Volume 3, Issue  8 - April, 2003  

 "From the Right Wing…"

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 The Duckies are still in the hunt!!!       

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This month's issue contains:

 DAN'S TIP OF THE MONTH   THIS MONTH'S QUESTION   TRUST FUND AUCTION   TIPS FROM HOCKEY CAMP 

 DAN'S HONOR ROLL  COACH'S TIP   THE SAYING OF THE MONTH   DAN TRIP IN THE NHL   DAN & JAY'S BOOKS 

  A WAY TO SUBSCRIBE

As you know, the Duckies are surprising some people by their success in the playoffs.  If you read the papers, particularly the Michigan papers, and listened to the experts, particularly the experts residing in Michigan, you heard that the Duckies were thought to be little more than a warm-up exercise for the Red Wings who were on there way to their rightful Stanley Cup championship repeat. The Ducks, it seemed, hardly had the credentials to be on the same ice as the vaunted Wings.

There were articles that told the Red Wing faithful that Curtis Joseph, who was bought by Detroit for the purpose of assuring another Cup, was more than able to de-feather the toothless Ducks.  Experts extolled the virtues of a team loaded with future Hall of Famers whose very presence on the ice assured victory.  And the Ducks lack of playoff hockey experience was certain to make them easy prey for the destined Wings. 

To be candid, while we thought we had a pretty good chance to be competitive, none of us on the Ducks believed we would sweep them.  But Jiggy (a relative unknown east of the Mississippi) played better than Cujo.  Our Hall of Famers (and we have our share of them) played better than their Hall of Famers and our no-name players played as if they had recognizable names. Now you know why we actually play these games instead of letting the experts and the newspaper writers choose for us.

I think there is a lesson in this for you - regardless of your age.  Don't listen to those who would belittle your chances for success - at hockey or anything else you want to achieve.  You have more to say about your destiny than your coach, your G.M., your league officials, the man who writes stories in your local paper, or anyone else who says that you're not good enough, that you won't make it, or that you're a loser.  The experts in your world are even less knowledgeable than the experts you see on TV or the writers in the newspapers.  And now we know how wrong even the expert experts can be. 

If the Ducks had listened to their naysayers, we could have come into Detroit with our wings clipped and been easy prey for the Wings.  But we believed in ourselves, in the goals we had set, and we were successful.  I encourage you to believe in yourself, not in those people around you who belittle you, your abilities, or your goals.

Proving the "experts" wrong can make for some very good feelings inside, as I've found out a time or two.  I hope you can have the same feelings. 

P.S. Does anyone know if there is any truth to the rumor that's circulating around California that they are considering renaming Detroit from Hockeytown to Shockeytown?

THIS MONTH'S BEST QUESTION ON THE WEB SITE…

Go to TOP  DAN'S TIP  THIS MONTH'S QUESTION  HONOR ROLL  COACH'S TIP  SAYING  DAN in the NHL  BOOKS  SUBSCRIBE

There is no auction this month.  I've been donating some of my stuff to other charity auctions and am fresh out of goodies at the moment.

Many of you have expressed disappointment that we discontinued the high school session of our hockey camp.  This year, one father approached us with enough ammunition to persuade us to reconsider; so there will be a high school session this summer.  It will be a mini-camp held from 7-9 p.m. on August 5, 6, and 7 at the Standard Federal Ice Center on Paterson Avenue in Grand Rapids, MI.  The cost will be $175.  It will be a chance for you to have your skating analyzed and to review your technique.  You can sign up on the web site.

 As I've said before, everyone can improve on their skating, and that includes many of the players in the NHL.  That's why NHL teams hire skating instructors (they do - believe it or not).  When your fundamentals are not correct you waste energy, are not as maneuverable, are not as fast, are easier to check, and your muscles work inefficiently (you tire faster).  I can't make you skate like Paul Kariya in three days, but you can make great strides (Get it? Great strides).

***

We were sorry to receive the sad news that several players who were coming from Japan (including Yuka Nojima and Shohei Itami who attended last year) cannot come this year due to scheduling conflicts.  If you were considering coming to the Travel Skills section of the camp, there are now a few openings.  

***

From time to time we are alerted to training devices that may have value.  We've told you about the Frappier Acceleration program and various web sites that contain helpful information.  Recently we've learned of a man who has re-invented the chair.  Before you laugh, many of you learned to skate by pushing a chair around for balance, then with another person on it to learn to push off.  Well, a man from Canada has re-invented the chair, made it adjustable, weight bearing, (this is not your father's rocker) and it doesn't cost as much as a folding chair.  We're told it's getting high marks from skating instructors and we're considering buying one for our hockey school.  You can check it out at www.perfectskater.com.  And tell Mr. Dumont that Dan sent you.

DAN’S HONOR ROLL 

NAME

AGE

GPA

 SCHOOL

 TEAM

STATE

Ross Hinkle

11

3.67

Wayland Middle School

G.R. Grizzlies PeeWee AA

MI*‡

Shannon Kelsey

14

4.0

Estero High School

Pinch a Penny Womens League

FL‡

Lucas Kelsey

13

3.57

Three Oaks Middle School

Jr. Everblades Bantam A

FL

Cliff Jones

13

3.86

Spring Lake Middle School

Muskegon Chiefs Bantam B3

MI*‡

Marshall Jones

11

4.0

Spring Lake Intermediate

Lakeshore House - Bonners

MI*‡

Brad Christiansen

MI*‡

Winston Jones

9

3.9

Holmes Elementary School

Shoreline Rec League Squirt

MI*‡

Brandan Ryfiak

11

3.8

N. Rockford Middle School

Rockford PeeWee

MI*‡!

Marshall Jones

11

4.0

Spring Lake Intermediate

Lakeshore House - Bonners

MI*‡

Ryan Christiansen

MI‡

Jeremy Hopersberger

MI*‡

Andrew Frank

8

3.67

Eagle Lake Elementary

Irish Rover Mite A

MI

Paul Engman

MI*‡

Aaron Arkema

MI*‡

Matt Rosenthal

11

3.75

Chapparel  Elementary

Calababas Flyers PeeWee

CA*‡

Ryan Corgan

MI*‡

Josh Corgan

MI*‡

Caleb Weiler

PA

Harrison Huls

3.87

Blaisdale Montessori School

Ajax Knights A Minor Atoms

ONT

Sammie Baker

10

4.0

Fr. Marquette Middle School

Marquette LitiGators Girls 11 Under

MI*

Josh Weinstein

NJ‡

Bennett Schneider

13

3.78

Canterbury School

Jr. Everblades Bantam AA

FL

Madison Schneider

9

4.0

Canterbury School

Teco Squirt House

FL

Colton Ritchie

9

4.0

Schola Maxima

Red Wings Squirt House

AL

Dakota Abramowicz

11

4.0

Jane Addams Middle School

Royal Oak Eagles PeeWee A

MI

Matt Weinstein

NJ‡

Ben Grace

MI*

Jonathan Koslop

FL‡

Andrew Lawrence

DE‡

David Lawrence

DE‡

Reid Munroe

MI

Ben Bodman

MI*

Mark Hazel

MI‡

Tyler Spiering

MI*‡!

Matt Slowinski

MI

Bobby Pease

MA

Mitch Hughes

CA

Marty Jensen

NE

James Sheff

MI*‡

Alex Toppin

MS*‡

Drew Toppin

MS

Joe Adams

CA‡

Vinny Valentine

FL

Blake Ramos

MI

Sean Wilson

FL

Andrew Steghuis

MI*‡

Donald Sund

MI*

Taylor Olson

NJ

Ben Suchin

CA

Kris Johnson

MI*

Ross Hinkle

MI*‡

Ian Lane

FL

Devin Steele Stankevitz

CA

Jeremy Dunbar

OH

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COACHES AND PARENTS from Jay...  

I've gotten a few notes from some of you with congratulatory messages regarding the Ducks surprising success in the play offs.  People who I didn't think knew me and friends who I didn't think were hockey fans approach or write to say how exciting this must be or that they stayed up to the end of the 5th overtime to see if the Ducks would win. 

And no one, and I mean no one, is more excited than Dan's mom.  I think every other sentence out of her mouth is, "Can you believe those Duckies?"

As she watches the games, she tracks the lines, she notices line changes, coaching decisions, and subtle things about the game about five minutes before the announcers catch on (if they ever do).  For example, I might say, "I see Jason Krog (fourth line centerman) is out with Kariya and Sykora instead of Ruchin.  That's an interesting line combination." 

To which she might reply, "Only for the face-off, they need a left face-off man in this offensive zone, right-side face off.  Ruchin is a right face-off man".  And of course, as soon as the face-off is won and the Ducks control the puck, Krog scampers off and Ruchin comes over the boards.  We really don't need the TV announcers, and the TV announcers for all their savvy could really use Dan's mom in the booth.

She's convinced, as only a mother can be, that the Ducks will win the last game of their season.  In her mind, some of their last minute heroics, freaky goals, puck bounces, etc, can only be logically explained by the intervention of the fates.  The hockey gods have already decided the outcome and there is a 7th man on the ice and she is in a Ducks uniform and only Nancy can see her.  And in view of the other intuitions she's had in her life, who am I to argue?

It's also most interesting to get the calls from Dan after the games and get the real inside skinny.  Most of what he tells me will remain between he and I (sorry Dan Woods).  But some things I can share.  For instance, Jiggy (Duck's goalie) lost 14 lbs. in the game with five overtimes.  He would have his legs, feet, and hands massaged between periods.  Other players took fluids intravenously.  Dan said the game with five overtimes could not have gone on much longer because players could only skate 3/4 the length of the ice before the pain/cramps prevented them from moving, and that players couldn't sit down on the bench because if they did they couldn't get back up from cramping.  He said that one of the reasons they could beat Curtis Joseph is that if he gets 40 - 50 shots a game, he remains focused and is almost unbeatable.  But his history with 15 - 20 shots is not nearly as good - for whatever reason.  If you check the record or remember the series, the Ducks didn't get many shots on him and several of the goals were the kind the Ducks were grateful to have go in and the Detroit fans thought should have been stopped - easily. 

Believe me, those phone calls are the most fun reason to have a son in the NHL.

And yes, if the Ducks go all the way, we'll find a way to get to the finals.

  Jay M. Bylsma

THIS MONTH'S SAYING TO PUT IN YOUR LOCKER...

"Character counts for a great deal more than either intellect or
body in winning success in life."
 

ONE KID'S TRIP TO THE NHL - current installment...

As I began last month, nothing is more frustrating than having a nagging injury that precludes you from contributing to your team - except perhaps not being able to play in the playoffs.  While not many of the experts would have predicted we would be playing for the conference championship, we thought we had a chance to do well.  Even so, none of us would have predicted we would have swept Detroit (sorry about that my fellow Michiganders and Michigeese) nor that we would have taken Dallas in six games.  But as I write above, this is why we play them and don't let the media folks decide who gets the Cup.

Thanks to all of you who have written to give your congratulations on the victories and express your concern for my injury.  I appreciate that and there's no way I have time to return all your nice messages.   I hope you understand that if I haven't responded it's because of the time constraints during this very busy time. 

I have been working very hard to get back into the line up.  The special taping of my kneecap and the brace has allowed me to regain all most all of my range of motion (but not without discomfort).  But I'm to the point now where if there is a more wounded Duck than I, I can play.  I think I will be in the line up on Saturday... and frankly I can't wait.  As those of you who come to the games know, I dress for every game and go through warm-ups.  While it's great to continue to be a part of the team in most respects, it's hard to go back into the locker room and take my gear off while they're getting ready to go out and do what we're in the league for... play the game.  But as General Eisenhower said of the folks at home during WWII, "They also serve who only wait."  Well, I'm serving and beginning Saturday, if the painkillers work for three hours and don't put me to sleep, I'll be serving in a more active role.  

Many of you have written asking whom we'd rather play... Minnesota or Vancouver.  From a hockey standpoint, there are reasons to want to play both and reasons not to want to play either.  But I come down on the side of wanting to play Vancouver - but not for reasons you might expect.  In order of importance they are:  Vancouver has better restaurants close to the hotel, the hotel is closer to the rink, and it's in the same time zone.  I think creature comforts affect your attitude and so I hope we play in Vancouver.  But now I know it will be Minnesota.

And let me tell you, being here, on the roll we're on, is fun.  It's why we play the game.  There is electricity in the air; everyone is on adrenalin-induced highs.  A Disney Vice President even hugged me before we were on a first name basis!

One more anecdote: when I go home to Michigan I get invited to speak at schools and church groups, etc.  (As a side note, because of the playoffs, I had to regretfully cancel my invitation to give the commencement address at my former high school, sorry WMC).  At these events, the kids always ask if I ever played for the Red Wings.  I often get the feeling that because I've only ever played against the Red Wings, in their eyes I never really played in the NHL.  I'm told by a reliable source back in Michigan that because the Ducks swept the Red Wings, and I play for the Ducks, now I'm considered a legitimate NHL'er.  Finally, after eight seasons, I'm  legitimate!

* * *

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to tell us you liked our second novel.  We appreciate that.  One woman wrote to say that the book brought back such vivid memories of WWII for her father that he was reduced to tears several times and the book prompted him to tell his children and grandchildren of his experiences in WWII, things he had never allowed himself to tell or even remember until now.  We're even getting nice comments from people who don't know us.  The Midwest Book Review said, "This is an exceptionally well written collaboration by Dan and Jay Bylsma, and a highly recommended novel for teens."  And we didn't have to pay them to say that (don't even know who they are).

 ***

The funny story of the month was first sent to us by the Whitlocks who gets a free one-year subscription to the newsletter.  Apparently the Red Wings hired Bagdad Bob... 

So Your Son Wants to Play In The NHL Published in 1998 by Sleeping Bear Press in the US and McClelland & Stewart in Canada. HC $24.95. The story of Dan’s journey from the ice rink in our back yard to the NHL. “This is the best hockey advice since ‘Don’t rile Gordie Howe’”. "This is more than a hockey book. It's a book about life and how to use simple lessons and values for success. …a refreshing straight-ahead approach that makes you feel that you've learned something." LA Times.  Autographed and personalized copies available at www.DanBylsma.com.

So You Want to Play In The NHL Published in November, 2000, by NTC/ Contemporary/McGraw-Hill. Trade paperback—$14.95. Thirty-five questions that aspiring young athletes have and Dan’s and Jay’s alternating answers. Forward by Luc Robitaille. This book won’t help you play the game better, but we think it will help you live the game better. “I am making this book required reading for my team because it confirms everything I have ever said in the locker room and to parents.” Coach John M. You can read a chapter by clicking here.  Autographed and personalized copies available at www.DanBylsma.com.