Self-reflection is the hidden gem that can take your game to the next level. By embracing both micro and macro aspects of self-assessment and creating a personal scorecard, you provide yourself with a roadmap for continuous improvement.

Hockey, often referred to as the fastest sport on Earth, is not just about physical prowess and skill. It's a game that demands mental strength, resilience, and emotional intelligence. One crucial aspect of this emotional intelligence is understanding the difference between mood and emotion.

Hockey success is often measured by the number of goals scored, games won, and championships earned. However, beneath the surface of every great hockey player's career lies a set of essential qualities that extend beyond the ice. These qualities are encapsulated in Dan Sullivan's 4 C's Formula: Commitment, Courage, Capability, and Confidence.

To excel on the ice, players need to fine-tune their mental performance just as much as their physical skills. One approach that has gained traction in the world of sports psychology is the "Stop Light Approach," a powerful framework that helps athletes navigate their mental landscape to achieve peak performance.

During a recent game, I found myself struggling with a wavering mindset, and my performance suffered as a result. However, I quickly realized the potential of shifting my perspective and embracing positivity. With a simple change in mindset, I witnessed a transformation in my style of play that took me by surprise.

Nature has always provided us with incredible metaphors and lessons for life. One such fascinating observation lies in the contrasting behaviors of buffalo and cows when confronted with storms. While buffalo charge fearlessly into storms, cows instinctively run away from them.

I love to find valuable life lessons embedded in ancient wisdom. One such profound teaching comes from the Cherokee Nation in the form of a powerful story about two wolves. This allegory, rooted in Native American folklore, beautifully illustrates the ongoing internal struggle between positive and negative forces within us.

As I reflect on that momentous achievement, one thing becomes clear: laser-like focus was the key to my success. The unwavering determination, mental fortitude, and single-minded focus required to cross that finish line are strikingly similar to the demands of another exhilarating sport - hockey.

Success of a mission or a hockey game rests on the harmonious collaboration between the mission commander and the skilled pilot. Similarly, in our personal lives, balancing the roles of our conscious mind (Self 1) and our subconscious mind (Self 2) is vital for growth and achievement.

As a hockey coach, you are tasked with not only teaching your players the fundamentals of the game but also ensuring that they retain information. One way to improve your coaching techniques is by understanding cognitive load theory and how it applies to hockey coaching.

In hockey, having an infinite mindset means players are focused on becoming better both as individuals and as a team. It is about being invested in the long term and striving for growth every day, every week, every season, and every year.

I recently finished Steven Pressfield's book, The Warrior Ethos, and I found it be to incredibly insightful. It is an excellent read if you are looking for motivation from ancient and even modern history. Virtues like courage, honor, and loyalty are discussed in amazing detail.

Finding and generating intrinsic motivation is not always easy. You have to be intentional about finding ways to the light the fire in your belly. However, if you can follow these four recommendations they will provide you with a solid starting point, or a fuel of sorts, to ignite you and propel you forward.

Hockey players are willing to endure hell. Leon Draisaitl played with a sprained ankle in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. Erik Karlsson played with two fractured feet and damaged ankle tendons in the 2017 playoffs and Jonathan Quick played with a herniated disk in the 2012 playoffs. The list goes on and on.

Understanding the dynamics of being the predator versus the prey is essential to success in hockey. With all that being said, it is always going to be in a team and player's best interest to activate a predator mindset because aggression and proactiveness wins in hockey. Is it okay to have a prey mindset? Yes, but only in certain scenarios where you need the agility of a bunny or alertness of a gazelle to avoid trouble.

Finding your purpose in hockey in a valuable component of a healthy hockey mindset. It can serve as your compass and guide when you feel like you are starting to lose your way. Think of it as the foundation in your thinking and planning, and let it serve as your homebase and guiding star with as you make decisions on and off the ice.

I have quit many things in my life. This includes three start-ups, one salaried position, and one sport which I competed in competitively. I ached over each decision and some were easier to walk away from than others. All were still painful.

Anger can have a significant impact on your hockey performance, leading to poor decision-making, lack of focus, and unsportsmanlike behavior. None of these outcomes are good for you or your teammates.

Here is a sad reality: you will fail. You will makes mistakes. You will let down yourself. You will let down your teammates. You will let down your coach. What matters in the end is how you emerge from those failures. Do you use those setbacks to learn lessons or do you them to send you several steps back in your athletic and emotional development? The choice is yours.

The sport of hockey offers the same challenges. You question your skills. You question your talent. You question the health of your mindset. The inner critic can be a formidable obstacle that can hold you back from achieving your full potential on the ice. But, here is the good news. It does not have to be this way. You can have control.