SAN JOSE, Calif. — After his Chazy (N.Y.) Lady Flyers defeated the Keweenaw (Mich.) Storm for the USA Hockey Tier II 19-and-Under girls’ national title on Sunday, coach Ray Guay was quick to point out why his team played so well this season.
“I taught them my brand of hockey, USA Hockey’s ADM,” he said, referring to the American Development Model. “The small-area games. I was teaching them that before they were pitching that to the other youth hockey programs. I was brought up on the pond and the skills come from the small-area games.”
The ADM provides age-appropriate guidelines and curriculum to hockey associations across America to help more kids play, love and excel in hockey. The program is done in partnership with the NHL.
Guay said the skills from small-area games and pond hockey are the same.
“Pond hockey is all about heads up, handling the puck and looking to see where the other players are, as well as good skills in passing and skating,” he said. “I’m a big believer in skating and passing systems. I taught these girls how to use the ice to their advantage. The game is played in a quarter of the rink at a time.
“Teaching them how to skate is most important,” Guay added, “and from there, the skill level.”
We’ll leave a light on for you
The Keweenaw Storm had a friend waiting for them in San Jose: Mike Aldrich.
The longtime Sharks’ equipment manager and his wife rolled out the red carpet for the team. In fact, the Aldrichs hosted a dinner for them while they were in San Jose and were in attendance for the championship game.
Mike, who was also Team USA’s equipment manager at the 2010 Olympics, was a little late as he was working the Sharks-Dallas Stars game at HP Pavilion, which is about 10 minutes north of Sharks Ice at San Jose, the home base for the national championships. Like the team, the Aldrichs are from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Border Flyers
The Chazy Lady Flyers hail from northeastern Clinton County in New York state. Chazy is less than 10 miles away from the Canadian border. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,284 miles. The closest city to Chazy is Plattsburgh, N.Y.
The leader board
Meghan Kraus from the Washington Wild led the pool play scoring with 10 points. Her six goals were one better than Chazy Lady’s Amanda Peterson.
Peterson’s teammate, Kallie Villemaire, and Washington’s Victoria Lindsay each had five assists. Christina Cleroux of the East Coast (Mass.) Wizards stopped 45 of 46 shots for a 0.65 goals-against average in nearly 78 minutes.
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.