Keys to a Great Start & Never Giving Up: Lessons from the Calgary Flames and MacKenzie Weegar
By Enio Sacilotto
Getting off to a hot start this coming season requires a team-first mindset. As Wayne Gretzky famously said, “Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that you need every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction to be successful.”. The Calgary Flames put this into practice: with no room for egos and everyone embracing their role, they emphasized the fundamentals – hard backchecking, simple play, and trust. TSN reports that Calgary’s system tweaks led them to “get off to a 5-0-1 start, the best in franchise history”. Head coach Ryan Huska challenged the team to play tighter gaps and work harder in practice, and the players responded by “tracking back a little harder” and executing at a faster pace. Veteran Blake Coleman summed it up: “You can’t play an aggressive style if you don’t trust the guy next to you…Everyone on our team has bought into it.”. In short, every player committed to the system and hustled on every line.
All four lines in Calgary focused on team defence and support. As defenseman MacKenzie Weegar explained, forwards were “tracking back really hard” to cover for pinch‐playing defensemen. That communication and buy‐in allowed blueliners to be more aggressive. “If a guy pinches down, there’s always a guy coming back out,” he said. “It allows us to stand up a lot more as [defensemen] or come down and pinch… That’s the biggest thing we’ve changed.”. At the same time, Calgary’s defensemen kept things simple and connected. Rookie Kevin Bahl noted that with strong backchecking by forwards, the D-men could “surf and angle [the opponent], force a dump, force a chip. When you have a good back checker, it just makes life easy.”. In practice, this meant quick, smart outlet passes to open forwards and knowing precisely who to cover. Weegar said responsibilities in the neutral zone were now “cut and dry…communication is very clear for everybody…there’s more trust between the [defencemen] and forwards.”.
Goaltending was another key. Flames rookie goalie Dustin Wolf helped lock down games – he posted a 2.64 GAA and .910 save percentage in 2024-25 and was unanimously voted to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. Elite netminding can give a team confidence to play aggressively. In short, Calgary’s early success came from hard work, team buy-in, relentless effort on all four lines, and solid goaltending.
Be Persistent: Mackenzie Weegar’s Example
MacKenzie Weegar’s journey shows how persistence and a growth mindset pay off. He started in lesser-known hockey leagues and wasn’t on any radar for the NHL draft. As a 17-year-old, he played in the Tier II Junior A league with the Nepean Raiders (in the CCHL), even helping them win a league title. His hard work caught the eye of Halifax Mooseheads management (Weegar was technically placed on QMJHL waivers due to his home region). Once in Halifax, he joined a star-studded team (with Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, etc.) that won the Memorial Cup, but even then, scouts only took notice later. Weeks after that championship, Florida still selected Weegar last in the draft – 206th overall in the 7th round.
Weegar didn’t let that discourage him. He spent another season in Halifax and then spent four years honing his skills in the minor leagues before earning an opportunity in the NHL. During those years, he focused on improvement – working on his skating, shooting, and physical strength – knowing it was only a matter of time. As he told the NHL Players’ Association, “Patience has been a big thing for me… I never expected to get things right away. I knew the reality of things. I knew my chance would come, and when that chance would come, I would grab the opportunity.”. Today he’s a top-pairing defenseman, having scored 20 goals and 52 points in 2023-24.
Weegar credits his success to a growth mindset and goal-setting. He “enjoys every minute of hockey” and maintains a positive outlook. He visualizes success and surrounds himself with supportive coaches and family. He noted having “a lot of positive people around me…always pointed in the right direction in what I need to do to get better.” In short: work harder than anyone else, be patient when faced with setbacks, stay focused on improvement, and believe you belong. As John Tavares reminds us, “Some may have more talent, but there is no excuse for anyone working harder than you.”. You too can make it – put in the effort now, and success will follow.
For youth players, coaches, and parents, Mackenzie’s story demonstrates that persistence pays off. Keep setting challenging goals and maintain a positive inner voice even when progress seems slow. Visualize making big plays and tell yourself “I can do this!” every day. When you hit a setback – an injury, a tough loss, or not making a team – don’t give up. Each season is a new opportunity. Work hard in the summer, keep learning systems and skills, and trust that your hard work will pay off over time.
To put these lessons into action, consider signing up for our summer hockey camps and mental coaching programs. Our camps teach the same habits the Flames used – intense skill work, team drills, and defensive responsibility – while our mental coaching helps young players set goals, build confidence, and develop that growth mindset. We want every player to “work hard every day” and love the journey, just like Weegar.
Takeaway Tips:
– Hit the off-season hard: Strength and skating work in summer pays big dividends in October.
– Buy into team systems: Encourage every player to trust teammates and embrace their role – no egos.
– Hustle on every shift: Backcheck, support each other in coverage, and play simple, mistake-free defence.
– Trust your goalie and work with them: Good goaltending boosts everyone’s confidence.
– Be patient and persistent: Improvement takes time. Set short- and long-term goals, visualize success, and stay positive.
Ready to start summer training? Sign up today for our hockey camps and mental skills coaching to give your team the best start possible. Believe in hard work, stick together, and never give up – success will follow!
Enio Sacilotto is President of International Hockey Camps and operates the Mental Edge High-Performance Training. Enio has 43 years of coaching experience (professional hockey in Europe and the Victoria Royals (WHL)). Currently, he coaches at the Burnaby Winter Club Hockey Academy, serves as the Croatian National Men’s hockey team coach, and is the head coach of the Grandview Steelers. If you have questions or are interested in his services, please contact Enio at enio@coachenio.com or call 604-255-4747. Website: www.coachenio.com.