Hello Team!
With the District Tournament taking place, and with our team’s biggest game of the year Vs Mora tomorrow, we’ve officially reached the most exciting time of the season!  And to that, I want to say that myself, along with Matt, Dave, and Ben are very proud of the boys and the progress that we have as a team up to this point.  As I have found myself saying many times throughout this season, I am both happy and impressed with our team's will to win and total team effort (everybody contributes).

And what makes playoff hockey so much fun is knowing you have to play at or near your best to move on.  Below, I have put a few keys that will help our team rise to the challenge at the right time.  Please have your son read this prior to tomorrow’s game.  

Believe. Together.

The first step in any competition is having confidence in yourself and your teammates.  Know in your heart that if you work together, you can do it.  That confidence can come from a variety of experiences you’ve had this season. It can come from a memory of one of our team’s best games, or the close game we had against Mora earlier this season. You can simply take pride in how much the entire team has improved over the course of the season due to all of your hard work in practice.  Focus on that positive thought or memory leading up to the big game and use it to your advantage.

Be Prepared

As a team, your goal should be to come out fast and furious in the first period.  In order to do that, it’s important to prepare the right way leading up to game time.

Do your best to get a good night’s rest, eat a meal that will supply you with lasting energy and make sure your hydrated. Once you get to the rink, take warm-ups seriously so they can help get your body and mind ready to play. After that, it’s time to strap on the pads and start thinking about puck drop.

A Playoff Athlete’s ABC’s

The American Development Model has made it well known that developing good hockey players starts with the ABC’s: agility, balance and coordination. When it comes to playoff hockey though, the ABC’s could also refer to Always Be Competing.

As the intensity and pressure increase in games, it’s important to keep the game simple. Do your best to skate hard and compete throughout the entire game. If you compete as hard as you can for every loose puck and in every board battle until the final buzzer sounds, you’ll know you did everything you could to help your team.

Never too high, never too low

Playoff hockey games are like a really cool rollercoaster. Game day brings a mix of nerves and excitement that makes some kids bounce off the walls, and gives others a pit-like feeling in their stomach. Then, once the puck drops, it’s time for the high speed twists and turns and ups and downs.

The game will possibly have a few goals against, a bad penalty, etc…. But it will also include amazing goals, great saves and maybe even epic comebacks. When plays go against you, do your best to reset and get ready for the next play, the next shift. If you and our team happen to be on the positive side of a momentum swing, try to keep it going but also be prepared for if things go the other way.

Enjoy the moment

Win or lose, playoff hockey will go by fast, take a moment every now and then to just enjoy the experience and have fun!  Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to play their best. What makes playoff hockey so special though is the journey with your team, with your friends. Take time to soak that in and have some fun along the way. You may be surprised just how much it helps you on the ice. 

Thank you for continuing to give your boys support & encouragement, I will see you all tomorrow!

Coach Chad
CHAD M. PETERSON  |   612.423.0018