Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/196404
hot shots news + notes from the state of hockey tagline goes here "Like" Minnesota Hockey Journal and follow @mnhockeyjournal The Gopher women's team will take on Minnesota State at 4:30 p.m. with the men's team playing new Big Ten rival Ohio State at 8 p.m. WHAT'S IN A NAME GOPHERS TAKING IT OUTSIDE On Jan. 17, TCF Bank Stadium will not just look like a hockey rink in the winter weather – it will be one. The University of Minnesota will host the 2014 Hockey City Classic in an outdoor doubleheader with the men's and women's programs. This year's inaugural all-Minnesota Division I men's hockey tournament has finally settled on a name: North Star College Cup. The name for the tournament was chosen from a pool of fan-nominated finalists by the school's coaches and administrations. With the shakeup of the college hockey landscape in 2013-14 leaving teams from the State of Hockey scattered in three different conferences – Big Ten, National Collegiate Hockey Conference and a very different looking Western Collegiate Hockey Association – it was announced last spring that all five DI teams would make a commitment to play each other in an annual tournament at Xcel Energy Center. The University of Minnesota will be the cup's permanent host with MinnesotaDuluth, St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State, Mankato playing in this year's two-game tournament slated for Jan. 24 and 25. Bemidji State University will sit out idle for the first year and the four nonhost teams will rotate in each season. advertorial HockeyShot.com Tip of the Month: the toe drag Why Use a Toe Drag Perfecting the toe drag will give you the ability to move the puck quickly backwards and forwards, and side to side no matter where it is. Another great advantage to the toe drag is to use it to deke out the opposition or the goalie. There are a number of situations where a quick toe drag can be the best (and prettiest) way to get around the defense. Sometimes the defensemen thinks you have no room to move the puck, but by using the toe of the stick to pull the puck backwards you give yourself more room move the puck. Then you can move it over and up and blow past the D (and look awesome!) How To Toe Drag I was hesitant to show people how to toe drag off-ice. I learned how to toe drag with a stickhandling ball, I had it 04 perfected, then I stepped onto the ice and tried it with a puck, not good. The puck flew backwards over, and over, and over. I did have the general motion down, but I had to adjust a bit to get it to work on the ice. I think the biggest problem was that I learned with a ball, and with a lot of friction, but on the ice you use a puck, and there is very little friction. So my best recommendation for learning to toe drag off-ice get a green minnesotahockeyjournal.com // october.2013 biscuit, and a hockey shooting pad (I really like the roll up shooting pad). The toe drag is pretty simple on paper (or computer screen), but actually getting it down is tough, here is how to toe drag • Roll your wrists to roll the blade of the stick over, so the toe of the blade of the stick is pointing down • Catch the puck with the toe, and pull it backwards (or sideways if the puck is to your side) • As the puck is coming backwards, roll your hands back and catch the puck This is the most basic toe drag, once you get better you can use the toe drag to move the puck straight back, in a J motion, or a wide U to pull the puck from one side of your body, all the way to the other. This is the most basic toe drag, once you get better you can use the toe drag to move the puck straight back, in a J motion, or a wide U to pull the puck from one side of your body, all the way to the other. For over 200 great training aids to help you work on your toe drags and other skills, visit: www.hockeyshot.com.