Getting Recruited

In youth sports today, the pressure to specialize early is higher than ever. Many young hockey players are urged—sometimes by their parents, sometimes by their coaches, and sometimes by their own internal drive—to dedicate themselves exclusively to the game at a young age. The argument is usually the same: If you don’t specialize early, you’ll fall behind.

Curtis Sanford’s journey to professional hockey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a relentless work ethic. Unlike...

Alexandre Daigle’s hockey career is one of the most well-known cautionary tales in NHL history. Once the first overall pick in the 1993...

Making the leap from being a player to a coach in youth hockey can be exciting yet overwhelming. It offers a chance to give back to the sport you love while facing the challenge of guiding the next generation of athletes. To transition effectively, you need more than game knowledge—it's about changing your mindset and expanding your skill set. Here’s how you can navigate this rewarding shift.

Navigating the junior hockey team selection process can feel overwhelming for young athletes and their families. With tryouts, skills assessments, and understanding what coaches want, it’s easy to feel lost. This guide aims to clarify the selection pathway, providing practical information that aspiring players need to position themselves for success.

Disclosure: I wrote this article in February 2025, when I as a 'free agent', and before I joined a team as General Manager.

Disclosure: I wrote this article in February 2025, when I as a 'free agent', and before I joined a team as General Manager. For aspiring...

In the world of hockey, there comes a time when a player or their family may feel a change of scenery is necessary. Whether it's due to lack of playing time, team culture, coaching style, development opportunities, or personal reasons, requesting a trade is a big decision that needs to be handled the right way. How you approach this situation can significantly impact not only the outcome but also your reputation in the hockey community.

For hockey players, coaches, and parents, the world of Junior hockey can often feel like an ever-evolving puzzle, with multiple moving pieces and unexpected twists and turns. It’s a sport built on passion, teamwork, and an insatiable drive to improve every single day. And yet, behind the on-ice action, there lies a realm of administrative work, roster building, budgeting, and season-planning that can be just as crucial to a team’s success as any perfectly executed power play.

When discussing the success or potential of a hockey player, it’s all too common for the conversation to revolve around goals, assists,...

Success in hockey, as in life, is never a guarantee of job security. I learned this the hard way.

Brandon Hagel’s journey to the NHL and Team Canada is one of perseverance, resilience, and a relentless work ethic. For players, parents,...

1. NCAA Eligibility Change The NCAA Division I Council has ruled that Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players are now eligible for NCAA...

For many young hockey players, the idea of “trusting the process” is difficult to grasp.

For many families, hockey is more than a sport—it’s a way of life. Rinks become second homes, tournaments turn into family vacations, and...

In today’s competitive hockey landscape, players and parents are always looking for the best opportunities for development, exposure, and advancement. It’s natural to want the best possible environment—strong coaching, a competitive team, and a clear path to the next level. But in the pursuit of the "perfect" situation, many players fall into the trap of club hopping —switching teams frequently in search of better opportunities.

Breaking into the world of junior hockey coaching can be challenging, but with the right approach, qualifications, and understanding of the landscape, you can land your first coaching job. Whether you're looking to be a head coach, an assistant, or even a video coach, knowing what teams value, the differences between tiers, and what makes a good organization can help you make the right move.

In hockey, the highlight-reel players often get the most attention. Fans love the dazzling goals, end-to-end rushes, and flashy...

One of the hardest parts of hockey is dealing with coaches, teammates, and criticism. Learning how to handle tough coaching, conflicts,...

Every year, junior hockey teams across North America hold prospects camps to evaluate potential players, identify future talent, and...