QUICK SHOT: At the professional level, Scouts and Coaches often look for “Players with Character”.  Teams that succeed in any sport are reported to have a bench “deep in talent, character and heart”.  It has been said that hockey breeds “character” into the DNA of the people who play, and those who have played it long enough understand what that might mean to them.  Those who are new to the Game or who have never played the Game, may know amateur and professional hockey players, who are known to possess a strong work ethic and if they have been well-coached and they invested in the learning process, they will likely possess an obvious “character”.

Long Version: One of my own favourite intangible things about hockey is its ability to naturally develop “character” in its participants, and the type of character that best-selling author James A. Michener describes:


“Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries”

I met with Todd Warriner, a retired NHL player and former 1st Round Jr. A prospect recently, who says this:

“In the pool of highly-skilled and talented players, it is grit that is often the singular factor that stands out to the Scouts, Coaches and Organizations at the Junior and Professional levels”.
Todd Warriner

Hockey is sometimes pretty and always gritty; and it is grit, I believe that helps us keep our chins up through life’s adversity.  Grit, perseverance and stick-with-it-ness, as Don Cherry calls it, are enough to accomplish almost anything in life, and without any of those ingredients, it is fair to estimate failure to be the more likely outcome.

I believe the Hockey Playing Nations around the world, are special in part because the societies built around Sports like hockey, create “hockey people” who possess a special kind of “heart”, and character; and a unique grit that supports, promotes and ensures their survival and success because of related undeniable, palpable inner strength.

Professional Hockey Players are human, which, by definition means they are flawed like all humans.  Character development in all people, including rising sports stars must be nurtured, monitored, and managed.  Behaviour regulation strategies throughout any young person’s development are key components that help hockey players retain composure and level headed-ness, on and off the ice.  This one skill is vital in hockey for its absence, results in very negative on-ice consequence.  This skill of composure developed by all hockey players who play a type of game that enables them to play for any length of time, converts naturally to success in life, and well outside the arena of hockey.

It is vital that leadership on Teams and in Sport Organizations at the Youth Levels, be aware they are often the early, and primary source of good, and bad behaviour role models.  It is clear from volumes and decades of research that humans, especially impressionable children and young adults learn by example; in fact scientists have determined that our brains become programmed through its “mirror neurons” which have influence on our behaviour. Monkey see. Monkey Do! 

Our early Coaches and Teams have a significant influence on our future, both on and off the ice.  In my own case I can honestly say that I learned important life lessons simply by playing The Game; and sometimes because of what the Coaches said to me and more often, what they didn’t have to say because of what I believed was expected of me by the Standards they set early.  Standards of excellence and, of character are naturally engrained into hockey players and it is in these types of intangible hockey traits, many players would agree, we (hockey players) have a distinct advantage in life; in the classroom; at our place of employment; when raising kids; and within our Communities.
 
Message to our Hockey Leaders and Parents: If we, the leaders live with “good character”, then our Youth athletes will inherit the same behaviour patterns.  The opposite is also true.  Your players and players within your entire Organizations are watching your every move.  You are a big reason I committed to schooling; because you told me to believe in myself when I was a Youth Hockey player, and you told me, and I believed you, that I could do anything I put my mind to.   You are the reason this book is possible.  Thank you Coaches, Volunteers and Parents of Hockey.

Message to all Players of all ages:  We the Leaders and Parents care about you and your future. We promise to do our best and to lead by good example. Believe in yourself and you will become the leaders of tomorrow.  The character you develop as a hockey player will become the biggest Award you earn from hockey and it is this one prestigious Award that you will all carry for the rest of your life.  Be proud of being a hard worker; be proud of who you are; understand that hockey players have an advantage in life because we are hard workers; Play hard; Play fair and always believe that you can do anything you put your mind to and invest enough energy into.

 See ya at the rink,
Jody Anderson

@DoctorJody
#HockeyMATTERS