GUSTO HOCKEY

GUSTO summer CUP 2013

2013-07-22T07:34:00.001-07:00

DEAR HOCKEY FRIENDS AND CLUB OWNERS: In 2013 GUSTO has been proud to take the development of Ice hockey in SA to a new level! With already 3 successful camps, and the 4th one coming up in August already, we’ve shown our commitment to help with the growth of new, current and seasonable players! And now, GUSTO’s latest addition to help with the development of Ice hockey in SA, we’re proud to announce our new initiative.. The GUSTO summer CUP!

WHY: We felt there’s a big need to have a championship for development players only. Players often wish to compete in tournaments, but there’s only so many games a year, and most development players are just not good enough to even make the team. Hockey championships are always limited to PHL and Provincial players, and that’s where we saw the gap.. let’s create something special for beginner players! Making them want to better themselves, and come back for more hockey!

HOW IT WILL WORK: We need the participation of all clubs to make this yearly event possible and a success! Each Club in SA must select, and submit a 2nd division team. All players are strictly development players only. No 1st division, or PHL players are allowed to participate in this championship.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT: Teams will be split into to pools played out in a round robin format. 1 and 2 place from each pool will qualify for the semi’s with winners going to a grand final where the Gusto Summer cup Champions 2013 will be crowned.

WHO CAN PLAY: This is strickly a cup for development players, so only 2nd Devision and new players are allowed to play. No PHL or 1st devision players are allowed to play.

VENUE: The Vaal Ice Arena Vereenegin

WHEN: 20 - 22 September 2013

ACCOMODATION & FOOD: More infromation about this will be availble on the GUSTO website once we’ve finalized how many players to cater for.

COST: The cost per team entry is R5000.00 a non-refundable 50% percent deposit is to be paid before the xx of July in order for us to secure the ice-time, food and accommodation. The difference must be paid on the day of the tournament.

BENEFITS: This is great to give your new players a change to feel what it’s like to compete in a real tournament! This will encourage players to work hard to reach bigger goals like the Interprovincials, or even the National squad! This is also a very good bonding time for the club and members!

INFO: More info will be available soon, and we will get it through to you as well. But please let us know if you’re willing top participate in making this an successful event!

CONTACT: Albertus Cell: 083 618-6040 E-mail: berdy@3dtree.co.za

CHANGING MY BRAND?

2013-05-22T02:50:00.002-07:00

Hockey players are like smokers. Once they've chosen a brand they stick to it! But one NHL player who uses the Mako skates is Sergei Gonchar of the Ottawa Senators. And for him, it was an easy switch to the Mako skates, especially since he was personally involved in the process.

"I was working with Dave on this skate since the first model that he built," said Gonchar. "I always felt they're what I needed. Especially now with Easton, when they started making those skate, they were comfortable, they worked for me right away and I had no problems adjusting to them."

We spoke with Gonchar about the Mako skates, the Senators' surprising success and his hockey future. Enjoy.

Q. What is it about these skates that set it apart from any pair you've used in the past?

GONCHAR: The technology they're using. When you heat up the skate, when you put it in the oven, and then you put it on, it really molds on your foot, so you never have blisters or anything like that. I can only wear one before the game starts and I have no problems putting them right on and skating. Second, is they're very protective with the materials they're using. Really good against shots. Third, you have such a quality for the protection, this one is up there with other skates that they are very light.

You've felt a major difference in your skating ability since you've started using this skate?

Yeah. Another thing is the skating ability. I like the way they're built, the angle on the ankle. When I put them on it puts me in a position where I'm very comfortable. For me, personally, it's the right angle and I'm in the right position when I'm ready to push. Since they have the underguard, it gives you extra mobility on your ankle when you're pushing.

How does the process work? Does Easton come to you with new gear to try out or do you tell them you're looking for something new?

The way it happend, I met Dave with the MLX company and he was working on those skates. For me, it was an easy transition because I knew him and what he was working on and the ideas behind it and what he was trying to achieve. So when he told me about how Easton has made the product even better, that was a no-brainer.

NEW CLUB OPENING IN VAAL

2013-05-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

Evolution of a Skate

2013-04-06T04:13:00.000-07:00

Dave Cruikshank a former Olympic medal speed skater developed the well known MLX skate.
Easton and MLX merged, and recently brought out the long anticipated MAKO skate.
As the sport evolves, so does the equipment. Enjoy the evolution and art of skating!

!!HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2012-12-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

Celebrating 2012 like the great nr.4 - Bobby Orr!

2012 Was a great year for GUSTO, and I really want to thank all the clubs, associations fans, supporters and players for their ongoing support! We've got a few very exciting things lined up for 2013, and will announce it soon in the new year! So thanks again, and enjoy the rest of your holidays!! But..

..if you are still on Holiday, and traveling abroad, and desperately looking for a rink to go and play some pick-up hockey or just enjoy a good skating session, go to this website: www.hockeyarenas.net

This is the best resource for hockey arenas around the world! With my recent trip to Germany, I found this website very helpful.

See you all next year!

The Next One

2012-06-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

Facts about Sidney Crosby

Name: Sidney Crosby
Nicknames: The Next One, Sid the Kid, Darryl, Baby Legs
Date of Birth: August 17, 1987
Place of Birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada
Residence: Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Canada
Height: 5'11
Weight: 193 pounds
Position: Centre
Shoots: Left
Jersey Number: 87
Junior Team: Rimouski Oceanic
NHL Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Family: Troy Crosby (Father), Trina Crosby (Mother), Taylor Crosby (Sister)
Endorsements: Reebok, Telus, Upper Deck, PepsiCo, Sherwood
Agent: Pat Brisson

Crosby Moments

July 30, 2005 - Sidney Crosby is selected first overall in the 2005 NHL amateur entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

September 9, 2005 - Sidney Crosby signs his first NHL contract with the Penguins and could earn upto $12 million over the next 3 years.

October 5, 2005 - Sidney Crosby records his first NHL point; an assist on a goal by Mark Recchi against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils.

October 8, 2005 - Sidney Crosby scores his first NHL goal against Hannu Toivonen of the Boston Bruins.

December 16, 2005 - Penguins coach Michel Therrien names Sidney Crosby as an alternate captain.

April 17, 2006 - Crosby collected 3 assists against the New York Islanders to become the youngest NHL player (18 years, 243 days) to score 100 points in the regular season.

March 2, 2007 - Sidney Crosby scored a first period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes to become the youngest player in NHL history (19 years, 207 days) to score 200 career points. The previous mark was held by Wayne Gretzky (19 years, 347 days).

May 22, 2007 - The Sporting News named Sidney Crosby its NHL player of the year for the 2006-07 season. Sid received 110 of the 210 votes from his fellow NHL players.

May 31, 2007 - The Pittsburgh Penguins made Sidney the youngest team captain in NHL history (19 years and 297 days old). The previous mark was held by Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier (19 years, 324 days).

June 2, 2007 - The National Hockey League presented Sidney Crosby with the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer. Crosby scored 36 goals and 84 assists for 120 points during the 2006-07 regular season.

June 14, 2007 - At the 2006-07 NHL awards, Sidney Crosby was awarded the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player and the Lester B Pearson Award from his peers as most outstanding player. Crosby became the seventh player in NHL history to pull off the Ross-Hart-Pearson hat trick in one season.

December 11, 2007 - Sidney Crosby was awarded the Lou Marsh Trophy as the Canadian Athelete of the Year for 2007. Sid is the first hockey player to win the award since former teammate Mario Lemieux in 1993.

December 26, 2007 - Sidney was named the The Canadian Press male athlete of the year for 2007. Haley Wickenheiser took the top female honour.

February 28, 2010 - Sidney scored the gold medal winning gold in overtime against the United States to win the gold medal for Canada.

The Menlyn Skate Complex or MSC for short

2012-06-01T02:37:00.000-07:00

In the Eastern suburbs of Pretoria lies a small gem of a skate park known as Thrashers. In the early 2000's this park was utilized by almost everybody who skated in Pretoria and even today people speak of the park with great affection. As the years rolled on there were some bad elements associated with the park. Drug abuse and under age drinking sadly drove the reputation of the recreational facility straight into the ground. No longer was Thrashers just a skate park, it had unfortunately become a place where parents were wary to send their children and understandably so. With the park being totally under utilized and the cash flow running dry along came New Day Ministries with an idea to clean the park up and use the venue as a place of fellowship and christian youth activities. A big vote of thanks should go to New Day Ministries and their leadership for the work they put into the park and the feeding scheme which was housed there.

The skate park still operated but some renovation was done to accomodate groups of worshippers and to create a family environment which exists today. For close on 3 years a group of people have been eyeing the venue out as the ideal spot for young skaters to enjoy the skateboarding and aggressive skating but particularly for the start of the revival of inline hockey in South Africa. On the 15th of April 2012 Birrell Mining took ownership of the facility with plans to not only revive inline hockey but also to improve the infrastructure for the skaters and their families alike. The current plans include a brand new state of the art ice court with new barriers and dasher boards, skateboard rental, improved ramps and a new equipment store. Most of the improvements should be in place by end August 2012 with a potential international event scheduled for December 2012. Keep your eyes on the MSC as it begins the revival of inline hockey in Gauteng! Gusto will be there in force!

"Absolute Saucy Filth with toe drags incorporated with the well known Datsyukian Deke"

2012-05-29T04:01:00.000-07:00

Say what!!?? - If you’re new to hockey and have trouble keeping up with a conversation because you’re confused by the slang, here’s a guide to help you. There are numerous other words that hockey players use. They are short, generally about four letters long and you probably know most of them, so I left them out.

Barn: Hockey Rink/Arena
Barn Door: Scoring back door
Bender: A lousy player who always seems to have his ankles bent
Between the Pipes: In the net
Biscuit: A Puck
Breezers: Hockey pants
Brain Bucket: A helmet
Celly: A celebration, usually done after scoring a goal
End to End or Coast to Coast: When a player carries the puck from his own net all the way to his opponent’s and scores
Chippy: Getting irritated with one another, usually on the brink of fighting
Chirp: To talk trash
Cherry Picker: Player who hangs out in his opponents zone awaiting a long pass
Dangle: Misdirecting an opponent while handling the puck. See deke
Deke: A fake out, perhaps derived from the word “decoy”
Drop: To leave the puck behind or pass it to a trailing teammate
East-West: Playing the puck in the width of the rink
Gongshow: A rough, intense game
Grinder: A player who digs deep, hustles to make plays. Usually better known for checking and disruption rather than scoring ability
Enforcer: A player who takes on the role of discouraging the opposing team from harassing his goal scoring teammate by imposing the threat of physical harm
Fisticuffs: Fancy hockey terminology for a fistfight
Five Hole: The area in between the goalie’s legs
Hop: A jumping acation while accelerating
Hat Trick: Scoring three goals in one game
Hoser: A loser. Originated from the pre-Zamboni days when the losing team had to
hose off the ice
Laser: A quick, well-placed shot
Light the Lamp: Score a goal so the siren flashes
Mucker: A physical player who lacks finesse but gets the job done by fore checking, working the boards, etc. He is not afraid to do the dirty work.
One-timer: Taking a hard shot right off the pass without pausing to receive it
Pipe-fitter/Plumber: See mucker and grinder
Playing the Point: When a defender positions himself in front of the blue line near the boards in order to keep the puck in his offensive zone
Puck Bunny: A girl who is more interested in getting the player’s attention than
watching the game
Pylon: Skater who just stands still and is as easy to skate around as an orange cone
Schoolyard Puck: Pick-up hockey often played in a schoolyard, usually on inline skates
Shinny: Pick-up hockey usually played on a frozen pond
Sieve: A goalie with a lot of “holes” meaning he allows a lot of goals
Slapper: A slap shot
Sniper: Player with an accurate shot who often scores from a distance
Snow angels: When a goalie lies on the ice, waving his arms and legs to make a save
Top Shelf: To put a goal in the upper part of the net
Tripod: A player who has to balance himself with his stick
Woody: A wooden stick
Wrap around: To come from behind the net and squeeze it past the goalie
Wrister: A wrist shot
Flow: Longer slicked back hair that looks sick only to other hockey players
Saucy mitts: good hands
Muckin Hard: Grinding in the corners
North-South: Playing the puck in the length of the rink
Plug/Duster: Brutal Player
Pickle stabber: Poking at a puck when it's in front of the net
Top ched: top corner
Filthy McNasty Mitts: Absolute Saucy Filth with toe drags incorporated with the well known 'Datsyukian' Deke
Twig: Wood stick
Top cheese: Sniping the top corners after a sick dangle
Zebra: Nickname for a referee
Sieve: A goalie who lets in many goals
Slew foot: When a player uses his skate to sweep out the skate of another player; usually considered one of the dirtiest plays in the game
Blow a tire: When a player falls as a result of their own actions
Fan: Not the people watching the game, this refers to missing a shot
Ripple the Mesh: The act of scoring a goal
Stone Hands: The state of a lack of ability in handling, carrying, and or receiving the puck, also a player lacking puck handling skill
Stoned: Despite the obvious sounding references, this has nothing to do with anything you would smoke. Instead, it is slang for a great save

Hockey.. you gota love it!!

To Profile, or Not to Profile..

2012-05-16T22:38:00.000-07:00

In simple terms, Profiling is grinding and shaping the "rocker" radius of the skate blade. Still confused?. Well think of a rocking chair and the shape of the rocker. If you change the rocker's curve, the chair will either rock faster or slower depending on how it is shaped. If you alter a skate's rocker, it's performance will change too.
Why consider a radius for your skates? Well, if you are a serious hockey player, a custom radius can improve your entire game. Here's why. Skates and blades made by the various manufacturers are very basic in design and come from the factory with the same generic radius, a one-zize fits all shape. Imagine if hockey sticks only came in one flex and curve. Well, that one curve would only work for a small percentage of players.

Another thing you must consider is that even on brand new skate pairs, that 80-90% of them come from the factory with a MISMATCHED radius, meaning the left blade's radius is different than the right. Improper balanced radius can really mess up your game.

Watch this video on profiling!

2012-04-05T03:06:00.000-07:00

Classic moments from the 2012 IIHF World Champs in Bulgaria.

Post 2 - Team SA Bulgaria

2012-04-02T05:05:00.003-07:00

Paint the picture. A train, 22 hockey players and some packed lunches. Sounds pretty standard right? Anyone that has traveled to Eastern Europe knows that there is very little 'standard' about the land of bears and cabbage. I am trying not to be derogatory or unkind but this part of the continent is very different to most places and like all ex communist regions it almost seems as though it is stuck in a time warp. If you awoke in Romania after falling asleep in your own surroundings you would walk out thinking you had been throw in a time machine and transported back to the 1980's. If you think I am over exaggerating, but trust me I am not.

We loaded our bags onto the train and departed at 13:00. There were about 4 guys to a compartment and we had most of the carriage to ourselves. There were 2 'gypsys' who were somewhat entertaining but also slightly disturbing but other than that the ride was ok albeit long. On the train there was very little besides highly intilecctual conversation, water sprays out the window, word games and the occasional game of...well let's call it tennis. One player managed to clear almost two compartments with one serve but we will blame the Mcdonalds for that. Our staff of coaches, managers and volunteers made some great sandwiches and provided cooldrinks in abundance. We were grateful for their efforts!

We arrived around 23:00 in Sofia and dropped the bags off at the rink and then went on to the hotel. All the players are in their rooms and recovering from a few hard days of training and travelling.

Post 1 - Team SA Bulgaria

2012-04-02T05:04:00.001-07:00

When you leave on a journey your destination is almost always defined planned and plotted. In this case the plane tickets are in place and the hotels are booked however the outcomes are not only not defined but also a mystery. What is defined is that the roster possess a healthy mix of youth and experience as well as a group of players who live for the game of hockey. In HBO's 24/7 one of the first statements the narrator makes is that the sport of hockey becomes a kind of compulsion and no truer word can be spoken of the 2012 South African Senior Team and their desire to succeed.

It was well documented and well known that the players and the coaching staff have had a difference in opinion however the association has stepped up to the plate along with the coaching staff and provided the team with every opportunity to achieve this year.

The team departed the shores this week with their spirits sky high and the desire to achieve even higher. On the cards was a 2 game warm up stint in Romania. In Bucharest it was a semi professional outfit Steau Rangers who faced the South Africans. In the first game the team struggled with conditions and a lack of game time as a unit, amongst other things, which left the scoreboard ticked over at 8-0. South Africa was off the pace and totally outplayed. The following morning the team returned to the rink to practice forechecking, D Zone coverage and power play. The practice paid off tremendously and the guys managed a 7-6 result which although was not a victory it spoke volumes about the potential of the 22 players who participated.

Right now the team are travelling to Bulgaria via train with their tails up but also a sense that there is a long road ahead this coming week. They are under no illusions as to what lays in wait at World Championships. They will face teams who are prepared, motivated and desperate to climb the IIHF ladder however this time there is something very very different about the South African team...

Goalie crisis!

2012-03-06T02:02:00.000-08:00

So you're playing a game and your team only dresses one goalie and he get's injured... The coach turns to you and says: "Jimmy, we need you in net."

Being a hockey players means you shut up and get on with the job. Connor Crisp had to endure this crazy bit of ill timed luck this week in the OHL no less. For those that don't know the OHL is one of the toughest junior leagues out there and most of the guys in this league have a shot at the big time. The night before the game one of the two goalies for the Errie Otters failed a concussion test and the coach was forced to make a tough decision. He felt that the likelyhood of another goaltender getting injured right after the other one was highly unikely and in most instances it is except Murphy's law played a wicked hand on this one.

1:45 into the game the starting goaltender was plowed into by a player from the opposing Niagra Ice Dogs team. The coaching staff were confident that Ramis Sadikov would get up and carry on but they were wrong - he was also man down. Connor Crisp rushed down to the dressing room and the equipment staff helped him put on goalie gear which he had never before worn including a pair of goalie skates 3 sizes to small! Crisp made 32 saves in total which is an enormous number however his team allowed 45 shots in total on the poor guy. The end score 13-4 to the Ice Dogs. The memorable part for Crisp is that he was awarded man of the match and he received a standing ovation from the opposing teams home crowd - a rarity in most sports.

Well done Connor Crisp you deserve the accolades young man. Now go back to playing forward!!

Playoffs are almost here...

2012-03-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

The hardest trophy in sports to win???

Mitt swag

2012-03-01T02:59:00.000-08:00

Folks whether people like it or not having swag while you play sport is important. No matter what sport you play our current generation of athlete plays and trains hard but they want to look good doing it. I see no problem unless you're the parents supporting the swag because it can get pretty pricey. That being said much of the equipment that the hockey companies produce that look the business often are the business. For today lets talk gloves or for the purist - mitts. Without doubt 4 rolls are the swag - check these bad boys out!

Top pick of the 4 roll - Bauer 4 roll pro!

Bauer 4 roll pro

CCM 4 Rolls

Reebok 4 Rolls

Very sexy Reebok 4 rolls - my second place

Warrior 4 rolls - NEAT

Some dirty mitts on display. Remember - leather is out - vinyl is in and white gloves only look good if you play in the All Star game ;-)

The Wiener Hat

2012-03-01T02:13:00.000-08:00

The man of the match award is given out and decided by a person observing the game or a coach/manager but often it isn't given to the guy the team would necessarily give the award to. It's sometimes a contentious issue for some but the team always knows who deserves the commendation for playing out of his socks or breaking a long goal drought.

The winter classic gave us an inside look into the way the teams decide this award and normally the guy who got the award last hands it on to the new recipient. Here are some examples of the award which different teams have. Jason Arnott from St. Louis described the it in his own words: "It's for the hardest worker or player of the game, which the guys vote for when we get in here."

How can you not love this game?

The Championship Belt - Chicago Blackhawks

The White Jacket - Buffalo Sabres

The Wiener Hat - St Louis Blues

The Hard Hat - Washington Capitals

The Broadway Hat - New York Rangers

The bigger picture

2012-02-29T03:52:00.000-08:00

I saw this video a few weeks ago and it left a mark on me as a sportsman. Sure we all train and compete to be the best but we play sport for the enjoyment and the fun that we have whilst competing. A story like this reminds me of how it's not all about us as individuals. Some of us will never play for our country, some of us might not even make the top division in our country but we should never forget the simple things in the sports that we play. Coaches often say that the reason their job is so enjoyable is because of the smile it can put on an athletes face. So if it's a goal in a scrimmage - embrace it. If it's a passes that you were proud of - smile about it. We are sportsman who play at the end of the day because of our love of the game. J MAC is an inspirational story that brings a tear to the eye. Every time I watch it I am reminded of the power of sport and how privileged we are to just participate. A Gusto feel good moment for you all to enjoy!

Oh My Malkin!

2012-02-27T01:02:00.000-08:00

Ok so admittedly Evgeni Malkin is one of my favourite players in the NHL. The Pittsburgh center can score and defend with the ability to pull off that - 'WoW' moment - more often than others. Those die hard fans will remember the backhand he scored a few season back against Carolina that left hockey fans absolutely gob-smacked.

In hockey this is a pretty filthy goal. So dirty that you want to watch it over and over again... Maybe you'll agree?

Malkin had a pretty bad knee injury last year and he spent the off season in Russia do a lot of rehabilitation. There were some videos of him swimming, stickhandling and doing up to 2 ice sessions a due with resistance chords and other interesting training techniques. The result...an Evgeni Malkin who is playing some picturesque hockey at present. A pleasure to watch and one of the reasons I personally watch as many Pittsburgh games as possible.

SWEDE'S on D

2012-02-22T04:31:00.001-08:00

The Norris trophy in the NHL is awarded to the defenceman who demonstrates the greatest all-round ability in the position throughout the season.

The current holder of the trophy is a living legend in the sport and goes by the name Nicklas Lidstrom. This guy logs up mountains of ice time every year and is still one of the most played players logging somewhere around 23 minutes a game. This is a huge chunk of ice time and when you consider that this guy was born...wait for it...in 1970 making him 41 years of age! (I did the math there for you hockey players, I realize it isn't your strong suit).

So who will be the Norris trophy winner this year?

Erik Karlsson

Right now the guy leading the pack is another Swede 20 years younger than Mr Lidstrom but playing out of his socks this year. In my opinion this guy is destined to become a great. He is a fantastic skater and is gifted with that useful attribute of hockey sense. Naturally he can do all the other things pretty well but Erik Karlsson has a unique ability to read the game at the tender age of 21.

Try this on for size... In 2008, at 17 years of age, this guy was making his debut in the Swedish Elite League. Not only was this his debut but Karlsson decided to score in overtime to give his team a spot in the playoffs with 3 games to play in the regular season. Today Erik plays for the Ottawa Senators and the last few seasons have been good for him especially considering how tough a league the NHL is to break into. This season Karlsson is blowing all defenceman out of the water! His stats for the year thus far read: 60 Games - 12 Goals - 45 Assists - 57 Points - +14. This means he is 17 points ahead of Brian Campbell in second spot for the year. Now scoring in hockey isn't the most important thing especially when you are a defenceman but when you are a +14 for the year then you are doing a hell of a lot right on D as well as on offence.

So keep your eyes on this guy over the coming months. He certainly is a special player in the game right now and it's nice to hear some of the D-men getting a shout for a change. Gusto holds thumbs that Erik Karlsson is in Las Vegas for the NHL awards at the end of the season!

History lesson # 1

2012-02-20T03:01:00.001-08:00

SEE THE FLOP!!
INSPIRATION I TELL YOU!

To be given the tag of the great one in any sport is an achievement in itself. In cricket Michael Hussey was given the tag Mr Cricket however if you were to make a decent comparison to anyone in cricket Sachin Tendulkar or Sir Donald Bradman would probably be your man. Hockey however is decidedly different to cricket. In Rugby the 'great one' would probably depend on where you live in the world. Jonah Lomu comes to mind but so does Tim Horan for example. Again hockey is decidedly different to Rugby. I could carry on with comparisons but in Ice Hockey if you mention the 'great one' everybody knows just who you are talking about. In our beloved sport nobody around the world dares to even disrespect the number 99 by even wearing it at practice or in a game anymore. As with all things in this world there will always be a debate about who is the best but in the instance of Wayne Gretzky the numbers unfortunately do not lie.

Wayne Gretzky was born in the same place as Alexander Bell - the dude that invented the telephone - in 1961.By the age of 17, he was tearing up the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 182 points in 64 regular season games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhouds. A year before he would have been eligible for the NHL draft, 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky signed up with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA in 1978 for an unprecedented $825,000. After just 8 games, however, the hotshot prospect found himself traded to Edmonton, along with Peter Driscoll and Eddie Mio, in exchange for cash. The Racers were in deep financial trouble, and the move had to be made. In the 1981-82 campaign, Gretzky obliterated the record for goals in a season with an unthinkable 92 and points in a season with 212. No one else had ever broken the 200-point barrier, or even come close, but Gretzky would do it three more times. Even more impressive was his breach of hockey's mythical 50-goals-in-50-games barrier. Only two other players had ever achieved that milestone — Rocket Richard and Mike Bossy — and it took both the full 50 games to do it; Gretzky scored number 50 in the 39th game of the season.

When you watch Gretzky play one thing is obvious...he knew how to score. Coaches around the world search for what is referred to as a 'goal scorer'. Many coaches and players believe that it is one of the attributes which cannot be taught - you either have it, or you don't. In 99's case, he had it. Gretzky went on to be traded to the LA Kings and played for the Blues and the Rangers later on in his career. His NHL totals at the end of his NHL career read a staggering:

Games: 1487 Goals: 894 Assists: 1963 Totals points: 2857

If you have never watched Wayne Gretzky play ice hockey, do yourself a favour a watch. He had an uncanny ability to find space and anticipate where the puck would be before it got there.

Gusto Hockey salutes the great one #99.

Goal of the week

2012-02-20T00:54:00.000-08:00

So every week we will nominate the Gusto Goal of the week from hockey around the world. To kick off look at this piece of mastery by THE one and only Pavel Datsyuk tying the game with 5 seconds left to play!

2012-02-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

"There's the manipulation up top; here comes the stimulation — KABANG!"

Green and Gold Time!

2012-02-17T07:47:00.000-08:00

In every sport that anyone plays in there is a goal and an end result which you strive for. It is often the motivation for early morning practices, grueling gym sessions and playing through pain. South Africa may not be the most notable hockey country competing on the world stage but one thing is true... No matter what the sport and no matter what the circumstance pulling on the Green and Gold is a privilege and an honor. For some it is new, for others it is there 70th, 80th or 100th time, the feeling does not change. In a few weeks the U18 Team leaves for Bulgaria, the ladies leave for Korea and a bit later in March the Senior National Team also departs for Bulgaria all with the purpose of representing South Africa on the world stage.

With the new IIHF ranking system in place, teams are now competing to at best retain their world ranking however for us as South African's this is not enough however, we want to improve and begin a climb up the ladder. All the teams are tasked with a tough battle ahead. In tournaments past our teams would leave for a 5 match tournament knowing that there would be a victory earmarked in the tournament, a game a team should win however this time it is different. The competition has never been tougher. Our U18 Team is a team comprised of many first time campaigners and under the leadership of the veteran player and coach Alan Verwey the team is a hungry one. The team has been preparing for 4 months with a game against decent opposition every week. Led by Captain Xander Botha, who is in his 3rd tournament at this age group level the desire to compete is big. With a good team spirit and some gutsy players it will be interesting to see how they do. The Ladies Team like the Men's Team have had their preparation jolted slightly by off the ice issues which have been resolved for what the players feel is for the better. In any sport there are conflicts of interest and hockey is no different. The ladies have changed coach and are now under the leadership of veteran South African Nicky Beukes. Nicky has had a tough task over the past month picking up from where the previous coach left off but in difficult circumstances he has consulted coaches from around the country for their input and has not attempted to 're-invent the wheel', so to speak. The ladies team has some experienced campaigners in their line up and should do very well in their up coming adventure to Korea. The Captain and Assistants will be announced shortly and we excitedly usher in a new era in the ladies game in our country.

The Men's Senior National Team is a team now raring to go after a tough year for the management, coach and players. After last years silver medal on home soil in Div III there were issues which needed to be ironed out. In a year where the President of the Association has changed and new structures have been implemented there were bound to be detractors. The back room issues have been dealt with and if at one stage it seemed as if the National Team was destined for a catastrophe it is now done a complete about turn into a position where the sky is the limit. The South African Ice Hockey Association has employed the services of Bob Mancini from USA Hockey to assist Ronnie Wood in the preparation of the team for the next three years. Bob has been involved with the University of Wisconsin, USA Hockey and no less the Edmonton Oilers over his career, to name a few. There are one or two key players missing from the roster for personal reasons and work commitments however South Africa will be sending one of their most competitive teams to the tournament for many a year. In the line up this year will be the likes of Josh Reinecke and Cameron Birrell who both play offshore. Birrell left the country last year to compete in the UK and has performed admirably for the Cardiff Devils and Oxford Stars. Josh is a player who has been in the wilderness for several years however his calibre is unquestionable. With these players and the inclusion of the experienced guard, who have been the back bone of this unit since 2008: Lyon, Valadas, Giot, Magmoed, Marais, Matthews, Cordosa, Bock, Watson to name a few, the team is as hungry as ever to stay in Div II where they face old rivals Mexico and Israel.

South African ice hockey is on the up again. Gusto Hockey sees many of the National players on a Wednesday and a Saturday participating in their games and we wish these guys well in their upcoming tournaments.

Good luck U18, Ladies and Men's National Teams!

Gusto Hockey.

2012-02-10T02:41:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night Hockey was fun as usual, but with an edge.. The arrival of the Troopers and Wolverines jerseys! Big deal? YES! New jerseys, is like new tires on a car! We're busy with the final changes on the Titans and Mavericks jerseys, then we'll go into production. Let's hope the Festival players will have their jerseys in the next 3 weeks!