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Minor hockey players encouraged to stay connected: Off the ice tips for young players

January 20, 2022   ·   0 Comments

The past couple of seasons have proved to be a real challenge for hockey players around the province.

Between restrictions, tournament cancellations, and season disruptions, playing the sport and keeping up with all that is going on is becoming difficult and disappointing for players who just want to get out on the ice and score some goals.

The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is offering some tips to players on how to stay connected to the sport during the current season pause:

Stay connected to your teammates: Keep in contact with your fellow players outside of the game. The sport creates a community and friends. Try to keep in touch when you’re not on the ice.

Keep practising: When you’re not on the ice, you should still keep your skills honed. You can still practice on your own. Whether it’s at a backyard rink or public outdoor ice pad, keep skating and practising your stick-handling and related hockey skills. That way, when the sport gets back underway, you’ll still be sharp.

Use your skills in everyday life: The skills you learn as an athlete can translate to everyday life. As an athlete you gain skills such as discipline, perseverance, self-improvement, and leadership. You can use those skills in other areas of your life. Use them to help with school work, or helping a friend through a difficult time.

Find the positive: Maintain a positive outlook during trying times. Take note of all the wins in your life and let them outweigh the negative things that happen.

Embrace the unknown: No matter how talented, smart, or capable a person is, you cannot predict or control everything. Keep a positive attitude and use that to bring others with you on a high note rather than dwell on things you can’t control. 

You can stay positive by making the current year a learning experience.

Connect with those around you, your fellow athletes, and coaches to keep moving ahead in difficult times.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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