USA Hockey Visits Rocket Ice

Bolingbrook, IL- Sweaty Heads and Smiles Guaranteed!

On a clear and chilly October morning girls in red, white and blue hockey jerseys pack the lobby at Rocket Ice Arena in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.  Over 40 girls ages 3 to 10 hit the ice in their hockey skates with USA Hockey’s top coaches from Colorado.

The kids and coaches are led by Michelle Amidon, 28, their mentor for the day.  Her resume includes three years as Team Captain and  MVP at St. Lawrence University;  Silver medalist member of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 1992 IIHF World Women’s Championship, NCAA Division III Coach of the Year, NESCAC Coach of the Year, Four NCAA Tournament head coaching appearances and many more awards. 

Michelle remembers what it was like to be a youngster and have fun on the ice in Connecticut and makes it clear to these young girls that the next hour on the ice will be fun, active and rewarding.  She guarantees they will come off the ice with a sweaty head and a smile.  The coaches keep the 40 kids active by dividing the ice into 6 “Action Zones” with coaches at each.  At each zone the girls play small area games – “Keep Away” at one zone; “Coach’s Dodge Ball” at another – where the young girls must skate within their area and avoid being hit by a fluorescent pink rubber dodge ball, playfully shot by one of the coaches.  Each of these “Action Zones” keeps the girls active, having fun, skating and learning important skills without standing in lines and listening to coaches talk too much.  The energy level is high, the kids are having fun and so are the coaches.

“This is our USA Hockey Advanced Development Model (ADM) in action,” says Amidon.  “The kids love it.  Parents love it.  Coaches love it.  By staying in small areas, players get more skating, more physical fitness and more fun.  This is a great way to build better young hockey players and have more fun.”

Jim Clare, President of the Sabres, the largest youth hockey program in the Midwest and a former Army collegiate player was helping out along with a number of his volunteer coaches.  “The USA Hockey ADM model is great.  We began implementing this program last year and it is helping our young players be more active during practice, have more fun and develop faster,” observed Clare who is the father of 3 youth hockey players. 

On the ice there is action, whistles, laughs and a high energy workout.  Shots, scores, jumps, turns – even jumping jacks on ice before changing zones.  Even the coaches get a good work out.  60 minutes later, coaches and young players alike unite at center ice for a “Go USA!” cheer led by Amidon.  Then off came the helmets and, sure enough there were sweaty heads and smiles on happy, tired young players – just as Amidon had promised.

A special thank you goes out to everyone who made this great day happen-