Books in Review
The mental side of the game
Hockey Tough, 2nd edition; by Saul Miller; Human Kinetics; Softcover, 230 pages; www.humankinetics.com
This book by B.C.-based author Saul Miller, a clinical psychologist who specializes in sports performance, deals with the mental part of hockey which is just as important, if not more important, than the physical part. Miller has worked with players in the NHL, NFL, NBA along with amateur athletes and has now revised the book he first published in 2003 by adding techniques for mental preparation, performance focus, emotional control and returning to play after an injury.
Being hockey “tough” means having both desire and drive, being positive and productive, and playing a team game.
The book prepares athletes to be more focused and positive through the use of imagery, goal setting and positive thinking by affirmations and other mental techniques. There’s advice from players like Ryan Getzlaf, Daniel Sedin, Hayley Wickenheiser and many others.
Grinding their way to the top
Hockey Strong; by Todd Smith; Gallery Books; Hardcover, 304 pages; www.simonandschuster.com
Ahh, the good ol’ days! This book by hockey writer Todd Smith, who works for the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, harkens back to the days when you went to a fight and a hockey game broke out, or to the days of hockey great and consummate gentleman Gordie Howe and his hat trick – a goal, an assist and a fight, all in one game.
Taking centre stage are the ruffians of yesterday who made it to the Bigs with their fists flailing, sweaters drenched in blood and spitting their teeth out like so many Chiclets. There are stories here on “legendary beatdowns”, “mid-game root canals” and playing with a collapsed lung, of all things. Players such as tough guys Joe Kocur, Kris Draper, J.P. Parise and Chris Nilan take turns throwing haymakers and commenting on their climb to the NHL and their highlight-reel fisticuffs.
It’s enough to drive you to the website www.hockeyfights.com.
The go-to guide for coaches
The Hockey Drill Book, 2nd edition; by Dave Chambers; Human Kinetics; Softcover, 423 pages; www.humankinetics.com
First published in 2008 for former NHL coach Dave Chambers (Minnesota North Stars and Quebec Nordiques), who holds a PhD in sports science and was director of coaching at York University, this book has been revised to add drills designed for today’s faster game.
There are 500 drills covering everything from warm-ups, to passing and shooting, those for defenseman, forwards and goalies, and those for the power-play, penalty-kill and face-offs. There are even drills for evaluation during tryouts, fun ways to end a practice and ideas for on-ice conditioning. Chapters cover one-on-one skills, two-on-one, two-on-two and any other combination of players.
Each drill includes an explanation for coaches to help set things up, and a diagram that shows positioning of the players as they execute the various skills on ice.
This is ideal for the novice or advanced coach and these drills are for all ages and abilities. Now, all you need is a whistle.