Categories for Announcements
April 5, 2022 3:53 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Often, you’ll hear the phrase “be a student of the game”, but does your athlete truly understand the meaning of this. The impact of living this this idea to its fullest can be profound! No different than our effort and application in the classroom at school the same needs to be done around the sport.
- “Listen” don’t “hear”
- Take the coaching and apply it! Listen and embody the lessons being taught, don’t just hear the coach and settle back to your ways. Coachablity is KEY!
- “Watch + learn” don’t “space out”
- Be totally engaged in the process of learning. When a drill is being done by others watch it like a hawk. The amount of growth that can be done simply by watching and learning from others positives and negatives is a difference maker in your development.
- What are you doing when no one is watching?
- The commitment to your craft cannot be a part time thing. If you have sincere goals about achieving great things in the sport then your commitment off the ice needs to be as sincere as those goals. Shooting-stick handling at home daily, a healthy diet, working on your athleticism, constant self-reflection; not only on your goals but with your mindset and mental approach to your growth.
There is NO better than moment than right now to develop your off-season plan and lay the foundation to become an “A” student of the game!
March 29, 2022 3:43 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
When it comes to skating development, we get one recurring themed question above the rest. “Can you help my child get faster?” That answer is always YES! Here’s an awesome at home off-season training exercises to build that speed!
Making your speed and lower body strength training a priority is a must this off-season! Even something as simple as a quick 5-10 minute series of quick feet and jumping exercises will make a world of difference!
February 14, 2022 7:06 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
We’re down to the wire! Whether your team is in position to take home a championship or you’re seeing the season end in sight – There’s no better time than this moment to finish the season off the right way!
Prioritize what matters most right now:
- Your contributions to your team
- Focus on your controllables and give nothing short of your best every time you have an opportunity to contribute.
- Your mindset
- Shift at a time mentality. Every rep, every shift, every practice, every game – you’re ascending to the best version of yourself!
- Your perspective
- Take a step back [metaphorically] and don’t lose sight how much fun you’re having. The laughs with teammates, pressure situations in games, depleted feeling you get when you know you gave it your 100% – These experiences are a gift, cherish them!
Block out the noise:
- Upcoming Tryouts
- They don’t matter right now. Fun fact; the better you perform today will provide more for you tomorrow!
- Spring Sports
- They’re not going anywhere.
- Lingering frustrations
- Lows and challenges are what make the successes that much sweeter. Some of the most successful athletes will tell you – “you’ve got to have short memory.” It takes a lot more energy out of your battery to hold on to something versus letting it go and moving forward!
Leave everything you have on the ice – skate with no regrets down these final few weeks!!!
January 13, 2022 3:57 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
As the second half of the season heats up. The uptick in the stress and anxiety is likely to follow. Here’s some helpful tips to help combat these challenges and create a different mental approach to tackling them head on!
Awareness
Become aware of the thoughts that are present in your mind. Identify the good-bad, positive-negative, happy-sad.
Intentional Breathing
2 Minute Drill // Hyper focused on your breathing. Mouth closed and following the breath in through your nose, deep into the belly and out through the nose. Repeat this steadily for 2 straight minutes. Extra credit, mix in some visualization of your goals you’re working to accomplish.
Dictate your positive mindset
Begin choosing positive thoughts that will soon change the way you feel about yourself and the upcoming game and adversities ahead.
Commit to these simple steps and you will go from feeling bogged down with stress and anxiety, to feeling more relaxed and clearer minded as you work to become the best version of yourself!
For more information on this and many other powerful mental tools to help give you the mental edge, please connect with coach Jacob via email, jacob@ohiohockeyproject.com or cell phone, 951-491-4666
October 15, 2021 2:27 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
The start of a new season provides athletes and their families a great opportunity to make it a year to remember! Here’s a few tips for parents to make sure they stay their athlete’s #1 Fan!
- Emphasize Learning
- Do all that you can to learn with them; reading books about hockey, watching educational videos on YouTube, watching NHL games with your athlete. If you put the effort in, your athlete will too! Remember and embrace the educational process of the sport!
- Patience + Perspective
- Be there with them, and be patient with them! Highs and lows are a necessary prerequisite for success – in anything! It’s how we grow. Remember the bigger picture. Team sports is an accelerator of a child’s life skills that help shape who they become tomorrow! Hockey is game, and we as parents can go above and beyond to make it fun and a positive life changing experience.
- Be active – Be present
- Research has proven time and time again that parents who are actively involved with their young athlete’s team and career will lead to a better relationship with their child, improved performance for their child, and overall personal fulfillment. Help score keep, organize a team dinner/party, bring some extra team spirit for the families to rally behind the team at games.
- Be a parent and not a coach
- Remember your child gets an earful every time they walk into a rink. They don’t always need an earful in the car or at the dinner table too. Sure, give them the extra kick in the butt when they need it, but more times than not, they need a break and they need your love, positivity and wonderful parental support!
Take these tips into this season and it will be the best hockey season yet!
October 16, 2020 2:48 pm
Published by Joe Young
As athletes, it is important to remember to not only take care of the body but to also take care of the mind! Maintaining a healthy mindset can help propel your athlete’s development to a whole new level! Here are a few awesome tips to maintain a healthy mindset through the year:
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Choose and maintain a positive attitude.
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Maintain a high level of self-motivation.
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Set high, realistic goals.
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Use positive self-talk + mental imagery.
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Stay focused on the goals in front of you
Many athletes forget to take care of their minds, as well as their bodies. If your mental state isn’t where it needs to be, your development as an athlete and as a person could suffer. Remember to take care of YOU!
Keep staying healthy and positive amidst these challenging times!
April 6, 2020 6:38 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Things work out best, for those who make the best out of the way things turn out.
This was the first quote you would read when you walk into the Portland Pirates [AHL] locker room. Now, years removed from that time in my life, that quote has a greater meaning than I would’ve ever thought! Translation: Positivity needs to be your best friend when you deal with adversity.
This is a time of unprecedented adversity we’re all managing through. While working through this COVID challenge why not frame it with a positive lens… The time off can be more beneficial than you know – IF you use it wisely! Look at this time off as an opportunity! An opportunity to buckle down on school work, spend quality time with family, lock in on your nutrition, make at-home fitness a daily priority.
Now more than ever a routine is critical! We hope everyone is staying healthy during the time off!
March 12, 2020 1:36 am
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Having a plan in place is paramount to maximizing your off-season. Just as every player is unique, so should each player’s plan for development! Here’s a few key factors to work into your game plan as you’re mapping it out!
- Targeted Areas of Improvement
- Be critical and assess your deficiencies.
- Action Plan
- Once you’ve identified areas in your game you need to improve – now what’s your plan? From home workouts, to shooting/stick handling in the basement, to getting on the ice. Have a plan, and stick to it!
- Set Goals
- Once your plan is in place, SET GOALS. Time your mile run, shoot “X” number of pucks per week, workout “X” times per week, the list is endless. Make the effort of recording tangible results. This will go further than you can imagine – the numbers don’t lie!
- Strategic Breaks
- This is the X-factor that separates good off-seasons from great off-seasons! Take breaks, enjoy time away from the sport. Your body and your mind NEED these breaks! Be strategic in planning; perhaps right after tryouts for a few weeks, or maybe at the end of the summer before the school and hockey year starts back up again.
We can’t wait to have an awesome spring and off-season with everyone!
February 20, 2020 7:08 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
It’s easy to overlook the value and impact that a player’s confidence has on their performance. Unlike other tangible skills – you can’t see it, touch it, measure it… The positive (or negative) affects your confidence can have on your game is undeniable! Confidence ultimately comes from within, although there’s are a few guidelines that can help boost that confidence and help take your game to the next level!
Put in the work!!!
If you’ve put in the work, then know you’re prepared! Hard work + preparation are key in your foundation for success!
“One shift at a time” Mentality
Nothing is ever done overnight. Your growth is all a part of your process. Take one shift at a time, one period, one game, one weekend. Never too high, never too low.
Be Resilient
Criticism can be positive if you choose to accept it from that perspective. Never the less, you’ve got to be tough! Filter the negative and stay in YOUR lane!
Have a great finish to the season, and best of luck heading into the spring! We can’t wait to see everyone soon!
January 30, 2020 3:52 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Good question! Over the years you would be amazed with some of the stuff we’ve seen smuggled in our athlete’s hockey bags! What should be in my hockey bag? Besides your equipment – the necessities! Here’s my go-to traveling set up:
- Equipment Bag [A MUST]
- This is the home of your tape, wax, mouth guard, scissors, extra laces, healthy snack. A few nice additional items could be extra helmet pieces, band aids, and a few quarters for bubble hockey.
- Athletic Apparel
- You warm up before you take the ice… RIGHT???
- Shoes, shorts, and of course a locker lid to keep the flow out of your face.
- Jersey-Socks
- 1 set for practice
- 1 set for games
- When pre-packing your gear, plan accordingly for your next on ice event.
Best of luck in the final month of the season! We can’t wait to hear about all the amazing achievements!