BayToday Weekly Hockey Tip #3 - Think Long Term

Former OHLer and North Bay native Cassidy Preston runs a local hockey development program, Complete Hockey Training, and will be offering his experience, knowledge and enthusiasm in his "Weekly Hockey Tip." Preston played three years in the OHL for the St. Michael's Majors organization, where he won the OPJHL championship with the Buzzers, the Majors affiliate team, in 2006. Enjoy

Has the pressure to make a team ever made you feel more scared then excited? Almost making the whole thing seem not worth it? I know this pressure that our society, my parents and I have put on myself to make a certain team and achieve short term goals.

For any minor hockey player dreaming about playing at a higher level, I think it is important to remember to think long term. It seems that too many kids act like whether or not they make the AAA team this coming season is going to be the end all, be all of their careers. Well I do strongly encourage you to do your best to play AAA, it doesn’t mean that AAA is the best way for everyone to improve nor is it the only way for a player to improve.

For instance, in some situations and more often in junior hockey, you will find yourself as one of last additions to a team. If you find yourself in such a situation, remember to think long term. Is playing for this team and not playing a lot going to help you improve as a player? Or would playing down a level or being on an affiliate team be more helpful to your development? These are pretty basic questions but often forgotten.

The coming months before your hockey season’s tryouts, is another scenario in which remembering to think long term can be helpful. I found it helps your focus shift away from the fear of not making your desired team and toward developing as a player. This allows you to start training and playing hockey because you love the game, you start to have more fun and become more likely to succeed.

To wrap it up let me share the story about my good friend, Matt Marquardt. Back many years ago when the now Bantam AAA blades were known as the Athletics, Marquardt, an aspiring young hockey player was turned away by the Athletics. The following year he failed to make the Trappers and he was never selected in the OHL draft. Now if you don’t know who Marquardt is, it is looking like he was just another minor hockey player that never made it, however he is actually North Bay’s top NHL prospect, knocking on the door steps of the Boston Bruins.

Marquardt’s success as a hockey player could never have came if he had given up when he didn’t make the Athletics, or when he didn’t make the Trappers, or when he wasn’t drafted to the OHL. Instead of giving up, he worked harder, improved his game and went on to play in the QMJHL, get drafted to the NHL, and is now playing in the AHL. He is a perfect example that if your goal is to play hockey at a higher level then you best remember to think long term. The goal is not to avoid adversity but to be able to see past it.

Again I encourage any comments, questions or specific things you would like next week’s tip to be on. Just email me at [email protected] or visit our website at www.CompleteHockeyTraining.ca