The Vancouver Hockey School led by professional skating and skills coach Derek Popke is set to become the main skills provider for Seafair Minor Hockey next year.  

In an email to members Seafair President Ken Hamaguchi said that “last year, we were lucky to get Derek to provide 4 hrs. of training per week to various teams and players.  This year, we expect that amount to ‘triple’ (and some), as we are planning to use him 13-15 hrs. per week.  This will ensure that he gets to work with more players and teams.

The announcement will certainly be greeted with enthusiasm by coaches familiar with Derek and the skills he brings to the ice.  The opportunity to attend a clinic for Seafair coaches put on by Popke last year was enough to draw out dozens of coaches early on a Saturday morning.  Hockey 4 coach Chris Loat was one who attended that clinic, and had nothing but praise for the instruction Popke offered.

“We were on the ice doing all the sculling and tight turns . . doing exactly what the kids would be doing in practice,” Chris said at the time, adding that the fact Popke is an excellent skater himself helps immensely.  “Derek performs the skills perfectly.  He’s a beautiful skater, and he’s able to talk about the drills and explain them as he’s doing it.”

Derek’s philosophy is one of stressing the basics to become a better skater.   “It’s not always about speed or fancy flow drills,” he says.  “It is about revisiting the basics and building up to power and speed.”

That approach should serve Seafair well.  Derek has instructed at the highest levels of hockey, with NHL’ers like Troy Brouwer, Brent Seabrook, Jason Garrison, Raymond Sawada, and Milan Lucic under his guidance. In 2009 he became a instructor with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the annual prosect development camp.  But it’s the younger players who remain “his passion.” 

Asked how he can gear down his instruction from the NHL level to kids, especially house players, Derek says “it’s important to adapt ice sessions to have each player achieve some level of success.  Providing house level hockey players the opportunity to slow down in drills and concentrate on specific skills helps take the frustration away that, at times, comes with learning too many skills simultaneously. We work hard at finding a balance between skill development and simulating game situations in drills in order for them to achieve success in games.”

Derek adds this is especially important with the very youngest players.  “You have to go in with the right mindset,” he says, “with different types of goals.”   You have to keep it fun, Derek says, and slow down drills into what they can be successful at right away.  For example, with the Hockey 1 and Hockey 2 players “if they can stop by the end of the practice” that’s success.”

In a way, in coming to work with the kids at Seafair Derek is getting back to his roots.  He never intended to become a hockey and skating coach, it just fell into his lap.  While playing minor hockey he started working at local hockey schools, and found “a real passion for working with kids.”  After that he worked in hockey all over the place, including Scotland, Boston, California, Victoria and with kids in the hockey hotbed of Australia, and things just evolved to where he is today. 

Last year the Vancouver Hockey School  offered clinics for Hockey 3 and 4 players for the first time, and now those clinics fill up almost immediately, so we “must be doing something right,” Derek says. This year they will expand into offering skating and skills clinics for H1 and 2 players.

In addition to skating and skills instruction with Derek, Seafair players will have the opportunity to enroll in positional specific and team play instruction clinics provided by Vancouver Hockey School’s professional coaching staff, including former WHL Vancouver Giants and current UBC Men’s Varsity Head Coach Milan Dragecivic, whose extensive coaching knowledge will be utilized in team session environments.  In addition, defensive coaching specialist Aaron Wilbur, who won a BC Junior A Championship as coach of the Penticton Vees in 2008 / 2009, will spend instructional hours with Seafair members and coaches.

Langley Times

Hockey pros lace up for charity game

NHL players, from left, Milan Lucic Andrew Ladd, Troy Brouwer and Brent Seabrook and the AHL’s Jason Garrison signed autographs for fans following a charity hockey game at the Walnut Grove Sportsplex on Wednesday night. Nearly $4,000 was raised for the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association.

Gary Ahuja/Langley Times

Imagine watching Boston Bruin Milan Lucic streaking toward you down the ice, ready to unleash a wicked wrist shot.

Or seeing him stand in front of the net, doing what he does best as one of the NHL’s young up-and-coming power forwards.

That is what faced Langley’s Daniel Spence, as he played goal for Team TommyFit on Wednesday night at the Walnut Grove Sportsplex.

Lucic was skating for Team Vancouver Hockey School, which prevailed 6-1 in a charity hockey game, with the proceeds going to the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association.

Nearly $4,000 was raised at the first annual event.

Lucic was one of several Lower Mainland NHL players taking part in the game.

Some of the others included Brent Seabrook, Andrew Ladd and Troy Brouwer, of the Chicago Blackhawks, Shaone Morrisonn of the Washington Capitals and the Minnesota Wild’s Greg Zanon.

The rest of the rosters were made up of professional players from the AHL, some of whom are playing in Europe, as well as some junior hockey players from the area.

Some of the local products in the game included Ryan Hollweg, John Lammers and Ben Walter.

Matt Pope and Tyler Burton, both recovering from injury, served as assistant coaches for Team TommyFit.

The game was the product of an impromptu decision made only a week before to stage the charity fundraiser.

“It was drummed up in a golf game with Derek Popke,” said Mike Thompson, who runs TommyFit Ltd.,which offers hockey-specific strength and conditioning for players at all levels.

Popke runs the Vancouver Hockey School.

Thompson and Popke had planned on having their players scrimmage at some point this summer and Thompson decided he wanted to make it a charity event.

“Honestly, this was put together in a week, and almost (caused) a divorce at home,” he said.

“It was a lot of work and kind of stressful, but fun.

“It took on a life of its own.”

Thompson’s wife, Kim, chose the charity.

“I lost my dad about two years ago to cancer,” Thompson said, choking up.

“And Kim lost her best friend, Anne Hansen, in February.”

“It is a great charity; you don’t realize the battle that these families face,” he said.

The players jumped on board.

“The guys have been so good and supportive,” Thompson said.

The players signed autographs before the game, during intermissions, and after the game. Some lucky fans even got hockey sticks.

“And we really appreciate the support the community has given us,” Thompson said.

A couple hundred fans packed the Sportsplex to watch the game and admission was by donation.

Thompson plans to do this again next summer, but will likely move to a bigger venue.

Spence, who is finished his junior career and expects to sign his first pro contract shortly, said it was great to give back and to also see friends.

“It was really cool to be out there,” he said.

“I grew up playing with them (in spring leagues).

“Those guys are in the NHL now, so it is great to see them again.”

Media 1

Vancouver Hockey School is pleased to announce skating coach Derek Popke will be attending the Toronto Maple Leafs 2009 Prospect Development Camp. Prospects camp will take place at the Air Canada Center in Toronto ON.

Dallas Eakins, directior of player development for the Leafs will oversee all apects of the camp. Paul Dennis, Maple Leafs development coach and Anthony Belza, strength and conditioning coordinator, will oversee the theory and practical sessions. Additional staff will include goaltending coach Corey Hirsch, and camp development consultants Teal Frowler and Derek Popke.

On-ice sessions will focus on skating and skills development. Players will also take part in seminars on character development, nutrition, lifestyle, media awareness and the business of sport. As a team training component, the camp participants will participate in police field training at the Ontario Police Department

The roster includes current Leafs prospects, free agents, and draft picks from the 2009 NHL Entry Draft this past June.

By Don Fennell
Sports Editor

The line between playing in the National Hockey League and a career in the minors can be infinitely fine.

Ajay Baines and Brad Leeb know just how narrow the margin really is. Baines, 27, is captain of the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League, top farm club of the Chicago Blackhawks. A graduate of the Kamloops Blazers, the legendary junior hockey factor that has produced countless future NHLers, he signed as a free agent with the Hawks in 2001. 

A determined Ajay Baines (inset, left) is hoping a summer working with skating coach Derek Popke on all aspects of skating will help him earn a call-up this season by the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s currently captain of the NHL team’s top minor pro affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia. Former Vancouver Canuck and  Toronto Maple Leaf Brad Leeb (right) is hoping working on his skating with Derek Popke leads to another shot in the NHL.
 
Obviously, Baines has the character to make it to the big show but his skating has perhaps been an Achilles heel. He re-signed with Chicago for another year earlier this month and hopes a dedicated off-season working with skating coach Derek Popke will help him realize his long-awaited dream of playing in the Windy City.

“I’m not a great skater so it’s something I’ve got to keep working on,” said Baines following a recent workout at the Richmond Ice Centre. “This actually is the first summer where I’ve actually worked through the whole summer, and Derek has been great.

“There are so many different areas (of skating) like turning, balance, keeping my posture, how to skate with the puck and how to fight off defenders.” Baines continued. “Any little thing I can get (will help).”

Baines said he’s noticed improvement in all areas from the first day he joined Popke in June to now.

“Derek is a great skater and he shows you what to do. That makes a big difference from just being told what to do. Everyone else is getting better too and the older you get you’ve got to keep working on little things. If it’s just a split second faster that I’m going to be able to get to a puck that could be the difference (for) maybe five more goals or perhaps a call-up to Chicago.”

At 26, Leeb enjoyed a prolific junior career with the Red Deer Rebels before turning pro in 1999 as a member of the Vancouver Canucks’ organization. He played four games with the Canucks over two seasons before being dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs where he played one game two years ago. He had 49 points for the St. John’s Maple Leafs, Toronto’s AHL affiliate, during the 2004-05 season but was not re-signed by the Leafs and is currently a free agent.

“I hope a team steps up,” he said, adding that he would like to continue playing in North American for a couple more seasons at least. However, Europe is also an option. His brother is playing in Germany and there has been some interest in Brad joining him.

Skating is not a problem for Leeb, but he decided to take lessons from Popke just the same so that he could work on controlling the puck while retaining his speed.
“Some guys like to be on the ice a lot and just scrimmage. I think this scenario is a bit better because you get kind of rusty out there and it’s great to be able to work on little drills with Derek. It helps to get physically ready and your skating back to where it is during the season.”

Popke, who works with several hockey players in different stages of their careers, said he isn’t looking to change too much with players such as Baines and Leeb. He said the goal is simply to tweak things.

“It might be balancing or getting a longer stride by getting lower to the ice,” Popke explained. “But if a skater wide tracks already at their level it’s best not to change that. Still, even changing a tiny thing can be the difference to being called up or that opportunity going to the next guy. It’s a game of inches and if you can start grabbing on those inches you just increase your chances.”

In Baines’ case, for instance, he was looking for more power out of a dead stop. To help him realize that goal, Popke put together a program based on video analysis and emphasized slowly working at changing his heel kick.

For Leeb, who is known for his quickness, Popke designed a program to incorporate his shooting and puck skills with his skating. Again, he stressed the importance of slowly building up to a faster speed.

“Straight away speed and good cross-overs are important but how many times in a game do you have a chance to use that kind of speed. It never happens,” Popke said. “Maybe four to seven seconds in a game.”

“Brad has very good skills. You watch him and wonder how is he not in the NHL. He wants back there and that’s why he’s doing stuff like this.”

Two other future NHL prospects also worked out with Popke at the Richmond Ice Centre last week.

John Lammers, a 19-year-old left winger from Langley was a third round NHL draft pick of the Dallas Stars last summer. Captain of the Canadian under-18 team last year and fortunate to play in the Canadian Hockey League top prospects game in Vancouver last winter, he was traded this summer to Everett (WHL) by Lethbridge for which he scored 47 points in 66 games during the 2004-05 season.

North Vancouver’s Matt Siddall was a ninth round selection of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2004 and is currently attending Northern Michigan University. He had eight points in 33 games as a freshman last season.

“With younger players who’ve just got drafted obviously you have more time to slowly eliminate their weaknesses,” Popke said. “(But) skating for hockey specific reasons is different than speed skating or something like that.”

Popke has been working with Lammers since he was 15 years old, helping him become much more than just a decent skater. Skating used to be a concern for Lammers, but not any more. Still, he continues to sharpen his edges.

By Don Fennell
Sports Editor

The toughest critic of Zach Hamill, the Boston Bruins’ first-round pick (8th overall) in the National Hockey League Entry Draft last week, is, well, Zach Hamill.

Few hockey players work harder, which is why the Bruins are so excited about the potential of the eighth overall selection.

While his skating continues to be questioned by some, his skills are not. Nor are his hockey smarts; and playing under former NHL coach Kevin Constantine the past two seasons with the Western Hockey League Everett Silvertips, he’s become an even more complete player by adding that all-important defensive element to his game.

Hamill, who will be 19 Sept. 23, won the WHL scoring title last season with record low 93 points. But the point total is even more impressive considering he played on a team that stressed defence first and won many low-scoring games.

“He’s so hard on himself when it comes to improving his skill set,” said pro skating coach Derek Popke, who put Hamill through the paces at an early-afternoon session Thursday at the Richmond Ice Centre.

“If he’s having a problem with a drill he won’t want to move on (until he’s got the mechanics perfect),” Popke continued. “The other thing I notice is when it comes to skating, a lot of guys get here and the first thing they want to do is shoot on a goalie. But Zach knows how important skating is, and the shooting is a reward. And, we only have so much time with him in and out of Boston this summer.”

Hamill will be attending the Bruins’ rookie camp starting July 8, and he’s hoping the intense skating lessons will give him a leg up.

“At the NHL level, they don’t care about a player’s strengths,” Popke said. “They know (Hamill) can put the puck in the net. They say your strengths will always be your strengths, what they care about is weaknesses and eliminating them.”

While a player can be a decent, maybe even a great skater in junior, the NHL is another, significant step, Popke said.

“We’re really starting to pick apart really little things that the average junior hockey player would tend to ignore,” he explained.

Hamill isn’t a particularly poor skater, and his success in the WHL proved that. But realized four years ago he could get better and started working with Popke. According to the latter, “he has made tremendous strides.”

“I have been with Derek since I was 14 years old and he has helped me a lot,” said Hamill, who remains remarkably humble. “It’s going to pay off, I hope, in helping me make it to the NHL sooner rather than later.”

“Zach is working out 10 times harder than he feels,” says Richmond-based strength and conditioning coach Scott Hebert, an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks from 1999 to 2001.

“He’s tremendously motivated to get himself into even better shape, and while we’d love for him to make it to the NHL as an 18-year-old, its also a matter of getting into the NHL in quality shape. It’s not difficult at all with him though, because his work ethic is like that of a trojan warrior.”

Hamill, who will attend Canada’s world junior camp later this summer, is the kind of person who coaches love, Hebert said. He works tirelessly to improve his weaknesses, qualities you can’t coach but hope every athlete has inherently.”

Hamill met with brass from Boston three times before the draft, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when the Bruins selected him. And given that the Bruins’ first-round pick a year ago, Phil Kessell made the team last season, has given Hamill added incentive to do likewise.

“I look at the NHL and it’s pretty young, but whatever they decide is best (is okay with me),” he said. “It doesn’t hurt going back to a team like Everett.”