By Josh Levine
Let’s Play Hockey

The most fundamental and necessary attribute of a future top-notch hockey player is passion for the game. It is almost impossible for an athlete to reach the highest levels of hockey without having a passion for it. Given the importance of the passion factor, hockey associations and their development committees should be reviewing and assessing their ability to instill it in their players. Are Mites and 8U skaters coming off the ice with a smile? Or are they being run through an endless string of cone drills, standing in lines, working on systems, etc.? Below are just a few ideas of ways to help amp up the passion ingredient for youth hockey players, specifically at the Mite level.

Try some stick sled rides. Let the players grab on to the coaches’ sticks and have the coaches skate them around the ice. The kids LOVE it and leave the ice laughing and smiling, not to mention it’s a good workout for the coaches. If you only judge this exercise by its benefit to a player’s physical athleticism, it seems like a complete waste of time! In reality, it’s associating the hockey rink with fun and excitement, and building the foundation a player will need to put in thousands of training hours later.

Use games to make gains. Try this little experiment. Do edge work or skating drills with a bunch of Mite skaters. Watch them perform the drills. Then, have them play a game of freeze tag against the coaches. It’s amazing how quickly the tempo picks up. Imagine yourself as a Mite skater. A seemingly 12-foot coach is chasing you, so you turn right (inadvertently on your right inside edge), then left (oops, you did it again, now on your left inside edge), and finally as the coach sweeps his arms to tag, you make a last-ditch effort to avoid him by diving low (unknowingly developing the coordination, balance and agility necessary to become a hockey stud). Which provided a better training return? I’m a skating instructor who works with Mite programs, and I believe in the power of skating drills and instruction, but not as the sole focus of practice. 

High school players are the best motivators. Nothing compares to the impact a high school player can have by simply stepping on the ice and playing with some Mite skaters. Is there a better way to demonstrate to a seven-year-old how dedication to the game can help them develop some pretty awesome skills? 

Josh Levine is the Assistant Coach of the Bloomington Jefferson Girls Varsity Hockey team, owner of The Fortis Academy and founder of fortishockey.com.  Follow Fortis on Facebook and Instagram facebook.com/thefortisacademy and Instagram.com/thefortisacademy.