So last week I write about “dominating” players and where they should play. I want to thank the parents that wrote to me thinking that I was specifically talking about them in that story. I was not talking about any of you specifically, and this is part of your problem; the hockey world does not revolve around you.
Statements such as “I should be playing in the….”, “I deserve to be in the…”, or similar statements sound like spoiled childred crying about how someone else received the new puppy.
Recently I watched camp where I know one of the players on the tryout. The player performed well, played to his ability, and made a good case for himself. This player made the “all star” game, but did not make the team. The reason was simple. The team already had a player returning from last season that had the same playing style for the same role.
For sure it is expected the disappointment for the player. It is not expected the player act like spoiled brat.
Why would coach cut a returning player for new player to fill the same role? It does not make sense and it does not happen. If you are a skilled play making forward that is not physical, a team is only looking for limited amount of that style player. So unless you are much better than who team already has, you will not make team if those roles are filled.
The team do not need all “stay at home” defense either, roles must be filled with different styles of players.
Players, and more important Parents, must be patient.
It is time to stop believing the coach that only compliments you. It is time to start working hard. It is time to start changing your game to make you the more valuable “dominating” player.
To be sure every camp will have good players. For sure some good players to be overlooked at camp with lot of player. This happens and is disappointing. To be sure as well this is why you must be a dominating player at the appropriate level.
Where you played last season does nothing but open a door to this season. Just because you played AAA does not mean you deserve anything in Junior Hockey. Just because you played Tier III does not mean you deserve Tier II. The player is not entitled to anything more than an opportunity to be seen.
If you are 1993 brith player this season and you are not above Tier III level, there is a reason for it. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are really that much better than the 1995 player on the team. Your age entitles you to nothing.
You are only as good as your last game. If you scored the hat trick in last game people remember. If you scored the minus three the last game, the people remember. If you work hard the last game the coaches will remember. If you act like a player who thinks they are already on the team and forget that someone else will work harder every shift, you will not make the team.
It is now that we will see the “cut down” camps. It is now that we will hear “I should have made it”, “The Coach didnt like me”, “I dont know why they took him over me”, “I am better than that guy”, and all the other excuses.
Would you want a person who says these things sitting next to you in a dressing room?
Coaches are smart people in most cases. Maybe it is that the Coach see the “attitude” of the player who think he is entitiled to make the team and that is reason enough to cut him?
