All posts by Craig Hartsburg
Let’s celebrate in the Soo
We have been treated to some fantastic play this past season by coach Drew Bannister, his staff and every one of the players that put on the Ontario Hockey League jersey of the Soo Greyhounds. …[read more]
Seeing the big picture
There have been a lot of things that I have really enjoyed about being involved this past year with minor hockey in Sault Ste. Marie. There are a lot of really good people out there, first and foremost. There are great parents, coaches, managers and, especially, great kids! …[read more]
Reaching out to offer help
Well, the coach selection process is done at the AAA hockey level in Sault Ste. Marie. And with that, I am sure there is a lot of anxiety, excitement, disappointment and some nervous people. …[read more]
Baber incident comment
The incident involving Camaryn Baber of the Soo Thunderbirds (who suffered a concussion after a blind-side hit from a Rayside-Balfour Canadians player in a recent Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff game) has once again put a damper on our great game. …[read more]
Half ice for the kids
There is a new development program being issued by Hockey Canada that has had a lot of different reactions. Some like it, some don’t. …[read more]
Focus on skill development
A hot topic throughout the hockey world is skill development. There is no question it is and should be the focus — along with loving the game — for our young players. …[read more]
Soo’s coach selection process
As our minor hockey season in Sault Ste. Marie is getting closer to the end of the 2017-2018 campaign, I would like to thank those who have given so much of their time to help our kids and the game. There have been a lot of good, positive things done by so many volunteers — board members, trainers, assistant coaches, head coaches et al. …[read more]
Why not be a defenseman?
I am obviously being a little biased in this article as I spent pretty much all of my playing days on the back end, except for one year as a 14-year old. …[read more]
The importance of practice
The part of coaching that I really loved the most was practice. It is the time you can have the biggest impact on a team and the players individually. …[read more]
Core values of our great game
EDITOR’S NOTE: This marks the second in what will be on ongoing series of columns written for Hockey News North by retired National Hockey League player and coach Craig Hartsburg. Hartsburg retired from the game in 2016 after an eventful 27-year coaching career that included 19 seasons in the NHL and successful stints in the Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League. As a player, Hartsburg had a world-class career as an all-star defenseman with both the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL and the erstwhile Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He was captain of the Greyhounds for two of his three OHL seasons and was captain of the North Stars for seven of his 10 NHL seasons. …[read more]
New identity for Soo hockey
EDITOR’S NOTE: This marks the debut column of retired National Hockey League player and coach Craig Hartsburg. Hartsburg retired from the game in 2016 after an eventful 27-year coaching career that included 19 seasons in the NHL and successful stints in the Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League. As a player, Hartsburg had a world-class career as an all-star defenseman with both the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL and the erstwhile Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He was captain of the Greyhounds for two of his three OHL seasons and was captain of the North Stars for seven of his 10 NHL seasons. …[read more]