"If you don't hunt pucks to get them back...you have have no chance to get into what looks like pretty hockey. We gotta do the hard stuff first."
Author - David Starman
Starman has spent 11 years as an NHL scout with Toronto, Montreal, Seattle. He is a member of USA Hockey Player Development staff in New York State and has spent 25 years as an instructor with USA Hockey Coaching Education Program.
Starman tended goal for the University of Hartford before turning to the other side of the game, becoming the youngest head coach in Central Hockey League history in 2000 when, at age 31, he took over the Memphis River Kings. Starman later guided the New York Junior Bobcats of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League and was associate coach of the New York Apple Core of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Starman is now one of the nation’s most respected college hockey TV analysts.
Latest Content, Video, Youth Hockey
How to Create a Successful Youth Hockey Development Model (VIDEO)
"The number one thing that we all need to realize is our youth hockey programs will be better if we work on a development model versus a competition model."
"It's important to learn the responsibilities of the players, as opposed to just what position they play."
"I've always believed, even at the pro level, less is more. So don't complicate it, don't reinvent the wheel."
"(Minnesota) really gave Denver fits and it forced Denver to get out of their game before they got back to it, but it was also a really good lesson learned in how to...
"...this is the best time for us as coaches to be able to take the simplest of skills that we teach our players and show them how it is transferable into game situations...
"If you don't have good control of the puck, don't just throw it to you towards your partner and hand them a hand grenade. That is not the way to get out of your own...
"No matter where the puck is in the defensive zone, always keep the nose of your stick facing the puck."
"I want to make sure that we've got...five in the zone, so that way, we know that everybody's involved and everybody's important on the attack."
"The number one rule is you have to backcheck through the middle..."
"And most important, you have to communicate. When players come off the bench, they should be in each other's ears."
Goaltending, Tactics, Video, Virtual Coaching Clinic
USA Hockey’s Dave Starman on how to coach your goalies in practice (VIDEO)
Create a practice plan with your goaltenders in mind.