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HOT SHOTS NEWS + NOTES FROM THE STATE OF HOCKEY TAGLINE GOES HERE Giving Back(es) "Like" Minnesota Hockey Journal and follow @mnhockeyjournal NCAA Back at Xcel Energy Center? The NCAA and the Men's Ice Hockey Committee announced finalists to host the 2015-18 Frozen Fours with Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul among the 10 finalists. The potential host cities also include: Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa, and Washington D.C. Pittsburgh St. Louis Blues captain David Backes is never one to shy away from giving back. A product of the Spring Lake Park Youth Hockey Association, Backes recently donated more than $24,000 worth of equipment to the Mankato Area Hockey Association (MAHA). The area has a special tie to Backes, as he played college hockey at Minnesota State University for three years. His donation included 150 sticks, 70 sets of skates, 60 helmets, 60 sets of gloves, six full sets of goalie gear, 1,000 pucks and more that was used during MAHA's Try Hockey For Free Event on Nov. 2. Any players that decided to sign up with MAHA following the Try Hockey For Free Day would get free use of the equipment for a year. hosted the Frozen Four last year while Philadelphia is hosting this year. Xcel Energy Center has previously hosted the NCAA Frozen Four twice, most recently in 2011. The facility first hosted the national championship in 2002 with the Gophers topping Maine to win the fourth overall NCAA title in program history and the first of back-to-back national titles. David Backes, Spring Lake Park Youth Hockey Association Try Hockey For Free More kids learned our state's favorite game on Nov. 2. As a part of USA Hockey's national Try Hockey For Free Day, 73 locations around Minnesota hosted the event in an effort to grow the game of hockey. Participation more than doubled last year's totals. More than 1,900 kids ages 4-12 took the ice with the help of many volunteers and associations. ADVERTORIAL HOCKEYSHOT.COM TIP OF THE MONTH: WHERE TO SHOOT WHERE TO SHOOT TO SCORE MORE GOALS Most young hockey players have one goal; to roof the puck. At 10 years old being able to shelf the puck is a big accomplishment and a great way to score a lot of goals. Most of the goaltenders are fairly small and can barely reach the top crossbar, so shooting high is the sure-fire way to score more goals. The problem is a lot of players seem to get stuck in this mindset and never really grow out of it. The problem is the goaltenders continue to grow and get bigger and bigger, taking up more of the net and soon they can easily stop those high shots. Now players are faced with a dilemma, "where should I be shooting?" RIGHT ABOVE THE PAD After asking a number of goalies what the hardest shot to stop was a majority of them 04 opening away. The other advantage to this shot is if you miss high, low, or wide your shot will likely produce a rebound. said "right above the pad, near the post". This is like the blind spot in the net, the pad can't reach it, and it's not easy to reach with the glove or blocker. The great thing about shooting just above the pad is if you miss high you still might score, and if you're a bit too low the goalie might give up a juicy rebound. If you aim top right and miss high the puck ends up MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // DECEMBER.2013 behind the net, and if you miss low the goalie will glove it. 5 HOLE This is one of the best spot to shoot when you get in close and the goalie still has it open. A quick and accurate snapshot for the 5-hole when you are in close is almost a guaranteed goal. When you are close to the goalie he will not have time to take the SHOOT FOR THE EARS There are some goalies who love to go into the butterfly for almost every save. These goalies also love to rob people with the glove. If you spot a goalie in the butterfly position who is still in the crease, try shooting for his ears. This is a tough spot for goaltenders to reach, and a basic human instinct is to move the head away from fast moving objects. For over 200 great training aids to help you work on your toe drags and other skills, visit: www.hockeyshot.com.