Hockey Lies

Hockey lies. I’m sure everyone have heard them or experienced them. Unfortunately, they become almost second nature when it comes to the game of hockey.

Hockey lies cut deep.

Some people would say communication and transparency within the game is at all-time low. There’s no question the lines of communication are definitely blurred when it comes to the hockey world. “That’s the way it has to be.” “That’s the way it’s always been, why change it now.” “That’s the business side of the game, that’s just the way it goes.” “They don’t need to know our decision.” “Not to worry they will land on their feet.”

In some cases, the lines of communication become almost nonexistent as players and their families move up the ladder, but that’s a two-way street. Hockey people get lied to a lot as well, and it’s not much wonder why they have to keep their guard up because they have and continue to get burned. Some hockey people try to be honest and up front, but once they get burned, they become callused to the personal side of the game. Deep down they try to be honest and authentic, but that’s difficult to comprehend when you’re lied to over and over again.

Hockey lies are offside, but it’s hard to try tag up and reenter the zone after the damage has been done.

Things change, things are definitely fluid in the game especially when it comes to the perceived “best opportunity”  or best “developmental path” for their kid, but that’s when decisions get made and transparency, honesty and the truth get ignored.

There’s a big difference between constructive criticism, head games and the silent treatment, but what about the truth. Could you imagine, if coaches or those in positions of power told players and their families the truth. Could you imagine if families and players told coaches and those in positions of power the truth. Again, that’s a two-way street. There’s a big difference between making promises, earning trust and building a respectful line of communication.

Hockey people that make promises are the reason why so many people hate the game of hockey and hate the “political” or “business” side of the game. In the sporting world, it’s hard to keep promises, there’s just too many variables, too much uncertainty. One would assume that’s why “hockey lies” continue and will continue to be part of the landscape of our great game.

I’ve been very vocal in the past about players and parents’ decisions and how those decisions are theirs to make, but again it’s a two-way street. Both sides of the equation are trying to do what’s right while trying to protect their best interests so the child or player can excel and reach their full potential, but that’s also where the lines get blurry.

The scariest thing about all of this is that “hockey lies” become somewhat part of the truth or have become so engrained as part of the business side or game itself that no one really trusts anyone and that everyone just assumes they will be lied to along the way. Differing degrees of the truth, that’s how everyone involved nowadays try to navigate the game of hockey. Perhaps, George Costanza was right, “it’s not a lie, if you believe it.”

Seeing good hockey people getting burnt by hockey lies sucks. Seeing good hockey parents and players getting burnt by hockey lies sucks.

Hockey lies need to stop, but that seems to be the busiest two-lane highway in the entire sporting world.