Commitment

By Stew Carson

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.

How's Your "Rep"?

Do you have dreams of playing in the NHL one day?  College? Junior?

Talent alone isn't enough. 

Your reputation is as important as your talent level--even in the NHL where winning is the number one priority. 

Sure, you have to develop the talent to compete at those levels, but it doesn't stop there.

You can be the most talented player on earth, but if red flags appear regarding your integrity, attitude, or work ethic, teams and coaches will likely walk away.  They may choose someone with less talent but a stronger, more positive character.

You've heard of the player that overcame the odds, the underdog who wasn't the most talented, but who achieved great things--like Luc Robitaille, who was a very weak skater- kind of an important skill in hockey-but who managed to become the highest scoring NHL left winger of all time. It was Robitaille's reputation for hard work that got him his shot.

It also goes the other way. 

Ever hear of Bryan Fogarty?  No? 

He was an unreal talent who's career flatlined because of his reputation. A can't-miss-talent, Fogarty broke Bobby Orr's Junior scoring record but couldn't escape the bad choices he made off the ice.

IT'S (NOT) A MINOR ISSUE

But it's not just the NHL, College, or Junior levels that look closely at a player's character, coaches in minor hockey also take character into consideration. 

I'm often asked by other coaches about players, and it's not about their skill. A coach can see that for his or herself from watching them on the ice. Character is harder to gauge.

Here are the top three questions I get asked:

1. What's their all-around work ethic like (do they make excuses, work hard in dryland, are they on time)

2. What's the family like? (meddling, manipulative, positive, encouraging)

3. What kind of teammate are they? (encouraging or negative toward teammates, team player, selfish)

How do you stack up?

Negative feedback on one or more of these questions can make a coach think twice. Does it mean that they won't take that player?  Not necessarily. 

But maybe. And maybe is bad enough...if you're that player (and family). 

For NHL draft-eligible players it can mean their dreams stop cold, just when they were within reach of their ultimate goal.  For you, the minor hockey player, it can derail your dreams of moving to higher levels of play, like Tier 1, Junior, or College.

Try-outs are over, but in life (and hockey) you're always on display, and your character is at the heart of how others will view you--and talk about you.

So........how's your reputation?