Volume 3, Issue  10 - June, 2003  

 "From the Right Wing…"

 

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Anaheim
MIGHTY DUCKS

#21

Dan Bylsma’s Newsletter --- A Feature of West Michigan Hockey Camp, Inc.

www.danbylsma.com

Oh, so close... and yet so far...     

Click on the picture to see whole image.  

For a printer friendly version - click here                                                                                                                                            

     

              

This month's issue contains:

 DAN'S TIP OF THE MONTH   THIS MONTH'S QUESTION   TRUST FUND AUCTION   TIPS FROM HOCKEY CAMP 

 DAN'S HONOR ROLL  COACH'S TIP   THE SAYING OF THE MONTH   DAN TRIP IN THE NHL   DAN & JAY'S BOOKS 

  A WAY TO SUBSCRIBE

 
DAN'S WORD THIS MONTH FOR PLAYERS AND FANS is...

This is as far as we got...

 

The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Playing in the Stanley Cup Finals... in Game Seven no less... was the biggest thrill of my hockey career.  It was bigger then being on a line with Wayne Gretzky, bigger than my first goal, bigger than my second contract... as big as I could have imagined.  I just wish that Walt Disney were still alive so he could have written a happier ending for the Mighty Ducks.  But it wasn't to be.

I thought you might like to hear my analysis of the series.  We dropped the first two in New Jersey because we stunk up the building.  We were flat, we were sloppy, we stood around, we didn't play our game, we didn't get the puck behind their D-men, and we played too much in our end.  But we felt good coming back to Anaheim.  If we had played our best hockey and gotten beat, we would have been apprehensive.  But we though if we could get our game going, get the first goal, and then play good D, we had a chance to even the series at home.  And that's what happened, although it took two overtimes to do it.

At that point, we were feeling pretty good.  Our top two lines hadn't gotten in gear yet and we felt if they got going, and played tight D, we were in the hunt.

I thought we played well in Game Five back in New Jersey.

Game Six in our house was ours from the get go.  We played well and got two quick ones in the first period and didn't look back.  Our top line was flying and we went back to New Jersey thinking if we focused, played our game, did the little things right and got a bounce here and there, we could be lifting the Cup.  It was great to hear the announcer at the Pond say late in Game Six, "The Cup has left the building!!!"

In Game Seven we had a good first period.  I had a good scoring chance - in fact my line had several. But the first bounce went to New Jersey and they scored on a deflection. Then another redirection and that's all she wrote.

Interestingly, it was the little things... the kind of things that I've been telling you to do to play the game better that in my opinion cost us the "W" in Game Seven.  Remember "get it out and get it deep?"  Well, all three NJ goals in Game Seven were scored because we didn't do the simple thing... get it out of our zone.  We had the puck on our stick, but we didn't rim it around or we didn't make sure we got it out.  Consequently, the puck stayed in our end too long and you can't let that happen and expect to win hockey games - at any level.

Also, often we didn't make the easy play.  Coming out of our zone a few times a player would have an easy play dumping it to an open winger or "getting it deep," instead he carries it - too long.  They get a turnover and instead of being on offense, we're not only on defense but we're back on our heels.

It was so very disappointing to lose, but what a privilege and thrill it was to play the series and especially Game 7... what all you players and I dream about from the time we first strap them on - playing for the Stanley Cup.  All the while, no one, not even the most astute sports analyst gave the Duckies a chance to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season.  And then to go on and make the play offs, knock off Detroit in four games, beat the Stars in six, and defeat the Wild in four was an unbelievable accomplishment.  And then we battled the Devils to seven games.  It is the stuff of dreams and story-book fiction.  So most of you (there are some of you to whom this is sent who have lifted the Cup) and I will go back to dreaming and planning and working hard to have the chance to try for it again... and drinking out of it someday, and then write a different story - drama, not fiction.

***

I received over 750 E-mails of congratulations and well wishes.  I've answered as many of them as I've found the time.  If I didn't answer yours, I may get to it yet but I thank all of you for your care, concern, and support.  You've offered your homes to my family in New Jersey and California, made signs, high school friends and neighbors traveled great distances to attend games in their areas, and my family crisscrossed the country to be supportive.  My teammates tease me when a "Dan Bylsma Rocks" sign appears in the stands in New Jersey or St. Louis.  I tell, them, "You get the goals, I get the love."  And it's not fair for them.

To all of you, from the bottom of my heart, "Thank you." 

Dan Bylsma

Go to TOP  DAN'S TIP    HONOR ROLL  COACH'S TIP  SAYING  DAN in the NHL  BOOKS  SUBSCRIBE
MY CHARITABLE TRUST FUND...

 

Jiggy's stick went for $775 and a Ducks season ticket holder won it.  Thanks to all of you who participated.  Next Petr Sykora donated one of his Final Series game-use sticks.  It's autographed, of course.  The bidding will start now and the auction will close June 28 at 6:00 p.m. EST. 

All proceeds will go to my Trust Fund or to IT PAYS (your choice) - either are 501 (c)(3) charities for which you may claim a deduction on your US tax return for the amount over and above the value of a used goalie stick.

Kids, you must have permission from your parents to bid.  Better yet, let your parents bid for you. 

And please, no dealers.

To go to the auction click here.

 
NOTES FROM MY HOCKEY CAMP...

A reminder that we will be having a high school session of our hockey camp.   It will be a mini-camp held from 7-9 p.m. on August 5, 6, and 7 at the Standard Federal Ice Center on Paterson Avenue in Grand Rapids, MI.  The cost will be $175.  It will be a chance for you to have your skating analyzed and to review your technique.  You can sign up on the web site.

 As I've said before, everyone can improve on their skating, and that includes many of the players in the NHL.  That's why NHL teams hire skating instructors (they do - believe it or not).  When your fundamentals are not correct you waste energy, are not as maneuverable, are not as fast, are easier to check, and your muscles work inefficiently (you tire faster).  I can't make you skate like Paul Kariya in three days, but you can make great strides (Get it? Great strides).

                 

Dan Bylsma

DAN’S HONOR ROLL 

I think your academic progress is so very important that I have an academic Honor Roll; I don't have an honor roll for hat tricks and shutouts.  I hope each of you are diligent in your studies and can either raise your GPA by one point, or can attain a 3.5 GPA and be listed here.
 

NAME

AGE

GPA

 SCHOOL

 TEAM

STATE

Ross Hinkle

11

3.67

Wayland Middle School

G.R. Grizzlies PeeWee AA

MI*‡

Shannon Kelsey

14

4.0

Estero High School

Pinch a Penny Womens League

FL‡

Lucas Kelsey

13

3.57

Three Oaks Middle School

Jr. Everblades Bantam A

FL

Cliff Jones

13

3.86

Spring Lake Middle School

Muskegon Chiefs Bantam B3

MI*‡

Marshall Jones

11

4.0

Spring Lake Intermediate

Lakeshore House - Bonners

MI*‡

Brad Christiansen

 11 3.83 White Pines Middle School Norton Shores (Vers. Fab) PeeWee

MI*‡

Winston Jones

9

3.9

Holmes Elementary School

Shoreline Rec League Squirt

MI*‡

Brandan Ryfiak

11

3.8

N. Rockford Middle School

Rockford PeeWee

MI*‡!

Marshall Jones

11

4.0

Spring Lake Intermediate

Lakeshore House - Bonners

MI*‡

Ryan Christiansen

 8 TR Peach Plains Elementary G. H. Plastics Mite In-line

MI‡

Jeremy Hopersberger

 11 4.0 Laingsberg Middle School Lansing Capitals PeeWee A

MI*‡

Andrew Frank

8

3.67

Eagle Lake Elementary

Irish Rover Mite A

MI

Paul Engman

 12 3.72 E. Rockford Middle School Rockford PeeWee

MI*‡

Aaron Alkema

 8 4.0 Kettle Lake Elementary Capital Centre Pride Mite AA

MI*‡

Matt Rosenthal

11

3.75

Chapparel  Elementary

Calababas Flyers PeeWee

CA*‡

Ryan Corgan

 14 4.0 North Muskegon Middle Muskegon Chiefs Bantam B1

MI*‡

Josh Corgan

 10 4.0 North Muskegon Elementary Muskegon Chiefs Squirt AA

MI*‡

Caleb Weiler

 9 3.87 Calvary Christian Academy Hatfield Ice Dogs Squirt B

PA

Harrison Huls

 9

3.87

Blaisdale Montessori School

Ajax Knights A Minor Atoms

ONT

Sammie Baker

10

4.0

Fr. Marquette Middle School

Marquette LitiGators Girls 11 Under

MI*

Josh Weinstein

 10 4.0+ A.P. Terhune Elementary Ice House Avalanche Squirt AA

NJ‡
Kris Johnson 10 4..0 St. Stevens Lutheran Lakeland Squirt Spitfires MI*

Bennett Schneider

13

3.78

Canterbury School

Jr. Everblades Bantam AA

FL

Madison Schneider

9

4.0

Canterbury School

Teco Squirt House

FL

Colton Ritchie

9

4.0

Schola Maxima

Red Wings Squirt House

AL

Dakota Abramowicz

11

4.0

Jane Addams Middle School

Royal Oak Eagles PeeWee A

MI

Matt Weinstein

 12 4.0 Schyler Middle School Ice House Avalanche PeeWee AA

NJ‡

Ben Grace

 9 3.75 Raisinville Ellmentary Monroe Ice Hawks Squirt B

MI*

Jonathan Koslop

 11 4.0 Bonita Middle School Sunrise Ice Sharks Black

FL‡

Andrew Lawrence

11 3.9 Quinton Township School Delaware Jr. Blue Hens PeeWee A

DE‡

David Lawrence

 13 4.0 Quinton Township School Delaware Jr. Blue Hens Bantam AA

DE‡

Reid Munroe

 10 4.0 N. Muskegon Elementary Muskegon Chiefs Squirt AA

MI

Ben Bodman

 13 3.93 Mason Middle School Lansing Senator Bantam B

MI*

Mark Hazel

 13 3.9 Pinewood Middle School W. Michigan Bantam A

MI‡

Tyler Spiering

 12 3.9 Sylvan Christian School EGRAHA Bantam B

MI*‡!

Matt Slowinski

 11 3.79 Tawas City Elementary GSAHA TBF Graphic Blues PeeWee

MI

Bobby Pease

 11 3.92 Austin Prep Valley Jr. Warriors PeeWee AAA

MA

Mitch Hughes

 10 3.9 Stoneybrooke Christian Anaheim Jr. Ducks Squirt A

CA

Marty Jensen

 13 3.75 Anderson Middle School Omaha Bantam B3 - Reds

NE

James Sheff

 10 4.0 Island City Academy Anaheim Jr. Ducks Squirt A

MI*‡

Alex Toppin

 9 3.85 Miliam Upper Elementary Tupelo T-Rex Squirts

MS*‡

Drew Toppin

 12 3.9 Miliam Upper Elementary Tupelo T-Rex PeeWee

MS

Joe Adams

 11 4.0 St. Paul's Lutheran JR. Mighty Ducks PeeWee AA

CA‡

Vinny Valentine

 10 4.0 Three Oaks Elementary Jr. Everblades Squirt AA

FL

Blake Ramos

 11 4.0 Chippewa Middle School Lansing Capitals PeeWee A

MI

Sean Wilson

 10 3.8 Pelican Marsh Elementary Jr. Everblades Squirt AA

FL

Andrew Steghuis

 11 3.5OGI Grandville East Elementary Grandville Ice Dawgs PeeWee

MI*‡

Donald Sund

 9 TR Immanuel St. James Luthn GRAHA Squirt A

MI*

Taylor Olson

 9 4.0 Centre City Elementary Philly Little Flyers Squirt Major A

NJ

Ben Suchin

 11 3.7 Running Springs Elementry Hunting Beach SunDevils PeeWee A

CA

Kris Johnson

 11 3.83 St. Stephen Lutheran Lakeland Spitfires Squirt

MI*

Ross Hinkle

 12 3.71 Wayland Middle School G.R. Grizzles Bantam AA

MI*‡

Ian Lane

 9 4.0 Evangelical Christian School Jr. Everblades Squirt AA

FL

Devin Steele Stankevitz

 9 4.0 Glenview Elementary Long Beach Jr. Ice Dogs Squirt BB

CA

Jeremy Dunbar

 12 4.0 Colerain Middle School Cincinnati (GCYHL) PeeWee B

OH

Ryan Reid

 10 4.0 St. Regis School Southfield Warriors Squirt AA

MI

Alex Reid