Essex Vermont Youth Hockey

Former high school varsity and current EYHA ACE Director/Head Coach Pat Burke is offering off-ice shooting clinics at his house in Jericho.

The goal of the clinic is to provide instruction and to help jump start a player's independent off-ice shooting program.

The clinics include video instruction, demonstration, and practice in the Burke's backyard shooting range.

Clinics are limited in size and will be filled on a first come first served basis. The cost of the clinics is a 3 puck "donation" to the shooting range's puck supply

Clinics run from 6:30-8:00 pm on:
July 1st: FULL
July 15: FULL
July 22: FULL
More late Summer/Fall dates to be added soon/

Email Pat at pburkevt@yahoo.com to secure a space in a clinic.

Recent conversations with returning players' families from the Essex area have revealed that, in line with our mission, EYHA will have enough players fulfill our commitment to having a U14 "A," competitive travel girls team for 2008-09. We are excited to offer this opportunity to help local girls prepare for high school hockey with their school aged peers from the Essex area. 

In addition to our U14A team we expect to run girls teams at the U12, and U10 developmental age brackets. Co-ed teams for most ages operate in our house league. Girls 8 and under are encouraged to join our novice, house or cross ice program."

EYHA does not endorse a specific hockey camp. Parents and players are advised to do their homework regarding camps. Some are excellent, others -- not so great.

For players interested in camps we suggest you look for one with a low player/coach ratio, limited amount of players on the ice per session, reasonable amounts of on-ice activity, focused off-ice activities and a cost that reflects the value of the program.

Click Here for a list of camps hosted at
South Burlington's Cairns Arena

Know a local or sleep away camp? Email Head Coach Pat Burke at pburkevt@yahoo.com with information. We may post it here.

The EYHA Board of Directors announces changes to the try-out process for EYHA. The rationale for these changes is explained in full in a “Board Report” linked at the bottom of the page.

Summary:

Formal and informal survey data showed there existed an acceptable degree of satisfaction with the try-out process from the membership.

There is also evidence that players were – far more often than not – placed appropriately.

Still, the board approved these changes with the goal of improving the try-out process.

Three major facts remain and will always be present regardless of how many changes are made to the process.

1. The selection of a hockey team will never be a perfect science; we should first and foremost admit our inability to be correct 100% of the time.

2. Parents will always have a view of their own child’s ability and performance that places their child in the “most favorable” light. [Eg: Parents of big physical players think “A” teams need more of them, parents of small quick players think these are the types that make the best team … the reality is that both types have their upsides and downsides … and parents are not the best people to make this determination.]

3. It is expected that parents encourage their child to prepare for and work hard before and during the try-outs, but it is also expected that adults and players place try-outs and placement in the proper perspective.

The following policy or procedure changes were approved by the EYHA Board of Directors:

• Each committee will have three evaluators. These three evaluators, based on players’ performance during the try-out sessions, will determine the placement of all players at the age level.

• No evaluators will have children involved in the level being evaluated.

• Board members with children at a level being evaluated will not be involved in any way with the evaluation team or process.

• Data will be gathered on each player based on a series of on-ice tests. Players will be able to view the tests (video of the tests is posted on the EYHA website) and players will be instructed in proper technique during the pre-season warm-up skates. The data gathered will be used as one input in placing a player. The data may also provide pre-season baseline data to inform player development over the season and from season to season. [See YouTube videos -- linked below-- on the EYHA web page for demonstrations on-ice tests which are under consideration].

• Evaluator teams will utilize the test data as they see fit.

• Situational (game) play will increase in occurrence and import during the try-out sessions for all levels. Game play drills will include small-sided games, 2 v. 1, 1 v. 1, 3 v. 2 etc. drills, and modified or un-modified full or half ice scrimmages. Puck skills will be evaluated during game like conditions.

The on-ice tests in the YouTube videos are the tests being considered. They will be beta tested with EYHA volunteer coaches and players this summer. If you are interested in helping with this beta test please contact Pat Burke at pburkevt@yahoo.com.

To complete the tests effectively on ice tryouts will need up to 10 coaches to run stop watches, record data and administer the drills. All of these coaches need to be trained and none of them will have children at the level being tested.

It is expected that every coach in EYHA assist for this portion of the try-outs. Once the tests are completed a much smaller on ice staff will run the game play segments of the try-outs.

Essex Youth Hockey Association is happy to introduce our off ice-shooting program for all players in our association.

Our goal is to get players out on their own shooting pucks. The only way to improve your shot is with practice and repetition. Boys and girls can improve their stickhandling and shooting abilities without being on the ice. Shooting and stickhandling in the driveway or garage daily will improve player’s puck control, accuracy, and strength.

We have set up a goal for players in our association to strive for this off-season.

Each player that achieves this goal will have their name posted on the posted on the 10,000 Shot Club Section of the EYHA Web Site.

[Players are asked to turn in their 10,000 shot club tracker at registration or email it to Head Coach Pat Burke: pburkevt@yahoo.com as soon as they meet the goal]

All levels of the EYHA are encouraged to take apart in the shooting club. Have fun, find a friend (or Mom or Dad) to shoot with, and make a game out of it.

Target 500 shots per week so it will take two weeks to get to 1000 shots. Before you know it you’ll be at 10,000 and we’ll have to start a 15,000 shot club!

The following three teams added new trophies to the soon to be built trophy case during the Vermont State Tournaments.   

1. The Peewee AB team finished second.  
2. The Bantam A team finished second and travel to the New England Sectional/Regional Tournament the weekend of March 14-16. 
3. The Peewee A team finished third.
4. The Girls U19 Team will participate in the New England Regional Tournament.

Congrats!

To all EYHA Families.

The new Essex Skating Facility is one of the premire facilities in Vermont.  We need your your help in keeping the facility looking top notch.  Accordingly we are asking all parents and coaches to police the rink to prevent the following activities:

1. Horseplay in or around the elevators is prohibited. 
2. Floor hockey is prohibited in all areas of the rink. 
3. The lockroom hallway is off limits to all non-player personnel.   

Please do the following as a member using the rink:

1. Leave the facility cleaner than how we found it we will be better off. 
2. Parents should oversee the behavior of their children visiting the rink. 
3. Parents of players should assist in enforcing these rules.

Please review these rules with your family and hopefully we can preserve the beauty of the new facility for years to come. 

Thank you. 

 EYHA Board and Essex Skating Facility Management