Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
There are a number of summer hockey camps in Pennsylvania that can prepare hockey players for the upcoming hockey season. The camps typically are held in one-week sessions. Some camps offer specific skill instruction while others offer more broad instruction. All of the camps offer instruction based on age and/or division of competition.
While offensive hockey talents, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby or the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane, can jump into the National Hockey League as teenagers and make an immediate impact, defensemen traditionally need a little more seasoning and development. Defensemen require not only a lot more strength, but also a lot more aptitude in being able to see the ice and play without the puck. That development usually starts in hockey camps geared specifically for defensemen.
During the 2009-10 season, eight Pittsburgh natives logged ice time in NHL uniforms. While producing U.S. hockey stars was once the domain of Michigan, Minnesota and Massachusetts, the Pittsburgh area also produces players for the professional and international stage, including Ryan Malone, who helped the U.S. win silver at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. With such a burgeoning youth hockey scene, the Pittsburgh area offers myriad hockey camps to help further develop its local talent.
Each position in ice hockey is charged with a specific task aimed at helping the team win. Forwards generally are the offensive playmakers, making the passes and taking the shots that result in goals. The goaltender attempts to keep the opponent from scoring. Then there are the defensemen, who block shots, dish out body checks and protect their forwards from being hit by the opponent's "bruisers." Specialty hockey camps help defensemen become better at their craft.
Minnesota's colder climate and many lakes offer an ideal location for ice hockey camps. There are ice hockey camps for youngsters ranging from 4 to 17 years old, and adult camps for players over 18 years old, and all are offered throughout the summer months. The camps focus on enhancing players' basic skills, knowledge of the game, advanced skills and specialized skills such as goaltending.
Sweden is one of the top countries in Europe for ice hockey. If your son or daughter is interested in attending hockey camp in Sweden, there are a number of options to choose from. Hockey camps that are open to American players are often very selective and expensive, especially when you factor in air travel. However, training with experienced Swedish coaches can provide the opportunity of a lifetime for developing players.
