Tag Archive: Cleveland hockey
April 30, 2018 3:38 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
If you’re working for greatness (which we know you are), challenges are inevitable. Embrace the hard lessons and grow from them, rather than letting them discourage you!
- Failures & Setbacks A.K.A. “Adversity”
- Every failed goal is a lesson learned! Understand what you did wrong and grow stronger from each mistake. When living in the moment adversity can be brutal. However, adversity builds character, and having strong character is one incredible trait!
- Sacrifice
- Sacrifice can come in countless forms. However, bottom line, you’ve got to put in the work, make the commitment, and be tunnel focused on your goals!
- Passion
- You’ve got to love what you do! Having an obsession to work, grow, and improve is a key trait of success!
We’re excited to watch everyone work towards greatness this off-season!
April 15, 2018 8:43 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
So often we overlook the true value and impact of confidence. Unlike other tangible skills; you can’t see it, touch it, measure it… However, as an athlete you sure can feel and experience it! It’s unbelievable what confidence can do for your game! Confidence ultimately comes from within, although there’s are a few guidelines that can help boost that confidence and take your game to the next level!
- Put in the work!!!
- If you’ve put in the work, then know you’re prepared! Now just trust your training!
- “One shift at a time” mentality
- Nothing is ever done overnight. Your growth and improvements are 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 mindset. Never the less, you’ve got to be tough! Filter the negative and stay YOUR course!
Be confident and enjoy the process along the way!
April 2, 2018 3:11 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
A wise hockey mind once told me: “There’s no such thing as over training, just under recovery.” Even the most passionate, committed individuals need a break from time to time.
No time is better than the present! Get away from the game, even if only for a week. Make the most out of the physical and mental rest.
We’re looking forward to getting back after it when you are! Have an awesome Spring Break!
March 14, 2018 5:36 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Consistency is KEY! Any player can go out and have a great game from time to time. However, a really special player can do it weekend after weekend throughout a season. Consistent performance will ultimately develop from a few critical foundational points.
- Preparation
- Practice habits, off-ice training, nutrition, focus level in the locker room, rest away from the rink, being a student of the game, and oh yea-Practice Habits!!!
- Mindset
- Set your mind to be successful. Change the channel on the negative, and harness the power of the positive thoughts! I’m a huge fan of positive self-talk: “You’re going to be great today, be the best version of yourself!”
- Confidence
- Trust your training! Confidence comes from within. Lock in the mindset and lean on your preparation and the confidence will surely follow!
February 28, 2018 3:08 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
The recurring topic of: recruiting, evaluations, and “Scouting” comes up all so often. Understandably, for good reason, as every player aspires to advance to the highest levels they’re capable of. Here’s some helpful insight to gain an understanding as your athlete works toward their dreams:
Mite – Bantam Level Players
Spoiler alert: There’s no scouts in the stands handing out scholarships. Perhaps the odd HS coach taking a look; but that’s about it. From an evaluation stand-point the following characteristics are prioritized:
- Raw Ability
- This will always jump off the page at any level. However, a player’s skill is only one part of the equation.
- Effort Level
- Better believe evaluators are looking for the details in a player’s work ethic. Stopping on pucks, competing in ALL battles, etc.
- Attitude/Coach-ability
- Does a player apply what they’re being taught? Are they carrying themselves with a positive attitude and “team-first” mentality?
Midget – Jr Level Players
If you’re sincere about truly taking your game to the highest level of Jr, NCAA, or beyond this is where the real work begins.
- Raw Ability
- No question you have to have the skill set to produce at the “next level”.
- Potential
- It’s not necessarily about the player you are today, as it is the player that you can become tomorrow.
- Needs of that team
- STATS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER. Sure, they can help, but believe me, scouts are looking at the role you will fill on their team, not just your points!
February 1, 2018 12:26 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Let us save you a lot of stress and time; no such person exists. The real question is “who’s the perfect coach for me?” This of course depends on the scenario, as each and every one of us demand a different, and unique set of needs. However, in your search, if you can feel confident with any (or all) of the following criteria, we know you’re moving towards a great match!
- Will this coach believe in my athlete?
- This belief in your athlete is of course earned. However, finding a coach that truly invests in your child is an amazing trait to seek out. Aside from their confidence in your child’s ability, finding a coach that allows his/her players the freedom to fail is hugely important for their individual growth and long-term development.
- Does this coach have a good sense on skill development?
- Simply put, does he/she understand how to improve your child’s skills and abilities?
- What is their mission for the season?
- Winning is almost irrelevant. Sure, the success is great, but what is really being taught to your child… Attitude, work ethic, accountability, team play, should be at the top of the list!
For our elder players looking to make the jump beyond Midget/Varsity/Prep, another important factor should be:
- Is my coach well connected?
- Of course, their connections are meaningless if your performance and intangibles don’t warrant your advancement. However, having a well-connected coach, or at least one that you trust is willing to go the extra mile to advance your career is a great trait to find!
January 16, 2018 3:09 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
Now that we’re deep into the grind of our season’s demands; feeling beaten up, tired, sore, and physically-emotionally drained are all part of the process of your development. Now more than ever you need to make your recovery a priority! Here’s a few pieces of advice that will pay off huge for your athlete!
- Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition!!!
- You’ve got to fuel your efforts with a well-balance diet! A majority of our on and off-ice goals will come from our discipline in the kitchen and at the table!
- Sleep
- It’s amazing what a 7-8hr night of sound sleep can do for your body. Make your bedtime a priority!
- Stretching
- Let’s be honest we all neglect this! No question the pre-workout/skate dynamic warmup is essential. But who’s stretching beyond this…? Take 5 minutes out of your night to roll through a quick lower body sequence before you go to bed! It’s a game changer!
- Mental Approach!
- Yes, the power of the mind! When you leave the rink, leave the mental baggage there too! Allow your mind to change the channel to your other happy places of friends, family, and passions.
Keep pushing through the final month and a half of the season!!!
December 29, 2017 3:42 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
There’s no better time than NOW to reset, reevaluate, and develop your plan of attack for 2018. We hope everyone has had a great, refreshing holiday break. Reflecting on the first half of the season, its important to celebrate the positive accomplishments, as well as embrace the constructive criticisms and hard lessons learned thus far.
Most importantly what’s your plan to make 2018 your year? It’s about the action, not the reaction! Set a series of attainable goals that fuel each other to help you be the perfect version of yourself this year!
We’re excited to watch you all dominate in 2018!
December 14, 2017 3:22 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
With the Holidays right around the corner we imagine new hockey sticks are being manufactured non-stop at Santa’s workshop… Here’s three easy guidelines when helping fulfill the “new hockey stick” request from your athlete’s wish list:
- Flex is key!
- Arguably the most important factor when selecting a stick. Be sure your athlete is able to flex their stick with minimal effort. Weight and strength are big components on what flex your athlete will need. Stick flex is what helps deliver velocity and release ability on our shots.
- Blade Pattern matters.
- Don’t just grab any stick off the rack. The curve of the blade is very important, this is what determines how the puck releases on your shots. Check out this super helpful GUIDE.
- Look past the graphics!
- Naturally the inner marketing victim in all of us will gravitate to certain brands, colors, graphic, etc. However, do your best to look beyond the marketing. Seek to find the right combination of flex and blade pattern before you look brand specific.
Have an amazing Holiday Season everyone! We hope to see you over the break!
November 30, 2017 1:44 pm
Published by Russ Sinkewich
FACT: Positive thoughts & mindset will produce positive actions and results!
When you’re in a position to complain about anything, you’re also in a position to do something positive about it. And that’s a whole lot more effective than complaining. If you have a good reason to be frustrated, you also have a good reason to point the energy of that frustration in a positive direction. By doing so, you’d be amazed by change you’re able to create!
Whenever something is frustrating you, (ice time, coaching criticism, teammate issues, your performance, etc.) you’re highly motivated to find a way to move beyond it. Harness the energy of that frustration to improve the situation or to grow yourself beyond it. Any time you experience disappointment, you’ve learned a valuable lesson. From there you can go forward, and make that disappointment into a positive turning point. Every day, life comes your way, and it’s impossible to predict or control what’s’ to come. Yet no matter what you get, you always have the choice of what to do with it.
No matter what, never lose the positivity!!!