【體路專欄】我七歲時在美國新澤西州北部的一個小小的溜冰場開始學習滑冰，由業餘的城市隊打到青年隊（AAA級別），在高中時期，加入了美國麻薩諸塞州的泰博學院。畢業後，來到美國新罕布什爾州為聖安塞姆學院男子冰球隊效力四年，並出戰美國國家大學體育協會（NCAA）第三組別的聯賽。在美國的冰球生涯中，很幸運能夠遇上一班不單關心我的冰球發展，更注重個人品德的教練。
自小的冰球經歷讓我對美國冰球文化有著較深刻的感受，去年夏天，與香港冰球訓練學校的學員一起前往波士頓參加夏令營期間的所見所聞，亦對我有很深的觸動。波士頓夏令營的首四日，球員有機會在波士頓大學沃爾特布朗訓練場內，觀賞高水平冰球員示範，之後還參與了Pro Ambitions訓練營，專注戰術訓練和互爭對練。通過這些訓練，球員了解到北美球員比賽以體力及速度為主。事實上，擁有良好的球技不足以成為一名優秀的冰球員，擁有高速度和高強度對抗的能力才可加強優勢，球員有了這些技能和冰球知識，才可以在最高水平的比賽中對抗。整體而言，通過訓練營與北美球員一起切磋球技，確實是大開眼界。
今年夏天，很榮幸再次有機會參與香港冰球訓練學校的海外夏令營，前往瑞典斯德哥爾摩。
透過瑞典冰球協會的合作夥伴關係，我們一行共15名球員（年齡10至15歲）與當地的年輕球員及教練，在瑞典最負盛名的歐洲冰球會之一Djurgården IF Hockey Club參加為期8天的訓練營。在整個訓練營中，球員不僅學到新的球技和對比賽的看法，我們也從瑞典教練身上見識到很多。
瑞典教練非常重視細節，他們會與青訓計劃及國家隊一起合作，以確保球員發展的質素。瑞典的冰球發展模式，以及球會間制定共同目標的緊密關係，是瑞典成為冰球強國之一的重要原因。
而教練教授的深度也是值得我們學習的重要一環。瑞典的教授方法，保持教練的集中和參與度，並同時讓學員明白「為何」及「如何」學會某個特定的技巧。
冰球場外，我們在斯德哥爾摩度過了愉快的時光。小球員有機會學習與室友相處，攜手進行各類活動。印象最深刻的事情之一是我們的三名學員各掉了一顆牙齒，而其中一名更掉了兩顆。幸運的是那些都只是乳齒，並非因冰球打到臉上而掉牙齒。
另一個難忘的時刻是我們到達瑞典後的第一個晚上，當晚約九時，我到房間檢查以確保所有球員準時就寢，當我去到房間時，竟然看到所有球員仍精神地在玩樂。我問他們還未睡覺的原因，他們說：「教練，太陽還在天空呢！」在瑞典的夏天，太陽一整天都掛在天空，球員們認為時間仍然很早。除了在冰場努力訓練，球員彼此之間也有很多趣事，帶來難忘的回憶。
在瑞典夏令營期間，我和楊俊英教練前往了瑞典中部法倫市，觀看瑞典U18、U17男子冰球隊與俱樂部U20隊的表演賽，並與其中一位負責球員發展的教練交流，了解瑞典冰球協會及願景。
該位教練表示，他從上個賽季注意到瑞典男子國家隊需要改進攻球和進入區域進球，隨後他將這個訊息傳遞給所有球會及球隊，並由青年軍開始針對新的訓練方向。這種開放和專注，有助於提升球隊的整體比賽能力，亦是瑞典冰球國家隊的實力認證。
就冰球運動而言，香港仍處在一個發展中的過程，因此在教導更複雜的球賽概念之前，應該集中以技術為基礎的教學，盡可能的向美國和瑞典這樣的冰球強國「取經」，從他們成熟的發展模型中，選擇適合香港球員和冰球文化的部份加以發揚。而美國冰球員的堅毅、及瑞典冰球員對技術細節的專注，是十分值得香港球員學習的。
作者簡介
姜一求，來自美國新澤西洲的一位美藉韓裔守門員及教練。從小於美國學習冰球的姜一求擁有17年冰球經驗，曾效力北新澤西雪崩隊參與AAA青少年冰球賽。他就讀曼徹斯特市的Saint Anselm College，效力學院的男子冰球隊有4年的時間，並曾出戰美國國家大學體育協會的聯賽。
– 入選NE-10聯賽的最佳新秀隊伍及首席隊伍（2010-2011）
– 入選為年度最佳守門員（2010-2011）
– 於NE-10聯賽第二組別中奪得全國冠軍（2010-2011）
– 入選為首席隊伍及年度最佳球員（2011-2012）
– 於NE-10聯賽中奪得全國冠軍及最有價值球員（2011-2012）
– 於專為冰球守門員而設的學校Give’em Nothing School for Goaltenders 中擔任守門員教練
– 於Pro Ambitions Inc.中擔任守門員教練
I first started skating when I was seven years old in a small rink in northern New Jersey in the U.S. I began my playing career for my recreational town team and made my way up to play AAA youth level travel hockey until I went off to Tabor Academy to play prep school (high school) hockey in Massachusetts. After graduating from Tabor I played NCAA Division III hockey in New Hampshire at Saint Anselm College for four years. Throughout my hockey career in the U.S., I was fortunate enough to have been coached by coaches that cared about my development not only as a hockey player but more importantly as an individual.
Having experienced playing hockey in the U.S. system I was excited to go to Boston last summer with our students. They participated in a prep school showcase for four days and the Pro Ambitions Hockey Camp for the remainder of our time there. Our players learned how physical the North American game is played and how quick the pace is. They quickly learned that having skill is one part of being a good hockey player but being able to use those skills with the speed and intensity separates the good from the best. Those who have those skills plus hockey sense are those that compete at the highest level. It was an eye-opening experience for our players to be part of that camp and to play with and against players playing at the top level of hockey in the U.S.
This past summer I had the opportunity to travel to Stockholm, Sweden with HKAIH coach and staffs. With our most recent partnership with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association, we collaborated with one of Sweden’s most prestigious clubs, Djurgården IF Hockey Club, for an eight-day camp with fifteen of our players aged 10-15 years old and their youth players and coaches. Throughout the camp not only did our players learn new skills and a new approach to the game but we also learned a tremendous amount from their coaches.
The Swedes coach with immense detail and care where clubs and coaches from their youth programs all the way up to the national team work together to ensure quality development of their players. This Swedish model of all the regions and those clubs within those areas working with a common goal is a big reason why a small country, such as Sweden, has been one of the world’s powerhouse hockey countries.
Aside from their structure, the depth in which they coach was an important aspect of coaching that we were able to learn from. The coaching method keeps the coaches focused and involved and simultaneously allows the players that you are coaching to understand why and how to do a specific skill or drill.
Outside of the rink and hockey, we had a great time during our stay in Stockholm. It was chance for our players to bond together while rooming with one another and during the various activities we did around the city. Amongst the memories we made in Sweden, one part of the trip I will never forget was when three of our players lost a tooth and one of those players lost two during our time there. Luckily, they didn’t lose their teeth from a puck to the face but they were all baby tooth that were ready to come out. Another memorable moment came on our first night there. I checked up on our players at around 9 in the evening to make sure they were ready to go to sleep and when I went to the room all the kids were wide awake playing around. When I asked them why they weren’t ready for bed they said “but coach the sun is still up!” During the summer in Sweden, the sun stays up for most of the 24 hours of the day so our players thought it was still early. Our players worked hard at the rink and had a lot of fun with one another which made for an unforgettable experience.
Coach Ying and I had the opportunity to travel up north to Falun where we were able to watch Sweden’s U18 and U17 men’s team compete in an exhibition game against U20 club teams. While we were there we spoke to one of the player development coaches who filled us in about the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and their vision. This past season he noted that the Swedish Men’s National team needed to improve on goal scoring and zone entries. This is then passed down to all clubs and teams starting from their youth teams to help develop this part of the game for all Swedish hockey players. This openness and focus to help elevate specific parts of the game is a testament to their strength at the national level.
Hong Kong is still a developing country when it comes to ice hockey so the teaching priority must be skill based before moving onto more complex parts of the game. Therefore, it is imperative that we use profound hockey countries like the U.S. and Sweden and take the parts from their model which suits our players and the culture of Hong Kong. The grittiness and toughness of the U.S. and the attention to skill and technique of the Swedes are all important aspects of the game that Hong Kong players must embrace.
Robert Kang is a Korean goaltender from Glen Rock, New Jersey. He has 17 years of playing experience in the U.S. where he played AAA youth hockey for the North Jersey Avalanche before going to play at Tabor Academy located in Marion, MA which competes in the USHS Prep league. He most recently graduated from Saint Anselm College, located in Manchester, NH. At this institution, Robert played for the men’s ice hockey team during his four years there. Saint Anselm College competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East league as well as in the Northeast-10 Division II league.
– Named to the NE-10 All-Rookie Team and First Team (2010-2011)
– Named Goaltender of the Year (2010-2011)
– Won the NE-10 tournament becoming Division II National champions (2010-2011)
– Named First Team, Goaltender of the Year (2011-2012)
– Won NE-10 championship and named tournament MVP (2011-2012)
– Goaltending instructor at the Give’em Nothing School for Goaltenders (Totowa, NJ)
– Goaltending instructor for Pro Ambitions Inc
文：姜一求（Robert Kang）
譯：Mimi Ho