The official start of fall may not be for another couple weeks, but the unofficial start of autumn has three telltale signs:
The days get short, the air gets cold, and Winnipeg Jets training camp begins.
That’s the case this week, as the first on-ice session of the 2018 edition of Jets training camp takes place on Sept. 14 at hockey for all centre, and ramps up to another level the very next day, with the fifth annual Winnipeg Jets Fan Fest, presented by Bell MTS.
All training camp sessions are free and open to the public, with two ice sessions taking place each day – until the number of preseason games begins to dwindle. It’s a unique opportunity for fans to see players in preseason prep mode, scrimmaging against each other and being coached through drills.
For some players, like captain Blake Wheeler, training camp is a chance to prepare for the long season ahead. He also says it’s important that the team puts the two rounds of playoff success in the rear-view mirror.
“When the puck drops this season, it’s not going to be game one of the Western Finals again,” said Wheeler. “There is a long road to get back to where we got to last year. It doesn’t happen just because we want it to happen, or we think we’re better than everyone else, or because we had a good year last year.
“We have to buy into that right from day one of camp, and realize how hard it was to get to where we got to.”
With that being the message from the captain, fans can expect high-tempo practices throughout camp. Players are split into two groups, and do a combination of on-ice work, off-ice workouts, and video sessions throughout the 17 official days of camp.
After a season that saw him win the American Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year Award, forward Mason Appleton put in a hard summer of training, and plans to soak in all he can at this year’s camp – and fight for a spot on the final roster.
“You see there are opportunities, you see there are spots open,” said Appleton. “But that’s not what I’m focused on. I’m just trying to focus on myself and do the things that make me a good hockey player. You can’t control those things, and I really have to control my own game and be the best player I can be every day.”
With last season’s accolades behind them and everyone bringing their A-game, who has the fire and the footwork to make the jump?
Find out with a front row seat to the action at hockey for all centre where you can see prospects’ performance firsthand, gauge the chemistry between new and returning players, and even find yourself an early fan of some of the newest recruits and future Moose players.
Stay tuned to WinnipegJets.com, as well as the team’s social media accounts – (@NHLJets and facebook.com/nhljets/) for ice time schedules throughout camp, as well as player profiles and behind-the-scenes access to the Jets as the prepare for another exciting season!
There are many different aspects to training for a sport.
There are physical aspects such as exercise, nutrition, sleep and practice. There are psychological components such as visualization, stress management and confidence. And while all these aspects are equally important when it comes to success, some of these components are traditionally done with the help of coaching.
There are many variations of a saying that is used all the time that goes something like “(insert sport name) is 20 per cent physical and 80 per cent mental,” or, “getting fit is 30 per cent in the gym and 70 per cent in the kitchen.”
I’m not sure where these sayings came from or why they ever became so popular, but I can assure you they are false. If you want to have success there is no division of effort based on percentages. Every aspect is 100 per cent of your effort all the time. The sport you play and train for is 100 per cent physical and 100 per cent mental. Getting fit is 100 per cent in the gym and 100 per cent in the kitchen. One aspect does not outweigh the others if you want to truly do your best and reach your full potential.
But remember, this is not easy to do without help. This is where a good coach can be of service and really help you out. The problem is, as mentioned before, we traditionally utilize coaching only in certain aspects and not others. An example of this, of course, is that for hockey we have a coach on ice for the players. Every practice and every game, there is a coach providing guidance and structure to put you in the best position to develop and be successful. That’s great, exactly how it should be.
Now let’s keep going with this example. When we step off the ice what coaching do we have? Athletes working with trainers has become increasingly popular over the years, which is great. But what about nutrition? A very small percentage of people consult a nutrition coach for advice. Finally, what about mental performance? Very few people enlist the help of a mental performance coach to help with their success.
When dealing with the mental aspect you actually here things such as “they’re a big kid, they can figure it out,” or “be a professional, deal with it.” That’s crazy. We would never even send a pro hockey team on the ice and say “You are pro players, figure it out.” We would never have athletes in the gym and say, “You’ve been training for a couple years now, you’re a big kid, figure it out.” Can you imagine? Coaching is coaching is coaching.
It doesn’t matter what aspects the coach covers, they are all equally important. The structure, adherence, accountability and guidance a good coach offers is an absolute game changer.
So evaluate where you are now and where you would like to be in the future. Take a look at all the different aspects you need to be successful and which ones are being properly addressed and which ones are not.
Go find a coach who can help you. Don’t leave it to a guess and don’t leave it to chance. You owe it to yourself.
Until next time,
Strength, Courage, Hustle, Commitment
AJ Zeglen, Focus Fitness Manager & Head Strength Coach
The hockey for all centre is known as the rink to go to for minor hockey in Winnipeg, and the Jets Gear Pro Shop inside the Iceplex is also growing in popularity as a source for Jets Gear and hockey equipment services.
Though they have all of the hottest Jets and Moose apparel, skate sharpening, equipment repair services and Winnipeg Jets game used sticks, shafts, and blades are what keep the Pro Shop ticking. Store manager Jeff Borse says that the Iceplex’s four hockey rinks bring in most of their clients and that the Jets Gear Pro Shop is also gaining loyal and discerning customers that last year brought in 11,517 pair of skates for sharpening.
“We don’t have a large turnaround in employees,” said Borse of the Pro Shop. “Hockey players can be picky and if they get one good skate sharpening, they’ll stick with that person and not just the location. So all the guys in the store have their customers come in to check if they’re around when they bring in their skates. But it’s also out of convenience, given that we have four rinks, and there’s usually something going on here.”
Though they provide a high level of service, their prices don’t reflect it. The cost of the Pro Shop’s services are right on par with any other skate sharpening and equipment repair outlets in the city.
And, it’s not just their equipment services that are drawing people in. Their merchandise, and intimate location is also attracting customers.
“People are starting to realize that we have a spot out here, and that it’s secluded and not as crazy as the malls,” noted Borse. “It’s more one-to-one because it’s a smaller store. You walk in and you don’t have to look for people to help you. We’re right here in front of you.”
The fact that the Pro Shop is set in a hockey environment adds to the allure of it too. Whether it’s the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy, hockey tournaments, the Manitoba Moose, or the Winnipeg Jets, it seems like the Iceplex is always filled with hockey players, making it the kind of place you want to go to for pro services and Jets apparel, just to be a part of the atmosphere. Surrounded by hockey and with a knowledgeable and experienced team, the Pro Shop can only expect that word will continue to grow.
This year the Ice Lab once again held a week-long summer goalie camp for rising stars and elite goaltenders from ages 9-17.
Goalies had a fun and educational camp focusing on the breakdown of goaltending movements and advanced training to become as efficient and effective as possible.
The Full five-day camp included two on-ice sessions, one Focus Fitness goalie-specific workout, and one gym session per day giving them the opportunity to practice distinct skills and situations not always available to them in team practices.
Participants had fun playing dodgeball, floorball, and other gym activities on the Canadian Tire rink and were treated to lunch in the Press Box Restaurant.
New this year, goalies received cool Ice Lab water bottles and T-shirts for participating.
Highly experienced instructors ensured that our goalies had a fun week. Special guest Calvin Pickard (Toronto), who won the Calder Cup with Toronto Marlies this past season, surprised goalies during week one, sharing some insights on his own success in net.
Thank you to all participants for your hard work. We hope that you learned a lot and came away with things to work on this upcoming season.
As always, we build upon our camps and classes each year to bring the best experience for future sessions. It’s very rewarding for us as coaches to see the improvements that you will bring back to your teams each new season following any Jets Hockey Development training.
I look forward to hearing all about your accomplishments and success and seeing you in the Ice Lab in the upcoming season.
I have been very fortunate to come to the Hockey Canada Under 17 Development Program for a third year and every year it blows me away. The talent, professionalism, and willingness to learn from these young men is really something that is remarkable. I am once again working with Team Black and Team Blue in a camp of 112 of the best 16-year-old hockey players from coast to coast in Canada. From these two teams, Hockey Canada will form Team Black, which will play in the U17 World Championships in November.
The week is a very busy week of hockey for the players, who were faced with numerous challenges, including meeting a full new coaching staff and sorting out new drills and expectations on the ice, working with new skills coaches who are giving them new information to work on in practice, and hopefully implement in games, and being in a room with 19 new players who all have the same dream of one day playing for Team Canada.
The coaches challenge the players and the players push and challenge each other to get better as they quickly realize that playing for Team Canada is not easy. It takes an exceptional athlete to be able to face the challenges head on and raise their game to a new level among the best players in their age group.
Off the ice, players are put through seminars to help them learn what it takes to be a world-class hockey player. Seminars in nutrition, mental performance, goal setting, social media, fitness testing (and more) allowed the players to see what is required on a daily basis from a hockey player at this level. These players quickly see the difference in dedication and passion for the game from simply being a guy who plays hockey to a true hockey player.
From my perspective this is a very exciting week. I get to meet new coaches, trainers, and players who all have an undisputable passion for the game. Every coach has a different style and I love the challenge of finding a way to implement what I do on the skills side to help each player improve in a short time to contribute more to the team. I get to meet players from across the country who all have different backgrounds and experiences with skills coaches. Some are used to the language, some have never heard the depth of the details in the instruction and some need a translator as they only speak French. It is up to me to find a way to connect with all the defencemen that I work with to help them see improvements during this week, and also give them things to work on as each and every player realizes that he needs to continue to improve.
It’s not just the prospective Team Canada players who learn and grow over the course of this week of training. Working with new players, working through new challenges, and collaborating with other coaches is also good for my own coaching toolbox. Players’ challenges become my challenges as I tailor their development plans to find the best ways to help them take their game to the next level. In working with players with unique styles of play, there is always a takeaway that I can bring back to the players that I work with through Jets Hockey Development.
It is a busy week full of practices, seminars, meetings and games which all lead to an incredible experience for the trainers, coaches, and players. This group was talented, energetic and willing to learn. For all their skill, they have had their eyes open to how many good players there are in Canada and what it will take to play for their country. The common theme that came up from all the players I met with is, ‘I have to get better.” As a skills coach, that is what I love to hear, as it is an attitude that will continue to serve us well, even when we think we have reached our ultimate goals!
It’s not just the prospective Team Canada players who learn and grow over the course of this week of training. Working with new players, working through new challenges, and collaborating with other coaches is also good for my own coaching toolbox. Players’ challenges become my challenges as I tailor their development plans to find the best ways to help them take their game to the next level. In working with players with unique styles of play, there is always a takeaway that I can bring back to the players that I work with through Jets Hockey Development.
