Joe Quinn, the inventor of Power Edge, spent time at all camps and I worked directly with him as we trained players. The camps were on Prince Edward Island and in St. John’s, Newfoundland with players from all over Atlantic Canada.

Players from this area are known to be hard workers, The Power Edge Pro pushed them physically every day—and they met the challenge. Part of the reason was the challenge of the on ice training; part was the desire to get better. And a big part was the fact that it was fun for the players.

Check the system out at www.poweredgepro.com

This really is the ‘big next thing’ and it works—big time!

Over two weeks ago I took over as head coach of a junior team. There were 8 games left in the regular season and the team was in last place in their division. That was the bad news. The good news was the GM had put together a talented team-something he has done consistently over his career in junior hockey.

It came down to winning the final game of the season, on the road, and against the team we needed to beat out for the final playoff stop.

The deal was simple. Win and make the playoffs—lose and the season was over.

What needed to happen? Our best players had to be our best players, we had to at least match the effort of the other team, every player had to do their part, and we had to have fun.

What actually happened? All of the above; top line scored three goals, we worked hard all game, and every player tried to fulfill their individual roles. Winning the game was a lot of fun.

And did I mention that their goaltender was great—and our guy was a little bit better!

Got to go. First playoff game tonight.

This is where players answer the question—what about next year? Your performance this year will be the biggest indicator of what will be available to you for next season. Play hard and be a difference maker and good things will be available for next season.

Focus on now, and next year will have more good options available to you.

So, what about next year?

The first place to look is at your goals for hockey.  Sure, you can keep that NHL dream as the big goal. Just put it up on the top shelf and out of sight for now—unless you are in the AHL and knocking on the NHL door.

The second is to establish what your realistic options are. I also like to also establish a ‘worst case scenario’. This will help keep things in perspective. For example, you may be able to play for the same team next year and continue what you are doing. You may already be in a good situation.

Third is to recognize what actions and strategies have to be put in place to meet the goals you have set. Include such things as summer off ice training, special positional training like going to a goalie camp, and making sure educational goals don’t get left behind.

Get all the help you need for each step of the process.  Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you.

And step four, put a monitoring system in place to check your progress. This might mean having your coach or agent follow each step along the way and give input on your progress.

Finally, remember that how you finish this season off will have a significant influence on what will happen next season. Finish strong.

Ferraro also said something to the effect that “The net has been in the same place for over 200 years” and he was marveling on how an entire team could be so inept at getting the puck on the net.

Coaches always stress shooting the puck—and hitting the net. Starting with warming up your goalies at the beginning of a practice, there is little value in shots that miss the net. Coaches do things like making players do pushups or do extra skating when players miss the net during drills. This sometimes helps.

Consistently hitting the net is more of a mental thing than a reflection of physical ability. Having the mindset to get the puck on the net is where a player needs to be. Coaches can help with consistently demanding this in practices. Players who like to score make it a habit to get the puck on the net consistently. Top power plays try to get the puck to the net every time they have the man advantage.

“A shot on goal is never a bad thing.” We all heard that line before.

Oh, by the way, the Leafs continued to miss the net in the third period. They lost 4-1.

First, try to objectively understand why you are in the situation you are in. Blaming the coach is not the place to start. Coaches typically will play the guys they feel will help the team to win. Only the rare coach will let personal feeling override this. So, let’s set that one aside.

Other players simply might be better players. In this case, you have to keep working hard and wait for your opportunity. It will come. There will be an injury or a player who needs to come out of the lineup. Be ready.

Now what is the next step? As frustrating as you see the situation, your need to work hard and be a good team mate is still the foundation of your role on the team. Be first in drills, get on the ice early and stay late. Do the little things.

Be positive. Nobody wants a negative person around, even if it is a pal. And, don’t share any possible frustration with team mates or coaches. Be positive. Everyone should see you as a part of the solution, not part of the problem. Be positive. Make all communication positive and constructive. Be positive.

You should feel comfortable going to any member of the coaching staff to positively discuss your individual situation. Other player’s names should never be brought up. This is a ‘no excuses’ situation for all—don’t give or accept any.

And, you weren’t the first player to ever miss a shift or two and not dress for a game. And you won’t be the last. Prepare for your next opportunity, and be ready to perform when it arrives.

The first step for the player—make the decision to develop your talent rather than take it for granted. Sound like a simple decision? It may be for some. Look around your team and see how many players are actually doing things that will make their game better. Which players are getting on the ice early or staying on after practice to work on skills or conditioning? Who is going to the gym for a workout when the team has a day off?

Here is a simple formula for a player to follow; spend ten minutes each day making an individual strength stronger and making a weakness a non-factor is your overall game. If you have a great shot, then make it more accurate. If you need to work on pivots to the left, then devote time at end of practice on pivot technique.

Don’t let excuses stop you from getting better. There is enough time each day. There is no need for special equipment to get better. There is nobody who can put the effort in your game but you. Don’t let excuses hinder your development.

As each player gets just a little bit better, it would be safe to say the team gets a little bit better. Work on your individual skills and everyone benefits. Go team!

It should not matter if it is the head coach or one of the assistants. There are some simple rules to keep in mind. First, pick an appropriate time and place. If it is a private matter to be discussed, then the player should set up a meeting with the coach in a place where the conversation will be private. If it is simply a chance to connect, then make it easy and relaxed.

Second, make comments positive and have any questions or concerns phrased in a non-threatening and positive way. There is little to be gained by saying ‘you don’t know how to coach me and I need more ice time.’ It would be far better to ask the coach how you could best utilize the skills that you have and if doing so would help to get more playing time.

And, it is often good to build in the opportunity to follow up on what was said at a later date. ‘Coach, can I check in with you at the end of the month to see if I am improving?’

Coach, do you have a plan to communicate with each of your players? Individual player meetings each segment of the season is a common practice, with the head coach and at least one assistant meeting individually with each player.

Taking the time each practice to at least extend a verbal greeting to each player will be more welcome than most coaches realize. It can be as simple as a tap on the shin pads and a ‘hey’.

All conversations need to be honest, positive and constructive. They won’t all start out that way, but all should have these elements at the conclusion.

The onus is on you, whether player or coach, to make sure there is an opportunity to talk. Make these conversations something to look forward to and not a painful

Here are a few quotes on habits I got from Denis Waitley’s ezine (ezine@denis waitley.com).

We learn by observation, imitation and repetition.

Habits begin as offhanded remarks, ideas and images. And then, layer upon layer, through practice, they grow from cobwebs into cables that shackle or strengthen our lives.

Habits are like submarines. They run silent and deep.

First we make our habits, then our habits make us.

Habits are like comfortable beds. They are easy to get into, but difficult to get out of.

Winning and losing are both learned habits.

When we are too tired to think, too emotional to decide what is the right thing to do, or when you just react in a situation, it will be your well established habits that will determine what you do.

In Life is Like a Taxi Ride, Lyman MacInnis makes the point that athletes develop habits that are based on superstition. While this can be amusing, it rarely leads to better performance.

Make it a habit to spend time each day reinforcing a strength and making a weakness a little less of a negative in your game. Guaranteed this will lead to more success in your season.

Using insight from world class defenseman Rob Blake, the writer highlights a catch phrase that virtually all coaches try to drill into their defensemen. “Move the puck!”

Chris Pronger, Adam Foote, and Rob Blake have formed the backbone of Canada’s defence through three Olympic Games.

They are the only three defencemen to play on every Canadian Olympic team since NHL players began participating in the Games in 1998, yet only one of them – Pronger – is back in contention for a fourth Olympics this February in Vancouver.

Neither Foote, nor Blake, were invited to Hockey Canada’s summer orientation camp in Calgary, and while Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman has said that non-invitees could play their way onto the team, Blake isn’t kidding himself and said his days of manning the country’s blueline are over.

“I understand the situation,” said Blake, a San Jose Sharks defenceman who turned back the clock in 2008-09 and produced a 45-point season. “If you’re not clearly in the top six, they’re not going to bring you to the orientation camp when you’re almost 40. There’s not much place for an older guy, and it’s not like they’re going to bring you in to get you experience.”

So, given his experience and new-found objectivity, The Globe and Mail asked Blake to pick the Canadian defence for 2010.

He held to one governing principle when making his selections: “You have to have guys who are going to move the puck.”

Blake said the 2006 Olympic team, which finished seventh in Turin, sorely missed Scott Niedermayer, a one-man trap breaker who could skate the puck end-to-end. Barring similarly skilled defencemen, Blake said the next best thing was a player who could move the puck with his stick.

“I really think we missed Niedermayer a lot the last time out,” he said.
“At the Olympics, your forwards are so dominant across all four lines. Because your forwards are so dominant, you just need to get them the puck as quickly as you can. Look at Danny Boyle’s style. That’s what you need.”

Boyle, Blake’s teammate in San Jose, is more noted for his offensive ability than his defensive prowess, but his older teammate said he would be perfect for the Olympic team because “he’s as good as it gets in our league in terms of getting the puck out of your zone.

“He’s a one-man breakout, but he’s not a high-risk guy,” Blake added.
“He has the puck all the time, and when it comes out of our zone, it comes out fast, and it comes out tape-to-tape.”

Blake said that Canada’s management should endeavour to have a puck-moving defenceman on every Olympic pairing, and his selections also suggest that familiarity is important. Blake picked three Calgary Flames rearguards, as well as two Chicago Blackhawks and the defensive pair – Pronger and Niedermayer – who helped the Anaheim Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007.

Running drills in practice sessions and constant positive reinforcement quick puck movement should be a daily task for the coach. Getting the puck off your stick an on to the stick of an attacking forward should always be the immediate task of every defenseman.

As repetitive as it may be for coaches to say, and as likely annoying for defensemen to hear, “Move the puck!” will be part of our hockey vocabulary for quite some time to come.

As the regular season winds down for most of us, there are all kinds of stories about post game reactions to winning and losing. There is some great stuff happening out there along with the occasional horror story. Here are some observations from this past season.

Celebrating Wins

Most of us feel we shouldn’t get too high after a big win. But there should be a way for all to enjoy the ‘thrill of victory’ when it happens. Players typically don’t need the coach to give them a pat on the back after a game well played. That said, there should be a way for teams to recognize and enjoy success.

What we have established with our team are two presentations to recognize achievement. After identifying the overall positives from a game, the head coach turns the team over to the player who was presented with the Game Puck from the previous win. This player then briefly describes the performance of a team mate and presents him with the game puck for tonight’s game.

Next is the Hard Hat Award that goes to the player who put in that extra effort to help secure the win. It is also presented by the payer who won the award the previous win. It is an actual hard hat with a team logo that the winner displays in his stall until the next presentation.

Team celebrations can be as simple as a three cheers together as a team. Build these positive events into the fabric and culture of your team.

Handling Losses

Just like we don’t like to get too high after a win, we should guard against getting too low after a loss. One story from this season was about a team that won 19 games in a row, lost game 20 in overtime, and the coach berated the team after the game. This is not exactly a proud moment in coaching.

A loss is an opportunity to learn and grow as a team and individually. The coach can simply put the game in context for the players following the loss. Let the players leave the rink with a positive lesson to take back to the rink next time. If you can’t find something constructive to say, then say nothing until you have figured out the proper teaching points. Wait until the next practice to address the team.

Playing and coaching should be a positive and fun experience. Be sure to use the post game as a time to accent these points.