Grit is defined as a person's ability to persevere and maintain passion and effort towards long-term goals. In the terms of hockey, it is a battling through a tough shift or a long season. Talent refers to a natural ability or aptitude for a particular skill or activity. Again, in relation to hockey, think about one's ability to stickhandle or skate well.

Developing and maintaining confidence is a challenging component of every hockey player's mental game. It requires you to step back, pause, reset, and be intentional about the feelings and thoughts which exist in your head. It is the mental game of turning off and tuning out at the garbage and keeping the positive and energy giving thoughts and statements. The good news is with some practice and deliberate effort, you can begin to automate these processes which will result in a more confident you.

Creating a power statement is a valuable tool for every hockey player looking to improve their performance and mental game. Carve out some time in the days ahead to write down a few statements that work for you and your playstyle. Pick a few of your favorites and see if you can use them to construct a paragraph. Memorize it and then lock into it anytime you need it. If you make this a new healthy routine, your mental game will begin to elevate.

Hockey is fast paced, physically demanding, and one of the most technical challenging sports around. It is not only tough on the body it is equally challenging for the mind. This component is one of the areas of hockey which I love most about the game. You must have a winning mindset or you will never grow or prosper in the sport.