Page 7 - Washington Little Capitals Season Program 2016-17

"And then if college isn?t an option What are the secrets to his success? wanted to keep playing, Halpern
right away there is still an option to He says the most important thing reached out to power skating
continue their development that coaches and scouts are looking for is instructor Wendy Marco. They met
way,? he says. a player?s compete level. ?My in Ashburn before sunrise as well as
marker, even at the NHL level, was for evening sessions at Kettler, and
Today, Halpern is helping to make it
always when a player loses the puck she helped Halpern make his stride
possible for kids to stay in the area how quickly they go and get the puck more efficient and explosive. It
and still get great instruction. Since
back. I use more
retiring from the NHL last season, he colorful words
has been working local players as a
usually, but it?s
skills instructor with ColdRush basically ?who wants
Hockey. At the same time, he spent
to go get the puck
10-14 days a month last season back?? That?s stuff
training the Tampa Bay Lightning?s
that can be taught
top prospects as player development into guys, bred into
coach for the Syracuse Crunch, the
guys, but that still
team?s AHL affiliate. The Lightening remains the biggest
recently announced that he has been
difference between
named assistant coach for the the elite players and
Crunch for the 2016-17 season.
everyone else. Their
Halpern credits his Little Caps ability to compete and
coaches with teaching him how to perform in those tight
relate to younger players. For most competitive battles.?
of his time with the club, Jeff?s
By the time he
coaches were Little Caps founders reached the NHL, he
John Osidach and Bob Siblo, both of
was six feet tall, but
whom recently passed away. He also he hit is growth spurt
played for former Washington
late. ?I think there
Capital Gerry Sampson, who coached are a lot of good
his bantam team. ?I had very good
examples of players
coaching. John Osidach and Bob Siblo that are six foot four
are, to this day, two of the best
when they are 15 and
coaches I ever had.?
the game becomes
He has great memories of his Little easy. I was small added years to his NHL career.
Caps days. ?The biggest memories I growing up so I always had to ?Trying to develop those things, and
had was going into tournaments in compensate in other ways and find not saying ?this is what I?ve been
places like Buffalo and Ontario and ways to succeed.? given,? but saying I?m going to be
overhearing everyone talking how
He says it?s never too late to improve better and set your sight out to do it.
there was a team from Washington There?s always
there and how things that you
that would be the "The Little Caps are providing kids from this can add to your
easy team to beat. skill set.?
We would usually area with every opportunity to succeed. You can
win those What advice does
tournaments and now play locally through U18, still having Halpern have for
people were today?s Little
dumbfounded great hockey and great competition." Caps? Simple: Put
that a team from in the work and
Washington could - Jeff halpern you?ll be
even tie up their rewarded. ?The
own skates.? standard answer
or add to your game. ?One of the
is always have fun,? Halpern says,
He?s still close to his teammates things I take the most pride in during ?but the more work you put in the
from those days. ?Some of my best my career was revamping my skating more fun it will be.?
friends today are teammates from stride when I was 32 or 33 years old,?
playing Little Caps and the hockey he says. After Los Angeles Kings Also, he adds, ?work on your
guys I grew up with,? he says. coach Terry Murray told him that he skating.?
needed to work on his skating if he
It worked for him.
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