MADKNUK ENTERPRISES LLC presents 
                    the 3rd Annual on/off ice Summer Hockey Training Camp .

Camp Director:  John Witzke, 42 years experience as a player, coach, ref and fan.  Four championship teams in the Hockey Hall of Fame database in Toronto, Ontario.

Camp Counselor: David Saunders, 50 years experience as a player, coach, ref and fan.  Former high scool head coach and high school goalie coach.  USA Level 4 coaching certified. 

Camp Dates: From June 1st to September 10th, 2010.  Takes place on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 pm in June and twice a week in July, August and September   Age Group: 7 to 14 year old boys and girls

Cost: $320.00 first child and $220.00 for second child.  $60.00 off for kids from last years camp.

Dryland training: 50 hours plus inside and outside the Mandan Ice Arena

Ice training: 6 hours at VFW2 Bismarck September 11th, 12th and 18th. 

ONLY PLAYERS that want to listen and learn will be accepted.  These PLAYERS should want to take home with them the directions and the drills they have learnt and be willing to practice them everyday.  If you cannot get this kind of commitment from your hockey player before camp then hopefully you can get it from them after this camp... IF NOT it might be time to find a cheaper sport to play.  Practicing and competing should be FUN at whatever sport you want to improve and compete in.  I will teach everybody what is needed to play the game of hockey competitively for a long time.  The more they practice the better they will become.  A philosophy every player MUST believe in.  I TEACH HOCKEY TRAINING THAT WORKS.  EVERY HOCKEY PLAYER IS A POTENTIAL HOCKEY STAR IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IF THEY WANT TO WORK ON THEIR HOCKEY SKILLS.  HOW GOOD A HOCKEY PLAYER  WANTS TO BE IS REALLY UP TO THEM.

THIS CAMP will include hockey specific skills training, including in-depth stick handling, passing and shooting techniques.  The most important objective will be to learn proper technique and to keep your head up.  This Camp will give you the repetitions needed to learn to do both. 

-Beginning and end of Camp evaluations on stickhandling and shooting will help track players progression.  The more these skills are practiced AT HOME the better they will become.
-Hockey specific exercises to improve strength, speed, agility and endurance for a hockey player. 
-In-line skating drills will be done.  A helmet, knee pads and elbow pads a must.  
-We will have chalk talks to discuss hockey strategies and hockey philosphies.  Some topics will include Pre Game Preparation like the importance of Stretching and getting Focued, Staying Focused during the Game, and being Mentally Tough to name a few. 
- We will practice off ice checking techniques for kids moving up to PeeWees and any other kid that wants to work on their balance.  Full hockey gear will be worn for these drills as there will be lots of contact. 
-Limited number of goalies will be accepted.  You will get more shots than you can imagine, you must have the right equipment. 
-We will have street and in-line games at the end of evey practice so kids can showcase their skills.  Parents are encouraged to participate.  Joel, Michelle and Jody were awesome last year. 
-I am an equal opportunity teacher of the game of Hockey and NOT a baby sitter.  Make sure your potential hockey star signs up for the rights reasons.  Kids should be prepared to listen, learn and practice hard. 
- I reserve the right to remove any participant who is not there for the right reasons.  NO REFUNDS! 
-YOU DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE!  This Camp is far cheaper than going to any Camp in Grand Forks, Fargo or somewhere in Minnesota.  You will get more INFO and REPETITIONS at a fraction of the cost.   Signing up with teammates or friends helps with practicing at home and car pooling.  Car pooling is one of the things I hope we can improve on from last year.  Easier and cheaper for everyone involved.  Get your friends off the couch and sign them up.

IF I can find ICE TIME during the summer I will pick some up and the cost will be $5.00 per hour per participant.  I don't rent it now because I don't not know the times available.

THE HOCKEY SHOTS GAME IS $45.00 OFF FOR KIDS THAT ATTEND THIS CAMP!

There will be a limited number of participants so sign up early.  Call me (258-6462) or email me (Madknuk@bis.midco.net) to hold your spot.  For camp details please read below.  Please print off the registration form below and make payment out to Madknuk Enterprises LLC and send it to Madknuk Enterprises  LLC, 624 North 21st Street, Bismarck, ND 58501.

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Name____________________________  Address_________________________________

City__________________________  State___________  Zip__________  DOB__________

Parents___________________________________  Phones_________________________

Email____________________________ Special Health Conditions____________________


Permanent Waiver:  I/We, the aforementioned parents or guardian and minor child, recognize and acknowledge the fact that hockey is a sport in which there risks of injury to the participant.  Because of this and desiring that the aforementioned minor participant in this summmer camp, as a participant, and in consideration of his/her enrollment, we agree that we shall indemnify and save Madknuk Enterprises LLC, its agents, officers, directors, instructors, employees, counselors, or shareholders harmless from any and all liability or damages arising directly out of or in conncection with his/her enrollment and/or participation in the above mentioned hockey camp.

Medical Release:  In the event of injury to _________________________ while at camp, I hereby consent and authorize the administration of all treatments and tests that may be considered advisable or necessary by the emergency room physician or any other clinic physicians.

Insurance Company:  __________________________  Policy #____________________

I understand as a condition of enrollment, I am responsible for providing medical insurance coverage for any medical expenses incurred.  I hereby acknowledge the health of my child to be ready for hockey participation and training.   A physical may be desirable.


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Parents/Guardian Signature


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MY HISTORY:   I have spent close to 40 years around the rink playing, coaching, and reffing.  I have around 70 hockey related stitiches and 3 broken noses from playing the game that I love so much.  I remember playing the game when I could barely walk from injuries, it's what makes the Game so GREAT, not only do you need special talents but you also need that ability to play through injuries... be TOUGH. It's what separates the Game of Hockey from all other sports.
   I thought of the Hockey Shots Game when I was trying to get my 2 year old son interested in shooting a hockey ball around...he just wasn't having any fun shooting at an empty net, so I set up a few targets on the ground and he liked the way he could knock them down.   Next I just happened to come across some old camper cushions.  I cut them up and placed them in some 2*4's and had a new game for us to play.  We have been playing games with it ever since.  We have one in the basement play room.  In the same room we have 2 tv's so every night we will be watching hockey (2 different games if they are on) and playing the hockey shots game.
   It's funny how the game gets in your blood and you just can't get it out.  I would rather play ice or road hockey than any other sport still even at my age.  I would rather shoot a ball around with my kids than play pool, ping pong or even watch movies.  I will teach and help my kids as much as I can as they start what I hope is a long and enjoyable hockey career.
   Having played on many winning teams and in many different leagues I have Seen and done it all but still learn something new every year.  The game has allowed me to play all over the place and to meet a lot of great people as a result.  I hope to give the same opportunity to my kids and anybody else that wants some help.

Issues:
    I think that kids need to be taught correct hitting techniques at the squirt level.  At this age these kids are still all about the same size (haven't hit that growth spurt yet).  I think that the sooner they learn proper hitting techniques and how to protect themselves against the boards and open ice the better.  The kids have not developed bad habits yet that become unbreakable as they get older (like facing the boards).  The kids still have some respect for opposing players (I find this is allowed to decrease as the kids get older because of bad coaching).  When the kids get in PeeWees the size difference of 2nd year and 1st year player becomes an issue when kids don't know how to give and take a hit, I see more kids getting crushed in open ice and along the boards only because kids don't know how to handle a hit when it comes at them.  I will be teaching my players proper hitting techniques next year not so that my players can can run other kids over but so that they learn how to protect themselves from a kid that may accidently hit them or from that kid that is skating out of control and almost hits them head first into the boards.   
   Get rid of all the politics in hockey programs, it should be about the kids.  When I coached  an A or traveling team I always pick the kids that are going to do their best to win games for me through talent or hard work.  It's called making the coach look good.  I don't care if your dads a plumber or your moms a brain surgeon.  I always picked the kids that deseve to be there on my team.  I know first hand the pressures a hockey board can put on a coach to pick certain kids but picking these kids that don't deserve to be at this level will only undermine your credibilty and integrity as a coach.  Everybody knows this or will know this sooner or later. The bubble kids that don't get picked for the A team should use this as motivation to prove people wrong and instead of crying about it work harder to improve their game.  Bubble kids on the A team should not gripe about playing time in certain games or situations but should have realized their own talent levels and should have asked to play at the B level before the season started.  

Watching the NHL playoffs is always a great time of year for me.  It is hard to explain about what these players have to go through unless you have been through a 7 games series or 2 yourself.  Injuries never heal and the bruises just get bigger it's what separates this game from all others.  This year there have been a few incidents that really piss me off.  The first and foremost is when the Ottawa fans booed Sidney Crobsy, what a bunch of hockey stupid people.  Sidney Crosby is a Canadian Kid, who has done nothing but put excitement and heart back into a bleeding and broken Pittsburg Penguins organization , very disrespectful, you people would be better off keeping your mouths shut.  You are an embarassment to all Canadian hockey fans.   Nothing ruins a good game faster than when the ref blows a call,  Stop calling one handed hooks and trips and make players stay on their feet, heres a hint when a player carrying the puck looks like he gets shot when a player touches him with a stick and falls down raise your arm and give him a "2 minute for not being able to skate penalty.  Stop calling boarding penalities when the puck carrier turns towards the boards to avoid a check.  The checker is committed to the check and can't slow down, if you turn towards the boards be prepared to get your head planted in them.

I have to comment on Brett Hull's job on NBC during the playoffs.  I think he did a really good job and would like him to become the new commissioner or more involved in the way the NHL is run.  His comments about getting rid of diving, making players take off the face shield and fighting were all right on and I could not believe how much we think alike.  Making players accountable for diving with a penalty of 2 minutes for "not being able to skate" and 10 minute sit in the box embarrassment misconduct would get rid of the problem and do not call the original hook or trip. Let the players police themselves.   Players who shoot the puck at other players, stick other players or punch other players in the face during a scrum must be prepared to face the consequences.  The NHL is going the way of college hockey ...way to much sticking, punching in the face and yapping, its like watching lacrosse on ice.  I can't stand to watch collge hockey.  This leads right to my next point which is get rid of all face mask and visors.  Players will play cleaner with less yapping if they know they will get a punch in the mouth.  All players will have to respect others and learn to keep their sticks on the ice.  Every year every player should have to watch the footage of Marian Hossa knocking out Bryan Berards eye with a careless use of his stick. This should get their attention you would hope.   Right now you can knock out a players teeth and only get a double minor... it's stupid.  All high stick penalties should be a 5 minute major, any blood drawn is an automaitc 5 and a game.   You can't tell me that players can't control their sticks.  Players can play the most intense hockey in overtime in the playoffs and they all keep their sticks down because they know the importance of not taking a penalty.  The same would be true in regular games if you get rid of face masks and impose stiffer penalties.  An accidental high stick is usually caused by the careless use of your stick.  ALSO  Get rid of all video replay, you have 2 referees and 2 goals judges, let them make the decision and lets get on with the game. Way too many video replays, get rid of them or get rid if the refs and goal judges.  This wouldn't make NHL Referee Kevin "Shorty" Pollock happy but I don't think it will ever happen,  I played with Shorty at Georgian College.  Let goalies play the puck anywhere they want as long as they understand that they might be hit with a LEGAL CHECK.  Get rid of all TV timeouts, find sponsers that will sponser for whole periods.  I wonder what Brett might think of these suggestions.  He would get my vote for the NHLPA's leader or the NHL's commish.

Recently I reffed a high school summer tournament and was AMAZED (not really)  that kids at this level playing summer hockey had not mastered the basic skills needed to play hockey beyond their high school years.   You would have thought that most were headed to the pros if you listened closely to many of the parents.   Here's some advice if you want to stand out from the other kids you have to do something on the ice that will get you noticed... nice goal, nice pass, nice hit, nice one on one move etc.   Why are you playing summer hockey if you do not want to work on your skills?  The lack of hockey knowledge and dedication is what really AMAZES me.

The last paragraph has a lot to do with kids nowadays not playing and practicing hockey away from the rink and the excuses that they come up with for not doing so.  I can count on both hands the number of road hockey games I have witnessed in this town and throughout North Dakota in the last 15 years.  It just does not happen .  There are  more distractions and no kids in our neighborhood who play because of the expense are a few excuses I can use.  That being said my kid wants to learn the game so I try and help him practice whenever I can.  He has hockey  drills and shooting drills he does everyday before he gets to play his video games.   I think this encourages work ethic and will/has improved his hockey skills, it also lets him understand that I don't mind shelling out all the money required to play this game but he will be required to shell out a 100% effort.  I don't think it is too much to ask.   With direction and support from me my kids will be as GOOD as THEY WANT to be.  I can supply the time, knowledge  and money but I cannot supply the dedication or effort.

A few things about the past NHL season that still get under my skin.  Its like a bad rash that won't go away.  When a player gets high sticked in the mouth and loses a couple of teeth why does the player that knocks them out only gets a double minor??  Or when a player takes a dive why do they still call 2 penalties and why can't you hit a goalie with a clean hit if he leaves his crease to play the puck?  Another season of careless stick use , hockey players acting like soccer players and goalies flopping around like they have been hit by a bazooka every time they are touched around the crease.  All players who walk by kids when they are leaving the ice after a game  especially when they win  and do not give high fives or knuckle pound to kids should be fined for lack of enthusiasm and love for the game.  You don't realize how much you break a kids heart by not doing that.   When is the NHLPA going to clean up the game for themselves and change some rules for the betterment of the game.  Sooner rather than later I hope.  Here is a list of other suggestions: 1-The NHL needs to bring in a new team to southern Ontario, 2-Manditory face mask removal, 3- Game misconduct for any careless stick action (suspension for any injury and 5 minute major penalty, 4- Home teams are white (stop messing with tradition), 5-No more numers on the front of the jerseys (again stop messing with tradition, who was the genuis that thought that one up,  the players don't know whos coming at them unless they see a number on the front of a jersey, come on!) 6. Bring back the Mighty Ducks, just Ducks whooo I'm scared.

The incident involving Richard Zednik this year getting his throat cut brought back a ton of memories.  When I was ten and attending Hockey Opportunity Camp in Sundridge, Ontario in 1974 I was pushed from behind into a guy sitting on the boards and had my throat slashed.   A scary experience I do not wish on any hockey player.  My son turns 10 this year and as a parent I want him to be safe but there are somethings you just can't control.  I would be interested in hearing from anyone who was at the rink that day or has any other info on the people that helped me.

The Midland Centennials are being inducted into the Midland sports hall of Fame on September 21st.   I am disappointed I will not be able to attend.  I had a lot of fun that year and Midland was a great place to play.  I would have like to have seen all the players, coaches, managers and fans.  I am honestly still to this day disappointed that we did not win the Championship that year but just making it to the finals after being down and out against Bowmanville was something else.  Remember that rink with the chain link fence instead of end glass and no glass along the boards were spectators sat.   That was a classic rink... where have all the good rinks gone?    I can honestly say that was one of the funnest years of my hockey career.  Thanks to everyone for putting up with me especially Coach McConnell.   Anybody that reads this please do not hestitate to email me.

Mike MIlbury is right and the panzification of the NHL has my stomach turning.  The NHL is turning into a gloified and overpaid beer league.  No one wants to address the real issues like too many worhtless one handed hooks and tripping penalties.  Instead the league continues to try and make each game end up 10-8 buy calling 20 penalties a game.   Scoring more goals in not the problem and every real hockey fan knows that a 1-0 game is usually more exciting than a blow out as long as there is flow to the game.  In most games now the flow is interupted over and over by worth less penalities that do not take away a scoring attempt or happen in the neutral zone.  Why don't they just make every penalty a penalty shot, that's what happens in our beer league.    Whatever happened to players earning their space on the ice???  The battles and beatings of Dino Ciccerelli and Rick Vaive in front of the net are long gone and are a sad reminder of the greatest game losing to the bleeding hearts trying to europeanize a once great and unique game.    It was a good idea to make goalies use smaller gear.  This gear should only be for protection not for filling up the net.  Take off the visors and players won't be as brave to stand in front of the net or block shots.  Every player as the ability to keep their stick down.  We are in an age were players are growing up behind a mask or bubble and have never had to control their sticks.   This leads to careless and reckless hockey players.  They have the "I'm Invincible" attitude and no respect for other players including their own teammates.  They don't understand that letting their stick buzz around like helicopter blades that they are not only a danger to the other teams players but their own as well.  I have 2 scars on my face from my own defence partners careless sticks, so I know first hand.   They skate around at 90 miles an hour an wonder why they can't stop when they are chasing the puck and lose an edge.  GET RID OF THE FACE MASKS AND MAKE THE PLAYERS KEEP CONTROL OF AND KEEP THEIR STICKS ON THE ICE.   SLOW DOWN AND CONTROL YOUR BALANCE AND HAVE BETTER ON ICE AWARENESS. These thing should be the number 1 priority to the NHLPA.  WHY ISN'T IT???NHLPA had better realize sooner rather than later that they are alienating many true hockey fans.  I will watch on tv until a ref makes a ridiculous call then I usually turn it off, what does this say about the game.  I can guarentee you that right now I would not waste my hard earned money buying a ticket to watch this panzification.  Nov 3rd, 2008

Concusions and why kids get crushed all the time.  I think most of the blame can be put on the face mask.   Many kids can not see properly out of the face mask and this causes them to have to watch the puck as the stickhandle.   Too many times during a game a kid is skating with their head down.  Why ???  Bad coaching?? Or bad practice habits???  I think a little of both maybe with a lot of design flaw thrown in.  Ever notice how small the holes in a mask are compared to the width of a puck or hockey stick blade.   Why can't the openings on these wire masks be bigger???  Less bars to see through should make for  better viewing for our kids.  I do not want my kids eyes knock out nor his teeth, but I worry about this ability to protect himself if he can't see the ice and whats happening around him.  Someone needs to explain to me why these openings on the wire face mask cannot be made bigger.   Please contact me if you have an answer.

The lastest on picking of traveling teams.  Things don't change just different people in charge.  How can YOU look a kid of 10 or 11 in the face and tell him or her that they did not make an  A  or B travelling team when a kid of lesser abilities or attributes does.   The problem as I see it YOU don't .  YOU don't look anyone in the eyes.  YOU and the powers that be don't even have the NUTS to get  input from all the coaches involved.  This is disrespectful.  Is this because some coaches or maybe only one coach would not have let you do it or would have a least exposed it before you got to post these teams.   YOU and your little secret public school society do it all hush hush right up to the end.   YOU did not fool anyone, YOU just undermined the credibility of YOUR whole hockey program.  That being said the parents of the A team should have stood up the day of the postings and said these are not the best kids and these are not the best coaches for this A team.  What is going on?  Things should have been put on hold and demanded changes.  You didn't so you have another 2 months of your kids not learning what they need to learn at this age as well as not having the right kids on the team to be competitive.  You really have no one to blame but yourselves.