It seems as though my take on What To Expect In 2021 – It Is Not Going To Be Much Better touched a couple of nerves. I expected as much from some people.
Too many people kept their heads in the sand in 2020 as COVID decimated the end of the 2019-2020 season, and completely blew up the 2020 off season recruiting schedule.
Even more people decided to ignore the truths that were facing them as the 2020-2021 season approached and began. So many told me and said publicly that “its going to be ok”, or “nothing to worry about, we will be playing”, or “just stick with us, we know what is going to happen”, or the best one concerning me and TJHN “its fake news”.
“Fake news” honestly that was pretty damn funny. Considering it was coming from Coaches who were lying to players about their ability to play in Canada, and other Coaches who were telling players that their league’s would be “fine” or would “have a season”.
How’s that “Fake news” look now?
This is why, my clients are being prepared now for the 2021 off season and the 2021-2022 season to come. We are not waiting for the spring and summer, my clients are already committing to programs for next year.
Any player or parent who now is not preparing a solid plan for this year is going to be left scrambling and probably not having many options if you wait for “everything to be ok”. And you will deserve to not have everything ok if you do not prepare now.
History does not look kindly on people who received warning on trouble ahead and they ignore those warnings.
Every Coach in the world talks about preparation. Accountability. Systems. Tools. These are key words everyone likes to use.
Preparation for worst case scenarios is what smart players do.
Accountability begins and ends with each players responsibility for his or her own decisions regarding their “Preparation” or lack of preparation.
Systems for development and advancement of your hockey career exist, and they are flexible to each players unique set of circumstances. Don’t think for one minute that the system used by another player is going to be the system that works for you.
Tools are available to be used. Tools must be used in the correct way though. Just because you have a hammer does not mean you can use that tool to cut down a tree. Using the right tool at the right time is the only way to get the job done.
Players and parents, in todays world, unless you are a blue chip player with a clear path set out in front of you to NCAA D-1, Major Junior top lines, or an NHL draft pick, you likely don’t have a real path. You may have some “ideas” or some “plans” but no real execution plan.
Now more than ever a plan is essential. If this past year did not teach you that teams and leagues act in their best interest first, then you have learned nothing about the junior hockey business.
If you have learned this fact and you still haven’t made a real plan, then you really aren’t serious about your hockey career.
If you have learned this fact, and you don’t know what to do next, there is still time to get organized, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Joseph Kolodziej – Adviser
