all set out before you go on the ice. Reality is that things happen and people can get hurt. You can’t avoid things that you aren’t expecting such as injuries. Things so little as a slap shot from the point can turn into a life or death situation in a matter of minutes.

Family
As a year goes on, team mates begin to look after each other and become closer and closer. That kind of friendship will last forever and it will take you a long way threw out the season. If the team gets along together, they will have great success threw out the season and post-season. A good way for teammates to come together is by team bonding such as injuries, parties and team outings. They will not just become one team, but also one family but not letting someone be left behind.

The reward
Playing together as a team and not as individuals has taken the Ajax Knights Midget AE team a long way this year. With a total of 4 tournament wins including the International Silver Sick has proven that anything can happen in one year. Back in September, the team was picked after many people tried out. The team has never played together before and they have an impressive record to date of 55 win, 3 losses and 3 ties. They are currently in the semi finals of the all Ontario playoffs and they are favored to win it all.

To whom it may concern,

I have a love for our national sport hockey. I have been playing for 13 years now and been a referee for 4 years. I’ve refereed over 400 games between the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and North York Hockey League. Each year, as the players get older I see that there are more and more injuries due to physical contact. I don’t mind that there is body contact because it is part of the game. The part I disagree with is the fact that some players take advantage of it and go beyond the rules and play dirty. What classifies as being dirty in my eyes as an official, is that when someone deliberately hits someone from behind into the boards (checking from behind) of hits someone in the head (checking to the head).

As a player, from past experiences, I can tell who the dirty players are on the ice and I am scared to turn my back towards them when going towards the boards. ``A 1999 study of head injuries treated in the emergency room found that 18% Of sport-related injuries occurred while playing hockey, while 1 in 5 of these(21%) were head injuries``. People get severely hurt by breaking bones, getting concussions, or even being paralyzed. It hasn’t been taken seriously but once someone dies, it will be too late. Checking to the head is also dangerous. The sudden impact of an elbow or a shoulder directly to your head can cause brain damage or the accumulation on blood in your skull. Recently in one of my games, a player on my team got hit directly in the head with and elbow after he just finished shooting the puck. The force of the elbow was so hard that it broke his face cage and he got a cut on his chin. The player who hit him only received 10 minutes and my teammate was sent to the hospital. I love to sport as do many people across Canada; however people are scared to play as they get older due to the violence.

If it was more controlled it would be better, safer, faster and more enjoyable to play. How would you feel if your son was hurt and broke his neck due to a violent hit from behind and the person who did that to your son only gets a 3 game suspension? Knowing that you can change the future of the game but minimizing the number of injuries in a game or in a season wouldn’t you feel better? Think about all the kids in Canada that have the chance to get injured and all you’d have to do is relook the rules and make the penalties stricter so they will think twice about doing it again. For all the players, coaches and spectators involved in the Hockey Canada Programme, we thank you for keeping the game safe and fun.

Regards,

Sportsfan17

Leafs lose to San Jose 3-2

The Leafs put up a great fight after out shooting them but they could not just get bounces. Was there any question about the Leafs losing? They are in last place in the Eastern Conference while San Jose is at the top of the Western Conference. Hats off to the Leafs though for the effort and Nazem Kadri for stepping up to play for them on short notice as the Toronto Marlies were out of town for a game.

Raptors win 7 straight at home

Toronto Raptors win 115-104 over Sacramento Kings. Chris bosh with 36 points and 11 rebounds on the night while Andrea Bargnani had 22 points and Antoine Wright had 16 to add to the Raptors high score. After trailing in the 3rd quarter, the Raptors come out aggressive by outscoring the Kings 31-17 in the 4th.

Super Bowl XLIV

Manning made a big mistake when Tracy Porter returned Manning’s interception 74 yards for a touch down that sealed the 31-17 victory. The turning point of the game had to be the onside kick by the Saints in the 3rd quarter when they gained possession early on. Drew Brees received the Lombardi Trophy as he completed 32 of 39 passes that tied a Super Bowl record for most passes during a Super Bowl and he also was named the Super Bowl XLIV MVP. Great win for a great team after both teams offences played amazing.

What’s with the Jays?

The Jays acquired a new pitcher, Dana Eveland a left hander from Oakland Athletics. It hasn’t been announced yet if they traded him for a player or money, ill keep everyone posted once I hear a story.

Battle of Ontario in the NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs wins over Ottawa 5-0. The Leafs broke the Senators 11 game winning streak since January 12th 2010.

R.I.P. 21-year-old Brendan Burke, youngest son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke

Friday night, 21-year-old Brendan Burke was fatally injured in an accident Friday in Wayne County, Indiana. His black jeep lost control in bad weather crossed into oncoming traffic and hit another vehicle head on. In the other car involved in the accident, 18-year-old Mark Reedy did not survive either.

Did the changes make a difference for the Leafs?

As we know, recently we did two trades to get some new blood on the team. Friday’s game against New Jersey Devils went off to a great start for the Leafs scoring the first 3 goals of the hockey game. But the final result was 5-3 with another loss for the Leafs as they gave up a 3 goal lead. How do they manage to do that so many times in one season? Why didn’t they switch goaltenders and put there new goalie to the test?

Violence in hockey, how far should it go?

Wednesday’s game between Val-d'Or Foreurs and Rimouski Oceanic a tragedy happened that left a player injured severely. Val-d'Or defenceman Marco Scandella has been suspended from hitting Alexandre Durette in the head and he broke his visor. It was a dirty hit that was unnecessary and he shouldn’t have hit him in the head with his elbow. All Marco had to do was give him a soft hit, hit the puck off or even not use his elbow. Violence like this shouldn’t be accepted in any hockey and I am glad that he has consequences to face. Young players growing up love watching teams in their region play so I know for a fact that if as a young player, you see someone in a high league hit someone like that, they think that it’s acceptable to do it there self’s. For example, I am a referee and have been for many years, I referee kid’s hockey and after then Sean Avery incident, I saw a player stand in front of a goalie and just stand there and look into his eyes and do gestures that were inappropriate. If people hit violently in the juniors, players in minor hockey will do the same thinking it is ok, when IT`S NOT! IT’S NOT PART OF THE GAME! A little contact is acceptable but when someone takes a run like that and the player is defenceless, he should be suspended for a while, knowing that what he did was wrong.

Toronto Blue Jays sign new closer!

The Toronto Blue Jays recently signed Kevin Gregg a previous closer for the Chicago Clubs with a record of 5 wins, 6 losses, 23 saves and a 4.72 ERA. I am looking forward to see his skills as a Blue Jays.

Games in February for the Leafs and Raptors

Games for the Raptors in February. February 7th vs Sacramento 12 pm, February 10th vs Philadelphia 7 pm, February 17th vs Memphis 7 pm, February 19th at New Jersey 8 pm, February 20th vs Washington 7 pm, February 24th vs Portland 7 pm, February 26th vs Cleveland 7 pm, February 28th at Oklahoma City 7 pm.

Game for the Leafs in February. February 5th at New Jersey 7 pm, February 6th against Ottawa 7 pm, February 8th against San Jose 7 pm and February 12th at St. Louis 8 pm. For those who are wondering why there isn’t any games the second half of February, it’s because of the Olympics that are to be help in Vancouver and many players from the NHL play for there country during the games.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The past weekend has been a rollercoaster for the Leafs with players coming and going. The leafs got two key players that will add to there line up. Dion Phaneuf from the Calgary flames was traded for Ian white, Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Jamal Mayers. We also received defensemen Keith Aulie and winger Fredrik Sjostrom. The second key player is Jean-Sebastien Giguere a goalie from the Anaheim Ducks who was traded for Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake. It’s definitely a surprise to fans and also players to the Leafs. It just goes to show that on any given day, if you aren’t performing your best the odds of getting traded are there.

Why are Toronto fans like no other?

People all over Toronto love watching there home town play at a professional level. They always come out and support the teams if they have a good season or not. Is it the spirit of the town? Or just the love for the game? Either way, players from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Toronto Argonauts have many spectators at every single game they play. I can personally say that when you step into the Rogers Center or the Air Canada Center, the feeling of the fans and all the excitement rushes threw your veins. After visiting different center, it just isn’t the same as when you are in your home town cheering for the teams you love. The best part is that no matter what season you’re in, there will always be at least one team you can watch on television or in person. As a hockey fan, even though the Leafs aren’t the best team in the league, but they always have a great attendance and you are guaranteed a good time.