Upstream With Walleye Head Coach Nick Vitucci #6
If you'd like to submit a question for Coach Vitucci please fill out our form. Check back to www.toledowalleye.com often to see if Nick answers your question!
Where are some of the former Storm players? – Mike (Erie, MI)
Most of the former Storm players have moved on to other leagues. Chris Blight and Matt Zultek are in Europe, for example. Todd Jackson is playing for the Ontario Reign (ECHL). Scooter has retired. Gerry Burke took a job in Boston and Drew MacIntrye is in the AHL with Milwaukee. Funny story: I opened up a package of hockey cards the other day and the first card I see is Drew MacIntyre in a Vancouver Canuck uniform!
A great web site for checking up on players is www.hockeydb.com. It's a database of every hockey player that has ever played professionally…a great resource for any hockey fan.
Have you toured the construction site for the new arena yet? What do you think? – Kyle Pryor (Fostoria, OH)
I have had the opportunity to be on-site a few times and it is unbelievable. The first place I wanted to see was the locker room. I had offered some guidance on how it should look in the construction planning process and I had seen the schematics on the blueprints, but I was and thrilled to see it how it was coming when I toured the actual site. Our players will love the locker room facilities.
One thing that concerned me when the new arena was announced was how well they would capture the tight confines of the Sports Arena. This has been successfully accomplished. Although there are many more seats in the new arena then in the Sports Arena, I feel that this rink will have the best of both worlds. A new facility for sure, but with the tight feel of the Sports Arena. I'm sure everyone will be as impressed as I was.
What games will you be scouting this year? – Jess (Toledo)
Like last year, I will continue to watch a lot of hockey in preparation for the 2009-10 season. I'll be watching a bunch of minor pro games because there will be loads of players that will become free agents after the season with proven experience at our level. I will continue to scout at NCAA games and major junior hockey in Canada because we recruit from these leagues, too. I've assembled a small scouting staff for different regions and leagues to help me get a handle on as many players as possible.
My 4 year old nephew is starting to play hockey - is there such a thing as too much hockey? Or is it better to play year round to improve his skills? – Cindy (Buffalo, NY)
I'm a big fan of letting kids play all kinds of different sports. I think the more coordination a child can develop, the better off he will be in athletics. If you have to fight with him to go to the rink then perhaps you should back off a bit. Consider baseball, football and soccer in the hockey off-season. But if he loves playing hockey and never has to be forced to go to practice then it's fine to let him play hockey year round.
Ask The Coach
If you'd like to submit a question for Coach Vitucci please fill out our form. Check back to www.toledowalleye.com often to see if Nick answers your question!
