Armstrong Cooper Youth Hockey

The Homestretch

We are near the end.  It is getting harder to lace up the skates; harder to listen to the coaches; harder to look at the schedule that is getting shorter.  Now.... I wish I knew how the girls think about it?

The time for us to start thinking about this summer and next season has arrived.   I brought it up in a pre-game talk about looking around the room and think about this.   If you have enjoyed this group of girls and coaches; after the last event of the season we will never be together again as a group.  Some of us will leave the game, some may stay, some may move up, some will move away.  It is special while it lasts so please enjoy this time.  The one thing that has come up the most lately is people asking what they should do for the summer.  Play in multiple leagues, summer camps….intense training programs?  My answer is always the same.  Do what you feel you need to do.  Some players like to totally walk away from things and immerse themselves in other sports.  Some only play hockey and need to be filled to the gills with things to do.  So my advice always is only you know.  I always say the best thing to start with is get some inline skates, a street ball, something that resembles a goal and a wall you can make holes in.   

Have some fun and you may learn to skate better, work on your shooting and have some good times with your friends.

 Coach Greg

P.S. Happy 25th B-Day Coach Aaron

Doin' the Out of Town

This is being written in during the S.K.A.T.E. Study Hall Time, maybe for me the highlight of our out of town tournament in Owatonna. We come together for a weekend yet amongst all of the excitement, we can take an hour off from the fun and hockey and concentrate on something that really means business. EDUCATION. Someday we will all call it a career for hockey but school is something that will mean much more to each of the girls as the go on in life. Sports are for now but School is forever!!!

On the road with the U10B's

Coach Greg

Free Hockey

Yes that is correct. And better than any coaching can provide. It is called OUTDOOR ICE. No coaches, no drills...just friends or family. It is by far the best training piece of the puzzle. Kids learn more than you can imagine when left to themselves and having fun with other kids. Whether they have a stick in hand or just out with only skates. I strongly suggest everyone take advantage of the next 6 weeks to use this golden opportunity that is available. Find any rink in any city and you have fun written all over it. Parents...this is a a great chance to have some ice time as well. The next best thing if you do not want to go outside? Open Skating at any arena. New Hope, Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, St, Louis Park.....they are all waiting for you. Simple ice time anywhere means so much.

This is my 26th season of coaching hockey.  I have done everything from first year mites up through Summer Men’s College.  In that time I have had the absolute privilege of working with 6 current pros, many D1, D3 and Club colligates and more importantly....countless young kids who have turned into exceptional adults.  I have been around the Armstrong and Cooper programs plus their predecessors since 1986.  My coaching influences are Herb Brooks, Bruce Johnson, Dave Bakke and Don Janicke. 

I played baseball and soccer more than hockey growing up and my boyhood idol were Willie Mays and Pele.

When I am not at the rink I enjoy softball, fishing, my boat, watching trains plus family time with my wife Paula and my kids Aaron and Adrianna.