player tips

The ‘instant classic’ five overtime NCAA playoff game between North Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth ended with a dramatic goal from UMD’s fourth line. This line hadn’t seen much ice time in overtime, but these players stayed focused and kept their head in the game. And when they got their opportunity, they capitalized.

When your name is called, will you be ready?

Mental toughness is a big part of hockey. And at no time is it more important than tournament time when the season is on the line.

Championship teams are comprised of players who don’t focus on themselves, but instead keep their eye on the big prize and winning a championship for the team.

Both as a player and coach I’ve been a part of teams that have hoisted championship hardware. In each of these years there was a great mix of players who understood their role on the team. And perhaps more importantly, they accepted their role on the team!

Players work extremely hard during the off season at summer hockey schools to prepare for the big moments during the season. The endless hours of practice time during the season also prepares players to be at their peak when the championship is on the line.

The best players know that both will and skill combine to win big games. While it can be easy to lose focus when playing time gets reduced or one line sees more ice than another, it takes a team to win a championship.

This was never more evident than when UMD’s fourth line got put on the ice in a fifth overtime. With the season and a birth to the Frozen Four on the line. These players were locked and loaded and hit the ice with the energy and intensity as if they had been playing a regular shift all a game!

The next time the game is on the line, stay positive and stay focused. Keep your eye on the big prize because when your name is called and the puck is on your stick, you need to be ready to score that big goal!

Thanks for reading and good luck in your end of the season tournaments. We invite you to train with us this summer at one of our summer hockey camps located in 11 states. Click here for dates and locations!

While prep and older players are making commitments on junior and college teams next year, younger players should be making commitments of their own, to their development this spring and summer!

Decisions can be difficult to make, especially when it comes to hockey development and the path to success. The best players make a decision, commit to it, and that is when the work, and progress, really begins! 

Over the past 27 years of running summer hockey schools we have experienced some very interesting trends. There were years when registrations for our spring leagues and summer hockey camps happened so quickly that we were nearly sold out within weeks of opening registrations. We have also experienced years when some of took a ‘wait and see’ approach, such as last summer during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With the development path of hockey players constantly evolving, this season we are back to a more traditional season. Players are setting goals and making commitments early regarding how and where they are going to spend their spring and summer training months.

We are very proud of the fact that training “the CARTER method” has become a tradition for many families and groups of players that refer one another to our spring leagues and summer hockey schools. It’s rewarding to watch registrations come in with recognizable names from previous seasons. It’s exciting to look forward to working with players that we have trained in the past, and continue to help them in their pursuit of hockey excellence.

If you are a serious hockey player and are striving to take your game to the next level, we invite you to participate in both our spring leagues as well as our summer hockey schools located in 11 states during the summer of 2021. 

Our Pro Staff focuses on development and working with each player to evaluate their current strengths, identify areas of improvement, and ultimately help them achieve their development goals. 

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions about your path to success. Hockey is who we are and we look forward to the opportunity to help you develop the skills necessary to achieve your goals. 

For dates, locations and details for our spring leagues click here. More information about our summer hockey camps can be found here. Good luck with the final weeks of your season and we look forward to seeing you at the rink!