This book is about one young athlete's road to the NHL. It is told in two voices. First by Jay Bylsma, the father who flooded the backyard rink, and who encouraged all of his five children to make the most of their talents. The second voice telling the story is Dan Bylsma, the son. A gifted athlete, he chose to leave home in Michigan to play Junior "B" hockey for St. Marys in Ontario. He then took the academic route, graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1992. The next four years Dan, backed by his father and the rest of the family, never gave up on his NHL dream. He played for several minor league teams, attended several NHL camps, and won a contract with the L.A. Kings. Along the way, he, like his father, learned a great deal about hockey and about life. In this book they pass it on.

Dan Bylsma, of the Los Angeles Kings, has achieved his childhood dream of playing in the North American National Ice Hockey League (NHL). It was a dream cultivated on a small homemade ice rink maintained by his father Jay in the backyard of their home.

What does it take to make it in pro hockey? Los Angeles Kings forward Dan Bylsma and his father, Jay, offer a wealth of inside information for young players. Dan Bylsma shares his experiences rising up through the ranks of amateur and professional hockey while giving advice on issues including becoming a team player, knowing the rules, relating to coaches and teammates, and working hard.

What better way to introduce your child to the action-packed world of hockey than through a new series of books aimed at the youngest of hockey fans? Published with the NHL® and the NHLPA, this great series introduces essential early concepts through the fun and entertaining world of hockey. Count players, sticks, and Stanley Cups; explore the colours of the rainbow through team logos and sweaters; look for familiar shapes amongst pucks, scoreboards and nets, and work your way through an alphabet that includes everything, from Arenas to Zambonis®!

Unlike the generations of coaches that have gone before them, today's coaches are expected not only to teach motor skills to young athletes but to do so in an environment that is conducive to the ethical, emotional, social and physical well-being of each one of them. Each of the 15 chapters of this book presents, and then systematically debunks, the most pervasive, persistent and potentially harmful myths in coaching, including such chestnuts as "play by my rules," "winning is the ultimate goal" and "there's no I in 'team.'" Although the information in every chapter is based on current scientific evidence (and there are numerous source notes), each is written in the everyday language of coaches and covers topics that are of particular interest to coaches, parents, athletic administrators, recreation programming specialists--and even the occasional fan.

This book provides a comprehensive plan that helps parents guide their children towards a healthy love of sports. It will show parents, and their kids, how to get involved in triathlon and other "lifestyle" sports that can be pursued for a lifetime.

Positive Sports: Professional athletes and mentoring youth shows the giving side of professional sports and how it leaves a lasting impact on our communities. It talks about the impact of sport--how it benefits youth and challenges at the grassroots level. Featured are examples of individuals inspired by sport, league-driven community programs, and professional sports role models such as--Paul Kariya, Jarome Iginla, Vince Carter, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Lawrence Funderburke, Doug Gilmour, and many more.