Patrick Cohn 
Why Hockey Players Lose Confidence Do you lose confidence based on how you feel in the locker room or during warm-up? This is a common mental game mistake hockey players make. Have you ever had thoughts during warm-up, such as, “My legs feel tired right now” or “I don’t have it tonight”? These thoughts
How to Be Mentally and Physically Prepared For Competition. How well do you prepare for the tough teams you compete against? Do you prepare in the same manner for every game you play, no matter the team you play? Being prepared means being ready mentally and physically for every game. Preparing for a team
How to Stay Mentally Tough and Close Out Victory? Throughout your career, did most of your wins come from a perfect, well-executed game plan—or from finding ways to close out a victory in hockey even when things weren’t going smoothly? The truth is, rarely is a hockey team firing on all cylinders in every
How Do You Negate Home-Ice Advantage? Many hockey players equate home-ice advantage with away-ice disadvantage. Imagine the impact on your mind, physiology, and performance when you are at a deficit before you even start a game. When you concede an advantage based on where the game is being played, you set a series of
How Can One Lapse in Focus Affect a Hockey Game? You may think one brief moment doesn’t make that much of a difference. This mindset practically gives you permission to lose concentration or hold back effort during a shift. It can also become an excuse, “If it weren’t for my play throughout the game,
Does a Bad Game Effect your Game & Future Performances? A bad game has the potential of having a long-lasting negative impact. Can you think of times when you were called for a penalty or a bad pass in your defensive zone that led to a game-winning goal? How did you feel afterward? You
Mindset for Goal Achievement? Goal achievement is a multi-step process. The first step is to set specific, measurable, and realistic goals. Concrete goals provide direction and motivation. The second step for goal achievement is to develop a well-defined but flexible plan. A structured yet adjustable approach outlines clear steps while allowing flexibility to adapt
Do Rivalry Games Get You Excited or Nervous? When you play a hockey team, you want to win. When you play a rival, not only do you want to win, but you also want to dominate them. Many times, there is disdain between rivals, and emotions can run high. If you don’t regulate your
Have You Heard the Phrase, “Good teams find a way to win”? On the surface, it may sound as if only talented teams win tough hockey games. However, the phrase really refers to mental toughness. The hallmark of mentally tough teams is their ability to adapt, overcome challenges, and execute under pressure. Sometimes, that
Quick answer: The most crucial period in hockey is the period you are playing. For the third period, let go of the first two, take a few minutes to wind down and reset your mindset. Treat it like a brand-new game with a close-out mindset to refocus your attention and re-energize. What is the
Recovering After a Bad Hockey Game There is one thing to be unhappy after a bad game, but elite hockey players take it a step further and do something about it. All hockey players are disappointed after a string of bad games. However, some players get trapped in their emotions. These players question their
Where is your Focus When Facing a High Volume of Shots When you are bombarded by shots throughout a game, you may become fearful that you will let in several goals. After all, it’s the law of averages, right? The more shots you face, the more shots you let in? If you have this
What Do You Do When You Fall Out of Favor with Your Coach? Having a difference of opinion with your coach increases worry and anxiety and can change how you play the game. Hockey is a fast game where players must trust and rely on their instincts and not worry about aspects outside of
How challenging is maintaining your focus in a playoff series? Keeping your playoff dreams alive when you are facing elimination is a daunting task for many hockey players. The fear of losing, disappointment, and harsh judgment can cause a player to be overwhelmed by the moment. The buildup of anxiety works against a player’s
Winning Mindset Against Your Biggest Competition Before you are about to play a hockey game, how do you decide which team is better? The question may sound absurd since the game hasn’t even been played. However, many hockey players approach games with assumptions about their opponents, impacting their performance on the ice. For instance,
Stay Mentally Energized During a Long Season Every athlete recognizes the importance of caring for their body, especially to meet the demands of a long hockey season. Athletes need water and recovery drinks to hydrate and replenish their bodies. Healthy foods and energy bars help fuel an athlete and maintain healthy body functioning. Some