It is the intent of this article, to educate and inform, not to lecture. Most of you know the dangers of alcohol use, you have had informational classes at school, your parents have talked to you about it, and if you watch television at all, you have seen numerous televised “spots” aimed at preventing teenage drinking.

Billy Smith is a former New York Islanders’ goaltender who now coaches in the NHL; he was a mentally tough competitor. He says that if you are going to play tough you have to keep control. He says, “I never retaliated. I always initiated. There’s a big difference.” Reminiscing about his 1981-1982 Stanley Cup finals, Billy said, “We (the Islanders) had an understanding not to retaliate and not to fight. In addition, we did not. Even when Tiger Williams ripped the chain right off my neck, I would not fight. The Canucks did. They took the penalties and we scored the goals”.

The best source of energy for a young athlete is carbohydrates. Keep fat and protein amounts low, because they take longer to digest.

Muscle means, “Little Mouse” from the Latin, apparently referring to the appearance of rippling muscles under the skin.

Have you been taking good care of your own goaltending equipment? I hope you have because it is very important to keep it in good shape!

Rest and sleep are markedly different, but both very important to a young athlete. Rest can range from video games, watching TV, and reading.

For a game or practice schedule for 6 p.m., your eating plan for the day should stay simple and consistent.

Water is fine for normal, one-hour practices and games. For longer and higher intensity training, the calories found in sports drinks help replace those used up.

Thirsty? You may already be dehydrated. Thirst is always an adequate indicator of hydration. Some other signs of dehydration include decreased frequency of urination, headache and grouchiness.