By John Kurucz

Whether you’re a player, coach, referee, or simply a fan, Hockey Canada’s online Breakaway Store offers a little something for virtually every hockey enthusiast. So why not stock up on your knowledge of this great sport or enhance your wardrobe while enjoying the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship?

Check out the newly offered eight-DVD set entitled Team Canada: Skills of Gold, a comprehensive look at a wide array of fundamental hockey skills from skating and shooting to various coaching techniques.

Featuring more than six hours of footage, each of the eight DVDs covers a crucial aspect of the game: skating, puck control, shooting and scoring, checking, offensive and defensive tactics, team play and off-ice training methods.

Offered in both French and English, Team Canada: Skills of Gold comes complete with guest commentary by former NHL greats Mike Bossy and Craig Simpson.

A large contingent of current NHL luminaries, including Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe, Ken Hitchcock, Ryan Smyth, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Wade Redden, Martin Brodeur and Jarome Iginla, also helps to bring this great educational tool to life.

In addition, the Breakaway Store offers a wealth of resources, in both video and text formats, for coaches looking for tips, techniques and drills.

Any bench boss can benefit from Hockey Canada’s development skills manuals, which are available either in seven different editions or in one all-inclusive text.

With an emphasis on teaching in a positive and informative manner, the development manuals are offered in age-appropriate instalments from beginner levels to midget hockey age brackets. Goaltending manuals are also available.

Coaches looking for informative video manuals can also chose from more than a dozen editions through the Breakaway Store.

Every aspect of the game is covered in these videos: offensive approaches like deking, goal-scoring, shooting, and power play configurations; defensive strategies like breakout and transition patterns, pinning checks, angling and positioning; and detailed instructions for goalies looking to build their skills.

Even referees can benefit from the abundance of materials available through Hockey Canada’s Breakaway Store.

Seventeen resource products are offered for both referees and linesmen, with books and videos available.

In terms of video instruction, for instance, on-ice officials can help hone their skills with editions covering penalty signals, body contact, safety, and proper positioning in all areas of the rink. The 12-video set is offered in individual instalments, or as a complete package.

And of course, let’s not forget the fans.

Diehard Canadian hockey fans can purchase both replica and authentic Team Canada jerseys from the Breakaway Store. Each version is offered in three separate colours: home white, road red, as well Canada’s third jersey, in black.

For more information on prices, products and ordering information, log on to:

http://breakaway.hockeycanada.ca