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These Five Things Will Help the Scouts Notice You 

by Enio Sacilotto

I recently watched a segment on Sportsnet’s Hockey Central. The theme was what scouts look for in players at this time of year. With the CHL, frozen four NCAA playoffs, and identification camps going on all over the place, this was an excellent topic to share with players, parents, and coaches. What do the elite team scouts look for?

In this video segment, Jason Bukala from the Pro Hockey Group points out that thirty-nine drafted players will be playing in the 2023 Frozen Four NCAA final. Most elite-level players who are high NHL draft picks score goals and produce offence; if they are goaltenders, they make vital saves at crucial times.

Scouts will look for players who pay attention to and execute the intricate details of the game. In all leagues, there is much parity; players and teams are equal in talent. The player who can pay attention to the details will be able to elevate their teams to the top and win a championship.

Jason analyzes the following three players:

  • Drew Commesso, goaltender for Boston University, is the thirty-six overall draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. He points out the critical aspects of his game:  Crease composure, lateral tracking, fronting shooters, and rebound control. The best goaltenders move well laterally, sit tall in the net and are efficient in their movements. They can face elite shooters and make championship saves. They are not too emotional at this time of the year.
  • Logan Cooley, a forward from the University of Minnesota, was drafted third overall by Arizona. His essential qualities are that he passes the puck well, is an elite shooter and is exceptionally talented offensively. In Jason’s video sequence, Cooley has excellent read and react skills; he is in his zone, reads that his team turned the puck over, sprints for the opening, receives a stretch pass from his defensemen, and goes to the net and scores a goal. This is called playing off the puck; what do you do as a player when you do not have the puck? Is your team on offence or defence?
  • Mathew Knies, a six’3”, 210-pound power forward, is a Toronto Maple Leaf draft pick. He is an offensive player known for playing with pace and energy. Scouts look for versatile players, who are 200-foot players that compete in all three zones. Mathew can play power plays and kill penalties. In this video example, Matthew steals the puck on the PK and challenges one-on-one getting a shot on the net while being checked and falling to the ice. He then gets up, not wasting a second, sprints back on the track to his zone, catches the puck carrier, and steals the puck.

Tiny details like this make players elite and help their teams win championships.

Here are five things you can do to help you pay attention to details and become an elite player that all the scouts will notice.

1) Do a realistic self-evaluation and determine the kind of player you are. Are you a skilled forward or defenseman, a power forward (200-foot player) or a stay-at-home defenseman? Successful teams have a mix of players. A simple tool you can use is to do a player performance profile. With a performance profile, you pick your ideal player and identify what skills and attributes (on and off the ice) you need to be that kind of player. In step 2, you select up to twelve skills and qualities and rate the skills in order of importance. In step 3, you rate yourself (from 1 to 10, 10 being the best) where you are today at that skill or attribute. You then set your goals accordingly.

2) Players and coaches talk about getting better every day. That is a good intention, but how does one improve daily? Step 1 – set an outcome goal – what do you want to achieve (this can be a long-term goal)? After determining your outcome goal, you need to focus on daily goals, including skill- or system-centred task goals.

Journalling is a highly effective tool for improving daily. It allows you to write your thoughts and feelings, and you will gain a clear understanding of your daily progress, whether it is positive or negative. Other benefits include reducing anxiety, clearing your mind so your thoughts do not ruminate, controlling your emotions, and encouraging awareness and focus.

The process is simple and involves four questions, beginning with the three s’s: 1) What was successful today, 2) What did I struggle with today, 3) What is my strategy (goals) for tomorrow, and 4) What am I grateful for today?

3) Find three to five keys to your position or skill. Here is an example with passing: we have three keys; “look – eyes up,” “push” (push the puck, do not slap it), and “point” (Roll your wrists, pointing the blade of your stick to your target). Here is another example of four keys for a defenseman going back to retrieve a puck: “turn and sprint,” “shoulder check” (look for pressure and your teammates), if you have pressure, “fake” (use a stick or body fake to throw off the forechecker.), “pick up the puck,” then the passing keys can take effect.

4)  Commit to being an elite learner. An elite learner possesses a growth mindset; someone with a growth mindset understands that one can improve over time and is prepared to do the work.

That means studying the game, watching hockey and being coachable. Being coachable means taking instructions and constructive feedback from your coaches and instructors.

Elite learners are committed to being fully present and focused on practice every day. Outside influences, such as an argument with a friend or a tough day at school, are a non-factor when concentrating on practice. For one hour, only the training matters.

Elite learners are comfortable being uncomfortable. That means they give their best physical and mental effort no matter how difficult practice may seem. They dare to take calculated risks, try new things, make mistakes, fall, and get up again.

Elite learners are focused on the process rather than outcomes; they understand that learning and improvements are not linear. There will be times when progress plateaus and they may not improve. But if they maintain their grit and stick with the process, they will begin to see progress again.

5)  Practise mindfulness breathing and meditation. Mindfulness helps you stay in the present moment, reduces stress, trains your brain to focus (on your keys), and gets you into the “zone!”

Doing these five things consistently will improve your performance, be detail-oriented and attract scouts like Jason Bukala!

Knies is a confident athlete.

Enio Sacilotto is President of International Hockey Camps and operates the Mental Edge High-Performance Training.  Enio has 39 years of coaching experience (professional hockey in Europe and the Victoria Royals (WHL)).  Currently, he coaches at the Burnaby Winter Club Hockey Academy.  If you have questions or are interested in his services, contact Enio at enio@coachenio.com or call 604 255 4747.  Website: www.coachenio.com.