There are a lot of challenges when it comes to making the jump to junior hockey.
As a mental performance coach, my job is to help players have the right mindset to perform at their best when it matters most.
The concepts and strategies I teach are primarily focused on directly helping their on-ice performance, but there are a lot of challenges away from the ice as well.
The politics of agents, coaches, teams, leagues, and the NHL draft can cause a lot of internal noise.
I know a lot about the game from my own playing days, and I talk to players about these challenges daily – but I also know I’m not an agent or advisor.
My role is more about helping the player stay centred as they navigate their career.
The cross-over between agent and mental performance coach is unique, so a while back I recorded a series of podcasts with NHL Certified Agent Michael O’Rafferty.
We covered some key challenges that hockey players navigate as they climb the ranks.
The episodes include a great blend of both the Mental Performance side of staying centered and the Agent side of making educated and strategic decisions.
Check out the 4 episodes below:
Episode 1: When Should You Get an Agent?
One of the first early decisions is about getting agent. We unpack all the key questions to consider when making this decision.
Episode 2: The CHL vs NCAA
There are two distinct routes hockey players can take. In this episode, we breakdown the benefits and drawbacks of each so players can be more informed when the time comes to make this decision.
Episode 3: Going to the Next Level vs Staying Back to Dominate
Every jump in hockey has it challenges – whether it is going from minor to junior, tier II to tier I, or university to professional. This episode breaks down key considerations to make so that you are not trying to climb the ladder too fast but you also are not missing a good opportunity to grow.
Episode 4: How to Handle Conflict with your Coach
As you climb the ranks there will be conflicts with your coach. You might not see eye to eye or feel you are not being treated fairly. Chris De Piero and I did a whole season of Beyond the X’s and O’s called the Declaration of War Against the Old-School Coaching Mentality to help fight against the limiting beliefs and common coaching practices we see and hear about daily. But this episode more directly speaks to how you, as a player, can navigate your challenges with the coach in a tough situation.
I hope you find these podcasts helpful.
Blair has over 13 years of experience as a Professional Dancer, Assistant Dance Captain & Cast Manager, as well as an additional 17 years of training. Over the last 3 decades, she has lived and experienced first hand the highest of highs & lowest of lows that come with pursuing a career in the Performing Arts.
Alexis Woloschuk is a name synonymous with mental fortitude in the world of professional hockey. Throughout her career originating playing boys hockey, going to an academy away from home, playing her four years at Boston University and 7+ years in pro hockey she’s learned the importance of resilience, confidence, and dismissing both fear and other’s opinions. With a blend of relatability, confidence, and an acute understanding of playing to one’s potential, Alexis helps athletes reshape the way they perceive and harness the power of their minds.
Sean Mahoney is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and a Master’s candidate in the Sport and Performance Psychology program at the University of Denver. For as long as he can remember, Sean has been fascinated by human performance and how to gain an edge over the competition. For most of his athletic career, he focused on the physical aspect of performance but neglected the mental. Because of this, he struggled with performance anxiety, focus issues, and limiting beliefs pertaining to confidence and self-doubt. His lack of focus on optimizing his mental game prevented him from reaching his full potential.
As a former member of McMaster University’s women’s soccer team, Emilie intimately understands the demands and challenges athletes face on and off the field. Although she encountered many challenges as a high-level athlete, particularly struggling with self-doubt and overthinking, Emilie was able to make a remarkable transformation when she began to embrace the principles of sports psychology.
Danielle Hanus, MA
Monica Russell, MA
