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'The Ultimate Newsletter for Minor Hockey'
2008 ISSUE 15
Click here for our archive of past "Well Said" Newsletters
WELCOME to WELL SAID! - 'The Ultimate Newsletter for Minor Hockey'. This Newsletter, along with The Hockey Source comprehensive website, television show, product lines and new training program is part of our vision to provide you with valuable information about minor hockey so you can make sound decisions and have more fun. Whether you are a Player, Coach, Manager, Official, Trainer, Scout, Agent, Parent or Fan, you are sure to find valuable information on hockey topics.
Where’s my agent?
As November ends and December begins it is the time of the season when teenage players and parents of those players become more inquisitive about the marketplace known as professional hockey. Questions like "Should my son have an agent?" and "Do you know an agent I can call?" become part of their conversations around the rink.
More often than not, they stem from the myth that in order to become a successful player you need an agent. Albeit true having connections or knowing someone is a plus, it is not "the" answer to making it pro for a young budding star. Understanding that player agents do not make money until the contract with a team is signed, is the first step to knowing what you will be dealing with. And like any business person, agents are in business to make money.
Like the stock market, player agents want to make sure they invest their resources (time & effort) wisely for a good return. They spend many months and years honing their clients to become the strong, valued commodity in which a team is willing to invest. Everything from proper training on ice to media grooming is planned out for the player's development. The last thing the agent can afford is a crap shoot. They would prefer to invest their time and effort on a commodity (player) that has a higher percentage of making them money, than on one who may just fall by the way side.
A study was done years ago that showed the odds of a player signing an NHL contract is 1 in 40,000. The question you should ask is not "do I need an agent?", but “what needs to be done to make it?”. The player's age is a key factor. If a player is currently 18 years of age or younger, and playing Major Junior, Junior A, or Junior B, his NHL draft year is in 2009, 2010 or later and the odds are in his favor. If a player is older than 18, he most likely is past his NHL draft year and has less of a chance to make it.
The business of hockey (player agents and teams) across North America is to know almost every player who is 18 years of age at the major junior and college levels of hockey. There are player reviews by central scouting, with in-depth write-ups. Players must also not rule out “word of mouth”. If a player is a late bloomer, he will quickly learn he needs to become a marketing expert, by talking to coaches, leveraging relationships, and connecting with decision-makers.
The process of becoming a professional hockey player is one of learning and growing. It is not something that is bestowed on any one person. Here are some key steps that will help increase players’ chances of living out the dream of playing professionally, and connecting with the "right" agent.
- Pick up the phone and conduct interviews with agents (there is a list of agents below from the NHLPA and PHPA. There is a list of sample questions to help with your interviewing process).
- Speak to other players on the team, and ask if they like their agent and is he/she willing to take on new clients.
- When you have a selection in mind, talk to other players who have that agent.
- Speak to the management of the team, and ask if there are agents that they have good/bad relations with.
- Make contact with NHL team GMs, and ask who they like to deal with as approved agents.
- If you are not sure what to ask here are questions you can use: Agent Inquiring Questions. On that page you will find a sample of questions to ask any agent.
- When you have a selection in mind, talk to other players who have that agent.
The more homework a player does, the more he/she will realize the hard work that is required to play at the professional hockey level.
Words of Wisdom!
The following is an excerpt taken from Jim Clemmer’s 4th bestselling novel entitled "Growing the Distance: Timeless Principles for Personal, Career and Family Success".
"Most ‘overnight successes’ take years to achieve. Most ‘natural talent’ is created through thousands of hours of disciplined training and practice. (The final level of mastery is making it look natural). There are no ‘success secrets’. However, there are success systems, success habits, and success principles applied through discipline and persistence. In a university address on medical education, the 19th century English biologist, Thomas Henry Huxley advised students, ‘patience and tenacity of purpose are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness’."
"We often think that successful people are those lucky enough to have won the ‘gene pool’. They picked good parents and were born with great talent, intelligence, or natural gifts. But we all know people with talent, perhaps even streaks of genius, who never did much with their abilities. Many people give up just as they are about to achieve success. They often stop digging when they are inches from their vein of gold. Then they decide to prospect for silver, start digging in new places, get discouraged and give up just before they are about to reach their dreams."
"Studies of Nobel Prize winners have shown that their intelligence levels are average. However, their tenacity and persistence is will above normal. They hang in there with research and doggedly following a theory long after many of their colleagues have moved on to what look like more promising research paths. We are not losers until we quit trying. As the Japanese proverb teaches, the eventual winners are those who ‘fall down seven times, get up eight'."
"Facing a journey of a thousand miles or many years of effort can be discouraging. Terry Fox, having lost his leg to cancer, embarked on a cross-Canada run called the ‘Marathon of Hope’ to raise money for cancer research. With an artificial right leg, his shuffle-and-hop running style took him about 24 miles per day. I think jogging a few miles in the morning is pretty good. Many people train for months and make a big deal out of running in a single marathon (26 miles). Terry ran close to a marathon a day – with an artificial leg? He managed to run for 143 days and cover 3339 miles from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Thunder Bay, Ontario. At that point, cancer was discovered in his lungs and he was forced to abandon his run. A few months later he died. His inspiring legacy continues to this day in annual Terry Fox runs that have raised unfathomable millions of dollars for cancer research. When asked how he kept himself going out there as exhaustion set in and he had thousands of miles ahead of him, he replied, ‘I just keep running to the next telephone pole'."
And yet some of those in the sport of Minor Hockey throw in the towel because they lose a game or miss a goal or flub a pass. Salutes and accolades to those that keep getting back up and brushing themselves off. Congratulations to those that enjoy the successes when they happen and who see the “off-times” as windows into the world of opportunity and improvement.
Appointments and Enhancements!
Kevin Huhn, founder of The Hockey Source has recently been appointed to the Advisory Board for the "Play It Cool" Program, a skill enhancement program with its key objective of reducing the incidence of neurotrauma (concussion and spinal) injuries in hockey. The Program is promoting a safer game of hockey and is teaching coaches, parents and players that skill enhancement and education are the keys to injury prevention. Kevin's years of experience in multiple aspects of minor, junior and pro hockey will ensure him to be a valuable asset to the Board. When contacted, Kevin said: "I am honored to be appointed to this Advisory Board and look forward to making this game more fun with the added resources for people to have positive and safe experiences in the greatest game alive."
Kevin Huhn is pleased to announce the appointment of Jack Ray to the position of General Manager for The Hockey Source.
Mr. Ray has been with The Hockey Source since its inception in 2003, and has held numerous positions with THS with increasing responsibility for its PNL. He has been instrumental in the development and marketing of The Hockey Source's management product offerings. As the General Manager he is responsible for the day to day operations, and driving the business strategy for The Hockey Source around the world.
Mr Ray is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a B.Sc. Honours in Kinesiology, as well as several certificates in the area of Human Resource and Organizational Management. He also has a Level III Certificate from the Hockey Trainers Certification Program.
The Hockey Source has decided to stay with the newly appointed newsletter section entitled "Hockey Humour". Content will be added to the website as created by response to the newsletter section. THS has already founded a relationship with a die-hard hockey mom who is also gifted with the ability to express experiences in the form of poetry. This could possibly lead to a new member of The Hockey Source Team. See the section on "Hockey Humour" for more information.
Technology…Invasion of Privacy or Better Communication?
For those of you who have memories of showing up to the rink and talking with other parents, while leaving hockey gossip in the rink, sit back and think about what the evolving technology has done in the lives of children and adults. Before the invent of “modern day technology” do you recall these images?
- Outdoor rinks, wooden scrapers and bucket brigade flooding (now that is really a good memory…and an old memory)?
- Arenas shaped like barns where standing room was a luxury
- Cold! Cold! Cold!
- "Farm" pucks that also needed to be frozen prior to play.
- Being able to see every play very clearly due to there being no scratched up plexiglass to look through.
- Having to ask your son if he got any assists in the game, since there were no announcements.
- Conversations with others about what is coming up for the team.
And now, of course, the realities with the technology age are:
- Arenas that have restaurants and bars, where you don’t even have to be close to the ice surface to view the play.
- Getting information on every aspect of the game within seconds of the action.
- Never having to speak to a coach because you know he/she will be emailing you.
- Knowing more about every aspect of your child than you bargained for, as they are assessed and reassessed by the coaching staff.
- Listening to parents’ dreams and plans for their child pertaining to "the big leagues."
- Knowing so much about a game on line, that attending was not even required.
- Not having to talk to a person at the arena, since you have access to all the on-line social networks where you can talk to anyone and everyone…and even at the same time.
- Being able to attend a team function without even talking to a soul, other than your computer, cell Phone or whatever other device one might be using.
There are few doubts that certain aspects of today’s game are considered blessings and requirements. Arguably, the positive progress made in the sport would simply have been impossible without technology and its advancements. But one wonders if there are not some aspects of "yesterday’s game" that still hold a high appeal and desire for participants.
- Other than the people who were in the rink, no one really knew what went on.
- Player comments were all hear-say outside of the rink, and nothing was documented
- Only those with cameras and great shutter speed captured a memory for lifetime.
- Game sheets belonged to the coach and the league.
Today, however, technology allows people to capture every second, share great stories across the miles easily, and enhance the experience for everyone involved.
- Teams post stats, pics and notices on-line for people to follow real-time.
- Social networks, message boards and chat rooms engage players and parents to voice opinions freely, and not let years pass to address issues.
- Readily available access to directories and resources help educate everyone more easily, raising the quality of skill for players, coaches and others in the game.
- Instantaneous messaging keeps people informed with the status and details of various situations.
But when does technology create problems that otherwise would have been left alone? Social networks for the younger generation today – otherwise known as the communication age – leave a trace of comments, opinions and facts for many others to see. What once was private is now the topic of conversation across virtual discussions threads.
It is no wonder that coaches, teams, and organizations have short tenures in the lives of people. It would seem that it is not only about playing the game; it is also about respecting people’s privacy and communicating effectively.
What do you think?
Let’s Laugh Together
In the last issue, The Hockey Source introduced the concept of this new section. It was pointed out that the success of the section would depend solely on our readers. The intent continues to be to present humorous short stories, antidotes, poetry and jokes as written, and submitted by The Hockey Source readership. The Hockey Source further stated that consideration would be given to creating a new section in The Hockey Source Website to display the creations received.
Where the response from the readers has lacked in quantity, it has certainly made up for in quality. The Hockey Source has decided to keep this new section in the Newsletter, as well as entering some of the submissions on the website.
For this issue, The Hockey Source is again pleased to present a piece of Poetry received from one of our readers, Louise Waronek, who has also recognized the joyous season that is upon us.
Christmas in Hockeytown
Silent Night, 'twill never be heard,
Where the pucks fly by and HOCKEY's the word,
You'll hear no choirs, nor singing lords,
Only of players checked into the boards.
There'll be slap shots a’ ringing off of the posts,
And taunting carols from the home team hosts.
No turkey and trimmings for their Christmas meal,
Rink burgers, fries and a Coke are ideal.
The only light from high up above,
Shines from the centre ice clock, thereof.
The Zamboni is king to Santa's sleigh,
They'd rather see The Kid, or Wayne, anyway.
No gift is needed from Ol' St. Nick,
(Although, who couldn't use a new composite stick?)
Just the simple gift of a two-to-one score,
For the people of Hockeytown, they could ask for no more.
Louise Waronek is a freelance writer from Regina, Saskatchewan, currently working on a collection of humorous poetry. She has also written a number of articles including a short story published in Homemakers Magazine. She is parent of a minor hockey player and can be reached at l.waronek@sasktel.net.
They Said What?
Did you know that Hank Aaron said: "My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging."
Did you know that Vince Lombardi said: "The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand?"
Did you know that John Wooden said: "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
Did you know that George Shultz said: "The minute you start talking about what you’re going to do if you lose, you have lost."
DEAR VALUED READER, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
If you would like to comment on anything that you have read in this or past newsletters; if you have some input or opinions on material you have viewed in our website; or if you simply have some valuable information or experience you would like to share with the rest of our readers, please write to us with your thoughts at info@thehockeysource.tv .
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Well Said! © Fire 'n Idea Inc. (producers of The Hockey Source) 2003-2008. All Rights Reserved.
THIS NEWSLETTER IS DISTRIBUTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
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