Daily Training Tip #311

A recent study found that you can build just as much muscle lifting light weights as you can lifting heavy weights. So why not use lighter weights and lift them quicker and more explosive? You will be building strength AND explosiveness at the same time instead of just building strength?

Daily Training Tip #310

Weighted jump squats are a great multi-joint, multi-functional exercise that should be a part of any good strength & conditioning program.

Josh Archibald-Warrior Athlete of the Week

http://brainerddispatch.com/sports/2010-12-22/archibald-following-father%E2%80%99s-footsteps

MHC Camper/Pro Shop worker Josh Archibald has been named Brainerd Warrior Athlete of the Week! Josh as paid one heck of a price during the last three years that I have worked with him. Currently, he is tied for second in the state in scoring. He is the captain of the Warriors team and is putting up big numbers.

While he has a long way to go, he will continue to impress at the next level.

Glad to be the founding member of the Josh Archibald Fan Club!

One of my Most Favorite Times of the Year!

Christmas break has to be one of my most favorite times of the year. It is the time when all the "college kids" come home for their break.

This time of year is special to me as a lot of our campers are returning home for a week. It is great to see and catch up with all of them, but it is special to see the drive in their eyes. They know they are only home for a short period of time and know it is crucial for them to report back to their teams in top shape!

Drew Olson (UMD) has been home for a week. He hasn't missed a practice with the Brainerd High School team. Last night, I walked into the rink and saw Drew and 2 high schoolers running stairs.

Ryan Peltoma (Bowling Green) has been home for a week. He hasn't missed a practice with the Brainerd High School team as well. Was getting a "little" lift in after practice on Wednesday.

Joey Frazer (Med Hat) has been home for a week and has been helping coach the Brainerd Bantam A team. He is learning on the fly how to become a better coach and jumps at any chance he can to absorb anything else.

Sean Halverson (UND Golf) has been home for a week. Hasn't missed a Warrior Hockey practice and has paid one heck of price in the gym!

Carolyn Sneep (St Olaf) has been home for a couple of days. Had to dust off the MHC Cardio room. Will be around another week....I'm sure I will see her again!

Carl Sneep (WBS Penguins) has been home for a couple of days. Along with Carolyn, had to dust off the cardio equipment.

Tate Rusk (Coulee Chill) Has figured out what hard work is. Working harder now than he did during his high school days.

It will be a little quieter next week, when all of these kids return to school and their teams. However, I know they will return in playing shape as the all payed a price during their "week off!"

Daily Training Tip #309

If you have a break from structured practices/games/workouts over Christmas break, make sure you stay active so you don't lose what you gained during the start of the season. This will help you return in top shape.

Hard Works = Positive Benefits

Emerson Etem (pictured above working out @ MHC) was just named to the 2011 US National Junior Team. Congrats to the entire 22 players that made the team, but a special congrats to Emerson.

Emerson is a prime example of what hard work does for a player and for a person. A California kid that is making one heck of a name for himself. When he shows up at the gym or at the arena, his hard hat is on and he ready to work. He pays one heck of price to get himslef where he wants to go. He will continue to shine as long as his work ethic continue happens.

Good Luck Emerson!

Daily Training Tip #308

Be creative while training  your core. Use partners, med balls, swiss balls, weights, etc to help improve & strengthen your core condition.

(Ben Hanowski & Drew LeBlanc work together to improve their core)

There are so many different core exercises you can do. Pick different exercises and different amounts of each to improve your entire core. Your core is the foundation of all of your ability. Improve it like it is the foundation!

Daily Training Tip #307

Why wait for someone else to tell you what to do? Grab the reins and get going on your own!

Daily Training Tip #306

Don't make excuses! Hold yourself accountable and do what you know is the best for your own career. I'd be willing to bet, the best thing for all of our careers is hard work!

Daily Training Tip #305

Developing a stronger, more explosive lower body, makes you a better athlete AND a better hockey player. Start Squatting Today!

Daily Training Tip #304

Develop yourself into the best athlete you can become first, then pick a sport to play!

The best all around athletes, are usually the best hockey players. Multi-sport athletes are a good thing. Become a better athlete, become a better hockey player!

Daily Training Tip #303

Compliments of MHC Intern Blake Theisen, Med Ball-Overhead-Split Jump slams are a great complex, intense exercise that works your entire body. Give it a try today.

Daily Training Tip #302

Your core is the foundation of all athletic movements. Train it with intense, complex exercises. Keep your feet on the ground for some exercises and get your feet off of the ground for other exercises. They all improve your core strength!

Daily Training Tip #301

Working out with a teammate is a win/win for both people. Push each other. The better he/she gets, the better you get!

Do Teens Need Sport Supplements?

I've been saying NO for years. Young athletes can accomplish everything they want to; through a good sound diet and hard work. Some people listen to me, some don't. But I keep preaching what I have proven to be right.

Nice article from "Grow the Game" to back me up! http://growthegame.com/blog/do-teens-need-sports-supplements/

Lizzy D named Athlete of the Week!

Congratulations to MHC Pro Shop worker Lizzy D on being named Warrior's Athlete of the Week.

http://brainerddispatch.com/sports/2010-12-08/shooting-star-no-shot-dark

Lizzy examplifies what hard work is. She never misses a workout and pays one heck of a price. She will continue to improve and continue to "turn heads."

Keep it up Lizzy!

Daily Training Tip #300

Aquatic plyo training provides athletes with an opportunity for an explosive leg workout with less impact on joints.

Daily Training Tip #299

Regardless of what sport you play, it is NEVER too late to really start paying a price. Train Hard!

Daily Training Tip #298

In-Season off-ice training is just as important as off-season off-ice training. One main objective of in-season training is to get all of your muscles activating quickly/powerfully at the same instant.

Daily Training Tip #297

Whatever exercises you do in the gym on both legs, can be repeated on 1 leg. This helps improve balance and improves core strength.

Daily Training Tip #296

The "speed lunge" is a great way to get all of your lower body muscles activating together. It is also very hockey specifice. Try it during your workouts today.

Daily Training Tip #295

Try battling drills with a heavy rope today. Unbelievable shoulder workout AND it brings out your competitive mean streak!

Drew LeBlanc Continues to Improve!!!

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20101202/SPORTS0401/112020027/SCSU-hockey-LeBlanc-still-getting-better

Great article in the St. Cloud Times on MHC Camper Drew LeBlanc. I've said this before, the harder you work, the better you will become. Drew has spent numerous weeks training @ MHC and is now starting to see the benefits.

We wish Drew, Ben Hanowski, Tony Mosey and Nic Dowd (all SCSU players & MHC Campers) and the rest of the SCSU team the best of luck this season!

Daily Training Tip #294

You do battling drills on the ice, so why not do battling drills off of the ice in the gym? Remember, we are trying to mimick our on-ice movements off of the ice in the gym. This is a great way to train!

Daily Training Tip #293

Just as important as warming up properly for a game, warming up properly for off-ice workouts is crucial.

A proper dynamic warmup is easy to learn and complete on a daily basis. There are lots of different dynamic exercises you can do. "Dynamic" means moving. Pick exercises that mimick the movements you are about to complete either during your competition or during your workout. These same exercises can be completed as a cool down as well!

Daily Training Tip #292

With all the winter snow, shoveling it is a great exercise to help improve/strengthen your forehand and backhand shots.

This is part of the reason why Minnesota is the State of Hockey!

Daily Training Tip #291

Completing push ups and pull ups on your own, on a daily basis, can seperate your from your opponent.

This is very simple to accomplish. Every morning, when you wake up, do 25 push ups and 100 situps. Repeat right before you go to bed. This takes minimal time and no money. Great way to get farther away from your opponent.

Daily Training Tip #290

Don't put too much stock into new-fangled workout machines, keep your workouts basic.

Daily Training Tip #289

On-Ice heavy resisted sprints are another way to help improve skating speed. Use partners and speed bungees to accomplish this. This is very beneficial and is pretty fun.

Daily Training Tip #288

Hit a heavy bag today. Great strength and cardio workout!

2010 MHC Pro/Am Conditioning Video

http://www.youtube.com/user/MNHCamp#p/a/u/0/QtrC71tuKdI

The 2010 MHC Pro/Am Conditioning Video has been completed. Click on the above link to view it.

If these pros can have this much fun while working this hard, why can't you? There is a reason why these guys are pros!

Daily Training Tip #287

Build some competition into your workouts today! It helps push you a little harder as well as your teammate(s).

Missouri Mavericks, In-Season Training?

Missouri Mavericks Head Coach, Scott Hillman, has his CHL team completing plyometric workouts during the season! Coach Hillman joined our staff at MHC this past summer and he experienced a few new workouts. He always knew off-ice training was important, but now he takes it to another level.

He has his PROFESSIONAL hockey team completing the same workouts (as MHC does) during his season. As I write this, the Mavericks are sitting 5 points out of first place and are only getting stronger and stronger. Coach Hillman realizes the importance of training both during the off-season and during the season itself. The Mavericks will continue to impress over the course of the season because of the hard work they are putting in. Follow the Mavericks

http://www.missourimavericks.com/

If Coach Hillman believes the importance of in-season training and sees the results with his own team, why wouldn't you? If you don't do any sort of in-season training, you need to start today, your career will thank you!

Daily Training Tip #286

Wear a weight vest during your box jumps today. This helps build strength and explosiveness.

Daily Training Tip #285

I read all of these articles on proper skating mechanics. However, there is always one key part that is missing. If you don't have enough lower body strength, you can't get enough knee bend to generate enough power to skate faster. So before you go hire a personal skating coach, you should hire a personal strengh coach.

Daily Training Tip #284

Put yourself in position to succeed. You don't play to win, you train to win.

Daily Training Tip #283

Most people don't think of weight lifting as cardiovascular, but there are "cardio" benefits.

(Drew LeBlanc, SCSU, spends the entire summer @ MHC)

So let's kill two birds with one stone. Do single leg lifts; improving your cardio conditioning and improving your single leg strength. Both are benefits of weight lifting and both correlate over to the arena.

Daily Training Tip #282

Improved lower body strength and explosiveness improves sprinting/skating speed.

Using off-set stride boxes is an easy, specific way to help improve both strength and explosiveness. This takes 3 stride boxes as you can seperate two boxes, but need to keep one normal for regular stride box jumps.

Daily Training Tip #281

Resisted sprint training increases sprinting speed. Use over speed bungees on and off of the ice.

Daily Training Tip #280

Hand in Hand with eating healthy is drinking properly. Water should be  your best friend!

Daily Training Tip #279

Eating healthy/properly needs to become a way of life to benefit your athletic career and your life after  your athletic career. The second is more important than the first!

Daily Training Tip #278

Most athletes know about the dangers of eating disorders, but some ignore them. Eat properly AND healthy AND safely.

Eating disorders are a serious issue. Learn about them and extend your career length.

Daily Training Tip #277

Keep your feet on the ground when working your core today...BE CREATIVE!!

Daily Training Tip #276

Try SOTS Squats or Overhead Squats during your workout today. You can use either Kettlebells, Dumbbells, Barbells, Weight Plates, or even Slosh Pipes.

(Blake Theisen, one of the best up and coming strength coaches)

These types of squats are great for flexibility, lower body strength and overall strength. These should be a stable in your workouts.

Daily Training Tip #275

When you show up in the gym, show up ready to work! If not, injuries are more common and improvements are less. Working Hard = Positive Results

Daily Training Tip #274

Breathe properly when exercising/working out. Breathe out during the "hard part."

Daily Training Tip #273

Your max squat weight should be increasing steadily...Through hard work and determination.

Daily Training Tip #272

Workout with a partner or small group of athletes. This causes a little competition to push yourself a little harder AND is safer!

Happy Training!

Ryan Peltoma P.of the W.

Congratulations to longtime MHC camper, Ryan Peltoma on being named the CCHA Defensive Player of the Week for his performance last weekend vs Alabama Huntsville.

http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/102710/spo_20101027033.shtml

Ryan has been attending MHC since he was a little guy. He has battled numerous obstacles and keeps battling. It was nice to watch him grow last season, his first at Bowling Green, and contine growing during his sophmore season at BG.

("Pelts" paying a price @ MHC during the summer of 2010)

Daily Training Tip #271

Create a positive training environment. When athletes buy into a positive training climate; effort, enjoyment, confidence and desire to continue all increase in large increments.

Daily Training Tip #270

Pull Ups are another great exercise to complete on a regular basis. Most teams perform a Pull Up test during their pre/post season off-ice testing sessions.

Daily Training Tip #269

Dips are a good off-ice exercise to complete on a regular basis. Most teams perform a "dip" test of some sort, so "practice" them often.

Daily Training Tip #268

Keep improving on your first step quickness by completing a combination of strength, quickness and power exercises on a DAILY BASIS!

An easy and productive way is to combine exercises. Combine all movements together, do one leg-long jumps. Helps improve all parts!

Daily Training Tip #267

Why pass up an opportunity to improve? MEA weekend is a great chance to get better!

Daily Training Tip #266

Off-Ice training is not just for improvement, but also for injury prevention. Training off of the ice is SO important to your future!

Hockey Summit Looking into Concussions

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2010-10-18-summit-looking-at-hockey-concussions_N.htm

There is an "Ice Hockey Summit; Action on Concussions" starting today at the Mayo Clinic. Should be some pretty interesting topics that will be discussed and I am sure some mandates that start to take place after the Summit.

As we all know, concussions are a hot topice in today's sporting world. It was a rough weekend in the NFL this past weekend and I expect some changes happening in the NFL shortly. Hockey is trying to be a front runner in the sporting world and take the necessary steps to help keep the safety of it's players; from the youth up through the pros.

Daily Training Tip #265

Try kettlebell training or some kettlebell exercises today. Kettlebells have been around since the late 1800's. Kettlebells are a good "overall" workout. While focusing on one area, you are able to work your entire body at the same time.

A Little Love for the Brainerd Boys

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/64902?referrer_id=32770

Chris Garner Online Auction

Chris Garner was one of the equipment managers at St. Cloud State when I was the Strength Coach there. After SCSU, Chris moved on and has been the equipment manager at the professional ranks and currently is the equipment manger at UM-Duluth. Chris has helped lots of athletes achieve their goals. Chris is one of the really good guys in the sport.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Garner-Support-and-Benefit-Page/111694655548581

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFyL_YGbXlQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Om1Xw9gJs4

Click on the first link to "facebook" and you can see that Garns has a few obstacles he needs to overcome. His medical bills were more than expected and he needs a little help. Click on the two "youtube" clips and you can see all the help he has recieved so far. He will overcome all of this and be back sharpening skates and handing out sticks in the near future.

I believe the auction is on Oct 24th. You should be able to bid on items at

http://www.obermanauction.com/

If you are looking for some hockey sweaters (most signed) or some autographed sticks or even a week at MHC among other items please place a bid. You will be helping out one of my friends, colleuges and one of the good guys in the sport.

Miah Minkel is the Head Equipment manager at SCSU. Miah is heading up the auction and can answer any questions you might have. Feel free to email Miah jdminkel@stcloudstate.edu

Daily Training Tip #264

Make sure you are prepared for your "big moment" before that moment occurs.

You never know when your moment is going to occur: overtime situations, tryouts, scouts watching, etc. You have to and better be prepared both physically and mentally so when that moment arrives, you can define that moment.

Daily Training Tip #263

Along with your physical training, work on training your reaction time. There are numerous ways to accomplish.

One of the easiest is to use a reaction ball. Throw the ball against a wall or the ground and try to catch it after the bounce as fast as you can. Each time you repeat, try to catch it with less and less bounces each time.

Daily Training Tip #262

Your core needs to be trained in numerous ways. Don't forget to work your core with your feet on the ground.

Lay on swiss balls with your feet on the ground, work your core standing upright in a squat rack, etc. At times you need to get away from the "traditional" situp and work your core with your feet on the ground.

Daily Training Tip #261

Train your core for athletic funcationality, not for appearance.

When training your core; work all muscles, work in all fashions, work all planes and work at different speeds. Mimmick what you do during your sport. It doesn't matter how you look, it matters how you perform.

Daily Training Tip #260

Leg strength can be improved by multiple means...with weights, sand bags, medicine balls, body weight, etc. Start improving your leg strength now!

(Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers)

NHL Debut!

Congratulations to New York Ranger Derek Stepan! Not only did he make his NHL debut on Saturday night and score his first NHL goal, but he also added two more goals making Saturday a very special night for him. First NHL game, First NHL goal, First NHL hat trick-what a game, what a kid.

http://rangers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=540144&navid=DL|NYR|home

If you have watched Derek over the years, you knew he was going to succeed. He pays one heck of a price off of the ice. One of the hardest workers I have worked with. Below is Derek on the stride box at MHC.

Keep up the good work, Derek. We are behind you all the way!

Daily Training Tip #259

If you don't have enough leg strength, you aren't able to "load up" properly on the ice.

You have all heard coaches explain the "load up" position and then stearnly tell their players to get their butts down. Well, this is impossible to do without enough leg strength. So these coaches need to be telling their players to hit the gym!

TFS-MHC Revered and Respected

Memories cultivated @ MHC are memories that will live as long as each camper is able to talk about the experience. The experience takes on a tone of reverence and each experience brought in to the conversation come fm the heart. In many ways the memories brought up are sacred because they play such an important role in the development of the person.



Whether the relationship between counselors and campers, mentors and campers or the synergy of each work out, each experience is remembered and talked about in a manner that tells you that this experience had a profound impact on each person’s life and career.



Bottom line is each camper having an element of growth aware fm home and without the eyes and ears of their parents. They are out of their comfort zone facing challenges and accomplishing things that would not be the same if their parents were standing right beside them. It’s a playground setting that is remembered and revered for a lifetime. We bring the value of the playground back in to their young lives; the playground revered for pecking orders and altering the pecking order.



There is nothing that compares to counselors and mentors who show empathy, desire to share and passion for all they do in life. Young people are content to satisfy those in charge and they don’t have to be a superstar to do it. Self-esteem levels are built through hard work alone. Any accomplishment beyond simply enhances the experience.



Our camp has its own rules; not unlike a supervised playground where young people learn to survive in the pecking order rituals of daily life. The young campers are on their own, out of their comfort zone, and take pride in every accomplishment. This is true if the accomplishment is nothing more than showing up on time to put in an honest day’s work. It all starts by creating the habit of commitment to all we do.



Most young people we meet “think” they work out, “think” they train, “think” they love the game, “think” they have a passion for life and work. It’s our position that we are on this earth to create an awareness of what it takes to critique ourselves and then forge ahead with a purpose and a passion we only “thought” was existent in our daily routine.



The camp is there to create a setting reserved for the campers and each one takes one or more experiences and channels them towards personal growth; something they are unable to do under the protection of adults back home.







The legacy lives on for this reason alone. In the process we are developing success stories within and outside of the game. MHC is a special place, revered for what all it brings to any person’s life.



Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps

Daily Training Tip #258

The on-ice "load-up position" is the same as the lunge position off of the ice. Become a better skater off of the ice? I know so!

Daily Training Tip #257

Be creative with your training routines! Include all muscle groups, all ranges of motions and all movement planes.

Create a training routine that mimicks your on-ice movements. Work as hard as you possibly can, pay one heck of a price and you will be prepared to reach your goals.

Daily Training Tip #256

First step quickness is improved by a combination of speed, power and strength...which are all worked on off of the ice.

One Door Shuts...Another Door Opens

Congratulations goes out to Joey Frazer!

http://www.tigershockey.com/article/tigers-name-joey-frazer-assistant-coach

Joey has been named assistant coach of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Joey was offered such a great position at such a young age because of the type of person he is. Hard work has gotten Joey to this spot in his life and hard work has opened the door to the coaching world for him.

Another example of careers getting cut too short. However, because of the attributes Joey has learned while playing and training, he has turned into one special "hockey guy."

We are behind you all the way, Joey!

Daily Training Tip #255

First step quickness is one of the most important skating skills and it can be developed without stepping foot onto the ice!

Off-ice training makes you a better skater...if done properly.

Daily Training Tip #254

Use a hip sled often. It can be used for heavy, safe squatting as well as weighted squat jumps. The hip sled needs to be a part of your daily workout routine. It is a great piece of equipment!

Daily Training Tip #253

The sooner you figure out what hard work is, the better you will become. Working hard needs to be a way of life!

Daily Training Tip #252

Complete beach sprints today. It might be one of the last nice days outside before the winter season.

Matt Hendricks!

"Hendy" is one of the sports great guys. He pays one heck of a price off of the ice. I am proud to say that I was a small part of his career. We hope you stick in Washington this season Hendy!

http://dumpnchase.com/?p=286

Daily Training Tip #251

Incorporate unstable surfaces (ie: bosu balls) into your daily training routines.

You can stand on Bosu Balls, Swiss Balls, One Leg, etc. While on unstable surfaces; thrown medicine balls, snap heavy ropes, squat, etc. Be creative while training! Make it fun and beneficial!

Clune, Best Conditioned @ Kings Camp!

Richard Clune, has spent numerous summers and numerous weeks training @ MHC since the age of 13. He finally has a legitamate chance to play a regular shift on an NHL team. This kid really pays one heck of a price off of the ice both in the gym and in the kitchen.


http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=538638&navid=DL|LAK|home

Daily Training Tip #250

Work on your lower body (including core) 2.5 to 1 upper body. Hockey is a lower body sport so your training needs to mimick this. If you want to shoot the puck harder, increase your squat!

Daily Training Tip #249

Continue doing one-legged exercises during your workouts. On the ice you use one leg 80% of the time, so your training needs to mimick this. Be creative, any exercise that you can do on both legs, you can do on a single leg.

Daily Training Tip #248

Don't try to be "good enough" go out and be the best! In order to be the best, you need to pay one heck of a price off of the ice during your training. Don't let anyone out work you.

Daily Training Tip #247

Hockey is a game of acceleration...the ability to react to sudden, unexpected changes.

The best athletes/players react to these sudden changes as if they didn't even happen...because they have trained for it off of the ice. I have said numerous times, your off-ice training needs to mimick your on-ice movements. You ARE ABLE to train for sudden, unexpected changes.

Daily Training Tips #246

Make sure you clean off your workout equipment when you are done with it. This helps prevent the spread of disease.

Also, clean and wash all of your hockey gear on a minimum of a weekly basis.

You have been working hard off of the ice, developing into a better player. Getting sick or a skin disease won't help your chances of reaching your goals.

Good Luck Hartnell!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=538010&navid=DL

NHL
home
 
Scott spents numerous weeks each summer training @ MHC. We wish him all the best this upcoming season.

Daily Training Tip #245

Energy Drinks...The risks are much greater than the benefits. Be carefull of what you put into your body.

Daily Training Tip #244

Sometimes you need to fight through a workout to finish it. Finishing the workout make you a better player and a better person.

(TJ Oshie, St. Louis Blues, finishes every single workout he starts)

Daily Training Tip #243

The objective of training is to improve the athlete's ability to execute and execute well the skills that are needed to successfully play the game....whatever the game is.

Daily Training Tip #242

In Sprint Training...the longer the foot remains in contact with the ground, the slower the runner will be running. You need to generate the maximum force possible in the shortest amount of time. This is why plyometric training is so crucial to your development.

Daily Training Tip #241

Make sure your warm-up is of a dynamic fashion. Warm-ups need to duplicate what you do during your sport. Very seldom do you hold a particular position for 30 seconds during competetion, so why do you do it during a static stretch?

Daily Training Tip #240

Your core is the foundation of ALL athletic movements. Train your core daily!

(Matt Hartman, Miami University, has been attending MHC for years)

Your core can never be worked too much. Make sure you incorporate core exercises to ALL of your workouts.

Daily Training Tip #239

Carry your own hockey bag! You get a physical benefit from carrying your own bag. You don't need wheels. You don't need mom and dad...YOU CARRY IT!

As a strength & conditioning coach, it pains me to see someone else carrying your hockey bag for you. It really pains to me see a high school player just get out of the gym and then wheels his bag out of the arena. Why?

Carrying your own bags brings many benefits to your physical benefit. You don't get any of those benefits if your mother is carrying your bag!

Sneeper-Time to "Make It Happen"

One the eve of his Pro Debut, not sure who is more nervous...Carl Sneep or the staff @ MHC? Carl is attending his first Penguins Prospect Tournament and will play in his first Pro game on Saturday night in London, Ontario.

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=536927&navid=DL

PIT
home
 
http://video.penguins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=19&id=73994
 
Carl is one of few who has really paid a price in his development. He has far succeeded the 10,000 training hours and continues to put in his time. Saturday night will be his first test, his first chance to see how he stacks up, his first chance to change the pecking order.
 
It has been fun watching Carl train and play over the years. We all wish him the best of luck in the Rookie Tournament and in the Penguins Training Camp in a few weeks.
 

Daily Training Tip #238

Drink sports during workouts & milk afterwards. It might allow you to perform at a higher level for up to 24% longer.

As I have discussed before, what you put into your body directly affects your performance levels in either a positive or a negative way. Drinking sports drinks/milk/water before/during/after your workouts and games will allow you perform to your liking.

Daily Training Tip #237

Never go half speed. Half speed gets you no where. Your career is way too short to be going half speed. Half speed gets you no where.

Daily Training Tip #236

Sports Nutrition is NOT using health supplements and/or meal replacements. IT IS using food to nourish your body during athletic activity.

It doesn't matter what your athletic goals are, they can be accomplished with a good, well balanced diet. Unless you have a disorder of some sort, a normal healthy diet is all you need.

Eat Well!

Daily Training Tip #235

Off-Ice Training also includes improving your puck skills. Make sure you are shooting and stickhandling pucks on a daily basis.

All of the lifting, jumping, skating and sprinting you have been doing over the course of the off-season really doesn't mean too much if you don't have good puck skills. Shooting/Stickhandling is something you can at home in your basement or your garage. Make sure it is alright with mom/dad, but shoot pucks daily!

Daily Training Tip #234

Studies have shown that the music you listen to during your workouts will affect your training. So you need to pick a good play list!

Daily Training Tip #233

Push Ups are a gerat at home exercise that you can do to help improve your athletic ability. Push Ups can be done with any degree of difficulity, so anyone can be doing them.

Picture below is Cole Grabavac doing push ups with hanging straps. This is one of the advanced methods of doing push ups.

(Cole Grabavac of the Medcine Hat Tigers spent 6 weeks @ MHC this summer)

Daily Training Tip #232

You never know who looks at your off ice testing results. Make sure you are prepared to succeed and "pass" the tests.

Why not prepared yourself for success? Pay the price off of the ice and hit the jackpot off of the ice!

Daily Training Tip #231

Make sure you put in the final touches on your training so you are in top shape for your tryouts.

Hopefully, you have paid one heck of a price this off-season and are close to ready to go for you tryouts. Don't stop now. The last 3-4 weeks of your development are the most important. Continue to pay a price and continue doing the proper workouts in the gym.

Daily Training Tip #230

Try doing squat jumps with the slosh pipe. A great leg workout as well as targeting your core and improving your balance.

(Joey Frazer, Medicine Hat Tigers, has put in well over 10,000

training hours @ MHC. He spends 8+ weeks @ MHC each summer)

Try building a slosh pipe for yourself. Easy to build and a great training tool that can be added to your routine.

Daily Training Tip #229

This time of the season your focus needs to shift to more on ice time. Your off ice development is still important, but you need to get comfortable on the ice. Get a feel for the ice, the puck and all the "little skills" you need to improve on. Training camp is just around the corner. You have one shot and making the team. Don't let yourself down.

Daily Training Tip #228

As an injury prevention, work on your shoulder stability. Heavy Ropes are a good and fun way to accomplish this.

There are so many fun and beneficial exercises you can do with the heavy ropes. Might be something you want to invest in.

Daily Training Tip #227

Continue working on the "little" things. Your core is a "little" thing, but plays a "BIG" role in your development.

Daily Training Tip #226

Your work off of the ice is never done. You never arrive. You are never as good as you can become. Continue to Lift Strong!

If you never arrive, you never stop improving. If you are never going to stop improving, you can never stop working. Continue to pay a price on and off of the ice.

Daily Training Tip #225

How many pullups can you do?

Just about every team tests on pullups. The more you are able to do, the better chance you give your success.

After you complete all of the off-ice test in the pre-season, you are going to be given a label. That label is going to stick with you over the course of the season. Why not make your first impression a good one? Why not go out and get  yourself a good label? Why not do great on all of your off-ice tests, including pullups?

Daily Training Tip #224

To play like a pro, you need to train like a pro.

(Left, Drew LeBlanc, SCSU, spent 7 weeks @ MHC)

(Right, TJ Oshie, St Louis Blues, spent 2 weeks @ MHC)

These guys are the guys you are trying to catch. If you out work and out train them, you narrow the gap. If they out work and out train you, they continue to expand the gap. Athletes need to narrow all gaps. They need to strive to be the best...in everything. In order to play like a pro, you need to train like a pro...or even better!

Daily Training Tip #223

Do something out of the ordinary everytime you step on the ice AND everytime you step into the gym.

Daily Training Tip #222

Your body likes AND reacts well to change. This is another reason why you need to sprint, lift, jump and skate together on the same day.

Your body thrives on change. Not only change your workout daily, but also change during the workout itself. Make sure you condition all 4 muscle groups together...sprint, lift, jump and skate!

Daily Training Tip #221

You never know when your body is going to react and change drastically because of your training habits. You need to start or continue training today.

Some athletes can see dramatic physical changes in a short training period while others need more time. Either way, you don't know, so you need pay a price and get going.

Daily Training Tip #220

Multi-sport athletes are good all around, well balanced athletes. If you only play one sport, you better cross-train.

Special Thanks

Special Thanks goes out to Blake Theisen. Blake completed his internship @ MHC this summer. Blake spent countless hours working with the groups and individual athletes in the gym over the past 8 weeks. Each athlete has imporved physically because of the time Blake put in with them. Blake is a first class person and a great instructor. Because of his work ethic and character, Blake will go far in the field of Strength & Conditioning.

Thanks for all the help Blake!

Daily Training Tip #219

The buzz word in off-ice training is "quick twitch" muscles. Similiar to fast twitch, but not exactly the same.

Can be trained in a similiar fashion, but with a little more start/stop/change of direction movements. Hockey players are constantly only taking one or two steps, stopping, then starting back up again in a different direction. The quicker this is accomplished, the better the athlete becomes.

Too many hockey players only train for fast twitch movements, which is good, but only one piece of the puzzle. Hockey players need to be able to skate fast, but more importantly, they need to be quick.

Start training your Quick Twitch muscles today!

Daily Training Tip #218

Don't over look strengthening your forearms. Forearms support your stick skills. Your forearms are strengthened in the gym.

Pictured below is a DB Carry. Good for developing your forearms. Wrist rollers and wrist curls/extension are also good exercises to work with.

(Cullen Eddy, first year pro, is in his fourth year training at MHC)

Daily Training Tip #217

"Rubber Bands" are a good way to target your hip muscles that are important to develop, but sometimes overlooked. These rubber bands are cheap to buy and are a must for your training routine. There are many different exercises these bands can be used for. Some are more intense than others, but all great for your development.

(Joey Frazer, Med Hat Tigers, and Josh Archibald, Brainerd High School, have both spent numerous weeks training @ MHC over the years)

(Jack Berger, Princeton University, started training @ MHC this summer) 

Daily Training Tip #216

Set Goals! Athletes (really everyone) tend to work harder if they have a specific goal to follow.

Set short term goals. Set long term goals. Do what ever you have to do to reach those goals. I am willing to bet, if you are an athlete, to reach any goal you need to spend some time training in the gym.

Daily Training Tip #215

If you can't "dance" in the gym during speed plyos, you might not be able to score a big goal.

(Ben Hanowski, SCSU, spends numerous weeks training @ MHC each summer)

Leave your inhibitions at the doors. Don't worry about what others think, do what you know is right. Another example of how important off ice training is. The greater amount you put in, the better your results are going to be.

Let's go Dancing today!

Daily Training Tip #214

Most athletes need to consume an additional 2500-3500 calories a week to gain one pound of muscle each week.

An athletes' diet is very important. Don't over look your diet. You work hard and pay a price, don't drop the ball at the dinner table!

H20 Overdrive

http://www.h2ooverdrive.com/

There is a new recovery drink out there. I have had it in my gym for awhile and have been getting pretty good reviews. Most of my guys have taken a liking to it. There is three flavors; tangy tangerine freeze, lychee lemon rush and jostaberry. I have been hearing tangerine and lemon are the two most popular flavors, at least from my athletes.

Give it a try. It is in stores near you.

Daily Training Tip #213

Hexagon Drills are a good way to improve your foot speed & coordination.

(Drew LeBlanc, SCSU, spends numerous weeks training @ MHC each summer)

Improving your foot speed is fairly easy to do. After a good sound training program is in place that includes; jumping, lifting, sprinting and skating daily-your physical test scores will start to improve. Speed plyos force your feet to move faster. You head has to tell your feet to move and then your feet have to move. The more reps you train through, the better you become.

Daily Training Tip #212

What you do when no one is looking is what defines you both as a person and as a player.

It says something about yourself if...the gym door is open and you wave and walk by. It says something else about yourself if...the gym door is open and you stop in and work a little bit.

Daily Training Tip #211

No one else can do your work for you. You need to "pay the price" and develop your own skill sets.

Daily Training Tip #210

It is so important for athletes to improve on their vertical jump. Improved Vert = Improved Skating Speed

(Curtis Valk of the Med Hat Tigers spent 4 weeks at MHC this summer)

There are many different exercise routines that are geared towards improving a player's vertical jump. Plyometrics are need to be a part of those routines. Plyometrics along with a good leg strengthening program will put you in a great postion to improve your vertical jump.

The saying..."I can't play basketball because I can't jump, so I had to play hockey" couldn't be more false. Hockey players (athletes in general) need to improve on their vertical jump.

Have fun jumping!

Daily Training Tip #209

If you spent your time yesterday trying to develop into the best player off of the ice, imagine how good you will become on the ice?

The sky is the limit. If you sprint, lift, jump and skate together on a daily basis you will develop into the player that you aspire to be.

Daily Training Tip #208

If you are dedicated enough, you can develop into the best athlete off of the ice.

As I watch drylands daily, I can usually pick out the best athlete-which in turn translates into the best player on the ice. If you can develop into the best athlete off of the ice, you will develop into the best player on the ice. Why wouldn't you give everything you have to become the best off of the ice?

MHC MISSION STATEMENT

MHC MISSION STATEMENT




To be the best provider of hockey training for athletes, coaches and trainers in the World

To operate the company on a sound financial basis of profitable growth

To reach out to players around the world; making the Camp the most respected in hockey

To reach out to other programs that complements our camp experience

To address the needs of the Brainerd Area community through involvement with youth programs and other worthy causes

To empower employees and athletes to “Be As Much As You Can Be” in a nurturing environment which recognizes unique talents of each individual, unconditional respect for the talents of others, and creativity.



We are in this business to create an awareness of training by exposing assets and liabilities. We are the type of people who force you to make a decision on us; force you to have an opinion on what we do. You will pick sides before you finish our program. We do things from the heart. Aside from the pleasure of owning the camp, if our athletes garner inspiration from their involvement, incentive, or find a way to love training and playing the game, if will be great. You will either love us or leave us. Either way; finish one week and you will be more proud than when you walked on to the grounds.



Image may be everything to the person who takes time to build his own, but substance is everything. You get more out of hockey when you use the game to learn more about life. You develop a love for the game where you can feel it. Only than can you act on your assets and liabilities.



If we don’t have an idea that materializes and changes a person’s life, then what have we got? We wouldn't really have much of anything. We can have talks, research, seminars and meetings. If we don’t have a change in the organization or team, we really have nothing. It’s not too often we get to do something for the first time as we get older. Young people give us an opportunity to create something new every day we work with them.



“Commitment to training the way we train prepares an ordinary person to do extra-ordinary things.”



We are a camp that refuses to follow America's trend. We are still attempting to create the drive and desire that used to exist in the majority of all athletes. It comes as no surprise that the sports world is deteriorating when you consider all the wealth and all that is out there for kids these days. They have a lot of choices outside of the playground setting. We are losing the "hungry" kid that used to be able to afford the game and the wealthy feel they can get by with the gimmicks.



Chris Chelios has a son that told the Gretzky boys that this camp is hard, and he is right. Well, the Gretzky boys took everything we had to offer in stride and hopefully they will return for the right reasons. They received no special treatment and they responded admirably. I have a great deal of respect for them and their upbringing after observing them for two weeks.



I saw something in Dean Chelios that made me want him here for 5 to 7 weeks a summer. I liked what I saw. He was a good kid and performed admirably out of his comfort zone. I know in my own heart we could help him because, like the Gretzky children, he has things you can't teach.



We are in an age where kids get too much too soon and we have too many who think they can "buy success". We have too little focus on consistency and continuity. The intangibles are secondary and kids are being misled as to what it takes to succeed in life and the game. We believe our passion, and love for the game and kids who play it, will rub off on the people who work and play here.



Baseball fields are filled with hungry and poor sand lot ball players, but those sand lots are in a different country. Outdoor rinks are a thing of the past in most areas. Structure and "buying" our way is the norm in AAA hockey.



We still maintain the hope that some hungry kid or some kid who has everything going in life but hockey, will catch and pass up the guy who gets all the breaks. We are an underdog camp with a few elite players to emulate. One of the easiest ways to develop a winner without cost is to elevate the charisma, class and character levels of every young person we meet. These are traits that bring more credibility to the game.



Our country is falling behind in most every sport and we haven't been able to figure out the reasons why. It comes as no surprise to me after traveling all over the world and being witness to the different ideas on training.



This camp has the answer, but few care to listen. There is no replacement for quality training time spent working hard. There is no replacement for the combined humor and sweating with your colleagues. Hard work is fun and will always be. Hard work puts you on a path to "Peace of Mind".



When our society begins to once again endorse that concept we will be on the road to recovery. If a player plays five (5) minutes in a sixty (60) minute game, they will play like it is the most important five (5) minutes of their life. We need to develop players capable of creating an atmosphere (attitude) conducive to success. Hockey players contribute in different ways. In doing so, they feel a sense of ownership and pride; all part of being on a winning team.



"Adults and management have a way of stripping young people of opportunity; if only by a rating system." For some, you may get that “one chance” and you better be ready to make the most of it. For others, they can do no wrong. Right or wrong, the pros have less of a support system for their players than the amateurs. This comes at a time when the support system could be the most important thing in your life.



None of us can say we’ve done it by ourselves, no matter what we accomplish in our lives. Supports systems are crucial to our success; whether amateur or pro. We’ve been witness to over twenty-five (25) training camps during our professional career. Sometimes it is the high risk chance we don’t take that gets the attention of management, then there are the times it is the expression of our unique talents.



Every athlete has to take the approach, "If it can happen, I am going to make it happen."



This was the concept our forefathers envisioned when they laid the foundation for this great country; a model for any team to follow. I would guess there are more than a few rolling around in their graves right now; not too happy with what’s happening in our society.



Team members provide an enormous lift to society and communities when they know they are doing something well. When their light shines, our light shines. It matters not who or what you are; you are no different than the next person.



Our camp changes young peoples’ lives for these very reasons.



The word "mission" is very evident at Minnesota Hockey Camps. We strive to have each person have a communicable, altruistic purpose for what they are doing, especially, for their vocation and profession. We consider our life in hockey an avocation. We are on a mission as mentors of sorts with hopes that the end results are Peace of Mind, Stanley Cup, and a legacy such as our camp in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We still have a chance to win another Cup and Ring. We can readily identify with our mission in life. The purpose is much larger than we are and we feel we can talk about our lives as having a meaningful and worthwhile direction.



Camps have been, are and always will be an important segment of American society. They are a place to let the imagination run. We have a plus having ours in a pristine setting. Young people need camp experiences to grow out and away from their comfort zones. A worthy camp will play a role in the psychological, sociological and physical growth of a child, and ultimately plays a role in their successes in life. The camp can play a similar role in any employee’s life. We embrace a family style setting in and amongst the birch, pines and pristine shores of beautiful Clark Lake. We have a rustic setting with the latest in training techniques.



We are aware of what our company can do to improve the quality of life for people like our players, coaches and support staff. We have a quality place to work and play. We can cite example upon example of how MHC’S service made a difference in individual lives. The self-esteem levels of the people involved are raised considerably, we are saving careers once doomed to fail, and we are improving people's life-styles by recognizing their unique skills.We are helping young people find purpose in their lives and careers and we are helping others discover what they have in common to work together. We've recruited people with the right values to carry out our mission. Per person productivity is up there with the best in the business. The employee's attitudes toward our company are at an all time high.



Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps

Daily Training Tip #207

Multi-tasking during your workouts is a great way to maximize your off-ice training time.

Example; hold a stick and handle a puck/ball when you are jumping on the stride box.

Sometimes your training time is hard to come by. So when you have it, make sure you maximize your time. Multi-tasking exercises are a great way to do this.

Daily Training Tip #206

It is good to be curious in the gym. Try new exercises. Find out what works best for your body and what doesn't.

Daily Training Tip #205

Work on pull-ups. Pull-ups are an off-ice test that most teams complete. Do bad on the pull-up test and you will get a label. Do good on the pull-up test and you will also get a label. The second is better than the first! Let's practice pull-ups so you 'pass' the test.

Daily Training Tip #204

Try using some heavy ropes in your workouts today. They are fun and intense at the same time.

I had a talk with Fred Zamberletti last Sunday. Fred told me he really likes using heavy ropes for his guys. When a guy like Fred talks, you listen. So I order some on Monday. They arrived yesterday and I already like.

The Training Sanctuary @ MHC!

There as been thousands of players that have spent considerable time in the "training sanctuary @ MHC" They have developed into great athletes, great people, great students and productive citizens. This training center is filled with sweat and laughs. There is nothing like working hard and laughing with your friends, while you are getting better at the same time.

I ask myself daily, which one of these athletes is going to be the next success story? Whoever it is, send me an 8x10 picture and I will hang it on the wall.

Daily Training Tip #203

Training for and developing into a better person is equally important as developing into a better athlete.

Great athletes are usually great at everything. They are great people as well as great athletes.

Daily Training Tip #202

Be honest with your career. Don't CHEAT! Do all 5 reps and keep proper technique.

"You only cheat the man in the mirror" Your career and life are too short to cut corners.

Daily Training Tip #201

Don't forget you core. It is the foundation of all athletic ability. 1000 abs a day is our goal!

Josh Archibald-The Warrior Way!

Pictured above is Josh Archibald is jumping over a 36" hurdle with perfect form. Not bad for a guy who is 5' nothing!

Josh Archibald, Matt & Chris Pohlkamp, Mitch McLain, Gaven Motschenbacher, Austen Anderson, Jared Stearns and Mason Fussy are finally starting to figure out what hard work is. They are breaking the stereotype of the "Warrior Way" and creating the proper "Warrior Way." Not sure how good these guys will become, but they are making sure they are doing everything in their power to be the best they can be. They are having one heck of summer. They spend countless hours in the gym and on the ice. They are developing into better athletes and better people. Fun to watch them train together and have fun together.

When my 2 year old son gets older, I want him to mimick what these 7 high school players are doing.

Keep up the good work Boys!

Daily Training Tip #200

Thanks to everyone out there who has joined and is following this blog. D.T.T.#200 is a special one. Hope your training continues!

Live for the moment. You never know when your moment will be calling. You better be prepared!

Rachel's Renegades-

(Taken from Gringo's Blog)

Rachel's Renegades - a truly spectacular group of young players




Minnesota Hockey Camps with

Rachel’s Renegades

July 18 – 24, 2010



As I am driving back home from Minnesota Hockey Camps, it gave me some time to reflect on not only my past week with the Renegades but back to a time when I worked at Minnesota Hockey Camps as a young girl. Back then, there were only a handful of girl hockey players, Cammi Granato was one of those handful, she now has a picture in my dad’s office with her gold medal as captain of the USA Women’s Hockey Team and is a proud member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. I wondered what it would be like to truly share the Minnesota Hockey Camps experience with my own girls and 25 years later I was able to do just that…my daughters returned to camp when girls’ hockey has now become more of the norm than just a handful.



My daughters and I wanted to take our hockey camp experience and share this experience with other girls and that is when Rachel’s Renegades was formed. Little did I know that the experience and a group of 15 girls would impact my life just as the week had impacted their own. We had a group of eleven girls (nine from Stillwater and two from Alexandria) staying on site in cabin #14 with one den mother (myself) and a group of four Brainerd girls who attended day camp.



I think back and am sure I questioned how these eleven girls would spend 7 days together when many of them had never been away from home more than a day. Everything just fell into place. The girls figured out a roommate plan. Two of the girls made signs for every room and woke up before me on Monday morning to post the signs. No one had much time to miss home as the week began.



The mornings were off to an early start with the daily wake up at 7:00am. I never once had to ask a second time for anyone to get up and they all woke with a smile (I am not sure if the smiles were from the sunshine or the morning song that greeted the girls every day). The nights started with a few later nights but as the week and the hard work wore on, the bed time laughter ceased to about five (5) minutes and the cabin was silent.



Their days consisted of the traditional Minnesota Hockey Camps routine which included two ice times, dry land training, weight training, classroom, stick handling and shooting. There was a small amount of recreational time when the girls spent their time playing volleyball, swimming or rollerblading. Four of the girls used their down time to take the “1000 sit ups a day challenge” and were rewarded by Joe Ciardelli, MHC Strength and Conditioning Director, with their name posted on the sit up wall of fame.



This week was a perfect fit for these girls as they were learning about independence, being away from home and the whole camp experience not to mention it involved hockey, their number one passion. It also included some great mentors within Carolyn Sneep, who plays hockey for St. Olaf College and Joe Blake, their counselor, whose passion for the game was apparent in every day activity not to mention connecting with the girls as a true role model. Caroline and Joe even offered to spend one evening frosting cookies with the girls for a night time snack and a little down time.



When I look back as the den mother of the Renegades, one particular event changed me the most. My Dad (Ole’ Gringo) gave a presentation on his “Template for Success…An invitation to critique yourself”. I wondered what these young girls would take away from such a presentation that he typically addresses to a much older audience. So I went back to the cabin and asked what the one thing they took away from the presentation. The first gal who spoke commented,”I wrote a couple of pointers on my arm. Think big. Believe big. Dream big and big things will happen”. She also commented to “always do something out of the ordinary”. Other comments included “it will be the speech I will remember the rest of my life” and “W-I-N…what’s important now”.



Out of all the comments I hope that the one that sticks the most is what it means to be a “great player versus a great person”. The very best player may not be the very best person and that the person you become can lift you up to exceptional player status when you figure out how life works and what it means to be a great person”. Gringo used a prime example of how Sidney Crosby is both a great player and a great person which ultimately proves his tremendous success in life on and off the ice.



What an honor for me to spend a week with these girls. I truly hope the girls will have this memory of their camp experience for the rest of their life and that they too will someday reflect back as I have done to their very first Minnesota Hockey Camps experience and maybe, just maybe, share the experience with their children. I wish nothing but huge success for these gals…they proved to me that hard work and fun can coincide as they truly begin to figure out “how life works”.



Thank you Minnesota Hockey Camps for a great week!



Sincerely,

Rachel Grillo Rondeau



Rachel’s Renegades…breakin’ down the game one goal at a time.

A group of girl hockey players with a passion for the game and building character for life.



Chuck Grillo's comments: This message is one of those moments that mean more to me than those I write, because this is a daughter having a true life of experience out of love for a group of young players. Her obligation to them is greater than their obligation to her, yet she makes it appear that she is the one receiving the rewards. This make her a true mentor; one who emboldens those in her care. Her Mentorship skills are valued versus feared; and that is the measuring stick for any Mentor. I am a very proud Dad!



It's my belief that every one of these young players will reciprocate in some way @ different times in their lives.



Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps

Legends; the role they play in my life

(Taken from Gringo's Blog)

Legends; the role they play in my life

I find it important, when the opportunity is there, to sit down with Legends fm any sport. I had the honor of doing just that on July 25, 2010. Fred Zamberletti, Grandfather of Patrick and Jay stopped in during registration with his daughter, Lisa. Lisa has the same passion for her children, and sports, as Fred has shown during his fifty (50) years with the Vikings. While on their way, she called the camp and said, “I’ve talked my father in to driving up with me fm Bloomington and he wants to meet you.” While it was nice of Lisa, she had it wrong. I was the one who wanted to meet him.



We sat down in the dryland and strength training area to discuss sports; past, present and future. He was especially happy to see the number of players in the gym when they were not scheduled to be there. One player told him, “Character is defined by what you do when no one is looking.” Needless to say, Fred was impressed. He met our intern trainer, Katie, fm Mankato and couldn’t have been nicer to her. They spoke and he was in no hurry to cut the conversation short. The message is clear, “All the great people in our society have time for young people just starting out in their careers. Fred is one who believes all they need is an opportunity.”



The stories flowed all the way back to his time in Hibbing, MN in 1959. He knew every coach in the Hibbing system regardless of what sport they were involved. Names like Herman Frickey, Joe Milinovich, Mario Retica, George Perpich, Frank Bugliosi, Al Rice, Nick Maras, Cal Sabatini and others were all known by first name. He was throwing out all of the names and had even spent some time in the service with George Jetty. He spoke about Don Brose and the great job he did with the Mankato State program.



We talked about the Hankinson family. Ben is here with his two boys and eight others fm Edina. One of them is the son of Dean Williamson, grandson of Murray (72 Olympic Coach) who Fred knew well. He took time to say hi and throw out a few colorful one liners.



I was most impressed by his knowledge of hockey; past and present names and teams throughout the state of Minnesota. We talked extensively about Bud Grant, Herb Brooks and others.



Fred Zamberletti's Biography



Fred Zamberletti enters 2007 with a long and storied history with the franchise and a remarkable streak intact-Zamberletti has not missed a game in the 47-year history of the Vikings, working 948 consecutive contests. The streak includes all preseason, regular season and postseason games in club history.



Zamberletti has earned the respect and trust of countless players and staff during his tenure with the Vikings. In his time with the team Zamberletti has been a friend, brother, father figure and mentor to countless players, coaches and co-workers. When the team held Fred Zamberletti Day on December 20, 1998 before kickoff of the Vikings-Jacksonville Jaguars game, over 100 Vikings alumni turned out to celebrate with him.



To the media he's known as "Trainer for Life." Former head coach Bud Grant acknowledged him as the "Cornerstone of the Vikings" and former General Manager Mike Lynn referred to Fred as "Mr. Viking." The players with respect and admiration refer to him as "The Man." To his friends and compatriots he is known as "The Voice of Reason." Zamberletti was the Head Trainer from 1961-98, Coordinator of Medical Services from 1999-2001 and currently Senior Consultant. A successful entrepreneur and a man of deep religious beliefs, the 74-year-old Zamberletti was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Infantry.



Following his graduation from the University of Iowa he served as chief physical therapist at Hibbing General Hospital in 1959 and head athletic trainer at the University of Toledo in 1960 before joining the Vikings at the team's inception in 1961.



Zamberletti is a native of Melcher, IA, and in addition to numerous professional awards he was inducted into the Minnesota Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame and was chosen Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1986 by the Drackett Company of Cincinnati. He and the Vikings staff earned the 1996 NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year. In 1999 he earned the Cain Fain Award at the NFL Physicians Sports Sciences Symposium and is an Honorary Fellow of the Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center. Recognized by the governor as an Honorary Ambassador of the State of Minnesota, Zamberletti has also received Minneapolis' Honorary Citizen Award. The PFATS' senior member enjoys walking, bocce ball and cribbage.



Fred was quick to comment when I mentioned the use of the Johari Window in our program. He said, “I find it interesting you bring up the Johari Window. I know very few who are aware of the process for creating awareness and solving problems. I know people who need it badly and have no idea what it is.”



His one liners were one after the other, all tied to affection, loyalty and respect.



I find one common denominator with Legends. It’s all about the passion they have for the sports in general, the passion they have for people, the history of the game and their willingness to talk unconditionally about something they love. We can always learn something fm them because their knowledge and wisdom runs so deep.



I have no problem saying I have a deep respect and love for Fred Zamberletti as a person and professional after just two hours. This is the neat thing about sports. We don’t need a lifetime to develop a relationship. The sporting world is full of short term relationships that last forever. We can always take something fm these relationships even if we don’t see the person again. It’s there, it’s unconditional and it’s priceless. I took a lot fm the experience and will treasure the moment as long as I live.



Thanks, Fred!



We finished the day with Rob Grillo, San Jose; Dino Grillo, Multi task hockey man; Greg Malone, Tampa Bay; Scott Luce, Florida; Scott Hillman, Independence, MO; Josh Hauge, Fairbanks Ice Dogs; Clairene Grillo, Matriarch of MHC.



Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps

Fred Zamberletti

Special day at MHC yesterday. Fred Zamberletti was on our grounds. He dropped off his grandkids for a week of hockey camp. What an amazing guy. Has been the trainer with the Vikings since 1961, over 1000 NFL games under his belt! It was great to hear some of his stories.

Funny how the field of strength & conditioning is "cutting edge" and some of the same exercises that Mr. Zamberletti used in 1961 are still considered great exercises today! Don't get away from the fundamentals. Something that is great, is always going to be great.

Daily Training Tip #199

Make sure you breathe properly during all exercises. Breathe out during the "hard part" of each exercise.

Wayne Simmonds & Chris Stewart

Short video clip on two MHC Campers, Wayne Simmonds and Chris Stewart.

http://video.thehockeynews.com/mediadetail/2999339

Daily Training Tip #198

It is the fundamentals that make the difference. Be a detail guy and do every little thing properly.

NHL Agent, Proof Diversity has Taken Hold in Hockey

Nice article in the hockey news on Eustace King. Eustace is a great MHC friend and mentor to a lot of aspiring young athletes.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34588-The-Straight-Edge-NHL-agent-proof-diversity-has-taken-hold-in-hockey.html

Daily Training Tip #197

A recent study found athletes that go to bed early and wake up early perform better than "night owls."

Get your 8 hours of sleep, get up early and get into the gym first thing in the morning. Best time to work out is first thing in the morning. Your career will thank you later!

Daily Training Tip #196

There is no correlation between sneaker "type" and injury prevention. So buy whatever good quality brand you would like.

Make sure the shoe is top quality and will hold up to the damands of an aspiring athlete. But any brand will work.

Daily Training Tip #195

Remember to eat a healthy breakfast to get your day started off properly. Put the proper fuel in, get proper performance out.

Daily Training Tip #194

Do what  you have to do to improve your career. Big things, little things...everything matters.

Why only do certain things? There are SO MANY different things you can do to improve your game. Why box yourself in? Do as much as you can.

Daily Training Tip #193

Think about triple extension when doing your plyometrics today. Your ankles, knees and hips all extend together at the same time during a jump.

The reverse is also true and all three contract together at the same time during the landing.

Daily Training Tip #192

During your plyometric workouts...after your take off, snap your knees up to your chest. This helps strengthen your hip flexors.

Hip Flexors are an important part of your skating stride and are often overlooked. Strengthen your hip flexors, become a better skater.

Daily Training Tip #191

Improve on your landing skills when you are doing plyometric exercises.

Daily Training Tip #190

You need at least 6 mentors in your life. At least one of those needs to be a strength coach.

A good strength coach can help you with so much with your career. Find one and treat him right!

Sneep Getting All Kinds of Press Today.

http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534453&navid=DL

PIT
home 
 

Nice Article on MHC Camper Carl Sneep!

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10196/1072926-61.stm

Carl Sneep is just starting his pro career, but has already spent many hours training in the MHC gym.

Daily Training Tip #189

Hard work that is learned through athletics can AND should be carried over to academics. There is no reason that athletes shouldn't get good grades.

Daily Training Tip #188

Why pay a price for 9 months and then do nothing for 3 months? Training/Development needs to be a lifestyle. You only have 1 career!

Doesn't make sense to me-Hard work is a lifestyle. Don't let anyone outwork you in your training, in the classroom or in life! A good friend told me yesterday, "You have what it takes to get here, but do you have what it takes to stay here?"

Daily Training Tip #187

Neck training/strengthening can help reduce the risk of concussions. Simple/minor neck exercises can save you some time on the IR.

Some of these exercises are "manual" which means you can do them with a partner WITHOUT any equipment. Doesn't cost you anything, just time. No excuse to not be doing them.

HAPPY WITH OUR LIFE-Taken from Gringo's Blog

Happy with our life!



ST Cloud State Coach, Bob Motzko, calls MHC “the best kept secret in hockey”. Bob, having known our family most all of his playing and coaching career, is one who is qualified to judge what he’s observed over the years.



Our family has our own little corner of the world in the pristine surroundings @ Minnewawa Lodge, Home of Minnesota Hockey Camps, in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area. The setting for the camp is addictive and the serenity the envy of most that experience even one trip on to the grounds. This is where we hang out and this is where we like to offer our training services to those interested; whether aspiring professionals or young people on a path to becoming productive citizens. Our circle of friends and associates is very small. Most important of those is our strength trainer, Joe Ciardelli, our only full time employee outside of our family.



We are grateful to those who continue to work with us as coaches and our support staffs are special to us. Some are “lifers” with us and others are passing through hoping to become a better player, better coach, better worker, and even better person. We enjoy being who we are and we enjoy helping them reach their goals and objectives in their personal lives.



We may be “nobodies” in the scope of the whole world, but we are somebody in the real world of countless people whose lives we have impacted along the way. We measure our net worth in 8 x 10’s. This places us amongst the richest in the world and we get to take all of these memories with us. Observing the National Camps for USA hockey during the summer, the first thought entering our mind is how much we could help those who need to put the finishing touches on their body and their game.



We love where we are in our life. It’s a happy place, a cool place, a place to improve all of our lives; whether player, support staff, staff or owners. The only change we need is the continuous change that comes with getting better and the change that comes with the search for peace of mind.



The hockey sports scene has changed considerably over the years but the only changes we’ve made are the upgrading of our facility and the continuous search for down to earth training methods; simple but effective. We are still in to telling young people things they do not want to hear with the hope that they recognize what’s important in life; how life really works. We believe it is all about the journey, keeping your vehicle on the road to success. We are also aware that this is a complex process in this millennial generation influenced by generation X, the baby boomers and the few traditionalists that are still standing.



If you want to be part of the proud, the few, the MHC campers, who leave this camp a better player, and even better person, consider spending some weeks with us. We are a value paid, value received camp with a vested interest in people becoming what we believe they can be. We do it by “helping people help themselves” and we have a way of getting the message across.



Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325 Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps

Daily Training Tip #186

Dedication to perfection in the gym improves performance, but also helps prevent injury.

You need to be doing some exercises that are focused on injury prevention. Injuries are part of the game, however, if you can reduce them or even eliminate them, you will extend  your career.

Daily Training Tip #185

Great athleets need to be able to adapt. Your body needs to be trainerd to adapt. Without being able to adapt, injuries can occur.

Train your body in all aspects and in all situations.

Daily Training Tip #184

You put  yourself in the position you are in by the choices that you make. Lifting, Sprinting, Jumping & Skating together on a daily basis puts you in a pretty good position.

You only have one career...it is up to you. If you don't make the "top team" it isn't because of the coach. It isn't because of whoever picked the team. It is because of the work or lack of work you put in during the off season. Don't leave anything to chance, pay a price and you will put yourself in a position to succeed.

Daily Training Tip #183

You only have one body and one chance at developing it properly both for athletics and beyond. Do things properly so you have no regrets.

This really holds true for a lot of things, but you really only have one chance at. Make it happen today. Don't look back and say "I wish I would have done this" just do it today. Pay a Price and pay it smartly.

Daily Training Tip #182

The athletes that really pay a price are always rewarded. Don't just "think you train" really work hard and pay a price.

I witness this on a daily basis. Players that think they train. When they realize they aren't working as hard as they could be, they really turn the corner. So many athletes just have to turn the corner, take a couple of steps and they are at their destination. However, a lot of athletes aren't prepared to take those last couple of steps. Work hard today.

Daily Training Tip #181

Impact strength is improved off of the ice. Impact strength seperates the great from the good.

There is a difference between strength and impract strength. If you are impact strong, you will be a much better athlete.

Daily Training Tip #180

People with a purpose have higher productivity levels. You better head into the gym today with a purpose!

Gym time is just as special as ice time. Why go into the gym and waste time. Productive people in the gym are usually productive people in society. Another example of how gym time will develope athletes.

Daily Training Tip #179

Program your mind to outwork everyone else. The hardest workers improve the most and get the most out of the game.

Doesn't matter what group or team you are training with. Doesn't matter what part of the world you live in. Just out work everyone else. Train you body to succeed.

Daily Training Tip #178

Sprint, Lift, Jump and Skate together equally to assure your best developments.

By doing these four activities together, you allow four different muscle groups to grow equally. If you spend more time skating than the other three, your development will not be as much as you would like.

Daily Training Tip #177

Learn what Decision Training (DT) is. Try some of these exercises during some spare time.

I believe reaction time can be improved on. Easiest thing is to keep your head on a swivel. If you see the play sooner, you will be able to react sooner. Some "DT" can help with your decision process and help speed it up.

Hockey Players are Made Off of the Ice

Hockey players are made off of the ice, in the gym, not during games.

As I watched the NHL draft two weekends ago and spoke with my colleagues after they returned home from the draft and I noticed a common theme. The work a player puts in off of the ice plays a big role in helping these players advance in their career.

The commentators of the draft kept saying things about players like "he possesses a great work ethic" "he excels at physical fitness" "dedicated to working out" "tough" "solid" "he is a workout freak" "hockey strong" were a few sayings I heard.

These players learned at an early age the importance of hard work. For the most part, they stayed away from gimmicks. They paid a price and made themselves into pretty good players. Some of them will be content to get drafted and will get passed by the others. Some will realize their dream of playing in the NHL is just around the corner and will pay even more of a price.

If hard work off of the ice works for these high end 18 year old players, wouldn't it work for you?

Each of you fall into a pecking order. The question is, what are you doing to change that pecking order? Are you able to turn the corner to a career?