HOCKEY IS LIFE STAN WALCHUK JR.

CONTRIBUTOR BOOK DESIGN Dylan Walchuk Grace Flack

EDITOR COVER DESIGN Frank Peebles Creative Digital Studios

CO-EDITOR COVER PHOTO IrisTuftin Gary Peterson Photography Published by Hockey is Life Corp. Copyright 2021 Hockey is Life Corp. Text copyright 2021 Stan Walchuk Jr All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN 978-0-9734694 1. Hockey – Training - Life First Printing Printed in

Hockey is Life Corp. Box 758, McBride, BC, Canada V0J 2E0 For more information or to order books email [email protected] Visit www.hockeyislife.net Message From Spring Hockey, Hockey

The Author...... pg 02 Camps, Hockey Academies/ Prep Schools...... pg 119 Say What?...... pg 04 Does Size Matter?...... pg 142 Why Hockey Is Life...... pg 05 Being The Best

The Dream...... pg 07 You Can Be...... pg 150

Go For It!...... pg 11 Tips For Forwards...... pg 160

Understanding Hockey Tips For Defence...... pg 168

Canada...... pg 15 Tryouts...... pg 174

The Future Of Hockey...... pg 17 The CHL Major

Junior Draft...... pg 181 The Cost Of Hockey...... pg 21 Understanding Tips On Buying Junior Hockey...... pg 184 Hockey Gear...... pg 27 CHL Or The Junior

Injuries...... pg 50 A/NCAA Route?...... pg 193

Heroes...... pg 59 U-Sport...... pg 200

Being A Hockey Parent...... pg 65 Understanding Pro Hockey...... pg 207 Being A Hockey Kid...... pg 72 Agents/Advisors...... pg 226 The Difference Between Dryland Training Tips...... pg 236 Girls And Boys...... pg 88

Hockey Nutrition...... pg 240 Are Kids Safe In The

Hands Of Coaches?...... pg 95 Supplements...... pg 248

All About Coaches...... pg 97 Life After Hockey...... pg 258 TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TABLE How To Make Your About The Authors...... pg 283

Coach Happy...... pg 116 Say What? Continued...... pg 284

1 and friends, who were now skating down the There MESSAGE same hockey path with their own sons and daugh- are many ters, asked me hockey FROM THE questions and advice. excellent And then it hit me like a slapshot – these books are the same questions AUTHOR all of us parents were about asking 20 years ago! Should I buy used or strategy, new skates? How much is it really going to cost training, to play hockey? Do I really have a chance at playing pro? Why coaches, hockey doesn’t my kid ever get a chance on the power play? Why is that coach such an idiot? heroes, hockey facts Is summer hockey camp worth it? Are hockey academies worth it? It’s so competitive, how and life stories. But can I get an edge? What food should I be eat- ing? What supplements and when? Is dryland hockey players and training really that important? How important is it that I get drafted in the CHL draft? Should parents need much more. I go Jr. A and the NCAA scholarship route, or through the CHL? Exact- Often, these books ly what is a hockey agent, are about them, not and should I sign with about you – where This book is a guide one? And on and on and you are headed, your on. So many questions, so life in hockey. This for everyone s life in many situations, so many hockey. But ’it could costs and sacrifices, so is the first definitive many decisions. book to help players not exist without the What we believe to be and parents through amazing journey that the most practical hock- life in hockey. ey book for players and was Dylan s life in parents had not yet been The idea for a book ’ written. Until now. This is began partly from the hockey. The journey is the most complete, most desire to remain in the the birth, the spirit, informative book ever life of hockey, and partly written to help players from illusive thoughts, the soul, of this book. and parents. thoughts that often This book is a guide appeared when relatives for everyone’s life in

2 hockey. But it could not exist without the amaz- ing journey that was Dylan’s life in hockey. The journey is the birth, the spirit, the soul, of this book. As a hockey manager, dad, and writer, I am just the vehicle, the tool, that helped create SKATES: the product. I’m the hockey dad of a kid from small town Canada who would eventually play The pair of shoes that can pro hockey in the ECHL, Europe, and Russia/ change your life. Asia. Dylan touched almost every rung on the hockey ladder on his climb to the professional ranks – so many ups and downs and turn- arounds that it is enough to make anyone’s head spin. He was a typical hockey kid, the hero and the goat, buried then revived, stories like cuts etched in ice. That’s why his story is so em- blematic for families all across the continent – because we weren’t any different than most of those families out there heading down snowy roads early in the morning and late at night, trying to have fun and see how far this adven- ture can go. A lot of hockey families go through the leagues and levels that we went through, it’s just that not many have gone through as many as we did. Our route was particularly scenic. Maybe Dylan said it best when I asked him for his input as a contributor. “Dad, I don’t know anyone who has gone through what I have in hockey.” Well, that is two of us. Many of you have also experienced life in the hockey trenches, but many are just beginning the journey. This book covers it all, from Minor Hockey to Junior and Pro. Glad you could join us. And that is the gist of this book. It is not a personal story but everyone’s inside story: what life is like in the trenches as a hockey player and a hockey parent. It has answers to questions, advice for those who want it, and detailed in- formation on how to improve your game. It is a guide to ease the bumpy journey and some help for the constant decisions. It is my sincere wish that you like the book. And just like playing hockey, reading it is fun! PHOTO CREDIT NEYMAN KSENYA/SHUTTERSTOCK

3 SAY WHAT ?

Reviews Coming Soon.....

4 portunity to live life both through our sports heroes Please, lend WHY and with our friends. There me your eyes is genuine friendship be- tween hockey buddies, and read HOCKEY IS sharing the intense high of a great pass or carefully. scoring a great goal, the LIFE gladiator mentality of The title reads going into battle to- gether, celebrating victory ‘Hockey is Life’. It and dealing with adversity. does not say that life is And yet, there is also playing all about hockey. As you will the game with empathy and respect see, this book makes it plain that for others, after all we are warriors on the life is in fact much more than hockey. same ice. But truly, hockey is life.

Just one weekend of hockey games or a tour- “Because when we step on the ice, nament can touch us in many ways and affect our nothing else matters” attitudes and behavior. We can get addicted to, or – Anonymous at least develop a fondness for, the excitement of hockey and the roller coaster ride that is our life within hockey. Life on the road, in the dressing room, and on the ice is a break from the regular, So, what is life? Living life well is about caring the mundane. So many adventures - the practic- and sharing with family and friends. It is energy, es, games, and tournaments, are like packages of good eating habits, being healthy with physical life within a life. We could say the same of other activity. It requires commitment and discipline, sports, that they are equally exciting and unique managing time and money. Life has drama and unto themselves. But witness the game of hockey’s adventure. It can be fun or it can be serious. It is amazing speed, constant split second decisions, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Life is social and dazzling moves, one second it’s requires interaction that pushes our levels of under- the fluid grace of the greatest standing and communication. skaters on earth, and the next Hockey provides all the above. Playing hockey Physical activity is one of the second it’s a great body check. is an opportunity Speed, grace, strength, finesse, greatest gifts of life for yourself strategy, luck, invention-on-the- to live life both or your child. Children and fly, it all happens in a game and through our sports adults have become less active. Less exercise for a child has been in fact hundreds of times in a heroes and with our game. shown to increase that child’s Playing hockey is an op- friends risk of becoming an obese adult, and the physical and mental

5 WHY HOCKEY IS LIFE effects that come with that. Greater physical ac- They are often called the ‘feel good’ chemical. Giv- tivity reduces the risk of conditions like diabetes ing yourself or your child regular physical activity and imbalanced blood pressure. Physical activity through sports is truly giving the gift of life. When releases chemicals in the body called endorphins you sign your child up for minor hockey you enter that trigger positive feelings and help ward off anxi- the most organized, prolific sport in Canada. ety and depression, plus boost productive thinking.

HaHaHa! Why did the hockey team sign a Ghostbuster? He always gets ghouls.

PHOTO CREDIT IGOR MOJZES/ DREAMSTIME.COM

“I learned to skate at 3 years old and joined my first hockey team at 4 years old. Hockey has been my life for as long as I can remember. Thinking back to when I was a kid, I remember how excited I was for Tuesday and Thursday to come around because those were hockey practice nights. It was always fun hanging out in the dressing room with my buddies. It bonded us and definitely made me feel good to be a part of a team. We built a comradery because we would go to battle on the ice together, playing for each other, and sticking up for one another when the time came. Going to minor hockey tournaments were a highlight of childhood. It was always fun and exciting to get away and travel to another city and stay in hotel rooms with teammates. We would spend hours playing mini sticks in the halls until our knees bled, or go down to the hotel pool and ride down the waterslide. The most fun of all though was the fact we would get to play 3-4 games throughout the weekend. Playing hockey as a kid gave us a purpose and it made us feel like we were part of a commu- nity. It kept us active and brought new friendships. But above all that it was fun! My journey through hockey has been a very long road, as you will see, but it has been a great ride! It is my sincere wish that it is for you as well! – Dylan

6 whatever is most entertain- In one ing, most appealing, most THE exciting, most attractive, generation causes that rush of endor- phins even for people we have just watching. Hockey transformed DREAM is doing that not only in Canada but ever more from a widely in the world. Mass appeal works hand nation of in hand with big dollars. kids who Huge audiences in rinks and on television now fuel played with huge operational costs, huge spon- sorship deals, huge player contracts, and dinky toys in the more. The modern age of sport has embraced dirt to a nation of kids hockey. The NHL predicts 2022 income from TV and media deals at just over 1 Billion dollars Cana- glued to screens. dian! So, what many know and love about hockey Once a country of kids who after sup- today is what they see on TV and what is promoted per entertained themselves by walking by the media. That it is as much the romance of the many blocks over crunchy snow to the sport as the reality of the sport– jetting across the country with buddies, multi-million dollar con- local outdoor rink, skates slung over tracts, hot cars, hot dates, the sprawling homes and hockey sticks and shoulders like tramps glamorous life styles that money buys, the immense bundles, we are now a nation of kids and roaring crowd when the hero puts the puck in who entertain themselves with cell the net just at the right moment, attractive heroes phones, tablets, computers and televi- who smile at TV cameras while addressing nations. sion. Now we are the masses, the mil- The message that inevitably sets in is “Ok boys and girls, just strap on those skates, dream hard, and lions, and hockey is played out both on it can all be yours!” the ice and as big business. But some In reality, being a hockey kid or a hockey parent, things remain the same. The fun, and or even a pro player, is not the romance but actu- the dream. To be a pro hockey player. ally living the game on the ice and in the trenches. It means parting with hard earned money for gear, We are a nation of armchair viewers. We demand registration fees, extra training, travel and hotel our hockey entertainment instantly, with a button, rooms, getting up at 6am for practice, driving long and well packaged, and at any time of day or night. miles on the road to games and tournaments, send- Hockey is but one sport in the huge and growing ing young loved ones off to unknown billet homes business of sports entertainment, and as with all big at 15 years of age – all of it brings us back to reality. business where the dollar is the bottom line, we are But we are passionate and faithful to the game entertained and sold what is good for that business: that for kids is so much fun. We keep one eye on the

7 THE DREAM

road, living the reality of playing hockey, and one hockey success. We choked it down. eye on that elusive possibility, becoming a pro play- For better or worse we want the best for our er. In secret or in the open, hockey kids of all ages children – the material wealth and the opportunities relate to the dream, asking themselves – Can I do that we did not have or did not succeed at ourselves. this thing, can I make it, can I become a pro player, Parents can feel certain that their Julie or Johnny is what are my chances? as bright as fresh ice and, with encouragement, they Well, it is a long road. just know they can become what they desire. Some Kids join hockey because parents take them imagine a doctor, a lawyer, but it’s even easier to there. Starting a child on skates is wonderful fun for fantasize a star hockey player because we see it on all. Kids don’t know and don’t care about why mom TV all the time. and dad strapped blades on their feet, it’s just fun And that is as it should be. If you are a hock- sliding across the ice. Why parents say they enroll ey parent who spends a good part of life hanging their child is actually intelligent and genuine – to around hockey rinks chatting with other parents develop good sportsmanship, and players, you have experi- learning to accept victory and enced the many parents who defeat, develop self confidence, Every joy and pain truly believe their little Julie or to respect elders, to become and success and Johnny is going to the top, or physically fit, to develop char- at least has a good chance to go acter, to make friends and have failure that strikes pro. No matter that little Julie or fun. All reasons truly admirable. the child also Johnny just learned to tie skates When Johnny scores his first strikes the parent, or scored only four goals last goal, or takes his first hit, or gets year in PeeWee B hockey. No called offside, it is Ma and Pa sometimes twice as matter that little their budding from the stands yelling decibels hard. little superstar is as average as above all others. Parents live two per cent milk, in their mind, their life vicariously through they have as good a chance at their children. And so they should! We love our getting a piece of the hockey pie as the next kid. children. The parent-child bond is stronger than And why not? We all have to believe in things, blades of steel. Every joy and pain and success and wishing on stars as bright as the shine in our child’s failure that strikes the child also strikes the parent, eyes. Is it acceptable that we had our dreams as chil- sometimes twice as hard. While managing our dren, but now deny a child their own dreams? And local novice level hockey team I found myself in the deny ourselves the pleasure of living through our dressing room, frustrated, pulling skates off after child as they experience their own aspirations and a Prince George team handed us a 14-2 thrashing. accomplishments, successes and failures? Even if the Other parents, also reeling from the beating, pulled stats clearly show that of about every 4,000 players off kid’s skates in silence and avoided eye contact. in minor hockey only about one makes the NHL? Suddenly little five-year-old Johnny, helmet yanked Should we believe? Yes, and no. off his sweaty head, grinning ear to ear, pipes up Ignoring the facts when pursuing our dreams “did we win?!” may be fine when kids are kids, But for some it may The coach and I glanced at each other, both not be sensible to place 20,000 to 50,000 on credit filled with angst until then, now about to burst with cards or credit lines toward hockey programs. laughter. But no parent was laughing. This was a When common sense tells us our passion has be- serious hockey loss, a setback on my kid’s road to come an obsession that can hurt ourselves and our

8 THE DREAM entire family for years to come, it is time to listen to better coaching, peers who can skate faster, pass statistics. better, shoot harder, read the game better. At every Hockey is a very, very long journey, a progression level hockey kids swirl around the funnel trying in stages: learning to skate, joining minor hockey, and hoping a year or two later to fly out of the spout learning the skills as body and mind develop. Pic- and up to the next highest level. All eyes are on that ture hockey as a mob of semi organized kids circling first pot of gold - the CHL draft. Countless hockey joyfully in a great funnel that is minor hockey. Some parents and kids are whispering, imagining, ex- kids slide out the skinny end of the funnel spout pecting, “the draft” and dreaming that they might and land on haloed ground, higher level teams get selected into the WHL, OHL, or QMJHL, youth called ‘AAA’ or select ‘spring’ or ‘summer’ hockey leagues that feed pro hockey, or perhaps, selected by teams that play in elite tournaments. These kids find high-end Junior A teams, anticipating a future with themselves getting access to extra ice time, generally an NCAA scholarship.

PHOTO CREDIT BOY IMAGE/ DARIA KOLOSOVA/ DREAMSTIME.COM

9 THE DREAM

According to Total Sports Management player Time for the good news: people do win the agency, of 22,000 10-year-olds playing minor hock- lottery, and people do make the NHL. And unlike ey in Ontario in 1985, only 132 eventually made it the pure chance of the lottery, the NHL is attained to the OHL or received a scholarship to a Division through at least some factors you can control. 1 school in the NCAA, and of those 132, only seven Look for that silver lining between those dark played in the NHL! statistics. If the dream is that unlikely then obvi- For those of you who have followed the excellent ously it is the process that needs to be enjoyed and hockey of the 60 teams of the CHL, you know that coveted, not the imaginary pot of gold at the end of on average perhaps one player on each team has a nonexistent rainbow. Ernest Hemmingway said, a chance at cracking an NHL lineup. The funnel “It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it narrows considerably with the jump from amateur is the journey that matters in the end.” hockey to what some consider semi-pro, the CHL The rewards can be almost limitless. Hockey (WHL, OHL, QMHL), where they now compete practices and games and travel can be an exciting with players in a five-year age and intimate time for family bracket – 16-20 years of age. and friends. In these days of And again later, when they reduced physical education try to crack the lineup in the in schools, and kids glued to professional leagues like ECHL, “Not every victory cell phones and tablets and AHL, and NHL, where they are shows up on the who knows what, the benefits competing for a spot against scoreboard” of an active lifestyle are more men aged 20 to 35-or-so, who important than ever. The life are the best players within the skills learned in organized 15 years of prime hockey player sports reach far beyond the production. game for both players and Also to bear in mind: play- parents: the importance of ing a game in the NHL does not mean you have being on time, being responsible for readying gear, made a career in the NHL. Far from it. Between budgeting money, learning to respect elders, learn- 1990 and 1999 there were 2,600 names called in the ing the value of good eating habits, learning to be a NHL entry draft. Of those names, only 494 - about team player, learning to lose, learning patience, the 19 per cent - played at least 200 games. joy of sharing both the good and bad with friends, So the writing on the wall is clear: for most, hav- and so much more. These are lessons learned that ing a career in the NHL is like winning the lottery we carry for life. or like writing a bestseller. Hockey really is life.

HaHaHa! Do you know what an enforcer does on a hockey team? Just checking

10 One day hockey is noth- This unit is ing but freedom and fun, BEING A alone with a hockey net in for kids. It is the driveway, street hockey about what with buddies or pond HOCKEY KID hockey at the rink, and is fun and the next day, it is orga- nized. It appears that what is we want to be compet- challenging itive, human nature some might say. Orga- in hockey. nize lines in pond hock- It is about ey—me and Joe and Petey against you and Tanya and Justin keeping your and Ryan. Can’t wait until hockey prac- direction as you go tice, until the first game, until we beat those guys from Valleyville. Okay, being competitive is through life as a young fun too. Welcome Minor Hockey—coaches and hockey parents and all that stuff. player. Yes, youth do need parents and coaches. It is the love Freedom! from parents That is what and the effort is great of adults that about hock- keeps a kid’s ey. Escaping hockey world school and turning. Par- home and off ents that get to the rink you to practic- or street PHOTO CREDIT PHATZ/STOCK.ADOBE.COM es and games, and keep you or driveway. A break from adults and headed in the right direction. It is a challenge. issues and brain clutter. It is great to Kids, don’t miss practice and be there on time, go fly over ice! Catch me if you can! Way harder, even if your legs are burning. Get along faster than last year, last week even, with your teammates, even if you don’t hang and the puck actually goes where I with the nerdy kid sitting beside you. Don’t make shoot it—sort of. Can’t wait to play my trouble and don’t display a selfish attitude: Do it first game! my way—not your way. I need money, get money

72 BEING A HOCKEY KID

may be filled with challenges, but do not think for a minute that it means you cannot be a good person or a great athlete. There can be advantages learning to deal with hard times, such as becom- ing independent, and gaining an appreciation for the benefits that hard work brings. Becoming independent by circumstance can be a driving force in your ability to achieve. I am telling you this, trust me, I know. Just read my biography, Common Man, Uncommon Life. Let’s look at Minor Hockey and being a hockey Russian pond hockey kids. kid in the following age groups: U-7 & U-9, U-13 PHOTO CREDIT ALEXANDR VASILYEV/STOCK.ADOBE.COM (Peewee), U-15 (Bantam), U-18 (Midget). to pay dues, get skates sharpened, new skate laces and stick tape and concession stuff. And my stick MINOR HOCKEY sucks, I need a new stick. It would be nice if all parents were happy and had lots of money for the best gear and loved hockey U-7 & U-9 (3-8) YEARS too. And took kids to see NHL games and said There are not many kids in your age group read- nice things even when you did not play well. And ing this so I will keep it brief. And, at this age you just listened once in a while. But that is not real- don’t get a whole lot of say in hockey matters, or ity. Reality is that life is not fair. Not fair in how any matters. If mom says keep your hand out of people suffer the world over. Not fair in the plant and animal kingdom where you get eaten just be- cause you happened to be standing in the wrong place. The reality is that every young person reading this grows up in different circumstanc- es, some good, some okay, some just plain bad. Many parents have their hands full just being parents, working to provide a living, making ends meet, dealing with their own personal issues. So, you and your situation are unique. There is no one like you. You have your own life to live and your own story to tell, your own challenges, your own joy. That’s life. What also is life is that growing up with all the great things given to you, what others wish they had, does not make you When kids complain about poor fitting gear, a better person or necessarily a better hockey particularly skates, parents need to listen. player. Growing up in a family with more issues Pain = I quit. and more heartache may not be as pleasant, and PHOTO CREDIT POLOLIA/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

73 BEING A HOCKEY KID the cookie jar, you just keep you your hand out of room tidy, offer to clean the table. If you get an the cookie jar. But here are a few thoughts. allowance, tell them you will donate part of that If your parents are like many parents, they will for hockey costs. Who knows, they might be take you skating somewhere, anywhere, at the shocked into submission. You could also talk ages of about 3 to 6 years old. And it should be with your buddies and look on the computer to loads of fun. Like all young children your senses see whom your parents should contact for Minor of the immediate are keen and you are full of Hockey. Tell them there are programs like Jump yourself—the feel of sliding on glass, the fresh Start, Kid Sport, Skate to Great and Hockey smell of ice and snow, the cold on your hands, Helpers, that will help with gear, signing up for feet, nose and ears, the laughter that bubbles hockey and other costs. from within and the joy of parents. Your parents Hockey is a competitive sport with Minor Hock- will likely have you bundled up looking like an ey coaches who have taken training programs. Inuit, warm and toasty. If you like it you can ask Combine this with keen parents and children your parents to take you again and again. If you who begin skating at 3 years old and hockey at are the type of child 4 and what you have who likes to throw is surprisingly ad- things and kick balls vanced hockey skills around, then you will Do not believe that you and skating skills by 5, probably love knock- 6, and 7. One always ing a puck around need the most expensive hears the stories of with a stick. Ask for how many NHL a set of plastic mini gear to be a better hockey players had started sticks and challenge player. In fact, it can be skating and hockey Mom and Dad to get late in life. These NHL down on their knees an asset to spend less players began hockey for some hockey fun money but smart money. somewhere between 8 in the living room. and 12 years old: Rod Tons of fun. Your first Languay, Mike Grier, real hockey stick and Alex Ovechkin, Joe ball or puck are cheap to buy. The hours of fun Mullen, Peter Stastny, Anson Carter, and others. zipping around the driveway, alleyway, and road Do you recognize the names? Some? No? That way(safely!) is paid back in joy and memories is because most of them were 5 or 6 years old 30 many times over. years ago, or more. With today’s kids starting to By the time you are six or seven years old, you skate at 3 and playing hockey at 4 or 5, and with and school friends with the same interests have the good coaches, it is difficult to catch up if a signed up for Minor Hockey. Maybe your parents child joins after about 7 years of age. Best to join are not really interested in signing you up for with the pack at 4 or 5. Minor Hockey, not impressed with your begging Do not believe that you need the most expensive and pleading about getting signed up. Surprise gear to be a better hockey player. In fact, it can them; start taking out the garbage without being be an asset to spend less money but smart mon- asked, make your bed by yourself, keep your ey. As a coach or manager, time and time again,

74 BEING A HOCKEY KID

HaHaHa! A boy told me I skated like a PHOTO CREDIT girl, I told him if he skated a MASTER1305/ little faster he could too! ISTOCK.COM

I would see kids show up with brand new $60 an 8-year-old. When you wear skates, the stick skates (1995 prices). Dylan would show up with should reach up to about your Adam’s apple or an expensive $200 pair of Bauer Supremes or slightly lower. If you choose to become a D-man Tacks, and I could see the parents and kids glance and use a longer stick later, fine, but for kids it is at his skates and I guessed at what they were better to learn with a shorter stick. And, it is far thinking—maybe you can afford those high-end better to trade your used skates in each year than skates but we can’t. WRONG—They were $200 buy skates two sizes too large, expecting that they skates we would buy used for $50, or less. Skates will fit next season. It can ruin your skating and in good shape and already broke in that were skill development. lighter and faster. Our daughter, Aaron, and son, At the rink you will see kids you never expect- Dylan, never saw a new piece of hockey gear ed to see there. Shy kids and kids from varying until maybe 9 years old. Do not feel poorly if you cultural backgrounds. Understand that you are are subject to hand-me-downs and second-hand all kids and share many of the same feelings and gear; use it to your advantage. suffer many of the same fears. It can be difficult Tell your parents if your hockey helmet or skates and embarrassing for some that are naturally shy or any gear is not comfortable. Parents often to show up to a practice, kind of like crawling out think kids are just whining and need to toughen from under a rock, so be kind. If you think you up, but tight skates that hurt and freeze your feet would like to play organized hockey but know are unacceptable and will turn you off the sport that you do not fit in with the hockey group at in a couple sessions. Fake it and cry if you must. school, give it a try anyhow. Minor Hockey is And, it is far better to trade your used skates for everyone, and you might surprise yourself by in each year than buy skates two sizes too large making friends. expecting that they will fit next season. If you have more skill than most, be modest If your parents are not hockey wise, then help about it. You may be great, but there will always them understand that for kids your age to devel- be those that are greater, much greater. It is op good stick handling and shooting skills the wonderful that you love hockey and have seen a hockey stick still needs to be the right length and live NHL game and trade hockey cards with your right weight/flex, not adult sticks cut down for buddies and scored two goals the last game. But

75 BEING A HOCKEY KID there are kids in towns and cities who play with kids two and three years older than them and scored 100 goals last season. Being a braggart or a smarty pants will advertise foolishness.

U-13 (9-12) From the ages of 3 to 8 Minor Hockey is a giant pool where kids swirl around generally having a good time. Often it is obvious which of your teammates have exceptional skill and some may already be attending summer hockey camps and Attending hockey camps and tryouts gets kids high-profile tournaments. But generally, it is a out of their comfort zone, opens minds by giant mixing bowl. At the U-11 (Atom) level, learning to work with others, and builds confi- about age 9 or 10, things start shaking and kids dence for future tryouts. that have risen to higher levels are often placed PHOTO CREDIT DOTSHCOK.COM/DREAMESTIME.COM in higher-level programs called ‘U’, Tier 1, AA, Development, or something similar. The point of this segregation is to allow more nor Hockey. The Atom age level is when eager advanced players to play with others at about youngsters often begin to attend hockey camps the same level so that skills can advance further. and spring and summer hockey. By ten years old Some parents may feel that it is unfair if their many young players show high levels of skill and child has not been selected as an elite player at many are showcased in high-level tournaments the tryouts, “How can Johnny get better if the like Edmonton’s Brick tournament, which draws best kids are all gone from his team?” But it is teams from across North America. Peewee-level not static; if you are on a lower-level team but coaches of select, private, hockey programs are show higher level skills, and have the desire to known to earn in excess of $60,000 per season. compete, the chances are you will be moved up As a young player you may feel you are being to the next level, often in that same calendar year. left behind by not attending these programs. And if not, there is always next year. Countless There is no question that the more you practice numbers of kids who did not make the cut at at high levels the better you will become—up some point in their lives were able to rise to the to a point. Many successful Pro hockey players occasion with future opportunities. emphasize that they were able to maintain their Look at the concept of placing the most talent- love for hockey and life by taking a break after ed children together from another perspective. hockey season in order to enjoy sports like soc- If you, or your child, is an accomplished piano cer, baseball, and lacrosse. The point here is that player, chess player, or accomplished in any field those who have made the highest levels of Junior of endeavor, you would consider the opportunity and Pro hockey have come from many situations to play with those of similar ability very import- and backgrounds. However, by the time you are ant in your development. Peewee age of 11 and not playing at a higher tier, Parents hear comments about highly refined and have not attended hockey camps or played hockey programs that are separate from Mi- on spring teams, you are at a disadvantage when

76 BEING A HOCKEY KID it comes to keeping up with the better players. whose focus was on winning, and the unfair pol- The disadvantage can be mental and political as itics that occur because winning was paramount. well as physical. Hockey in Canada is a grand Excellent. sport with thousands hitting the ice, but at the Kids who have fun in hockey are the first ones higher levels, coaches, WHL scouts, and agents, out the door playing pond hockey, street hockey, commonly network and are often aware of who’s shooting at nets, and having fun trying all types who in the Peewee world. They are aware of of creative moves. This ‘fun’ is actually freedom who has stood out on Tier 1 teams, in high-level without adult direction, allowing you to develop tournaments, and in hockey camps. If you are 11 creatively, which translates later into goals scored, to 14, perhaps living in a smaller community, and assists, puck possession, and great entertainment. suddenly find yourself in a Tier 1 tryout, while If you like Minor Hockey, you will likely love never having played with or against players of pond hockey, so go for it, it’s good for you! Just that level, it can be intimidating to the point that be sure that even though it is only pond hock- you will not perform ey you wear proper to your potential. It gloves, shin pads, happens all the time. elbow pads, a jock, Although you have Although you have elite etc. I am writing this elite skills in the town skills in the town where with less than 70 per- where you come from, you come from, when cent vision in one eye when you jump on the because at 11 years old ice at a Tier 1 tryout it you jump on the ice at a I did not have a face can be unreasonable Tier 1 tryout it can be mask on my helmet. and unfair to expect The minds of youth a great performance. unreasonable and unfair to in their pre-teen All the more reason expect a great performance. years are undergoing to attend some spring growth and hormonal hockey and summer changes that will allow camps during the younger years, if possible. for increased abstract thought—creative thought. Hockey is a competitive sport but the benefit and The Peewee and Bantam years are a time of dis- joy of hockey outlined in the “Hockey is Life” covering self, understanding new concepts and section makes it clear that the benefit and joy of ideas. In hockey this means understanding the hockey goes well beyond competition. Players plays, the details of the game, how to work as a and parents of players in House or Tier 2 Bantam team, and advancing the creative process. Parents and Midget have pretty much given up on hopes in Novice who enjoyed watching their kids zip of becoming pro players or making Junior A or about and whack a puck around with a stick now CHL teams. And guess what, they often tell you see hockey as a well-tuned piece of cooperative that once they gave up on becoming a pro player work with individual creative moments. What or earning a scholarship, they enjoyed house, was once laughter at ice follies is now OOOH’s Tier 2 and 3 years greater than ever before. No and AAAW’s as parents applaud players who more pressure of trying to make it to the next wear magic skates and hold dancing sticks, who level, of dealing with kids, parents, and coaches, deke with ballet-like finesse and score goals.

77 BEING A HOCKEY KID

Attending camps and competing in high level tryouts maximizes development by playing with better hockey players, particularly for those who have not had the opportunity. If you do not find competitive, higher lever experience by the time you are in your teens, the stuff that you show in U-15 or any Tier 1 or Junior hockey tryout will likely not be enough stuff to impress coaches or scouts. Not to mention that you have not thrown your hat into the political arena of who’s who in your age group. credit PHOTO CREDIT ANNA KRIVITSKAIA/DREAMSTIME.COM

As a Peewee age person who loves the game, late bloomer! Bodies and ability change constant- it can be frustrating, even devastating, when ly. As a Peewee or Bantam player, you think that buddies are having growth spurts and now shoot you can predict who will make Junior A or WHL harder, skate faster, reach further, while you are or NCAA, but the long journey truly is a long stuck in your same 4’8” frame. But because you and winding road. It is not a sprint but a mar- love the game you will stay in the game, and you athon. Whoever sticks around to hear the lady know what? Things will work out as they should. sing in Junior A and CHL hockey arenas with You will eventually grow and your skills will thousands watching is very difficult to predict. too, and if not, there are many smaller players Having confidence and believing in yourself is in Junior and pro hockey. Those who matured easier said than done during these puberty years. faster often hold steady sooner while late bloom- Who may make what team can come down to ers continue to grow and improve. Yesterday I a single tryout. The confidence, the belief in was able to get on the ice with Dylan as he just yourself that allows you to show the skill that returned from Moscow, Russia. I have not played you have, can be a deciding factor. As explained with him for a few years. He is 27. And I was earlier, having the experience of playing in some amazed how much harder and more accurate his high-end tournaments, or for an elite spring shot is than when he was 24 or 25. Talk about a team, can be an advantage developmentally,

78 BEING A HOCKEY KID politically, and for confidence. By the time you you get to have the fun without the pressure, and leave U-13 and head up to U15, who’s who in the far less expense, while understanding that hockey provincial arena of best players is well known is not the only great thing in life. And, have time among those coaches coaching the best players. to enjoy other favourite sports like snowboard- If your name is not in their minds or on their ing, lacrosse, soccer, or various creative activi- tongues it can be a disadvantage when you are ties. It is a good time to remind yourself that for at a tryout and doing your best, even if your best 99.9% of young players there is no pot of gold at is as good as everyone else. I truly believe that the end of the hockey rainbow, and that there is kids in this situation must play so well that the a whole world out there in other sports and life coach cannot say ‘no’ and will keep you on over that you can take full advantage of while still hav- someone he expected to keep. So, playing with ing loads of fun playing hockey with friends. and against the best will provide a comfort zone, For both the players and parents of U-15 (Ban- confidence, when stepping on to the ice, and tam), everything jumps to higher levels, includ- hopefully your name has already been tossed in ing the competitive drive of players competing the hat when it is time to pick players for U-16 for places and positioning on teams, the speed teams, etc. If not, remember, there often is a next and skill of growing players, the level of play- time, another chance, and in a variety of ways. making, higher levels of coaching, attention to As you will see, there is more than one way to training and conditioning, financial and time succeed. commitment of parents, and increased number of practices and games. Parents and kids, after U-15 (13/14) having gone through their life in hockey, of- The Bantam years are a ‘coming of age’. Young ten look back at this time with fond memories players at this age are in the process of becoming because for the first time the game itself is fast, adults. Personality, character and behaviour are more exciting, more like pro hockey. There is more distinct as adults begin to emerge from pu- a feeling of electricity in the air, at times a ner- berty with boldness and a zest for life. Youth has vous energy, as players participate in tryouts and an exciting sense of what the more serious life as important games. Just look around and see those an adult will bring. scouts and agents in the stands wearing dark It is a coming of age in hockey as well. An ex- coats, some crested with CHL team logo’s. And, citing time knowing scouts and agents sit in the the CHL draft looming just ahead. stands, and high-end tournaments and selec- Kids are becoming athletes, not just hockey kids tions for U-16 teams are just around the corner. any longer. In later units we will look at being the And, on every one’s mind is the WHL draft for best hockey player you can be, but at this point in 14-15-year-olds. hockey life, some players are beginning to grasp For those playing one step below the elite lev- the notion that there is a difference between what els, there is still some movement up the ladder is a hockey kid and what is a hockey athlete. A during the season. This is a time when exception- young hockey player is basically a kid playing al players from small towns elect to move to larg- hockey. An athlete is someone who truly under- er centres, if they have not already, to play with stands that skill is only part of the equation for players of similar ability and to get ‘noticed’. For success and knows that growing as an athlete and those who remain playing at House or A levels reaching the top of their game is possible only

79 BEING A HOCKEY KID through discipline and following a recipe, a spe- ticing of moves and shooting skills to improve cific recipe best suited to self. This recipe involves mobility and accuracy, and learning about the what to eat, sleeping and rest, training, commit- lives and decisions of past hockey players, will ment to hard work, following a schedule, training give them an edge. And for some, living this life to improve weakness in one’s physical ability, and of dedication is fun! more. It means being an individual. Although Once you gain knowledge, you will have it for you are all for one and one for all as a teammate, the rest of your life; once you improve ability, you although you already do what the other guys are will play a better game; once you focus your work doing with training, you understand the need to effort, your discipline becomes habit and you go your own way with strategy, discipline and will be a better person and athlete. If you want to commitment. improve your status among Junior A and CHL This is a tall order, it is too much fun being just scouts, improve your chances in the CHL draft, a hockey kid—I’m doing fine just the way I am, improve your chances of being chosen for special why change? Well, that is true, and that is why competitions, then begin the transition from a relatively few young hockey players are true hockey kid into an athlete. Trainer Andy O’Brien athletes. Budding athletes know that researching had this to say about Sydney Crosby in a Toron- good diet, engaging in dryland training to im- to Sun article by Carry Castagna, “He was this prove specific body weakness, repetitive prac- bright young kid who recognized at a young age

All successful Junior and Pro players at some point in there teen years had transitioned from just having fun with buddies and hockey, into an athlete, someone who learns how to live healthy, train properly, and think the game. That takes both desire, discipline, and work effort. Some find that commitment fun, and they know that future success in life requires the same elements. If in your personal life you do not have control over much due to circum- stance, just control what you can, meaning again, your work effort and discipline. You do not get to change life on earth. Its tough, always has been. Do you think cave man could have survived without tremendous effort and discipline while hunting and food gathering in all climates and all circumstance? There are countless moments and events in hockey and in life when we need to dig in, try harder. Feel- ing sorry for oneself does not amount to a hill of beans, or a meal of burgersaurus. PHOTO CREDIT JOHN CROUCH/ICON SPORTSWIRE

80 BEING A HOCKEY KID that speed didn’t come naturally to him and that ents, they feel this entitlement as much as you do, his skating and speed were what he needed to demand it, in fact, whenever you may have been work on because that was the direction the game slighted with ice time or anything you rightly was going in. I thought he had tremendous fore- deserve. It only makes sense, you are of the best, sight as a young guy to make that recognition.” one of the chosen ones, after all. For those of you who have grown up being the NEWS BREAK! Everyone gets slammed. As you best, or one of the best on the team, you have advance to new teams, even the best also grown up being privileged or entitled. Do can find themselves as the rookie yourself a favour and erase those feelings of on the bench, surrounded by entitlement. It could older and better players. Even cost you a fu- the best must prove them- ture in high-level selves while getting hockey, it could cost you maybe a shift or two a free education through in a game, and no word hockey, and it is key to your from an angry coach as to hockey survival in the future. why. One day a hero with You have come by entitle- entitlement, the next just ment honestly. Since Novice another fly having to you have been a go-to guy fight for its space on on the team, the wall, while under a scoring the most coach who hardly gives goals, always on you a chance. Welcome to the power play, your future, the real world the over-time of Junior and pro that is hero with the about winning, and crowd cheering money. Can those of your greatness, you entitled, those the cool guy at chosen ones who school all the have not had to girls adore. And work for every inch, the coach’s fa- handle this? Can you vourite; he even pick up your crushed turns to you for heart and go hard no your thoughts. Your ears matter what? Many with a sense ring from all the accolades Do not have it in your head of entitlement cannot cope with and everyone knows you that you are the big fish in being dropped to survival mode will be chosen in the CHL hockey town. It could be that and simply quit or get released draft and likely go pro. You you are a big fish in a small or fade away. don’t wear a crown on your pond, later to find yourself a Entitlement can be recognized head but at times you feel minnow in rough seas. at any level, individuals with like you do. And your par- IMAGE CREDIT DOLIMAC/ lots of skill but a lack of consis- STOCK.ADOBE.COM

81 BEING A HOCKEY KID tent work ethic at both practices and games. So, of those kids, will at some time during these lose entitlement, find discipline and a consistent ages consider attending a hockey academy. The work ethic. Do not buy into the entitlement that many details of academies and the pros and cons your parents think you deserve. Discuss your are discussed in the section on Hockey Camps, desire to behave in a low-key manner. Scouts will, Spring and Summer Hockey, and Hockey Acade- very often, pass over a player with high mainte- mies. The decision to attend an academy, or not, nance parents. They have seen it all, they don’t may be a life-altering decision, for you and for welcome trouble any more than you do. parents. Among the concerns, for many, is the I sat alone in the stands at the wonderful arena cost and the effect on family from having a child of the WHL Spokane Chiefs, an hour before leave home at a young age. Later we will look game time, about to witness Dylan for the first at the ups and downs, but for now you should time as a Chief. He had clawed his way up the be absolutely clear that there are many oppor- hockey ladder to be tunities, including here. The Manager, Academies, that astute bless him, found me parents and kids can alone and joined me Scouts will, very often, take advantage of. in conversation. I said, pass over a player with You may have missed “It surprises me how opportunities but many kids are drafted high maintenance parents. through continued in the Dub draft, what, They have seen it all, they effort in hockey you seventh or eighth will have the chance place? And only a few don t welcome trouble any to prove yourself are still here.” And I ’more than you do. again and again. This added, “Then there’s does not mean that Dylan, who was never you will make the cut drafted at all. Hey, or achieve the level Dylan played with a kid who was drafted, what, of play you dreamed of, but it means you gave it number five over-all, I don’t even know where your best shot. Hockey Academies are, for many, he is now. What’s his name?” Well, the manager an important alternative from Minor Hockey, knew his name very well because the Chiefs had mainstream in many provinces and often benefi- drafted him. The manager said, “I knew as soon cial for youth and the future adults they become, as I talked with his parents that the kid would not but not the only route to future success. Of the 32 make it.” players named to Canada’s National Junior Hock- Go figure, all it took for an experienced manager ey team in 2017, 12 had spent time in hockey is a conversation with the parents to know that academies. Impressive. But then, 20 did not. the parents, and the kid, were bitten with the entitlement bug, and that even as a player with 15-17 exceptional skill he would not cut it. Talk about If Bantam is a coming of age then Midget is the everyone losing because of questionable attitude. proving ground now that you have come of age. Most U-15 and U-18 kids who have spent their Those kids playing House or Tier 2 or 3 U-18 entire career in Minor Hockey, and the parents hockey are winding down their years in Minor

82 BEING A HOCKEY KID

Hockey and having fun doing it. The CHL draft Coaches, and Scouts will be discussed later. For has taken place. Tier 1 players are in the thick now, Midget-age players need to strive to become of things getting a chance to show off their stuff. that true athlete, need to look at that recipe that Those who have not been drafted have the pos- will keep them on top of their game, not just do sibility of getting listed by CHL teams or earning what buddies do in terms of training or eating or tryouts with Junior A or Junior B teams. Be very lifestyle, but what is best for them. aware that many players ecstatic about being Minor Hockey Provincial Branches have varying drafted to the CHL at 15 will not stick in the rules of eligibility. In some instance if you try CHL, and many of those listed later, will. out for your home-town U-18 team and do not If I remember correctly, the year that Dylan make it, you are then free to try out for another joined the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL there U-18 team. Take this opportunity. Coaches are were only two of the seven players who were different from one another as apples are different drafted by Spokane from oranges. They do during his draft year not always agree on still with the team. the value of a player, Dylan was passed over Be very aware that many and they simply do in the WHL draft, and players ecstatic about not all want the same played Tier 2 U-18, type of player. Due to as he was also passed being drafted to the CHL the competitive nature over by the Tier 1 of U-18, 16-year-olds Major Midget coach. at 15 will not stick in the will often not make a Unknown to myself, CHL, and many of those Tier 1 team until they Spokane had ‘listed’ try again at 17. It can him on their 50-play- listed later, will. be discouraging for er protected list. It players who have al- truly can be a long ways been heralded as and winding road. Thank goodness there is more one of the best in the community to be suddenly than one way to take that journey when a ghoul turned away at the next level. But playing Tier 2 blocks the way. or 3 for a year before U-18 can be an advantage. The Midget years hold surprises—who emerg- You may have a limited role and limited ice time es to make it to the CHL, Junior A, or Junior B as a 16-year-old on a Tier 1 team, but develop teams. And who dropped out, leaving hockey your game with tons of ice time while piling up behind or being left behind. And with those assists and goals at the Tier 2 or 3 level. Good for many surprises, hockey buddies, parents, coach- your confidence and good fun too. es, scouts and agents, ask themselves, what Junior A and WHL teams often have the desire to happened to that kid? What happened that the put their claim on coveted players, and at times number one draft pick folded, what happened encourage 16-year-olds to make the jump to that an undrafted kid, barely a blip at CHL draft Junior when, in fact, they would benefit greatly time, is now on the ice, with more first and from another year or two in U-18. Unless you are second line and power play time than those a truly exceptional player assured of a significant who were drafted. The CHL, Junior A, Junior B, role in Junior A or the CHL, having a limited role

83 BEING A HOCKEY KID with limited ice time rather than a major role to be your own first, and the coaches or scouts of on a U-18 team can be extremely discouraging. the Junior team second. This is because, again, Contrary to what those coaches may tell you, pri- coaches, for a variety of reasons, often do not marily practice time, with limited game time, will have an accurate assessment of who you are and often do less for your development than playing what you can do. Having a great camp in your an important role on a Tier 1 Midget team. That own estimation can be reason enough to keep Junior team may look like money, but it is often a trying, even if that particular coach does not greater benefit to continue developing your game recognize your ability or need the talent you have at the U-18 level. Get an honest sense of the to offer. Quality coaches and organizations will situation from both the U-18 and the Junior A often sit down with you and discuss your perfor- team and seek the advice of adults whose hockey mance after the camp, but do not always expect minds you trust. this consideration. As your Midget season is winding down, there At the end of these weekends there may be games will be talk among teammates about spring with made-up ‘teams’ that scrimmage against tryouts with CHL, Junior A, and Junior B teams each other and then a ‘final’ game played with that need to assess prospects for the coming players the coach rewards or expects to invite fall. From the teams’ perspective, these tryouts back to main camp. We attended many hockey provide an opportunity to see how the new talent camps. After his Bantam year Dylan had two they have invited stack up against some of their excellent tryouts where I believed, from a dad’s returning, seasoned players from the previous perspective, he was one of the better players. The season. It helps them decide who will be invited first was with the Junior A Merritt Centennials, back to the main camp late next August or early which, at that time, was a team on the lower September. And you never know, maybe one of rung. At the end of the weekend I was sure he the ‘cannon fodder’ will surprise them. Cannon would be sat down and taken seriously as a fall fodder is my own terminology, what I began to prospect, but no, thank you for coming, see you call the hopefuls who sign up for these tryouts later, out the door, not even playing the final fun of 50 or more youth gathered for the weekend. I game. We left licking our wounds. say ‘cannon fodder’ as most of the hopefuls are Next was a tryout with the BC’s Vernon Vipers, simply bodies signed up for tryouts that Junior a true Junior A powerhouse. Again, I believed teams need to have enough players to showcase he had an outstanding tryout. When he was not the talent that management really wants to see. invited to play in the final game, we were both However, if you go into these tryouts not expect- wholly discouraged, and jealous. There were a ing too much and skate and play as intense as few kids Dylan had played spring hockey with you can, they will be great experiences. In fact, I who were in that final game. One year later, would encourage parents and players to attend a Dylan was eagerly recruited by Viper scout Doug few of these tryouts each year of Bantam/Midget, Black, and as I sat in the coach’s office with the to see if your talent compares favourably with scout while the coach finalized Dylan’s agreement kids already playing on those teams. It will pro- to join the team, I thought, You guys didn’t even vide a sense of a player’s true value, the writing give him a chance to play in your scrimmage on the wall so to speak, whatever that writing is. game last year! To make a long story short, if I But the assessment of your performance needs remember, maybe one or two of the new kids in

84 BEING A HOCKEY KID either tryout racked up the goals and assist totals in their Junior A or CHL careers that Dylan did. It is absolutely incredible how a coach can pass on a player who a year later becomes an impact player on a different team, with a different coach, a coach who was able to identify talent. It is the story of Dylan’s amazing journey in hockey. But it defies logic—that coach of a basement team, that desperately needs talent, passing on a kid who, a year later, plays on Canada’s best Junior A team, scores the game-winning goal at the RBC cup, and earns a full ride NCAA scholarship! The Great effort does not guarantee that you message here is that if you love the game you need advance to higher levels of hockey, but great to ride the waves as long and as far as you can, effort and not quitting does open more doors in or, more accurately, as long as it makes sense. Pro the future, both in hockey and in life. and semi pro players learn to live through hard PHOTO CREDIT MATROSOVV/STOCK.ADOBE.COM times, to get tough. Having a thick skin helps. Many of you, particularly those from smaller towns with House and Tier 2 associations, have in the water to see if they know how to swim. parents who supported you in Minor Hockey and This does not mean parents must necessarily sell have enjoyed the ride, but draw the line when it the farm so junior can attend a $45,000 hockey comes to spring hockey teams or summer camps. school, but you will be in awe and intimidated I’m not wasting money on those camps—you’re by strange kids, and before you get your legs and doing great just where you are. Then, suddenly, mind up to speed it will be too late. You snooze, when all your buddies and kids your age are head- you lose. If you are a talented player who wants to ed off to Junior camps, and you are eager to go make the next level you need to attend high-end too, your parents, also seeing your buddies excited camps and tryouts. Preferably before or at U-13 about Junior camps, and how upset you will be if and on. you do not get to go, finally relent. Along with lifestyle, living habits, and training, Too late. there are some intangibles that can make or break Ok, not necessarily, but probably. Going to these a career in hockey. The teenage years are a time camps and playing with and against kids that are of personal growth and emerging personality, all at a high level will likely be too much for you all the while the game becomes more challeng- if you have not already experienced intense play ing. All you get is a fair chance on an ice surface with high-level players; the game will be too fast that continues to slant against you—players and to keep up, too fast to be in position, passes too goalies get bigger and better, systems become hard to hang on to, and no time to make split more refined, coach’s expectations more demand- second decisions; do I cover that guy or that guy? ing, the play more intense. At the end of the day How close to play the body, do I race in and fore- what do coaches, scouts, agents, and the fans see check or not? in you aside from ability? Passion. It is exception- What did you expect? You don’t throw someone al passion for the game, passion to win, passion

85 BEING A HOCKEY KID to support your teammates in battle, that allows tained is a burning desire for the game through a player to rise above in challenging moments, the trying ups and downs. Only if you played both on and off the ice. How in the world anyone hockey can you know how impossible it is, how can survive non-stop gruelling bus rides, bruised much it hurts, battling for the puck then getting bodies, being bounced around from team to slammed into the boards by a 6’3”, 230-pound team, losing the coaches favour, and yet still come tank. That players like Montreal Canadian 5’9” back for more, if not for a love of the game—pas- Brendan Gallager, Edmonton Oilers 5’8” Kailer sion. If you are sitting there thinking that you are Yamamoto, and many similar others, make their not an overly passionate type person, no worries, living battling hockey giants day in a day out is I am talking on-ice passion, not your off-ice per- nothing short of amazing, impossible without an sonality. There are many quiet, gentle souls who overdose of passion and courage. To truly feel display tremendous on-ice drive and passion. their pain and know their grit you needed to have Common sense might tell us that 15- and played the game. 16-year-old hockey players born with a silver Passion is a point to be made, but how do you spoon in their mouth, who always get more of it? If you know, then bottle it and sell had the best gear and it, and you will make best support with a million. What can never a worry about be said is covet and money, would lack “Don’t aspire to be nurture it. That means passion and grit. But the best on the team, avoiding living habits living in arenas for that take you down the several years with a aspire to be the best wrong path, sap you variety of parents and for the team.” of strength and vitality players puts that the- and put you in emotion- ory to rest. Predicting al predicaments that take who has that eternal fire your mind and desire out is a guess that, over time, of the game. Do not become plays itself out on the ice for all to see. Perhaps it that person who cannot say ‘no’ to drugs and is as much about who is born who, more than it alcohol, that person who follows buddies to bars is about who is born with money, or not. Maybe and parties like a lamb to slaughter, a hockey Pin- some who came up the ladder in more difficult occhio. Life in sports can be demanding and often circumstance want it more—an underdog’s inner stressful. The game itself is an adrenalin rush, the flame fighting for position and glory to prove lifestyle addicting. It demands a clear mind and himself. Maybe. a good heart to make the right decisions, both Pro players will tell you in an instant, and with on the ice and with life. If you open your mouth a smile, the pride they felt playing with amazing to alcohol and drugs, what also rushes in is poor teammates who made it on heart and not skill. behaviour and bad attitude, sleeping less, errat- Players short on ability but long on passion. All ic eating behaviour, and just downright feeling of the ability of the Sydney Crosbys, Alexander poorly. And as you know from the lives of the rich Ovechkins and Connor McDavids does not in and famous, and those around you not so famous, itself explain their success. What they have main- addiction and sadness often follow. Well, you

86 BEING A HOCKEY KID

If you could manufacture passion, bottle it, and sell it, you would make millions. Cherish what you have and protect it, keep it safe with good living habits – eating, sleeping, who you hang out with, and smart choices. PHOTO CREDIT MATROSOVV/ STOCK.ADOBE.COM

might think, all my buddies drink beer, it’s just a who do not see themselves going on—maybe the few pops with the boys, just letting go, blowing off skill level is not there, maybe other interests are steam and having a good time for a night. beginning to take over, maybe it is fun but not Well, no, all the guys don’t do it. And doing it worth the financial or time commitment, these once in a few months is not the same as doing it final years can be the finest years of your hockey every week. Do not blame others for your own life. In that one year of Dylan’s Tier 2, U-18 hock- poor choices. If you look at the past few weeks ey in Kamloops, BC, the common thread between of your life in hockey and in each of those weeks most parents was that they were having the most you drank alcohol, you need to have a serious talk fun ever. The pressure and the extreme travel and with yourself. Being addicted to drugs and poor the high finance was over, the politics that always living habits sneaks up on you. It’s not going to having to win brings to the game was gone. What happen to you, and then somehow it did, caught a relief, now we are having fun! like a louse in a web. Many great athletes with There has been much studied and reported about great passion were ruined with alcohol and drugs. why kids quit hockey in those Midget years, as For many, alcoholism waits until players leave if the Midget years dictate hockey trends in our the game, the game now gone and alcohol takes country and reflect the peril of losing our national over. It is the legitimate selling point of Hockey game. Really, it is just that time of life. Hockey is Academies that generally they provide a healthy not for everyone all the time. You gave it your best and stable environment for youth during the teen shot and now it is time to move on. Just be glad it years. More on poor living habits in the chapter, happened. You have made friends, gathered some ‘The End Game.’ of the greatest memories of your life while being We have focused primarily on the journey on- physically active. Be sure to stay physically active wards and upwards in U-18 hockey. But for those in whatever activities you pursue!

87 1. Be on time for practic- Everyone HOW TO MAKE es, games, and functions. You may not be the first knows one through the door ev- favourite YOUR COACH ery practice, but you do not want to regularly people be the last. Being late they enjoy HAPPY shows a lack of com- mitment and desire to more than be a part of the pro- others. This gram. Eager is good, late includes is bad. coaches. Does 2. Be a willing helper. Whether it is helping to carry sticks or share tape this mean you should or position nets or gather pucks, coaches try and be your coach’s appreciate someone who cares. favourite player? 3. Do not show negative attitudes. This means bad body language like slapping sticks, slam- Some players would not wish to be ming bench gates, cursing, frowning at team- viewed by peers as a ‘teacher’s pet’, mates, sulking when you get ice time reduced someone who plays up to a teacher or or when you get placed with line mates you a coach. But players are like pieces of do not like and a host of other maladies. a puzzle that a coach needs to fit to- How many people with negative attitudes do gether to make the team function at you like to hang around? How many of these its highest level. Making coaches hap- people do you trust to say positive things py, having them trust your behaviour behind your back? How does this behaviour affect the attitudes of teammates? And, it is a and your choices, both on and off the fact that your own performance suffers with ice, will determine how important a a negative attitude. piece you are in that puzzle. You may inadvertently be one of your coach’s 4. Follow instructions. No one’s attitude can be favourite players, and that is fine. Your all good. Most carry a chip on their shoulder value truly depends on your behaviour at one time or another, the question is how and effort as well as your skill. Take it big. If being stubborn or belligerent, or not as a compliment that the coach sees liking a certain coach, translates into not fol- lowing directions, then you are bound to up- you as someone who can set a good set the coach. If you don’t care, then it could example for others. Here are some be smart to get a handle on why you don’t ways to make your coach happy. care. Life is not easy, but hockey can be a

116 HOW TO MAKE YOUR COACH HAPPY

great escape from issues and parts of life that get you down. Having hockey, something to feel good about, is better than nothing. Do not take it out on your coach. Regardless of how much you agree or disagree with coach- es drills or directions, they choose them for a reason and justly expect you to carry out the procedure to your best ability.

5. Do not be lazy. Hockey is hard work, breath- ing hard, sweating, hearts thumping. It’s part of the program and good for you. If you do not put in the effort, for example fore- checking, backchecking, racing to cut off a player or to pick up a pass, you are bringing ‘lazy disease’ into your game, a disease that spreads among players. It’s a disease that of- ten translates into lazy players taking a hook- ing or interference or other penalties because they are not keeping up with the play. Even if you are just learning to skate, everyone can see the effort, or lack or effort, in your play. Seeing a child or a new player on a team with obvious limited ability but with great passion and effort is wonderful to behold.

6. Be a team player. This means managing the puck well and playing in the system. It is nat- urally a great feeling when you score goals, maybe nothing better, but as you go from Tyke to Novice to Peewee and up, it is im- portant for team success that you become a team player, putting the team’s success before personal success. Someone said it like this: It feels good to be appreciated. You do not The puck has two choices, where you want to have to be the perfect person or perfect go with it, and where it needs to go. You must player to be appreciated by your coach. Just become that player that recognizes where be on time, work hard, and be a good listener. the puck needs to go and get it there. Players And, be friendly as possible with everyone who repeatedly get burned by making selfish in the dressing room, not just your buddies. plays like rushing the puck, or dangerous Including the guy above with the red helmet. plays like break-out passes in front of your IMAGE CREDIT WESTAMULT/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

117 HOW TO MAKE YOUR COACH HAPPY

own net, or losing you not so famous, the puck at ei- The game itself is an addiction and sadness ther blue line will often follow. Well, you deservedly earn adrenalin rush, the might think, all my the wrath of the lifestyle alluring, and buddies do it, it’s just coach. letting go, blowing off at times too easy for steam and having a 7. Coaches love play- a player to get caught good time for a night. ers with passion, Well, no, all of the players who play up in the magic, feel guys don’t do it. Do with consistent invincible and make poor not blame others for emotion, because your own poor choic- that is what lifts choices. es. Look at the past individuals and few weeks of your life those around in hockey and if in them to outstand- each of those weeks ing performance. Passion is a point to be you drank alcohol, you need to have a seri- made, but how do you get more of it? If you ous talk with yourself, and if open-minded know, then bottle it and sell it and you will enough, seek assistance. Becoming addicted make a million. What can be said is covet to alcohol or drugs is a tragedy that sneaks and nurture it, help it to grow. That means up on us—it’s not going to happen, we think, avoiding living habits that take you down the and then does. All coaches—Minor Hockey, wrong path, sap you of strength and vitality academies, Junior and pro—expect consis- and put you in emotional predicaments that tent behaviour both on and off the ice. It take your mind out of the game. builds trust. Alcohol and drugs will erode consistent behaviour. Many great hockey 8. Nurture passion with a good lifestyle. Do not players with great passion were ruined with become that person who cannot say ‘no’ to alcohol and drugs. For many, alcoholism drugs and alcohol, that person who follows waits until players leave the game, the game buddies to bars and parties like a lamb to now gone, and the drink entrenched in one’s slaughter. Life in sports can be demanding misfortune. It takes a clear mind to survive and often stressful. The game itself is an life’s pitfalls and failures. Looking to a coach adrenalin rush, the lifestyle alluring, and at for support in difficult times may be perfectly times too easy for a player to get caught up acceptable under the circumstance. Coach- in the magic, feel invincible and make poor es are human and generally understanding choices. If you open your mouth to alco- and often aware of your background. There hol and drugs, what also rushes in is poor are countless stories of coaches that helped behaviour and bad attitude, sleeping less, players in difficult circumstance. Better yet, erratic eating behaviour, and generally feel- be that person who has learned how to say ing poorly. And as you know from the lives ‘no’ to alcohol and drugs, to excess in most of the rich and famous, and those around forms.

118 struggle with the difficulty This unit is in being able to help. BEING THE I am a writer. I like to about the mind, tell stories. I like to share ideas. Some of these ideas about how BEST YOU are from life experi- thinking ences that I have had, CAN BE some from statistics, can improve some from interviews the hockey with those more know- ing than I. I would like player to believe that, due to my that you are. unique collection of expe- riences and studies, I am the Psychological old man on the mountain, wise with aspects are often life and hopefully hockey, so that some of what I have to say is worth knowing. considered more important But oddly enough, considering that I wrote this to success than ability. book, I do not like to give advice. When did I ever listen to the advice my dad had to give? I did Psychologist Richard Koestner, Pro- not want to be my dad. He was old fashioned. He fessor of Psychology at McGill Univer- drank too much and was stuck in his own world. sity states that, “Sport psychologists He did not live in mine. I cannot project expecta- argue that at the elite levels, mental tions onto you. I do not know you—your parents, skills are responsible for between 50 the house you live in, your friends, your school and 90 per cent of the variance in per- life, your interests, your difficulties, your joys. I do know that you like sports and hockey formance during important events or enough to take the time to read this, to listen competitions.” to this old man on the mountain. Be careful This is an important unit because understanding with trusting writers, there are as many kinds of the concepts below could help stabilize emotions, writers as there are people. Some write for love, improve attitude, and improve focus, all of which some for money, some bring you closer to the provides for a more consistent effect. Consistency dark side, some closer to the light. All you know in your game effort is huge. It is what all coaches, about me is that I took the time to write this scouts and agents look for. book about hockey, hundreds of hours’ worth of This unit is also personal. While earning degrees time, to try to help you and parents through a life in Biology/Zoology and Education, the courses in hockey. I believe in this book, and I believe in I studied that related psychology to the physical you. mind were some of the most interesting. It is You need to believe in yourself. Who is going to also personal because as a parent you can see the believe in you if you do not? You need to believe negative effects of your child’s mental errors, yet in what good you can find in this book, what

150 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE

good you can find in life, what good you can find your life, or a lack of love—it might be tough just in hockey life. Walter Gretzky, Wayne’s father, getting in a few good meals each day. expressed it well when he said that because of You are not alone. The fact is we all have issues. hockey, “I have lived a thousand lives, all of the Yes, some are more challenging than others. You places, all of the adventures . . .” might be surprised at some of the difficulties I sat down and talked with Walter Gretzky at a NHL players have overcome to succeed. Former tournament. He wanted to sign the brim of my hockey kids who needed help from neighbors white cowboy hat. I said if you sign it then I can’t and coaches just to put some used skates and wear it, I’ll have to put it aside. He said you better gear together, kids who suffered abuse. Theoren wear it or I won’t sign it. Finally, after a few years, Fleury and Dustin Buyfuglien are two interesting I began to wear it. Then one day while on a trail examples but there are many. Even hockey stars ride, a branch knocked the hat off my head. I who appear to have had it all went though their did not want to stop all the horses so I thought I own hard times. We all do. would get it the next So, what did they morning as I was have in common that coming back this way allowed them to rise again. I did, and when Others might control the above the turmoil, I picked it up off the the hardship? Control ground, I found that reality of your daily life, and determination. a mouse had chewed but in your own mind and Whatever age you are, a great big hole in my there comes a time hat—Walter’s hat! heart you know it is time when you know that What will your jour- to control what you can becoming your own ney through life be? person is the right What stories will you control. thing to do. Others tell? What adven- might control the re- tures? Here are some ality of your daily life, thoughts about being but in your own mind the best that you can be while on your hockey and heart you know it is time to control what journey, from the old man on the mountain, the you can control. You need to let go of the clutter; old man in the bleachers. Advice. Take it, or not. stop being dragged into the mud by the difficul- ties around you that you did not create. Step back TALK IS CHEAP. Everyone is telling you what from emotional baggage, refuse to participate to do—how to play hockey and how to live your in arguments. Because you need to have a clear life: your parents, your teachers, your coach, your mind—and heart—to focus on developing skills friends, even this book. But they have little idea and playing the game. And, living life! what your life is really like. The family problems Hockey can be a release from daily stress, a you have at home, the hassles at school, friend refuge from problems, a comforting place to be. issues, money problems, girlfriend or boyfriend Many teens howl because their parents do not al- issues, overbearing parents, disinterested par- low them more freedom. Do not be one of those ents, how little support you may feel you have in people who fights for freedom then can’t handle

151 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE it when they get it, who are not able to make sen- discipline with scheduling, having hockey gear sible decisions later in life. Start by taking control in the car and ready to go, getting off to school of what you can control, make good decisions without rushing, getting chores done (Do kids now, great practice for when you are in complete still have chores?). Really, the list of what you can control—more or less. take control of in your life is considerable. What can you control? You have some control But that kind of control does not sound like fun, over what you eat, so make the healthy choices you might think. No, it is not, but life is not all best suited to your energetic life. You can con- fun, it is mostly real. And that is another area you trol your sleeping habits, deciding to put screens can take control of, a very important aspect of away at earlier hours and read a book, or chill, your life—understanding that life is not all about then fall asleep so that you get eight (or more) fun. Fun with friends is important, but so is hours of quality sleep. You can control your effort developing interests, hobbies, understanding the with school work which may eventually make or more serious aspects of life like career and saving break your success in life. You can control your money, how to present yourself in public, how

Life is tough, tougher for some than others. You don’t get to change that. What you can do is take control of what you can control – what you eat, when you sleep, who you hang out with, your school work, and screen time. Lots of things if you take some responsibility. Don’t be someone who complains that every one tells you what to do then later in life, when its time to run your own life, you had no practice doing it. PHOTO CREDIT MOTORTION/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

152 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE to treat others. If you repeatedly trade off what follows the criminal as he completes the skate of is important in life for the easy road, for what is shame back to the team bench and the anticipa- fun, for what is lazy, you will likely struggle with tion of the coming wrath of the coach, the scowl- the demands of being an athlete, a student, and ing look, the scathing words about to shower having a fulfilled life. Why? Because life has al- down upon the guilty. And then . . . Nothing. ways been serious. You do not get to change that. What? The coach didn’t say a word?! Next shift the guy is back on the ice. And is he skating with GUILT is an emotion. Along with grief, loneliness extreme anxiety? No, extreme intensity, in fact. and anxiety, it is one of the ‘sad’ emotions. There How did he do it? How did guilt not affect his are several ways to bring on guilt. Often the guilt performance? How does guilt not seem to affect emotion follows directly from the thought that some people as much as others? The bottom line you are responsible for causing harm, responsible is that if he lost focus because of guilt he would for someone else’s misfortune, or took part in have once again let himself, his coach, and his what you may consider improper or illicit activity teammates down, not to mention jeopardize a like smoking, drinking, over eating, lying, steal- career. He knows it and the coach knows it. ing, or violating a morale code. Even thinking Did the guilt just disappear? No. Athletes are of doing the above can trigger guilt, and so can fine examples of dealing with mental stress. One thinking of getting back at someone. It is normal, former pro hockey player said that one of the appropriate, to feel guilt. Just think of all of the most difficult things to deal with in playing in the ways there are to feel guilt in the game of hock- NHL was the incredible pressure, the anxiety, of ey. You made a bad pass, missed a check, skated knowing that every game your job is on the line, too slow, got caught out of positions, the other having to perform well at that extreme level, and team comes back and scores. You get slashed, get I will add, the guilt of knowing when you did not. angry, cross-check the offender, you get the only Guilt, remorse, does not just disappear. You can penalty, and they score, and win the game by one try to bury acts from guilt in your subconscious, goal. Or the coach says, ‘Make sure you cover the many do, but these skeletons can rise again, and guy in front of the net’ and the next shift you get again. Possibly at home, in your bedroom, ad- caught being lax and the guy in front of the net dress what happened. Give it your best thought, scores. your best understanding, and reduce the guilt When penalties get called in NHL games, the by taking the right action. It could be calling a camera always zooms in on the perpetrator skat- teammate and apologizing, or talking with the ing to the sin bin, as if the camera operator wants coach to get more direction on your job on the everyone to witness the guy’s remorse—he who ice. It could be just promising yourself to improve badly let his coach and teammates down—the on a behaviour, to be more aware of a situation. lowered head, mumbling, shaking the head in Making things right and promising yourself to do disbelief, griping to the ref, slamming the stick the right thing in future can reduce guilt. against the rubber floor. Well, you think, it is an Do not make a bad situation worse by exag- important game, that’s what you get for taking an gerating the seriousness of what happened. Be unnecessary penalty in the offensive zone, you reasonable in your assessment of guilt. Everyone idiot. makes mistakes on the ice and in life. You might And then the other team scores. And the camera feel sad in the belief that you have offended

153 Guilt, remorse, does not just disappear. But there are ways of dealing with it that can benefit your life, and life in hockey, immensely. Experienced athletes are often very good at dealing with grief. PHOTO CREDIT RICHVINTAGE/ISTOCK

someone when in fact they gave the event little remorse and other unpleasant consequences. thought at all. Do not exaggerate the event until Seek help from others if poor behaviour feels you talk about it. If you made a glowing error in insurmountable. your game then minimize it by promising your- Thinking of how to get someone back who has self to improve your role on the ice by practising hurt you—revenge—is not an uncommon reac- the skills you need to improve that part of your tion. Understand that thinking about it is one game, then follow the promise through. thing, but acting on it may be vindictive, and al- most always unnecessary. Look at other perspec- THINK ABOUT BEHAVIOURS that got you in tives of what actually happened. Taking the time trouble, especially habitually poor behaviours— to reason things out can save you much more another retaliation penalty from unchecked future guilt and anxiety from retaliation. The act anger, a habit of putting a teammate down, of understanding itself will help alleviate guilt. complaining and whining on the bench or in the The bottom line is that when we step back and dressing room, maybe staying out late again, or take a distant view of life, we can reduce guilt by once again drinking too much. Understanding considering mistakes we have made then prom- yourself really can be the key to living a better ise to not repeat them, and make better future life, and not getting into further trouble. Under- choices. If you want to perform your best in all standing your personality and common frustra- activities in life you must have a clear mind. Ath- tions can go a long way to halting the repetition letes are just people and suffer many of the same of your poor behaviour, and living with the issues—money problems, family issues, sched-

154 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE uling dilemmas, divorce, legal battles, and what- Good doggy, you can do it, now go out there and ever you can imagine. But when it comes time to fetch.” But that will not endure as well as taking focus, to tune in to the zone, a clear mind is the your own mental control of your esteem, build- champ’s mind. But if life dictates that for reasons ing confidence for yourself, the kind based on beyond your control you cannot have a clear mind when the puck drops, just strive to forget Confidence is a powerful force. Many go about everything during that game, and do your through life thinking that confidence is just best. Don’t over-think during the game. That can natural. You may be interested to know that come later. There is nothing you can do about it many of the best public speakers, some the when the game is on. Just do your best. This also most confident people you know, were very shy helps hockey to be what it was back at the start of in their youth. it all—pure fun for you. PHOTO CREDIT KEVIN ABELE/ ICON SPORTSWIRE CONFIDENCE. Confidence can be a powerful force. You just know the shot will go in, that the pass will get through a tangle of legs, I’m defi- nitely going to block the shot, I can do this. Many go through life believing that confidence is just natural, that some are born with truckloads of it while others are born saddled with insecurities. You may be interested to know that some of the best public speakers alive, the most confident adults you know, were the most insecure as chil- dren. What they did was learn how to overcome insecurity, and gain confidence. If you do have confidence, the likelihood of succeeding is vastly improved. Fear kills ability, but confidence kills fear. Over- bearing uncertainty will inhibit your perfor- mance, your ability to shoot, pass, deke, fore- check, and more. Fear keeps shovelling doubt into your mind and with doubt comes sec- ond-guessing yourself, you hesitate, worry that you are doing the wrong thing rather than getting the job done in the second of the moment. It messes with your timing and decision-mak- ing. Some rely on others for confidence, feeding off of positive comments from supportive parents and coach- es: “Good girl . . . Good boy . . .

155 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE truth and authenticity. and assists, your Take responsibility confidence becomes for your confidence Commit practice time to fragile, changing with by focusing on your improve weaknesses, and daily sample sizes that strengths. Give your- don’t reflect the broad self credit for your think of ways to reduce nature of the game. previous successes, situations that force you That can lead to fixat- what you know you ing on uncontrollable are good at. Identify into weaker positions. factors like the bounce these strengths. If Your improvement efforts of the puck—puck your roll is a fourth- luck. Once you get line energy player and will build confidence. some confidence you penalty killer then can use it as a base to take pride in that work from, to contin- skill-set and improve ue to improve. But it those skills. Continuing to improve them will be takes effort. You need to want to put the effort in a boost to your confidence. Identify your weak- to improve and have lasting confidence. nesses in a positive way. And yes, all players have them. Commit practice time to improve weak- MANY ATHLETES HAVE ROUTINE and ritu- nesses, and think of ways to reduce situations als that help build confidence. Routine is com- that force you into weaker positions. Your im- forting, something that works for you. Develop provement efforts will build confidence, mostly some that make sense to you, even though others because they will be authentic. You will get better. might find them strange, or you strange. You During game time do not allow negativity to may find that repeating them on game day gives creep into your mind and shatter confidence. you comfort, and confidence. Routines may be Accept your mistakes as part of the game—be- mental or physical. Here are some examples of cause they are part of the game. Just think, if routines and rituals. there were no mistakes made in a hockey game 1. The night before a game, going over the the score might always be 0-0. Would you want details of the coming game in your mind. to buy tickets to that? You may be in a situation Visualize what you know needs to be done. where the coach just dropped you to the third 2. Thinking about the words of the coach, the line, where you lost your power play time, where things the team needs to focus on. you sit a shift to give the extra forward a shift. 3. Taking your game day nap at a specific time. It might seem a blow but accept that this is the 4. Eating your favorite pre-game meal at a spe- reality of hockey and show the coach you can cific time while listening to music that moti- stay positive and come out with intensity your vates. next opportunity. Get negative and you question 5. At the arena, performing a few favourite light your own ability, your confidence slips, your per- stretches and cardio exercises. formance slides, and your coach and teammates 6. Taping your stick with your personalized have more reason to doubt you. knob design, blade pattern, and colour of If you focus mainly on results, for example goals tape, then leaning it against the wall or on the

156 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE

rack in its ready position. jump ahead past, grab the puck, race forward, 7. Putting on socks and skates left, then right split the D clean then race down the ice by (or right, then left, whatever suits you). Put yourself, just you and the goalie, and you shoot, on your equipment in a way that enhances a and as if the puck has a mind of its own, it sails feeling of readiness. through a hole on the blocker side over the goal- 8. Slipping on headphones before the coach ie’s shoulder. Everyone goes nuts. They should, it does his pre-game talk and getting jacked up is only the second goal you scored all year. with motivating music. AC/DC? ICE? JUS- So now, real life, after the ‘dream,’ you actually TIN BIEBER? THE WHO? (Who gets you get on the ice, and with the face off, the puck your juices flowing?) does squirt behind the opposing centre, a little 9. Being the last person on the ice, or the first. to the left, and you jump ahead and poke it, then 10. Your own stick-handling show during pre- race after it down the ice . . . and you shoot, and game warm up. it actually does go in top corner, blocker side. Se- 11. Visualizing, visualizing, visualizing. Vividly riously, I am telling you this because that is how imagine the moves you have to make in a game. it happened—to me. There was some cheering. I skated back to the bench, sat down, and strange YOU MAY HAVE PICKED UP ON VISUALIZ- tingles crawled through my body, as if I had just ING before anyone told you about it. It is sort of crossed over to the other side then back again, as natural. If you are an optimist, it might look like if the hockey gods felt sorry for me and showed this: you are sitting on the bench, third period. me the way. It was the last goal I ever scored in a The score is 2-0 for the opposing team in a play- game in my life. off game. The crowd is alive, pumped. You are a Visualization is not trying to see into the future. third-line forward, a grinder type, sitting on the It is taking advantage of the power of positive bench, your eyes ping-pong, following the hard thinking and science-based psychology. Dr. rubber disk. Your team scores, the home town David Hamilton specializes in the mind working crowd, the bench, you, everyone is ecstatic. 2-1. with the body. He states that, “Your brain cannot One shift to go and your line will be up. You get tell the difference between something that is real this strange feeling, like a dream but real some- and when you are just imagining it.” How this how, you see it unfold- can help your hock- ing in front of you but ey is that when you know it is your imag- Visualization is not imagine performing ination, and you have specific tasks—for ex- not yet stepped on the just trying to see into ample, a specific deke ice. What you see is the future. It is taking to beat a goalie, win- the face off at centre ning a battle for the ice. You edge forward advantage of the power puck, the speed you with anticipation. The of positive thinking show in a forecheck, puck is dropped, it positioning yourself squirts back behind and science-based for a one timer—the the opposing centre psychology. process of imagining a little to the left, you the task occurs in the

157 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE

HaHaHa! What would the greatest hockey player in the world be called if he had chosen not to play hockey…………..Wayne Regretzky! brain as if you had actually performed the task. lower your value as a teammate and in some situ- Perhaps you have seen alpine skiers or bobsleigh ations keep you from opportunity you may have teams waiting for their turn to push off. Their otherwise had. As well, it can reduce your on-ice bodies are miming the action they anticipate is effectiveness. No one wants a teammate who coming at them in a few moments. They run the cannot control negativity. It gets everyone down. race in their imaginations before they run the Players earn reputations of being “a cancer” race in reality. By doing so, in a very real sense, on the team, and these players find themselves they have already done the task so it has a better outside of the good book for coaches, scouts and chance of becoming a reality. There are so many agents. Many careers have been cut short because things you can visualize. It can also be a confi- of repeated negativity. dence booster knowing you have already prac- Scouts and coaches actually observe a future tised the event in your mind. So, what have you player to determine attitude, both on the ice got to lose? On the bench, in the dressing room, and in public—not only overt frustration, but at home, practise visualizing, be as specific as you poor body language both on the ice and off the can. See it, feel it, do it. ice. Slapping sticks on the ice, shaking heads, slamming gates, shoving opponents after the BEING NEGATIVE does not necessarily mean whistle—all of it displays questionable attitude. you are a negative person. Hockey is an emotion- It is evidence of your inability to focus on what’s al sport—the speed, great moves, slick passes, important and your lack of discipline. Hockey silky saves, goals scored, exhilarating puck seasons are long and challenging and negative battles. That is what makes it so powerful. It is behaviour brings the team down, when what natural that under the emotion of the moment winning teams need is the ability to remain posi- players let fly with verbal abuse and aggressive tive and endure under difficult circumstance. actions. It is hard to imagine hockey without Look around you and if you see 20 people, they heated moments of frustration and anger. I used all have different attitudes, different behaviour. to absolutely lose it when someone tripped me You could say that life is how you look at it, how or slashed me, and the ref did not make the call. you look at a situation and how you deal with it. We all suffer some degree of embarrassment for I realize that individuals are subject to their own moments we did not keep our cool. tendencies toward expressing negativity, or not. Unfortunately, displays of negativity, be it verbal, But we are talking about living with teammates aggressive action, or poor body language, will and coaches and many others in close quarters

158 BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE and trying circumstance, whether we like it or well. not. You do have a choice: to make it better, or The bottom line is that without learning to worse. As a hockey player goes through the years, control outbursts, re-think, re-frame a negative they learn to control negativity, or lose opportu- event, you will have difficulty controlling nega- nity, possibly dropped from teams because of this tivity. And that indicates your belief in yourself, ‘attitude cancer’, or, not accepted by peers. levels of understanding, the desire to be the best So how does one improve, how does one stay on player that you can be, and maybe, if nothing the positive side during rash moments? I believe else, just not wanting to be an ass in front of that part of the solution is rooted in the confi- everyone. dence discussed Let’s take this idea of earlier. When play- living to please others ers have confidence further. Your coach will in themselves, they have definite ideas of are prone to express how to play the game themselves more and his instructions positively, even need to be followed. under negative But if you search the circumstance. But stands and see scouts more to the point, or parents or relatives stick with the idea or friends, and feel the of, “It is how you need to please them, look at it.” How you then please them with see the situation will effort, with intensity in determine how you your game. If your mind express your emo- gets wrapped around tions. This is where the need to make a you have the real pretty play or scoring a choice. Some might goal to please them, you describe this choice will get caught looking as “how you frame IMAGE CREDIT MARK PARISI, OFF THE MARK.COM for the opportunity, get it.” It’s like this: take caught flat footed, and you a bad on-ice situation, like being positioned at will not be pleasing anyone, including yourself. the hash marks in the offensive zone, the centre Admiring yourself in the mirror, for example makes a great pass, you go to one-time the puck being fixated on vanities like stats—goals and as- and miss the net by a few feet. You could say, sists—will often result in the same lack of direc- “For frigging sakes, why did that have to happen! tion in your game. Scoring a goal is a good thing, I hate this stick!” Or, you could say, “Geez, that but getting distracted by looking for that per- was a great chance, just a couple feet over and I sonal moment of satisfaction, while you should would have had it. Next time. Gotta practise that be focused on playing a complete game, is a bad one-timer more.” You choose your emotional thing—bad enough that it becomes a habit and reactions, you choose your thoughts, so choose you get labelled a ‘floater’ or a ‘soft’ player.

159 the bouncing puck: the Scoring goals D-man Joe rips a slap- TIPS FOR per from the blue line; is great fun. winger Brooke steps It must be! FORWARDS in front the puck, it ricochets off her shin Just look pads; a battle ensues for the loose puck in at the huge the corner; winger Pete grins, the squeezes out with the puck but opposing centre hugs, the song Tyler edges him off to the side and dance, when the boards; Tyler lifts the stick and steals the puck and gets off a chip pass to Joe who puck finds the twine. claps a one-timer in the net. Some of these tips are about shoot- When you watch an NHL or even a Junior ing strategy and scoring goals. Mostly hockey game, you get excited watching great goal scorers, but you also see the important they are about what went into creat- role that checking or ‘grinder’ lines have in ing that scoring chance, because when shutting down those super-human goal scor- forwards and defence do their job ers. Most goals are scored after a gutsy flurry there will simply be many more scor- of energy. The game hinges on winning puck ing chances, and many more goals. battles, forcing opponent turnovers, support- ing your teammates if they have the puck, and Coaches constantly assess a player’s value to the protecting the puck when it’s on your stick. team. They want to win. This means assessing When those third- and fourth-line players at your offensive abilities and liabilities, as well as higher levels were Novice, Atom, or Peewee your defensive abilities and liabilities. Keeping a hockey players, they, too, were likely goal-get- puck out of your team’s net is as important at put- ting wonders, prolific kid scorers. As they got ting one in the opponents’ net. It should feel great older, they were competing for positions on when you score a goal. It should also feel fantas- teams with kids as good or better at scoring tic when someone calls you a ‘complete hockey goals, while shooting at much better goal- player,’ a ‘200-foot player’ or a ‘two-way’ forward. ies. They grew and developed, as you need As a hockey player you have already spent hun- to grow and develop, to become complete dreds, if not thousands, of hours practicing drills, two-way players. Being a goal scorer is not, skills, skating, and game strategy. This unit is and will never be, enough. Understanding about tips, tricks, and on-ice presentation that the complete forward’s job will improve your will help give you the edge. If you do not have the chances of future success greatly. Defen- edge, someone else will! sive responsibility is more work, but more THESE TIPS ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER: rewarding. It is always pleasing when your 1. Great offence begins with great defence. Follow friends and coaches acknowledge and respect

160 As you get older the game gets faster and places and goalies get bigger and better. to aim. You need to invent new ways to score. Develop a Don’t wait! Practice new angles, new mental list dekes, varying distances, deception, of the most and greater skating speed while effective ones. shooting, now! Practice PHOTO CREDIT BILDBRYAN/IMAGO/ bad-angle shots ICON SPORTS WIRE that catch goalies by surprise. your valuable You contributions may to the team. So, find this first tip for less D forwards may pressure be the most and some important tip— open space near focus on your defensive the boards and just game as much as offence. forward of the goal line. 2. Young Minor Hockey players- Shoot high from this abrupt develop favourite ways to score: angle and if you don’t catch a deke right and tuck it in on the a break in the top corner you left side, roofing it blocker side, or may deflect the puck off the side whatever. But as the years go by, a time-tested of the goalie and in, or off players fighting move may lose effectiveness. Goalies’ abilities for position in front of the net. This goal-line have improved; the science of goalie coaching shot works best from the off side. Similarly, has improved, plus goaltender gear has im- when you see a pro player shoot from behind proved, and will continue to improve. Do not the net at an impossible angle and the puck get stuck in a rut and fall behind with your accidently rebounds off of a defender’s skate, scoring touch. Soft hands are somewhat nat- or the back of the goalie and in, it is often not ural ability, a gift, but scoring is a combina- an accident at all. It is good vision and aiming tion of soft hands, practice, and outthinking for the deflection. goalies (once you have managed to get into a 3. Archery and puck shooting have something scoring position in the first place). Offensive in common. You are far more accurate if, players need to re-invent themselves, ‘dis- when you shoot, you have focused on the cover’ a variety of ways to score, just like a centre of the spot that you are aiming at, not major league pitcher can’t just throw the same the whole space. In other words, no matter if fastball right down the middle every time. you are a D blasting a slapshot from the point Try a variety of moves and shooting angles or a forward only 10 feet from the net, when

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you glance at the space you are shooting at, places with spaces. Talented goal scorers read be aware that you glance at the centre of the the goalie as they move, and in an instant space you aim for. With practice it is easy and decide where the puck needs to go then put it will improve your accuracy. An empty net it there. Studies have shown that this instant or a shooter tutor is great for practicing tun- reaction to space and time while moving with ing in to the centre of a space. Bear in mind, speed is a mental and physical gift that the you can do this with wide, unwavering eyes best athletes generally have. But while some and open body language that won’t telegraph have it naturally, it can be learned through to the goalie the spot you’re thinking of firing practice. It might feel odd at first, it might be for. embarrassingly bad at first, but the results will 4. It has been proven that when you practice come as you hone the mechanics. shooting on your net at home, or at goal- 6. If you stare at where you are shooting you tell ies, that you will the goalie where the become more puck is going. Practice accurate if you keeping your head up constantly change If you stare at where and glancing at where the distance. For you are not shooting, example, shoot you are shooting you tell as you shoot where from three metres the goalie where the you want to shoot. away, then six Goalies say that it is metres, then five puck is going. Practice not your eyes they see, metres, etc. Repe- keeping your head up and but where the shoot- tition is important ers head is turned but repeating from glancing at where you towards. This is even various distances are not shooting, as you more important when builds accuracy you turn your head to better than repet- shoot where you want to telegraph a pass, then itively shooting shoot. surprise the goalie 10 pucks from the with a shot. It sounds same distance. difficult but it is a 5. Move. Practice worthwhile trick you shooting as you skate without slowing or can improve with practice. Your peripheral vi- stopping. Learn to do this on your off leg sion is your friend. You can focus on the spot as well as your dominant leg; learn to do it where you intend to shoot while maintaining for all the shot varieties (slap, snap, wrist, head and body expressions that do not give backhand). If you slow down or stop, you are away your intent. telegraphing to the goalie that you are about 7. Sometimes the simplest advice is the best ad- to shoot. Keep your feet moving as you cross vice. Team-mates called me Stanley Steamer the front of the net, as it will force the goalie because I often tried really hard, head down to move, which opens the five hole and other and raced ahead. But they were being polite.

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I had the vision of a stump. All I got for my down the close boards. Keep it away from the efforts was repeatedly turning over the puck. opponent who can turn it quickly back your Then one day a local farmer gave me the way. If you have no teammate on the rush, best advice. “Send the puck where it needs to and you have the speed, then dump it in gen- go, not where you want to take it.” He was tly and race to pick up your own dump-in. If right, of course. I was being selfish. I became, you’re tired then dump it deep (on net, if your instantly, a better hockey player. Here is the teammates are changing quickly, or make the thing. The moment your foot hits the ice in opponents chase it if your line-mates are still a game, the very first thing you do is go to far from making their swap) and change lines. where you need to be. The moment the puck It isn’t a golden rule, but hockey is an anaer- is on your stick the automatic thought should obic sport, so there is a guideline that you become Where does it need to go? Then move only have the energy to do two-three dynamic it. It may be that you need to rush the puck things on the ice, whether that’s a hard puck yourself, to make battle in your own end a move in front of or a rush up the ice the net for a scor- for a scoring chance. ing chance, but If a pass is not Once you’ve done 80 or 90 percent available then dump it your two or three of the time the things, get off the ice puck needs to get in (right on net in many for fresh legs or you somewhere more instances) rather than won’t have enough gas efficiently than in the tank to properly you can deliver it lose it in the neutral back-check or jump yourself. It needs into the rush when to move in a hur- zone. Get the puck deep. your team breaks out. ry, and passing, You don’t want to dumping to open leave your team short- ice, or shooting at handed even though the net are all faster than skating. there are six players on the ice. 8. If you find that as you rush up the ice you 9. Fear kills confidence. Without confidence repeatedly get body checked or poke checked you will want to get rid of the puck too soon, and lose the puck as you attempt to deke or when, if you held on for a moment longer, dangle your way around an opponent, then you would find the teammate breaking out you are breaking a golden rule in hockey, and or a safe space to dump the puck, rather than that is Do not turn over the puck. If a pass is commit icing or make a bad pass that ends not available then dump it in (right on net up causing a turnover. Picking the place and in many instances) rather than lose it in the time where the puck needs to go to is partly a neutral zone. Get the puck deep. Make the learned skill and partly natural ability, but in defenders turn around to go get it. If you have either case try to lose the fear that makes for a a winger heading up the off-side, then shoot bad play. It may sound foolish to suggest that the puck to the opposite corner rather than you can pretend confidence while you experi-

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ence stress and fear, but it can be done. or square to your body? Reading the goal- 10. What we love about hockey is that it is real life ie will help you decide the move you make, in real time. It is a game with grit—hard work, the shot you take. If the goalie has backed sweat, real battles, attacks and counter attacks, in prematurely to take away the deke then challenges and overcoming challenges. Shirk- they have opened bigger top corner and side ers and prima donnas are best to avoid it. holes, so you might choose to shoot straight The crowd can tell who is into the game, who on, or move to the side to open up a big five skates hard, battles hard, plays with intensity, hole. If the goalie stays out, then that opens and, thinks with intensity. Yes, thinks with up opportunity for a deke. If the goalie is intensity, thinks eagerly and ahead of the play. square to your body and not the puck, then Let’s call it anticipating the play. You can’t the space your puck sees will be greater than fake it. You are either eager and aware, or not, what your eyes see, and you might take a shot or some stage in between. Example: a player on the long side. If you move across the goal rings the puck around the boards, a teammate front and the goalie anticipates the move and anticipated the move, took off like a shot to leaves the short side exposed too soon, then a where the puck was headed before the sound short-side shot might be the winner. During of the shot, and beat the opposition to it even backyard practice and pond hockey, get though an opposing player was closer. Antic- anyone you can to be a goalie, even if it’s your ipating the play makes you look like a genius. grandpa or your kid sister, so you can practice Not anticipating the play makes you look reading the goalie and taking the right shot. foolish, when you repeatedly chase the guys 12. This point has me baffled. It is so simple and you missed, stick slapping at their ankles and has been so driven into every kid by every shins. It keeps you behind plays and not in the coach that it should be 100 percent a given, action, and out of goal-scoring chances. Days at every level of hockey. And yet, from NHL when you feel under the weather or just not in to Novice, it happens every game. It’s 5 on 5 the mood, it can be tough digging down and hockey as the puck carrier heads up the ice. finding that grit, that reason to care enough The opposing player with the task of stopping to get yourself pumped. Pro players will tell the rushing player anticipates, gets into posi- you that one of the most difficult aspects of tion, keys in on the attacker and fluidly skates staying competitive is digging down deep for backwards. All good. Then, as the puck carrier the strength when you just do not feel like moves laterally, rather than focusing on their it. It may not matter in Novice or Atom but chest and moving laterally with the rusher when you get to Tier 1 U-15 and U-18 and to get in the way of their body, the defensive beyond, anticipation is the signal that tells the player swipes their stick at the rusher—but world—coaches, managers, parents, scouts, it is already too late. Without losing a stride agents—that you are in the zone. Winners are he blows by. Go figure. You can be a small in the zone. player and still effectively check big players by 11. Read the goalie. When you skate toward the simply focusing on the torso rather than the goalie, is he backing up as you come in or puck. By focusing on the torso, the rushing staying still? Is he playing square to the puck player cannot fool you. Eyes, head, shoulders, legs, skates, sticks can all be used by the puck

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carrier to fake you out, but the truth always players have a lower centre of gravity and lies in their chest and tummy. They can never quicker strides and to some extent those are go anywhere without taking their bellybutton an advantage. Tall players learn to bend their with them. Instincts can kick in for a slick knees and lean down to lower their centre of poke check or timing a hit if eyes stay focused gravity. All body types have their advantages on that telltale midsection. Play the torso. and adaptations. 13. Think puck protection. Covet thy puck as if it 14. Attack hard and back-check hard. Do not were a thousand-dollar bill. Keep your body make it easy for an opponent to catch you. It between the puck and the opposing player. is very disappointing to see a player overtaken Practice one hand on the stick with the puck who rushes with the puck while not skating while forcing the opposing player away with at full speed. Rather than turn over the puck your free hand and shoulder (even your in the neutral or defensive zone due to a lack knee). Those 3 on 3 battles with nets in tight, of speed, pass the puck or dump it in strate- so common at hockey camps, are great fun to gically. At least the puck will be deep. You get watch. They reveal who’s who in the world of a good sense of where a player’s mind, heart, puck battles: who has their legs planted firm and skating ability is at when that player at- and strongly apart, who positions the body tacks at full speed but repeatedly dogs it back, to defend and protect the puck while moving uninspired by defensive responsibilities. You forward, and who plays with an aggressive will not win any friends or the coach’s favour stick. All players need to keep legs apart and with poor back-checking. In those situations, use sticks as on-ice support. You do not have if there is a teammate going after the puck to be big to be strong on the puck. Smaller carrier, you head toward the player most like-

Be a two-way player, take pride in preventing goals as much as scoring them. Expect to re- invent yourself with new abilities if you want to keep up with the pack, for example learning to be a more aggressive energy player in U-18 hockey, even though you consider yourself a skill player and may have scored 30 goals as a U-15 player. PHOTO CREDIT SIDOROV STOCK/ STOCK.ADOBE.COM

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ly to receive a pass to block passing routes. Do ers are closing in, do whatever it takes to get it at top speed or you are letting your team- the puck to the net. mates down. 16. When you are a forward defending in your 15. When you rush down the ice with the puck, own end, have it clear in your mind when use gaps as lanes to rush through. Open ice to ‘contain’ an opposing player, or when to equals a green light. A common mistake by play them tight, tie up sticks or grind it out rushing forwards is to skate the puck vigor- on the wall. When killing a penalty, contain- ously straight towards a defending opponent ment may be better than commitment. Avoid then get in too close and get stripped of the committing yourself to a wall battle as you puck. It is as elementary an error as shoot- are already a player down and getting tied up ing the puck right into the goalie’s chest. It outside the defensive box will effectively put happens because your team down by there is a natural two if the puck squirts tendency under out to the opposing pressure to fixate A common mistake by team. Also, it is not on a big obstacle. rushing forwards is to necessarily the best Learn to think past choice to commit to this problem. Do skate the puck vigorously a battle that already things like vary straight towards a has another teammate your speed, keep committed, even if your head up, and defending opponent then you want to get in head for open ice get in too close and get there to help. If they away from the are locked in battle defenders. If you stripped of the puck. along the boards, you are rushing full out can be close, but it’s but slow up just a usually better to keep little, maybe a lot, an active stick and then resume speed, the defender, who is try- dig the puck out of their scrum, then execute ing to calculate the moment to check you, has a quick break out. This is particularly true if to recalculate on the fly. This gives you time you are a smaller or lighter player who is less and space to make a pass or a play. Or, if you likely to win the physical fight. When pressing start out at less than max speed, the defend- an opposing player against the boards, try ers will adjust to where they need to be and forcing a leg between their legs and into the then you turn on the burners and might catch boards to hold them while the puck is being them napping. Or, if you slow down momen- dug out. Try moving bigger players from tarily, particularly after crossing the offensive screening the goalie by holding your stick in blue line, it will give your teammates a chance both hands sideways and shoving at the op- to catch up and create more options for a play. ponent’s backside high on their pants. Careful Just make sure, whatever you do, get a shot not to crosscheck—you can push but you can’t on net or keep possession of the puck. If your strike. If all else fails, simply use your stick teammates are too far behind and the defend- to forcibly lift the opponent’s stick and keep

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it lifted. If you do that by reaching over their when you receive a pass, and it allows you stick or on their body, it can be a holding to be moving into an open position so that a penalty, but if you lift from underneath it is team-mate can hit you with a pass. Always try legal no matter how long you leverage it off to get open to receive a pass once your team- the ice, and renders them almost useless. mate is breaking out. Communicate that you 17. Be sneaky. While sitting on the bench, ob- are open and keep your stick on the ice. Also, serve board battles that occur deep in the it takes energy to get back up to speed if you offensive end, anywhere from the goal line keep stopping or slowing down too much. to the hash marks. What you will notice is that there are players committed to the battle and others playing their proper positions, so that at times there is no one in the direct lane UNDERSTANDING ALL from the battle to the net. Learn these pat- terns (as you advance in hockey, they become THE POSITIONS more prevalent as individual players and team systems become habitual) so when you “At the end of the day hockey players get your chance to be the outside player in a all want to be the best they can be, and board battle and free up the puck, you may to get where they need to be they need be able to take a few strides towards the net, a comprehensive understanding of the catch everyone by surprise, and have a great game. Having forwards understand and scoring chance simply because you anticipat- execute the defensive part of the game, ed the open ice. and defense execute the offensive part 18. Generally, the net front in the offensive zone of the game, is an important avenue for comprehension of their role, and their is a great place to be for screening the goalie, success as team players in the modern picking up rebounds, causing deflections, and game. At times we have defensemen tipping shots. However, if a teammate has the spend time as a forward since in to- puck behind the net and you find yourself in days game the defence jump into the front of the net, it is often wiser to move to offensive game quickly and aggressive- the outside, toward the wall, where you can ly, initiating and supporting offensive still be close enough to the crease to pounce plays. I think all kids should experience on a loose puck, but far enough out of traffic all positions. Offense and defense are to be a viable pass option or decoy for the not just positions, they are mindsets. I puck carrier. When your teammate has the have seen parents get bent out of shape puck and a shot is unlikely, get yourself open because we switched their kid from to receive a pass. When a shot is more likely, defence to forward for a time, or vise and you are in the position to do so, get back versa. Instead, they should be request- to the crease and become that screener and ing the experience!” chaos creator. – Dixon Ward, Vice President, Co Own- 19. Generally speaking, keep your feet moving at er, Okanagan Hockey Academies all times. This makes it harder to be caught

167 games. And dreaming of The Midget the possibility of playing UNDERSTANDING in national championship years (15 games like Junior A’s RBC Cup, the CHL’s up to 18, JUNIOR HOCKEY Memorial Cup, and Ju- depending on nior B’s Keystone Cup, among others. jurisdiction) It is a business now, so are a time of there is an elevated sense of professionalism. Prov- decision to en coaches put their best foot continue —to play forward in order to win, to fill seats, make money, and keep their jobs. Arenas hockey in Junior, or not. are bigger and training facilities advanced. Most Tier 1 and Midget AAA players Attractive team websites keep stats, display high- have their sights set on continuing lights, and often televise games. For most it truly is ‘the show.’ It may not be professional hockey, hockey in a Junior program, while but compared to Minor Hockey it is the big time, many Tier 2 and Tier 3 players are the closest most will ever get to playing pro. having fun with hockey in their final Below are the three main levels of Junior Hockey seasons. in Canada: Tier 1—CHL, Tier 2—Junior A, and Tier 3—Junior B. Players and their parents who are not headed towards Junior hockey often consider those final CHL (CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE) U-18 hockey years the best years. No longer is it The Canadian Hockey League is the largest all about winning. It is about enjoying the game junior hockey league in the world with 60 teams and having fun with friends. There is less travel, in nine provinces and four U.S. states. It is also less expense, and less pressure to earn that spot the junior league that most resembles the NHL on coveted teams. There is more time to expand with the highest number of regular season games life’s horizons: exploring other sports, hobbies, at 72, on average the best talent, the longest road part time jobs, education, personal relationships, trips, the largest attendance, the most profession- and future careers. ally televised games, and a similar scouting and For those still on the competitive track heading draft system as the NHL, where the lowest seed on and up to Junior levels, hockey continues to selects first. be the game of their lives, and they are passionate Its geography is immense, coast to coast, with the about it—the excitement of spring and fall try- WHL covering by far the largest area, including out camps, playing high-level hockey with new B.C. to Manitoba, the Territories, and several teams, making new friends, living in new towns, states. Bus travel out of division can be gruel- the thrill of larger crowds of a few hundred ling at times, for example, Tri Cities in southern to several thousand fans, rabid fans in playoff Washington State to Prince George in northern

184 UNDERSTANDING JUNIOR HOCKEY

B.C. is 1,146 km’s, and Portland in Oregon to Hockey academies often develop 15-year-olds in Brandon in Manitoba is 2,100 km’s. prep divisions who play in the CSSHL (Canadi- The CHL is also the largest feeder system to the an Sport School Hockey League) against other NHL, developing not only Canadian talent but 15-year-old prep divisions. If you are a sought-af- American and European as well. CHL teams are ter player, the objective of academy scouts and limited to two European players per team but team management is to entice you to affiliate with there is no limit on U.S. players. American youth them. They may use discussions, tryouts and in the CHL continues to grow with numbers, in visitations to convince you to sign on the dotted excess of 130 in a given year. Some teams have line. It may be very difficult for a 15-year-old kid had as many as 12 U.S. players on their roster, to make sensible life decisions while under the while others have none. This flood of U.S. players influence of the draft, and knowing the WHL to the Canadian Hockey League is a great con- is the most direct route to pro hockey. Parents, cern to the NCAA coaches, and at times, college system as agents, need to assist it has thinned out with these life-altering available U.S. talent, The CHL is also the choices. however, there is largest feeder system to The CHL draft is risky also a contingent of business for team Canadian players to the NHL, developing not management. Who the American college only Canadian talent but the player is in terms system, so it goes both of ability and maturity ways. American and European at 15 or 16 is not the Players generally find as well. person they will be at a place on a CHL 18 or 19. The WHL team at age 17 or 18. drafts players at the Exceptional 16-year- age 15. The OHL and olds may also find themselves a place on the team the QMJHL draft at the age of 16. Sixteen makes that listed them. There are even provisions for es- perfect sense as the player has had one more year pecially promising 15-year-olds to play a handful to develop physically and mentally. On Midget of games at the CHL level. teams 16-year-olds play with and against bigger But should you, on the younger end of the scale, and stronger 17-year-olds, which gives scouts a move up to Junior from Midget hockey, or should chance to see how they measure up in battles, in you continue to play Midget for another year of speed, with grit. It gives smaller players, who may two? At 16, regardless of your talent level, you have been passed over due to size, the opportuni- may find yourself mostly on the bench during ty to prove they can compete at the next level, or games for both CHL and Junior A teams. I have slower players a chance to show they have other witnessed parents and kids reduced to tears attributes. as kids who went with the Junior option at 16 If given a choice, whether you choose to go the recieved only a small fraction of the ice time they CHL route or NCAA route is a very important would have received on their Midget team. There decision, life altering for sure, for a few reasons are developmental tradeoffs to consider. that will be discussed in the next chapter. There

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2019 CHL Memorial Cup Champions, Quebec’s Rouyn- Noranda Huskies. If the size of the support staff means anything, then the CHL must be top of the Junior Hockey pyramid!

are many details to consider, for example, once provinces except PEI and Newfoundland. you play a game in the WHL, you lose eligibility, There is a great variation in talent levels from lose scholarship possibilities, and can no lon- province to province. ger play NCAA. It is not a question to be taken B.C.’s Junior A program is considered to be the lightly as the decision will not only affect your strongest of these divisions with over 100 play- hockey future but also your educational future, ers committed to NCAA scholarships in a given and thus your future life. Do not rush in. Explore year, while some provinces have few, if any. NHL all options. As a young, aspiring player you are Central Scouting, an organization that rates an individual with your own goals, your own future talent, shows nearly as many players in body size, ability, and developmental rate. If you B.C. on their ranking list from Junior A as from are a sought-after player, the objective of scouts the WHL. Canadian RBC Cup/Centennial Cup and team management is to entice you with Champions have come from all corners of Can- discussions, tryouts and visitations. It is import- ada, but B.C. teams have been RBC/Centennial ant to choose the correct one for your unique life champs eight times since its inception in 1996 situation. (plus three runners-up) while no other province has mustered more than four wins. JUNIOR A (CJHL CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY Having said this, at the time of this writing there LEAGUE) are no B.C. teams ranked in the 2019-20 Top 10 While the CHL may choose to work with Hockey of Canadian Junior A teams. Much can change Canada, Junior A is considered amateur hockey from year to year. and operates directly under the regulations of Junior A is considered amateur hockey, which Hockey Canada. Junior A is the highest level of allows players to remain NCAA eligible. There is hockey one can play in Canada in anticipation no stipend or wage paid to players, but they do of an NCAA scholarship. Junior A exists in all often get billets and some equipment paid for.

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Often the sticks and assorted gear are donated as the faster route to the NHL. by a specific company, but also often, the sticks Many kids end up playing Junior A simply may not be of top quality, so parents still end up because they did not get listed by a CHL team. paying a few hundred dollars each for a player’s But many—more than 375 players—had careers favourite stick, and usually they want a couple on in the NHL who were never drafted in the CHL hand. draft, including impact players like Geoff Court- Some teams pay for skates or a percentage of the nall, Curtis Joseph, Steve Thomas, Steve Duch- skate price. Similar to the CHL, players usually esne, Dan Boyle, Brian Rafalski, Borje Salming, finish Tier 1 Midget and join Junior A teams at Joe Mullen, Dino Ciccarelli, Adam Oates, Peter 17 or 18 years of age. In the 2016-17 season there Stastny, MartIn St. Louis, and more. were 263 Junior A graduates playing NCAA Consider that in the CHL you will be kicked out Division 1 from the BCHL alone. The obvious of the nest to try and survive in pro hockey at 19 question is why are there so many NCAA Div. 1 or 20, but with the NCAA route you have a few commitments from B.C. when there are so many more years to develop—bigger, faster, smarter— Junior A leagues across the country? It’s not a and attempt to jump into pro at 24 or so. conspiracy. Those NCAA colleges that have pro- No matter how you look at it, relatively few make spective Canadian and even U.S. talent coming a lifetime career at hockey. Both routes offer up through the ranks will often recommend the educational possibilities and both routes might BCJHL as they consider it a particularly high be the best choice depending on several factors. level of Junior A hockey. There are significant differences that need con- As a generalization one could say that the CJHL’s sideration. Junior A hockey is a Tier 2 to the CHL’s Tier 1, because the CHL teams are simply stronger. This JUNIOR B is generally true as top talent that is selected in Junior B is considered Tier 3 Junior hockey. the first few rounds of the CHL draft often com- There are more than 35 Junior B hockey leagues mit to that team. Elite players recognize the CHL in Canada, also considered amateur hockey and

BC’s Vernon Vipers/Lakers – 6 times Junior A National Champions

187 UNDERSTANDING JUNIOR HOCKEY operating under the direction of Hockey Can- to an NCAA scholarship. They just love playing ada like its Junior A counterpart. They are, for hockey and do not want to hang up the skates for the most part, called Junior B teams, but some a year or two more. If a Junior team is close to leagues leave off the B and simply call themselves home, has a respectable coach, offers assistance a ‘Junior’ hockey league, for example, the Prai- with gear, billeting and education, then it could rie Junior Hockey League in Saskatchewan and be more fun and less politics playing Junior B. the PEI Junior Hockey league in Prince Edward In the year that Dylan played for the exceptional Island. Nelson Leafs of B.C.’s KJHL, the Kootenay Junior Quebec calls their Junior B level teams Junior Hockey League, he was AP’ed (became an affiliat- AA. Various geographical zones have their own ed layer) for a few games with the Junior A Trail championship cup including the Coupe Dodge Smoke Eaters where, being the call-up, he was Cup in Quebec, the Don Johnson Cup in the At- relegated to the fourth line. Dylan said that he lantic Provinces, the Sutherland Cup of Southern really looked forward to his experiences in Trail, Ontario, the Carson but after the first game Cup of Ottawa Dis- he explained that the trict, and the Keystone first line of Nelson’s Cup of the western It is important to avoid Junior B team was far provinces including generalizations about more skilled than the northern Ontario. fourth line of Trail’s As with all leagues hockey leagues and Junior A team, so why there is variation individual teams because play on a grinder line in team and league when you are a skill strength, but similar the talent level on some player? Since he often to Junior A hockey, played on the first line the Junior B system Junior B teams equates with Nelson, it made in B.C. continues to that of some Junior A little sense, in his be strong, with B.C. mind, to make the trip teams bringing home teams. to Trail to play dimin- the Keystone Cup of ished minutes on the Western Canada, at fourth line. the time of this writing, for eight of the past 12 A perception exists that Junior B kids are not years. offered NCAA scholarships, despite eligibility. Junior B hockey teams are often the pride of Although this is generally true, the year Dylan mid-sized towns and generally do not require the played Junior B, there were two B.C. players that travel of a Junior A team. were offered full ride NCAA 1 scholarships at the It is important to avoid generalizations about season’s end. hockey leagues and individual teams because the Many NHL players played some Junior B hockey, talent level on some Junior B teams equates that including Mark Letestu, Joe Nieuwendyk, Kyle of some Junior A teams. Turris, Darren Helm, Scott Stevens and both Sometimes the writing is on the wall and players Jordie and Jamie Benn. just know they are not headed to a CHL team or Junior B offers a very legitimate route to Junior A

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2019 Keystone Cup Junior B National Champions, Thunder Bay Northern Hawks.

and even the CHL, particularly for good 16- and he led all players, aged 16 through 20, in playoff 17-year-old players who have been passed over points. He went on to receive a full-ride NCAA by Midget Tier 1 teams. Another year or two of scholarship, play in the WHL, and play pro development, or simply proving that the coach hockey. THANK YOU, JUNIOR B, THE NELSON of the team that passed you over had it wrong, LEAFS, AND COACH SIMON WHEELDON! is all it takes for some kids to become impact players on future Tier 1 and Tier 2 Junior teams, AMERICAN JUNIOR HOCKEY or higher. The USA also has the three tiers of hockey— For those of you who have been passed over and Tier 1 being the USHL (United States Hockey feel like quitting, but still have the passion to play, League), Tier 2 being the NAHL (North Ameri- consider Junior B hockey. As a 16- or 17-year-old can Hockey League), and seven leagues compris- you have the opportunity to prove yourself with ing Tier 3. These leagues operate under Hockey and against bigger and stronger 18-, 19-, and USA. Some consider the USHL on par with the 20-year-olds, as compared with Midget-age kids CHL, and the NAHL on par with Junior A. from 15 to 18 years of age. As in Canada, athletes from the ages of 16 to There may not be many Junior A or CHL scouts 20, with a limited number of 20-year-olds, can at Junior B games, but they are definitely paying play in these Junior leagues. These leagues are attention, particularly in the playoffs and at All- amateur hockey as they do not pay a stipend to Star games. It was Chris Molton, scout for the players, so they are eligible for NCAA. WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, who saw the upside in The USHL is the top Junior hockey league in Dylan while watching a Junior B game, and listed the USA. It consists of two divisions, with nine him. It worked out even though Dylan went the teams in the Eastern Conference and eight teams Junior A route, then NCAA, before landing in in the Western Conference. If one was to make Spokane. Dylan went from being passed over by a comparison to the Canadian version of Tier 1, a Tier 1 Midget team, nearly passed over by the the CHL, you could say that the top-line players Tier 2 Midget coach, to winning Rookie of the would be comparable to the CHL, but that the Year next season in Junior B. As a 16-year-old CHL has more depth with stronger third and

189 UNDERSTANDING JUNIOR HOCKEY fourth lines. You might have to look beyond the say that the level of the World Juniors, and the USHL is something be- HaHaHa! Canada/USA Olympic tween the CHL and the battles to form an opinion CJHL (Junior A). One Confidence is going after about whether the USHL reason for this is that Moby Dick in a row boat, develops elite Junior many top-end draft picks and taking tartar sauce players. The U.S. college from the USA who do with you. system is fast becoming not intend to play in the – Zig Ziglar, American an elite, if slower-paced, NCAA will opt to play in developer of professional the CHL. USHL teams Author hockey talent, and that are allowed four import includes the female side players plus two Canadi- of the game as well. ans. The NAHL Tier 2 fields 24 teams in four di- The USHL does recruit Canadian talent. You visions from 13 states, including the Central, might ask, why would a Canadian kid play in East, Midwest, and South Divisions. The NAHL the USHL if Canada has Junior A and the CHL, provides many of the previously mentioned perks both routes to pro hockey and an education? The that the USHL provides. reason is that if a player knows he is headed for Many players who have developed their skills in an NCAA scholarship, the USHL offers higher NAHL later make NCAA Division I and II ros- level of play than the CJHL in preparation to that ters. In fact, 2017-2018 saw a record 331 NCAA jump to NCAA 1. And, high-end 16- or 17-year- commitments, with 70 per cent of those being old talent might have a better chance of being Division 1. The 2018 NHL draft saw nine players drafted into the NHL from the USHL than from with NAHL experience. NAHL alumni that made the CJHL. the show include Eric Lindros, Doug Weight, The USHL historically has had 10 to 20 Canadi- Todd Marchant, Brian Rolston, Danton Cole, ans on its roster per season. The USHL and the Shawn Chambers, and Brian Holzinger. The Tier 2 NAHL offer perks similar to Canadian Junior Hockey News ranked the NAHL above Junior teams, including free training, coaching the collective Canadian CJHL teams: NAHL— and all developmental aspects, no-cost travel BCHL—OJHL—CCHL. including buses and hotels, free equipment (Tier NAHL teams compete for the Championship 2 may not provide skates), and a housing stipend Robertson Cup. for billets. USHL teams entertain good crowds Few Canadians play in the NAHL. averaging between 1,000 and 3,500 fans per Tier 3 hockey in the USA is typically located game, with Sioux Falls often averaging over 6,000 in mid-size towns. There are eight such leagues at the top end of the scale. USHL teams compete certified by USA Hockey. Tier 3 hockey in the for the Clark Cup Championship. USA is not comparable to the Canadian Junior The elite level of play in the USHL continues to B counterparts. Players in the States at this level impress with 30 or more NHL draft picks in each generally play for fun and there have been no of the past four years. Last season saw a record players to date that have made the NHL from of over 400 NCAA 1 commitments. You do not USA Tier 3 backgrounds.

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PHOTO CREDIT JEANLUC/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

For some, the CHL and Junior A are perceived Class Actions: CHARNEY PC LAWYERS . . . . . differently, the CHL as semi pro, and Junior A as GOLDBLATT PARTNERS LLP . . . . . SAVONITTO amateur. Certainly, there are differences. For one, & ASS. INC...... SETTLEMENT REACHED Junior A is under the umbrella of Hockey Cana- IN MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY CLASS ACTIONS da while the CHL, although it works with Hock- Toronto – In 2014, three lawsuits were com- ey Canada, is its own entity. Those who consider menced in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, claim- the CHL a pro or semi pro league often point to ing that major junior hockey players in the the small stipend, or allowance, that players get Canadian Hockey League (CHL) are employees to help see them through the season. According subject to employment standards legislation, to Dylan, their allowance varied depending on rather than student athletes. The CHL and its the age of the players. For example, a 17 year old member leagues and teams have been defend- may have received 30.00 a week or so, up to a 20 ing these class actions in the Ontario, Alberta year old who may have received over 100.00 a and Quebec Courts. All three class actions were week. The modest amounts were considered by certified as class actions by the Courts, but no players to be an allowance rather than a wage. determination was made on the merits of these In any event, in 2014 a class action lawsuit was claims...... The settlement recognizes that, begun against Canadian CHL teams for unfair as a result of these legislative declarations, treatment of players regarding employment/ there is now no legally recognized obligation wage practices, and what all else I do not know. for owners to treat players as employees un- In 2020 a settlement was reached. Here are a few der the employment standards acts presently excepts from the case and settlement: in effect in the provinces with CHL teams. The Defendants maintain that there never was any ‘CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THE CHL’ such obligation. Under the terms of the settle- For the Plaintiffs and for Class Counsel in the ment, the defendants will pay $30 million to the

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class, a portion of which will be payable to class and in the CHL, I personally find the merit of counsel on account of legal fees and disburse- the case suspect for a few reasons, one being that ments, as is typical in class actions. In exchange, only the Canadian teams, not the US teams, were the class will give the defendants a full and final brought to task. Is there something that they all release. The litigation will be over when the should have been held accountable for? Or were settlement has been implemented. More details the Canadian teams brought to task because related to the proposed settlement are available someone believed they should, and could. Per- at www.chlclassaction.com sonally, I do not consider the small allowance a wage, and it does not seem reasonable in my For the original 5 complainants, hockey players mind that a CHL team who pays nearly all player in the CHL, 4 received 10,000, and one, 20,000. expenses, provides an allowance, provides an Not all CHL players were eligible, depending on education package, should be held to similar age and which years they played for the team. I employment standards as a corporation with em- am not a lawyer and I am not familiar with the ployees working for wages. Yes, we are all entitled details of the case. As a hockey parent of a son to our opinions. Below is Dylan’s opinion, who who played Junior A, NCAA 1, lived it.

When I initially heard about the lawsuit against the CHL I thought, oh wow, maybe I’ll get some money out of this, that would be pretty nice. An extra 10 thousand dollars in my pocket would make life a little easier right now. But after some thought, and talking to a hand full of my friends that also played in the WHL, I felt like I didn’t think it was fair to accept money from an organization and league that did so much for me. As a kid it was always a dream of mine to play in the WHL in big arenas full of NHL scouts. I wasn’t there to make money, I was there to get exposure and become a better hockey player. On top of that, we were treated like gold. We stayed at the nicest hotels, ate catered meals, and were put into billet homes with amazing families who cooked for us and made us feel at home. There were some CHL teams that looked like they did well financially, but other teams that struggled to put fans in the seats, as with most hockey leagues. I don’t think it would be fair as a former player to take money from an or- ganization that would make life difficult, or potentially put them out of business and rob future players from chasing their dreams. What also doesn’t make sense to me is that when I played Jr.A in Vernon, we were treated the exact same way, but there is no law suit against them. Both leagues are high level Junior hockey with kids the same age. Just because the CHL gives its players a small spending allowance and is labelled semi pro doesn’t make it fair to target them. I understand that playing in the CHL takes the option of receiving an NCAA scholarship away, but they make up for it with their own Canadian scholarship program. In the end I know myself and many other former players I talked to about the lawsuit did not support it. And we hope that it does not harm a league that gave us some of the best years of our lives. —Dylan

192192 ABOUT THE AUTHORS

STAN WALCHUK JR is a man of many faces. He has been a

teacher, writer, filmmaker, outfitter, horse trainer, habitat improvement contractor, surveyor, truck driver, hockey manager, a student of hock- ey, and much more. His many occupations were dedicated efforts with notable successes. His first effort at writing was The Cordillera! Expedi- tion book, a national best seller. His first documentary film, also of the Cordillera journey, earned him Best Producer and Best Documentary awards. He has written more than 50 magazine articles, raised and trained more than one hundred trail horses while operating Blue Creek Outfitting. A consummate wilderness traveller, Stan has travelled liter- ally thousands of wilderness horse miles and canoed more than twenty northern rivers. ‘Hockey Is Life’ is his fourth book, a dedicated 5-year project that is unequaled as a guide for hockey players and parents. For more information on Stan Walchuk Jr’s books and dvd’s, and the Hockey is Life Fundraiser*TM, see www.vistapublishing.net and www.hockeyislife.net.

DYLAN WALCHUK laced on his first pair of skates at the age of three, stepping on the ice at the McBride, BC arena. Like many smaller players he was a whiz kid, entertaining all with moves and goals. At the age of twelve he stepped up to spring hockey - the Kamloops ice Dogs, and soon after, the Northern Alberta Selects, Okanagan River Rats, and Alberta Wolverines. For 4 years Dylan travelled five to seven hours one way to hockey practices and regular season and elite team games. Time and again, partly due to size, he found himself passed over, on the fringes, wondering if he could continue climbing the hockey ladder. But at the end of the day, at the end of a truly unique and amazing journey through life in hockey, he collected some memories – Junior B Rookie of the year at 15; Scoring 4 goals in a deciding Junior A playoff game enroute to the national RBC cup; scoring the game winning goal at the RBC cup; Playing in the World Junior A Challenge; Full ride NCAA Division 1 scholarship; Spokane Chiefs of the WHL; Calgary Dino’s U Sport; practising with the 2014 men’s Canadian Olympic Team; playing pro in Denmark and China/Russia. Like the book says, Dylan touched almost every rung on the hockey ladder on his climb to the professional ranks – so many ups and downs and turnarounds that it is enough to make anyone’s head spin. A typical hockey kid, the hero and the goat, buried then revived, stories like cuts etched in ice. His story is emblematic for players and families all across the continent.

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Reviews Coming Soon.....

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