Special

1. Play the role you are meant to play.

Being happy to play hockey and accepting your role on the team is important. You may be there to score goals or you maybe there to practice hard and see limited ice time. Knowing what you do on the ice and playing your position is also important. Systems are set up for you to be in a certain place at a certain time, and if you aren't there, then things break down. Mistakes happen when you are out of position as well.

2. Come to play every game.

It may sound clichй but you never know which shift is going to be your last. As a player you need to bring it 110% every time your skates hit the ice. Never be intimidated by an opponent either. If you go into a game timid, you have already lost. Keeping the pressure on the opposing team will make mistakes that you can capitalize on.

3. Win the race to every puck.

Reacting to an opponent's moves is harder to do than getting to the puck first and establishing control. Winning the race to a puck is huge for possession time and having the puck longer means more chances for your team. Also by getting gritty and banging in the corners, you send a message to your opponent that you are willing to do whatever it takes to win that game.

4. No retaliation penalties.

Play the game smart. Even if the ref didn't see you getting slashed, they are going to see you slash them back. This not only could negate a power play, but also can put your team shorthanded. Making a mistake that can easily be avoided will make your team better in the long run.

5. Practice like it's a game.

Like I have heard in class, hockey is a game of habits. Continuously practicing at game tempo will make actually playing in a game seem more like second nature. A player is more at ease then, and also will make fewer mistakes because of anxiety or just making a bad decision. This also improves conditioning by skating at game pace during practice, a player doesn't have to step it up that extra notch at game time, they are used to this pace and don't get as tired.

6. Never play tentative, play every shift like it's your last shift of the game.

This is somewhat related to principle 2. Never dog it for a shift. If you are that tired, get in better shape and we'll let someone who isn't tired take that shift. Also play the whole shift with as much tenacity as possible. Just fly out there and no one will be able to skate with you.

7. Be prepared on line changes.

Know who is going in for who as soon as the first line gets out there. Coaches will obviously make decisions