Nathan MacKinnon was the first overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft.
In his first year with the Colorado Avalanche he:
- Put up 63 points in 82 regular season games – rounding out to 0.77 points per game.
- Went over a point a game in the postseason as he racked up an additional 10 points in 7 playoff games.
- Capped off his first season by winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year
He was on the big stage and everything was looking up.
Heck, he was getting mentored by and training with Sidney Crosby – one of the best players in the game.
So, he had all these things going for him and he was getting ready for year two, where he was expected to move into superstar status.
But what happened?
The Burden of Expectations
In his second season in the NHL, MacKinnon dropped to 38 points in 64 games – a disappointing result relative to the high expectations and hype surrounding him.
Reflecting after the season, he stated that he might have been too confident going in – he was still riding the high from the previous year.
This is a classic example where the expectations and ‘shoulds’ create noise and tension in a player’s mind, which ultimately decreases their performance.
So with something to prove going into his third NHL season, he ended up getting his production back up to 52 points in 72 games – about the same points per game as his first season.
But he was still not where he wanted to be.
The Compound Effect of Negative Results
At this point, he had not achieved his desired results in back to back seasons. This created a compound effect which, for most athletes, fuels their inner critic and erodes their self-confidence.
Things didn’t get any better for MacKinnon in his fourth season. His results decreased again – this time he only put up 53 points in 82 games – 10 points less than his first season in the NHL.
After four seasons in the NHL he was beyond frustrated.
He had mentally hit rock bottom in his professional career – on the Spittin’ Chiclets Podcast he revealed how he was comparing himself to Austin Matthews, Connor McDavid, and Nikita Kucherov.
Not only did comparing his results to Connor McDavid’s 100 point season eat him up inside as a hockey player, but it also made him question his whole identity as a person.
In a way, he was experiencing imposter syndrome. He was questioning his ability as a player and if he would ever amount to all the hype.
So what did he do?
The Turning Point
Finally, MacKinnon made the decision to start working on the one area of his game he had not given his full attention – the mental game.
He made it a priority and found a Sport Psychologist. He learned how to manage his emotions so he could deal with all the pressure and expectations. He developed strategies to help block out the noise and focus on the things within his control.
By working on his mental game he was able to find personalized strategies that worked for him and a new way to think about the game.
What were the results?
His next season he doubled his points per game – finishing with 97 points in 74 games played.
He finally entered into superstar status and he has never looked back since.
Notably, he has gone on to:
- Win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2020 for the most Sportsmanlike Player
- Win the Stanley Cup in 2022
- And put up 111 points in 71 games for a 1.56 points per game in the 22/23 season
Case in point – no player is too good to work on the Mental Game.
The Best Athletes Prioritize their Mental Game
In fact, it’s often the best players that attribute a large part of their success to their mental game.
Look no further than: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Cristiano Rinaldo, Lionel Messi, Christine Sinclair, Tom Brady, Simon Biles, Derek Jeter, Hayley Wickenheiser, and so many other elite athletes.
Not everyone is going to be Nathan MacKinnon, but everyone can benefit from working on their mental game.
Every Athlete Should be Consistently & Effectively Training Their Mind
We at CEP Mindset believe that every athlete should be consistently and effectively training their mind because it is the key to achieving Consistent Elite Performance, and more importantly, enjoying the journey.
But unfortunately, too many athletes are not effectively and consistently training their mind. They are left with inconsistent results and end up getting frustrated with themselves and the game they love.
The good news is you don’t have to figure out how to effectively train your mind on your own, and you don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom.
Our CEP Mindset system has helped over 10,000 athletes. Whether you are at the top of the game like MacKinnon or you are currently underperforming – our system delivers repeatable and reliable results.
We rely on 4 practical and fundamental strategies that need to be personalized for you. These strategies have worked for professional and Olympic athletes, as well as amateur and youth athletes.
As a result, we have become one of the largest mental performance coaching firms in the world – so when you are ready for 1-on-1 mental game coaching, just click the button below to get started and we will find the CEP coach that is the best fit for you.
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.
