Novice Rep, 2017-2018 (Caledonia Minor Hockey)

Ice skates have come a long way since the concept was first thought of thousands of years ago.  This is probably a good thing when you think about what the oldest pair of ice skates to have been found are made of.  Dated back to about 3000 B.C. the first pair of skates were made from the leg bones of large animals.  Holes were then made at each end and leather straps were used to tie them on.  Everyone is probably no doubt relieved that a few progressions have been made over the years. 

The flex rating that you see printed on the shaft of a hockey stick represents the amount of force (measured in pounds) required in order to bend the shaft 1 inch with the bottom hand applying pressure to the middle of the shaft. A 100 flex shaft requires 100 lbs of force to flex 1", while an 85 flex shaft requires 85 lbs of force to flex 1" – which means that the 100 flex shaft is stiffer than the 85 flex shaft.

The hockey season is close to a month old but it’s never too late to keep improving! Players who are looking for off-ice activities to stay engaged throughout the season can check out the 5000 Puck Challenge. It is a part of the OMHA Players Club, a series of three skill-development challenges offered to minor hockey players. Through repetition and engaging activity, the goal of the Players Club is to improve player skill and creativity on the ice.