In every hockey arena, you’ll find kids with the latest $400 stick, brand-new skates, or the flashiest gloves. And while gear has its place, none of it determines who will succeed in the long run. The truth is, not every player will be the best on their team or even in their local association. And that’s okay.
The Real Measure of Success
Success in hockey isn’t defined by medals, rankings, or being the top scorer. It’s measured by growth;how much you learn, how much you improve, and how much you enjoy playing the game. Some players will become stars, but for most, the real victory is discovering resilience, discipline, and the joy of being part of a team.
Should an “A” Player Be Guaranteed a Spot?
Every year, the same question comes up: if a player was on an A team last season, should they automatically get a spot again this year? The answer is simple,no! Hockey isn’t about entitlement; it’s about effort. Each season is a fresh start, and players grow, change, and develop at different paces.
Last year’s A player who coasted through the off-season may fall behind, while another player who worked tirelessly on skating, conditioning, and attitude may leap ahead. A spot on any team, A, B, or C,should always be earned, not guaranteed. This keeps the process fair and motivates all players to put in the work.
How to Become “The Best” in Your Association
Being the best doesn’t always mean scoring the most goals. It means showing up with the right attitude every day.
* Work Hard in Practice: Effort counts. The players who push themselves in drills, skate until their legs burn, and don’t take shortcuts are the ones coaches notice.
* Listen to Your Coaches: Great players aren’t just skilled—they’re coachable. Taking feedback seriously, trying new things, and being willing to learn separates leaders from followers.
* Be a Good Teammate: Encouraging others, passing the puck, and celebrating teammates’ successes makes you stand out far more than a flashy play ever could.
* Stay Consistent: Improvement doesn’t happen once a week at practice. The best players put in the extra time, shooting in the driveway, working on strength and flexibility, and paying attention to recovery.
The Attitude Advantage
You can’t control your height, genetics, or which team you’re placed on. But you can control your effort, attitude, and willingness to learn. Those traits will carry you further than any expensive stick ever will. Coaches will always value the player who shows discipline, perseverance, and heart over the one who relies only on natural talent.
Hockey and Life: Beyond the Rankings
At the end of the day, most kids won’t play in the NHL. But every kid can walk away from minor hockey with something more important: life lessons about effort, teamwork, and self-belief.
It’s okay not to be the best today. What matters is that you show up ready to work, ready to learn, and ready to play the game you love. That’s how you truly become the best…on the ice, and off it.
Part 2
Why It’s Okay If Your Child Isn’t on Their Friends’ Team
When rosters are announced each season, there’s excitement but sometimes disappointment too. Maybe your child isn’t placed on the same team as their best friend, cousin, or classmate. It’s natural for kids to feel upset, and for parents to want things rearranged. But here’s the truth: this isn’t a setback, it’s one of the best opportunities minor hockey has to offer.
Hockey isn’t just about skating, shooting, and winning. It’s about teamwork, adaptability, and resilience. And those lessons grow even stronger when kids find themselves surrounded by new teammates.
When players aren’t with their usual friends, they get the chance to:
* Build new friendships and expand their hockey family.
* Learn how to work with different personalities, a skill that matters on and off the ice.
* Grow resilience when things don’t go exactly the way they hoped.
Of course, friendships matter. But there are many other ways for kids to play with their friends:
* Rent ice together for a fun skate or practice.
* Play shinny at local rinks, indoors or outdoors.
* Join summer camps, skills sessions, or 3-on-3 leagues where friends can be grouped together more easily.
Friendship and fun don’t need to be tied to a single roster spot.
Why Associations Must Sometimes Say “No”
It’s understandable that parents want their child on the same team as their friends, it feels easier, it’s more convenient, and it may seem like it keeps kids and parents happy. But when parents demand special placement, an association has a duty to say no. Here’s why:
1. Fairness to all players. If two children are placed together for convenience, another child may be forced onto the wrong level. That hurts their development and disrupts team balance.
2. Team parity. The goal of minor hockey is to keep teams competitive and fun. Special requests create stacked teams or weak ones, making the experience worse for everyone else.
3. Responsibility to the whole community. Parents, by nature, focus on their own child. Associations, however, are responsible for all children. Their duty is to create a fair, structured environment where every player has the chance to succeed.
The Bigger Picture
If your child says, “I’m not with my friends this year,” remind them: they’ll still see their buddies at the rink, and now they also have the chance to make new friends. Every season brings new challenges, new teammates, and new opportunities to grow.
That’s what makes minor hockey special. It’s not just about who’s on your line, it’s about effort, attitude, and the joy of playing the game. And when kids learn to embrace that, they gain lessons that last far beyond the ice.
Author: Geremy Miller