Commitment.
You can't play hockey without it.
And we're not talking about making it to practice or off-ice training on time. We're talking about sacrifice, extra effort, going beyond what's expected to give your absolute all.
Hockey is a fast-paced, physical sport-even for those leagues that don't have full contact-that requires players to block shots, fight for loose pucks in confined spaces, and sacrifice for the team.
This week's post is not so much a 'tip' as it is a statement about commitment to work ethic and sacrifice that separates the 'passengers' (those along for the ride) and those players who work to make a difference for their teammates and themselves.
You can't be successful without the extra effort, and sometimes that means taking a shot of off your ankle, or taking a pasting by an opposing player to make a key play---like getting the puck out of the zone (we're looking at you wingers). You don't have to score highlight reel goals to get noticed, to make a difference, or to be a valuable member of a team! Often, success is in the small, normally unnoticed plays.
Check out this sequence, all during the same penalty-kill, by former Toronto Maple Leaf Matt Stajan. This sequence is all about sacrifice for the team.......unbelievable. You can bet that the newspapers didn't report on this sequence, but Stajan's coaches and teammates noticed big time.
You gotta love it.
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