With mental toughness always being a key to solid hockey play, we’re thrilled to once again present Shawnee Harle’s monthly insights into that area. And, in this video, she addresses an obvious concern with “Negative Self-talk”!
Better puck support is one of the most important team habits young hockey players can learn, yet it is often one of the most misunderstood. Many young players focus almost entirely on the puck carrier, thinking the job is done once someone has control of the puck. In reality, hockey is a game of constant movement, spacing, and decision-making. Strong puck support gives teammates options, reduces turnovers, and helps young players feel more confident when they have the puck on their stick.
The blue line is where offense and defense collide, and decisions made in this small area can quickly lead to scoring chances or costly turnovers. Players who learn to recognize pressure early gain more time, make smarter plays, and stay confident with the puck. Understanding how to read pressure helps players at every position, especially defensemen and forwards entering the offensive zone.
When breakouts are rushed, sloppy, or unorganized, teams spend too much time defending and chasing the puck. When breakouts are smart and consistent, players gain confidence, create offense, and control the pace of the game.
Choosing the right hockey stick flex can feel confusing, especially when players hear different advice from teammates, coaches, and sporting goods stores. Stick flex might sound like a small detail, but it plays a major role in shooting power, accuracy, puck control, and overall confidence on the ice. Understanding the science behind stick flex helps players make smarter choices that match their body, strength, and playing style, instead of guessing or copying someone else’s setup.
Tempo is the speed and rhythm of the game, and learning how to change it at the right moments can separate smart players from players who only rely on speed. Hockey is not played at one constant pace. The best teams know when to attack fast, when to slow things down, and how to control momentum during a shift, a period, or an entire game.
Every hockey player has experienced a bad shift. It might be a turnover that leads to a goal, a missed assignment in the defensive zone, or a penalty taken at the worst possible time. In those moments, confidence can disappear fast. Players often replay the mistake over and over in their minds, and before they know it, one bad shift turns into a bad period or even a bad game.
Better fuel leads to better skating, yet many hockey players never think about what they eat or drink until they feel tired halfway through a game. Skating is one of the most demanding skills in hockey because it requires speed, power, balance, and quick recovery between shifts. When the body does not have the right fuel, even strong skaters can look slow and sloppy. Learning how nutrition affects skating helps players stay fast, focused, and confident from the first shift to the last.
A poorly timed line change can turn a good shift into a breakaway against, while a smart change can keep pressure on the opponent and lead directly to scoring chances. Learning how to time line changes correctly is not about being fancy or fast. It is about reading the game, communicating with teammates, and understanding responsibility…
Hockey is a fast, intense, highly demanding sport that requires quick bursts of speed, sharp decision-making, strong skating, and the ability to repeat those efforts over and over again. Because of that, what a player eats before stepping on the ice affects their energy level, focus, endurance, and recovery. Understanding the best combination of carbohydrates and protein before a game is important for any player who wants to feel strong, stay quick, and avoid running out of gas halfway through a period.