On Oct 10, the coaches introduced tires as a versatile on-ice conditioning and training tool. There was a lot of skating and the players were asked to push themselves. We asked the players for their thoughts after that practice (one player missed the workout due to illness and offered a more general view of what he has learned this year.)

Here's what they had to say:

Coach

I learned at the practice on Tuesday night was that I am able to stop listening to the dying voice in my head. To be honest, near to the beginning of the season when I was out of shape from the summer, the only thing that ran through my head was “when is this going to be over” during sprints. At the practice on Tuesday, I talked to myself when you blew the whistle, and was saying “keep on going” or “don’t stop.”  I wasn’t aware if I had been skating faster than usual, but it sure felt it to me. The thing that I was sure that I liked at the practice was how everybody put on their best effort and wouldn’t give up on these drills. When I saw that, I believed that this team is able to do something special.

-Charlie

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I learned that I have more in me and all I have to do is reach deep inside and do it. All I have to do is believe that I can do it.

-Brett

- - -

At our team practice earlier this week, I learned something about myself and our team. I learned that if I continue to push myself and set higher goals for myself I will soon be able to skate that hard all the time - all I need is the determination. I also learned that if our team works that hard at every practice we will be able to carry it into our games and we will be able to beat anyone.

-Unsigned

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At the practice, I learned that if I work hard and I do my best and forget about pain that I can do anything, and now I think I can, and our team can skate better than like any other team and that if our team works hard and together we can beat anyone.

-Zach #9

 - - -

To Coach

The day of the impossible was accomplished. When we skated I learned many things about myself, from never quitting, the spirit of working hard, and most of all heart!! If I had of watched that practice I would have never thought that it was our team, but with the encouragement from coach, players to make me work hard we accomplished the impossible and boy did we ever have KANORA!

-#15 Ryan

- - -  

During the no-puck practice I learned how to shut out the pain and burning and just keep going. It taught me that me and everyone else can do anything if we try. Also I learned that there will be pain this year and we will have to work hard but all this skating is good for us in the long run.

-Sincerely

Jack

- - -  

Dear Coach,

During practice on October 10^th, I learned that hard work is not something that can be taught to you, it is inside of you.  All you have to do is find it. It is deep inside of your heart. The only thing holding it back is your mind. I also learned that it takes hard work to accomplish things in life and nothing comes easy.

-Sincerely,

Chris

- - -  

At Tuesday’s practice I learned and discovered a lot about myself. Getting ready for the practice I was thinking that I was going to have a lot of trouble making it through this because I had never done a whole 1 hour work of just skating. Before the practice I told myself just to try and keep my mind off of how tough the skating would be. Instead when I got on the ice I was concentrating on my effort and telling myself just to try and enjoy it. After the practice I felt extremely energized and happy. I learned that my positive attitude towards skating really made a difference. I also learned that the more you try the better you will feel when it’s all over. That I discovered and what was most important was the encouragement and competition from friends makes it all seem a lot easier.

-Jake

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The Practice

At the practice I learned that nothing is impossible for our team when we are determined, try our hardest, and believe in ourselves. Another thing is that if we want, we can be the fastest and best skating team. Also that we have a lot of potential as a team and individually and a lot of space for learning and improving our game.

-Unsigned

- - -  

What I learned in the practice where we skated was that I can push myself to new levels and really work to achieve my goals. I have also found out that in order to do that I need someone to push me to my limits like Germano and Jake. In the drill where we had to skate to the blue line back, the red line back etc., I wouldn't have pushed myself if it wasn’t for Germano. This is what I learned in that practice. 

-Sincerely,

Nicholas P

 

- - -

 

Coach Langley, 

On Tuesday’s practice I learned a lot about myself.  One of the many was my ability to push my limits. It was hard at the beginning, but as it went on, I felt my legs getting stronger and soon the skating became easier. Now I feel faster and stronger than I was before. The 50 minutes of hard skating seemed a little intimidating, but half way through it felt shorter than it really was.

I enjoyed the challenge and want more of these practices in the future to improve our team, and myself.  

-Matt

- - - 

 

 During our skate, I learned something about myself. I learned that when I am pushed and encouraged I can exceed my limits. Afterwards I felt great because  I accomplished something great and I will always work that much harder

-Brody

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At [the] practice, I discovered that I can do more than what I used to do. It felt amazing after the practice because that was the hardest practice I've ever had. And I made it through working my hardest and skating as fast as I could. It was great to skate hard and see how good I really am because when we were skating with tires and doing suicides knew we were getting better and building strength. It also felt good because everyone was encouraging one another. It was strange because that was the hardest I ever worked in my life and I was able to complete the entire practice. I vote to bring the tires to practice all the time. I really enjoyed it.

Cole 

- - -  

What I learned at the practice as that everybody can do a full practice of skating and that it’s in all of us. Also I learned that if we put our minds to something we can do it. Also I learned that it wasn’t as bad as everybody thought it would be.

-Blair

- - -

Throughout these last few weeks I have learned that I have to make smart decisions and commit to my decision if it is right or wrong. I also have to look and see a passing lane to my teammate and read the plays better and so my passes don’t get picked off. I’ve learned that I have to pump myself up before every shift and that I have to think about the next shift and what I’m going to do to make the next shift better than the last. I have also learned that I have a coach this is willing to help me and that I have to also help him to help me.

Pat