Alright, so let me tell you about what I was up to the other day. It was all about this Dylan Silverstein hockey stuff. My kid, young Jamie, he’s really gotten into hockey lately, and he kept bringing up this Dylan Silverstein fella. Apparently, he saw some clips online or something, you know how kids are.
So, I figured, okay, let’s make practice a bit more interesting. Instead of just the usual drills, I thought we’d try and see if we could break down some of the things Jamie was so excited about, things he thought Silverstein was doing. I’m no pro coach, mind you, just a dad trying to keep his kid active and having a bit of fun.
Hitting the Ice (Well, Sort Of)
We headed down to the local rink. It’s not exactly a palace, but it does the job. First thing, I got Jamie to show me what he was talking about. He was all hyped up, trying to explain these dekes and shots. Kids have such an imagination, it’s great. So, I said, “Okay, let’s try to work on some of that.”
We started with some basic puck control. Jamie was convinced Silverstein had these super quick hands. Honestly, getting those little wrists to move quickly and keep the puck on the stick is a challenge in itself. We spent a good while just doing figure eights around some cones I put out. I tried to emphasize keeping his head up, something I always see the good players do. Not sure if Silverstein is known for that specifically, but it’s good practice anyway, right?
Then we moved on to shooting. Jamie had this idea of a particular kind of shot he thought Silverstein did. It was a bit vague, but we worked on getting a quick release.
- First, we focused on just getting the puck off the stick smoothly.
- Then, trying to do it while moving, even a little bit.
- And finally, trying to hit the net, which, believe me, is harder than it looks for a little guy.
I gotta say, it’s funny. You see these players, whoever they are, Dylan Silverstein or someone else, and they make it look so darn easy. Like the puck is glued to their stick. Then you’re out there, trying to teach the fundamentals, and you realize just how much work goes into every single movement. It’s a real grind.
The Little Things and What I Learned
We didn’t become NHL stars overnight, that’s for sure. There were a lot of whiffs, a few tumbles, and plenty of pucks going absolutely nowhere near the net. But, you know, Jamie was having a blast. He felt like he was trying something ‘pro,’ and that kept him going.
It reminded me a bit of when I was a kid, trying to copy the moves of the players I looked up to. We didn’t have YouTube or anything back then. You just saw something in a game or heard about it, and you’d go out on the pond or the street and try to replicate it from memory. Probably looked ridiculous, but it was fun.
So, yeah, our Dylan Silverstein-inspired practice was pretty good. I don’t know if Jamie will ever play like him, or even if Silverstein is actually doing all the things Jamie thinks he is. But it got him engaged, it got him practicing, and we had a good time. That’s what counts, I reckon. It’s all about just getting out there and doing it. We spent a solid hour, maybe a bit more, just working on stuff. He was tired by the end, but he had a big smile on his face. And honestly, so did I. It’s these little moments, you know?
