It's All About Attitude

One of the most important things in life is to have a good attitude. Everything is made so much easier when you have a good outlook on things. In junior hockey, new faces come and go all the time, people wear down and give up because there is a lot of stress in this business. I know what it's like to feel that stress. I feel it every day. But I've learned the importance of being a team player and the importance of always having a good attitude in the last few days. We've had some drama on our team here in the past week, which I don't want to explain because everything I write is public, but it's been a learning experience to say the least. I think I've always been a good team player, I always try to have a good attitude, and I think it's something that all my coaches in life have really appreciated.

We had individual player meetings with the coaches today, and I think mine went really well. The coaches asked me what I think I need to work on. I told them I need to work on my footwork and quickness, being more physical, using my stick better, and being less hesitant with the puck. They agreed with me and said I pretty much hit the nail on the head. I know I have a lot to work on, but the important thing is that I'm working on the things I need to. A lot of kids think they don't need to work on much, or they just don't put in the work they need to because they don't want to. I think I've made it clear with my attitude and work ethic that I want to be here, and, above all, I want to get better. I know the coaches recognize that. They told me that it's been a pleasure to have me around, and they really appreciate the attitude that I bring to the rink every day. Having said that, I need to keep my work ethic up and not be content with just being here. I have a lot of work left to do, and I don't want to be satisfied. Coach told me it's harder to play as a number 4, 5, or 6 defenseman than it is to play as a 1, 2, or 3 guy. And I've felt that too. The 1, 2, and 3 guys get a lot more leeway, whereas I'm fighting to be in the lineup every night. It's part of the deal. I have to work to move up the ladder and gain confidence in myself and gain the coaches' confidence. I have to come to practice ready to compete every day.

I know I'm getting better at the mental part of all this too. At the beginning of practice today, we were doing a drill and I made two bad passes in a row. I handled the puck, and just for an instant, I pictured myself screwing up the pass. It's weird how it actually happened after I thought about it happening. But that's the way the mind works. I made this sort of halfhearted attempt at a pass two times in a row, and I knew I screwed up. Coach blew the whistle and said, "Teddy, what are you doing?? That's an 8 foot pass! Handle the puck, and pass it like a man!!" I was determined not to screw up for a third time in a row, in front of the whole team, and I pictured myself connecting the pass. I handled the puck, and put it right on the tape of my teammate. It's a little battle that I won with my mind, but it definitely shows that I'm getting stronger where I might have cracked a few months ago, and I think Coach likes to see that sort of thing. The same thing happened a week or two ago. The puck came to me at the point in practice, and I should've shot it on net. Instead, I passed it over to my D-partner who was covered. Coach blew the whistle and said, "Why wouldn't you shoot it when he's covered??" The next time I got the puck on the point in that drill, I put my head down and fired the puck. It went in. It's all about having a good attitude.