Being an athlete has always been a part of my identity. Whether it was hockey, baseball, soccer, track & field, golf—you name a sport, I’ve probably played it. I never once considered myself anything but an athlete.
I always thought my natural athletic abilities would take me far, but as I got older, it became apparent that I needed to put in the work. Throughout high school, the effort I invested helped me play on some of the top hockey and baseball teams in British Columbia. I was on a path for success.
But one thing held me back…
Comparing Myself to Others
My goals had always been to become a college/university athlete in either hockey or baseball and hopefully turn pro. However, I often found myself caught up in comparing my progress to others.
I had teammates who were committing to Junior hockey teams, earning NCAA Div 1 scholarships, and even getting their shot at going pro. Instead of focusing on how I could improve, I constantly felt like the system was unfair and I played the victim. I felt I was working just as hard as everyone else, but not getting the same opportunities.
This way of thinking sent me into a downward spiral. The more opportunities my teammates got, the more I became frustrated as I felt like I deserved better.
Comparing myself to others affected my performance and I constantly felt like I was falling behind others. I let the noise affect me in a negative way and I started to fall out of love with being an athlete.
Despite all this, my abilities on the ice still provided me with multiple chances to prove that I belonged at the highest level of hockey.
Not Being Ready for My Moment
With my teammates being called up to play for junior hockey teams, my goal was also to get called up to play for a British Columbia Hockey League team. In my 11th-grade year, I got my shot to play junior.
I remember the excitement of going to the rink that day, stepping on the ice for warm-up, and thinking about the opportunity I had to prove myself in the BCHL.
But this opportunity didn’t go as planned. I ended up playing only 3 shifts. It wasn’t the end of the world for me, but it was definitely disappointing.
They promised me another chance, and they delivered on that promise when I got into my second BCHL game. Surely, I couldn’t get fewer than 3 shifts, right?
Nope, I played just 1 shift that game. Even the backup goalie saw more ice than I did.
My mind spiraled after that game. I questioned whether I belonged and if I was given a fair opportunity to prove myself. This self-doubt affected my performance for the rest of the season with my own team.
Feeling hopeless, I believed my chances of playing college hockey, let alone junior hockey, were slipping away.
That summer after the season, I let the feeling of how unfair hockey was, lead me to practically giving up on my hockey goals. I didn’t train as hard or skate as much as usual; it was everything but a normal summer for me as an athlete.
Not Being Ready for My Moment… Again
However, opportunity came knocking at my door again. I received an invite to an Alberta Junior Hockey League camp and I was ready to take advantage of the chance.
The only problem was, I had barely trained all summer. I scrambled to skate, work out, and get myself prepared, but it was too little, too late.
I hadn’t prepared myself physically and mentally for my moment.
I was cut early in the camp and sent home, wondering what my next move would be. Once again, I felt like I had squandered an opportunity to play junior hockey.
Rediscovering My Love for the Journey
That year, the Covid-19 pandemic arrived. With lots of time at home, I slowed down and reflected on my hockey career thus far.
While also taking psychology courses at that time, I realized that I needed to work on my mindset. My reflections helped me come to the conclusion that my energy in the past was spent being focused on others, instead of preparing for my moment.
From this realization, I learned how to focus on my own process. I built my own personal scorecard to reflect daily with, rediscovered my “why” for playing hockey, and put my enjoyment of the journey ahead of all else.
My love for hockey began to return, especially my love for training to become a great hockey player.
While my hockey plans didn’t unfold exactly as I had hoped, I ended up playing 4 years of junior hockey and loved every moment of it. Though it was challenging to be a full-time university student while playing junior hockey, I always looked forward to my time at the rink.
The journey of hockey had brought me to this point and thankfully, I came across an opportunity to learn more about the mental game.
The Perfect Role – CEP
Once I connected with CEP Mindset, I knew this was a role that would be perfect for me. As someone who was unsure of what to study at the University of British Columbia as an undergraduate, reconnecting with sports through mental performance and psychology has been immensely rewarding.
One thing I always share with my athletes today is how I wish I had the mental toolbox to handle those big moments, as I know it would’ve given me a different perspective and a better way to handle adversity.
Being a Mental Performance Coach has allowed me to help athletes embrace the journey, immerse themselves in the process, and ultimately achieve Consistent Elite Performance.
Nicholas Santino is a Senior High-Performance Coach, PhD Candidate, and the official Mental Performance Consultant for Elite Prospects. From his specialized psychology research program, to his PhD studies, Nicholas has gained a tremendous foundation of knowledge and appreciation for the human experience. His passion for psychology has accumulated to a commitment to studying and applying positive psychology and stoicism. This commitment has led Nicholas to conduct many research studies focusing on understanding why and how some people thrive and prosper while others do not. His admiration for evidence-based solutions has propelled Nicholas to produce studies revolving around mindfulness, grit (perseverance and passion), performance, quality participation, social relationships, and well-being.
A Native of Quebec, Sara was part of the St. Lawrence University Women’s Ice Hockey team that competed in the NCAA Division 1 hockey league ECAC. During this time, Sara helped her team appear in four ECAC Hockey Tournaments and two NCAA Frozen Fours, and was a four-time member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Squad. Following her career at St. Lawrence University, Sara played one year of professional hockey with Lugano, where she truly honed her skills in understanding the intricate connection between mindset and performance.
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.
Natasha Habert draws from her training in sport and performance psychology, personal experiences as a competitive athlete, and deep passion for consistent high performance. She is a lifelong athlete and high performer, excelling in volleyball as both a player and coach.
Luciano’s hockey career is highlighted by his time playing college at the University of Victoria and two professional seasons in Europe. Throughout his career, he struggled with performance anxiety, a lack of consistency, fluctuations in confidence, and being caught in the results trap. This eventually led him to deviate from the main reason why anyone should play sports – for the enjoyment of the game. As a former athlete, Luciano has a unique understanding of the psychological pressures and struggles that athletes experience.
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.
Savannah Fitzgerald is earning her M.A. in Kinesiology, Sport Psychology Option at California State University, Fresno. Possessing an internal motor that fires her rage for success, Savannah forged this attribute over five years while competing as an NCAA D-I water polo player and swimmer. Combined with her opportunity to represent and compete for the United States, she feels that sport has significantly impacted her professional development. Due to her personal experience playing at all levels, Savannah’s passion for mental performance began when she struggled to overcome pre-competition nerves and post-competition processing. When she discovered a world out there that people were referring to as ‘sport psychology,’ she felt like a piece of her brain was unlocked. Reality shifted as she stumbled into a space consisting of the most beautiful blend of elite performance, mental well-being, and athletics.
Gabe is currently completing his Master’s in Counselling Psychology at the University of Victoria. Although Gabe played several years of high-level baseball, including a stint in the British Columbia Premier Baseball League (BCPBL), he chose hockey as his sport to pursue at the highest level possible. Gabe went on to play four years of junior hockey with the Richmond Sockeyes in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) while also coaching minor hockey. Prior to junior hockey, Gabe played 3 years in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) where he experienced the pressures and expectations of moving on to the next level. During those three years, Gabe constantly compared himself to others and struggled with coping when things did not go his way. Over time, he learned how to focus on his own process and path to the next level, while also developing strategies to improve well-being.
Louie is a mental performance coach from Toronto, Canada with a professional hockey career spanning over 14 years. Being a standout player at the University of Michigan, Louie was a Hobey Baker finalist and a 1st team All-American, which led him to getting drafted by the Ottawa Senators and playing in renowned leagues across the globe, including the DEL, SHL, and AHL.
Mia Landry is a former varsity hockey player at Brock University, where she competed at the USPORT level and was part of the 2021-22 OUA gold medal team. Mia currently represents Canada on the Women’s National Ball Hockey team and is pursuing a Master of Kinesiology Sport Psychology at her alma mater. Her research focuses on areas such as team cohesion, group dynamics, leadership styles, and sports culture.
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.
Max is currently attending William James College, where he is earning a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and a Masters Degree in Professional Psychology. During his time as an undergraduate student, Max was inducted into the International Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi), and played on the Quinnipiac University men’s club ice hockey team.
