repost from: http://www.salmingfloorball.com/blogs/juha-mikkola/telus-cup.aspx

Ontario's Top Midget Players share a serious love for floorball...

The Hamilton Midget AAA's team, which includes the following members of Team Canada's Under-19 Floorball National Team and Team Salming: Joel Inoye, Dennon Koziol, Andrew Radjenovic, Pat Root and Cal Smith, have qualified to play at the National Midget Championships (Telus Cup) in Selkirk, Manitoba April 21-26.

Since 1977, Canada’s National Midget Championship can lay claim to the fact that at least 175 of its graduates have gone on to the NHL. The Cup is an annual competition involving five regional champions declared from inter-branch play-downs with the host club comprising the sixth team in the competition. The six-day championship builds to the TELUS Cup Championship game which is broadcast on The Sports Network (TSN) and Le Reseau des Sports (RDS) Networks.

I caught up with Anthony Herrington, who has coached the five boys at their high school Sherwood Secondary in Hamilton and is also the Head Coach of the Under-19 Floorball National Team.

How do you think being part of the Hockey Canada Skills Academy in Hamilton has helped the boys get to this level?

The HCSA program at Sherwood has given these 5 players extra training time to develop their individual skills.  All of these players have taken the hockey course in grades 9, 10 and 11.  That is over 600 extra hours of skill training over the past 3 years.  It takes more than individual skills to win championships, therefore the team they play for deserves the credit.  It is nice to see the boys get rewarded for their hard work and committment to training over the past few years.
 
Floorball is a huge part of Sherwood's hockey culture -- and a daily activity for Joel, Dennon, Cal, Andrew and Pat. Since they started playing floorball, how have you seen that floorball has improved their hockey skills?

I can honestly say I have seen a huge improvement in all of their hockey stick skills (passing, shooting, stickhandling).  You notice little things like crisper passes, more accurate shots with faster releases, and finally the ability to stickhandle in tight situations.  Eye hand co-ordination is another area that has been developed, as these players can pick pucks out of the air, for tips and rebounds, and even along the boards for defencemen keeping it in at the blueline.  It is amazing to see the positive relationship for skill training that floorball has given them.  Aside from skating, floorball training is by far the best thing to do to improve your skill set. It is also very addicting, as the boys want to play everyday!!
 
The boys have been selected to represent Canada at the U19 World Floorball Championships in May, what type of affect has the experience of being part of the National Team program had on the boys so far? Would you recommend this for other aspiring hockey players?

I think since being selected to the U-19 Team, it has opened up the "world" of Floorball for the boys in Canada.  Prior to this it was just a fun game played in gym class.  Now the boys see that it is played all over the world and at very high levels.  It has also got them connected to other players across the province and the entire country.  They are the first U-19 group to represent Canada at the Worlds, so it is a very special honour.  I think the future of floorball in Canada will grow once they come back from the tournament in May.  Any aspiring hockey player should consider this sport as it is a fun way to improve your skills and if you are serious, represent your country.
 
Most European NHL players -- especially the younger generation -- already play floorball growing up. Household names like Gaborik, Hossa and Sundin are at the top of this list. NHL Players like Heatley, Sakic, MacInnis and Yzerman all played at the Telus Cup before breaking into the NHL. Do you think the Hamilton boys have shot at the NHL and if so, do you think other Canadian kids will play start to play floorball to improve their chances of having a pro hockey career?
 
It is hard to say who will "make it" to the NHL, and it is also difficult to say that floorball will help them get there.  I think every hockey player is always looking for something to help them improve their game and to take it to the next level.  If Floorball does it for these players, or any other player in Canada for that matter, it would be amazing to see.  I do think however, that people will notice these players from Hamilton and they will want to know how they became better hockey players and of course better floorball players.
 
Thanks for your time Anthony!