Listen, look, and think

When you step out onto the ice you’d better know what you’re supposed to do, your team is doing, and where the puck is going to be. Hopefully the puck will be in your team’s control. If you don’t know what is going on or what you are supposed to be doing, it may be because you are not paying attention, or you missing out on some communication. If you are on the bench and need to find out what is going on – watch the game and listen. Ask one of the coaches questions that pertain to the game. Don’t just follow another player’s lead. You may need to do something different than that player is doing. Everyone has his or her role and responsibilities on the ice. On the ice communication between players is critical. This can be talking, or using your eyes to exchange looks – this lets your teammate know what you need to do next. It may be to receive a pass, or move into position for a rebound. A lot of this develops after working together on a line or just from familiarity with each other’s style of play. Practices are where we work out our game plans and develop our timing as a team along with other skill work. A lot of things can change during a game very quickly, and you need to think in the moment to deal with these changes. This doesn’t mean we stay back and react to the other team. We need to put the other team in that position and direct the flow of the game and control of the game. If one player on the ice is not working together as a member of the team it can create an advantage to the other team and work against us. Teamwork is critical to success, and an important part of playing as a team is knowing what you should be doing and what is going on at that moment and will be happening in the next moment. Keep your head up and on a swivel. Look for the open lanes and be ready to give or receive passes from you teammates. Always look for an opportunity to use the other teams’ mistakes to your advantage. Look for the weak passes and soft shots and take the puck away from them every chance you get. Keep the puck out of our end and keep the pressure on the other team. Keep the other team off balance and work with your teammates to move around and through their defense. Shoot and setup for potential rebounds and never let up until the game is over. Keep fresh legs on the ice with fast and effective line changes and wear the other team down by controlling the tempo of the game. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, but learn from them also. If something doesn’t work, you may have change what you are doing. Never send the puck to a place where the other team can easily take the puck out of your control. Look for teammates and move the puck around the other team. Use the whole surface of the ice and don’t get caught off sides or too far out of position where you can’t support the puck. Don’t hesitate with the puck too long, or over stick handle to the point of losing control of the shot or momentum moving forward to the net. Watch the game from the bench and pay attention so you are ready when it’s your turn out there. Listen, look, and think. This is a skill that works in school, and in hockey quite well.