It seems like everyone wants things to happen on their own time and in their own way. They always try to dictate what happens, but more importantly when doesn’t happen they get confused frustrated and start searching for answers. All of that shit is impossible to try to control.
Why can’t the hockey world and some hockey parents just let things happened organically?
Why does everything around the young highly talented player and their family have to be going at warp speed?
Now don’t get me wrong they all want what’s best for “their” kid, but some things surrounding the game are uncontrollable.
Things can change or evolve very slowly or in a blink of an eye.
You have no idea and you sure as hell can’t always predict or project things, when it comes to where a player is going to end up.
The kid who’s a “star” at the U15 AAA level right now might have hit their ceiling. The kid playing U15 AA might very well be a pro. Hell you can say the same damn thing about the U18 AAA level. The 3rd line grinder non point getter might become and blossom into an amazing two way player at the junior level and beyond, while the “star forward poster child” might peak in their 3rd year of junior.
As scouts we try to predict and project, but why the hell is everyone in a big rush to make things happen, get noticed, get drafted and try to force things rather than just letting shit sort itself out?
Don’t rush it, embrace it, enjoy the experience, process and keep getting better every day, work on your weaknesses, continue to build on your strengths.
Why the hell is everyone in a rush?
Sure it’s great to recognized and appreciated, but when things travel at warp speed no one knows who to trust as the onslaught from the supposed “hockey experts” converge.
You see at the Bantam level everyone is projecting talent, everyone in the game starts to put that player on a unique trajectory.
From agents, to scouts, to coaches, to consultants everyone wants their turn to talk with the player and their parents.
It’s an ultra confusing time for the player and family due in large part to the unwanted attention. This isn’t just a hockey issue, this is a sporting issue. Everyone that sees talent wants to somehow help grow it or mould it. Clearly if your child was passionate and skilled wouldn’t you consider others trying to help?
That answer is easy, but on the other hand it’s incredibly complicated.
Why can’t the hockey world just back off? Why the hell is everyone in such a big rush?
Everything seems to happen at warp speed. Prep school, elite summer programs, agents, draft year prep, best options, best equipment choices and in extreme cases potential sponsorship.
This shit is happening folks, it happening more than you think and the parents of the young elite level players have to decipher or stick handle through all of it on their own.
Everyone wants to know or are curious of what scouts are zeroing in on about certain players. Obviously, every scout sees it differently, but the following questions are foundational in my mind when evaluating, assessing and projecting a multitude of players at large showcase tournaments, a) Can they skate? b) Are they skilled? c) Can they think and process the game? d) Do they compete?e) Are they a good teammate? f) What intangibles do they possess? g) Do they play both sides of the puck? h) Can they play in traffic, how are their puck skills? I) How do they handle the physical aspects of the game?
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