Nashville Predators video coach Robert Bouchard will again conduct a 10-week Hockey Dynamics Summer High School Instructional League, May 18-July 20 at Southern Ice Arena in Franklin, Tenn.
This league is designed for and caters to Nashville-area players who are looking to stay in shape and improve their game for the 2008-09 season.
Center Ice Magazine caught up with coach Bouchard to find out more about this innovative approach to hockey instruction at the high school level.
CIM: When you speak of your summer program, you seem to do so with such pride. Why is that?
RB: I think it’s because it allows me to go back to the true teaching aspects of the game. I get a great sense of accomplishment when I see how much these players improve over a 10-week period and how their confidence grows when their seasons start in the fall.
CIM: How did you first come up with the idea?
RB: I came up with the idea during the 2006-07 GNASH (Greater Nashville Area Scholastic Hockey) hockey season while I was coaching the Father Ryan Irish team. I found myself always wishing I had more practice time to help our players — both individually and from a systems standpoint — to learn the game better.
CIM: Given how busy you are during the NHL season in your role as video coach for the Predators, wouldn’t you want to just relax during the summer months and get away from hockey?
RB: To the contrary, actually. I am a person with a lot of energy who doesn’t like to sit still very often. I look at it as a way of giving back to the community that has given myself and my family the wonderful opportunity to embrace minor hockey in Nashville. I am glad to have any small role that I can have in the growth of hockey here.
CIM: Tell us a little bit about the program.
RB: It is a 10-week program during which 80 players are divided equally into four teams of 20 players each. Once the teams are made, players get the following instruction on a weekly basis (on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings): a one 1-1/2 hour pro-style practice; a workout supervised and taught by a certified strength and conditioning coach that each player follows throughout the summer months by following workout regimens that are posted to an interactive Web site; and systems and individual video analysis emphasizing both team play and individual skills, mental toughness, self-analysis, team building and "life lesson" sessions. They also play a 1-1/2 hour game each Thursday night against one of the three other league teams. Teams play each other three times during the first nine weeks. Week 10 is our semifinal and final games.
CIM: Obviously, you couldn’t do all of this on your own. What kind of staff do you have?
RB: I’m very blessed to have some quality people helping me run this program, namely Scott Phillips (Nashville Youth Hockey League Hockey Director and former minor pro player), Tim McAllister (general manager of Southern Ice Arena and a former NCAA Division 1 hockey player), Ryan Lessnau (Southern Ice Hockey director), Brad Guzda (goalie coach and former minor pro goaltender) and Cody Smith (former Middle Tennessee State University player). We’ve also added a tremendous speed, strength and conditioning coach in Matt Poe.
CIM: So, if I’m a parent of a boy or girl who wants to participate in this program, how do I go about doing so?
RB: There are several ways, but the easiest one would be to download a registration form on the Southern Ice Web site (www.southernicearena.com) and mail to the address listed at the top of the page. |
