player tips

Watching the NHL Playoffs compared to the regular season, it’s very obvious that the players are competing at an entirely different level. The speed and quickness of the game is greater. The intensity is higher. It makes you wonder, how do the best players in the world take an ‘A game’ to a whole new level?

There is a quote about leadership and coaching that says if you can raise the level of effort and performance in those around you, you are officially a leader. When it comes to coaching hockey players, especially elite hockey players, finding a way to connect with each player and understanding how to get the most out of them is a key ingredient in the recipe for success.

But when it comes to finding that next level it begins and ends with the individual player. The great Vince Lombardi once said that if you’ll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives.

When you watch playoff hockey, these players are not settling for anything less than their best. They lay it on the line for every race to the puck, every shot on goal and every pass. The battles in front of the net and in the corners are their own individual cage matches.

When you break down the game and analyze the amazing individual talent level, it might be compared to an engine in a machine. If the engine is built properly – in the case of hockey players, developed and trained properly – and also cared for properly, there will be a time when you can run that engine at the highest RPM’s and push it to maximum performance.

Youth hockey players who spend the time training and working on skills are doing just that, they are preparing themselves – their engine – for the periods of time (the playoffs) when they are going to need to rely on optimizing their performance at the highest level.

As the run for the Stanley Cup continues, it should serve as inspiration to take your own game to the next level, to shift your engine into the next gear. There is great quote about commitment that says you’re either IN or you’re OUT. There is no such thing as life in-between.

We invite you to join us at one of our hockey schools this summer and with our training, find your very own next level!

Thanks for reading and we’ll see you at the rink!

Watching Alexander Ovechkin recently break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal scoring record was history in the making. And epic.

Watching Rory McIlroy battle through years of self-doubt at the Masters, and then agonize through final round double bogeys was again, history in the making. And to watch him finally adorn the green jacket, epic.

During his winning remarks McIlroy turned to his daughter and said:

Never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back, keep working hard, and if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.

Those sage words of advice are also, epic.

We’ve talked in previous articles about the importance of dedication, hard work and perseverance. Whether it’s Ovi or Rory, records and wins are earned far away from the spotlight during summer months training, being the first one at the rink and the last one to leave, and everything inbetween.

We are looking forward to an epic summer training hockey players at locations across 13 states. We invite you to claim a spot in the starting lineup. There is limited space remaining at select locations which you can view by clicking here.

Thanks for reading and this summer, be epic!