Mental Toughness Strategies for Hockey Players, Coaches, & Parents
On October 29th the Philadelphia Flyers fought back to win “The Battle of Pennsylvania,” 3-2 over the Pittsburg Penguins. Pittsburg dominated the first period leading to 1-0 Penguin lead. The Flyers looked flat on the ice, and forward Danny Carcillo knew that something was missing. “In … [Read more...]
In a recent interview hockey legend Wayne Gretzky discussed the mental aspects of hockey. Gretzky is known by hockey fans as “The Great One” not only for his unbelievable talent, but also for his superior hockey mentality.To be a great hockey player you must display mental toughness and … [Read more...]
Sidney Crosby is one of the most electric young athletes in sports. After being selected first overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, hockey fans expected Crosby to make an immediate impact on the league. Early in his career Cosby felt pressure to meet the expectations … [Read more...]
One thing every NHL team needs is a tough guy or enforcer ready to take hits, give hits, and intimidate their opponent. The tough guy provides his team with energy, momentum, and confidence. Ian Laperriere “Lappy” of the Philadelphia Flyers is recognized as one of the top tough guys in the … [Read more...]
Intimidation is a common mental barrier for hockey players. When you intimidate yourself (also called self-intimidation), you make comparisons to your opponents or teammates. You make negative comparisons or think about how you’re not as good, fast or strong as your teammates or competitors. … [Read more...]
After beating the San Jose Sharks 4-2 to clench their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Chicago Blackhawks are building on their confidence and momentum. The Blackhawks face the Philadelphia Flyers. An important ingredient to the Blackhawks’s success is their ability to capitalize on … [Read more...]
Game plans are important for any team. Some teams base their game plans on their teams’ strengths. What can your team do well with the players you have? Some teams perform well on power plays, while other teams have great defense. Teams can also develop their game plan based on the … [Read more...]
Self-intimidation is a common mental game challenge for hockey players. You lose confidence by making comparisons to your competitors. Most of the time, you’re make negative comparisons, which can make you feel inferior. You might be thinking that the other team is better in terms of their … [Read more...]
Do you (or your players) struggle to get into the ebb and flow of the game? Do you feel like you are just going through the motions? If so, you may need to boost your game time intensity. Many players struggle maintaining their intensity in the opening minutes of the game. Intensity deals … [Read more...]
The New Jersey Devils lost in the first round of the playoffs 1-4 to the Philadelphia Flyers last week. Despite their loss, the team recognized the importance of staying mentally tough. New Jersey’s Dainius Zubrus said, "You're playing the same team until you move on. Mental toughness is … [Read more...]
