How Young Hockey Players Can Get Better On and Off the Ice

Every young hockey player wants to know the same thing:

How do I get better?

Not just a little better. Not just better at stickhandling in the driveway or skating harder during practice. But better in the way that coaches notice. Better in the way teammates feel. Better in the way that helps you enjoy the game more, understand the game more, and keep growing season after season.

On this episode of The Ride to The Rink, Lee, Mike, and Christie are joined by Coach Andrew, a high-level junior hockey coach and former NCAA player, for a direct conversation with young players about what really matters in development.

And here’s the big message:

Getting better is not only about what happens during your hour on the ice. It is about the habits you build before practice, after practice, at home, at school, and everywhere in between.

Skill Development Should Come First

For younger players, especially those at the 8U, 10U, and 12U levels, Andrew makes one thing very clear: skill development should be the priority.

That means skating. Puck control. Passing. Shooting. Edge work. Creativity. Competing. Learning how to move your body and handle the puck with confidence.

As players get older, team systems become more important. Things like defensive-zone coverage, forechecking, breakouts, and offensive-zone entries start to take up more space in practices and games.

But for young players, the foundation has to come first.

Think of it like building a house. You would not start with the roof. You need the base. In hockey, that base is skill.

The better your skating, hands, awareness, and confidence become, the easier it is to learn systems later. A player who can skate, think, and handle pressure will be much more prepared when the game becomes more structured.

You Can Learn Hockey Systems Off the Ice

One of Andrew’s strongest points is that coaches do not have to use valuable ice time to teach every team concept.

Some parts of the game can be learned in other ways:

Chalk talks
Video review
Team meetings
Walkthroughs
Conversations with coaches
Watching hockey with intention

A defensive-zone setup can be explained off the ice. A forecheck can be drawn up on a board. An offensive-zone entry can be reviewed on video.

That does not mean team systems are unimportant. They matter a lot. But young players only get so much time on the ice, and that time is incredibly valuable. When players are at practice, they should be moving, touching pucks, skating, competing, and developing skills.

The brain can be trained off the ice. The body and skills need repetitions on it.

That is a great lesson for kids: being a student of the game does not only happen during drills.

Being a Better Teammate Starts with Better Habits

When asked what young players should focus on at the start of a season, Andrew’s answer was not only about goals, assists, or making the top line.

It was about becoming a better teammate.

That starts with habits.

A great teammate shows up ready. A great teammate listens. A great teammate does not hide during hard drills. A great teammate does not waste time tying skates when conditioning starts. A great teammate supports the coach, respects the group, and understands that their effort affects everyone else.

And some of that starts at home.

Are you getting enough rest? Are you taking care of school? Are you prepared for practice? Are you working on your game away from the rink? Are you bringing energy to your team?

Young players sometimes think being a good teammate means saying the right things in the locker room. That matters, but actions matter more.

Your habits tell your team who you are.

The One Hour at Practice Is Not Enough

Here is something every hockey player needs to understand:

Your team practice matters, but it cannot be the only time you work on your game.

Andrew talks about the importance of shooting in the backyard, stickhandling at home, getting rest, staying on top of academics, and doing the little things that add up over time.

That does not mean kids need to train like professionals. It does not mean every moment has to be hockey. Kids should still be kids. They should play, have fun, and enjoy the game.

But if a player truly wants to improve, there are simple ways to grow away from the rink:

Shoot pucks
Stickhandle in the garage or driveway
Play street hockey
Try inline skating
Work on mobility
Build age-appropriate strength
Watch games and notice positioning
Ask coaches questions
Take care of sleep and recovery

None of these things require perfection. They require consistency.

A few minutes a day can become a big difference over a full season.

Off-Ice Training Becomes a Separator as Players Get Older

For older players, especially around 14, 15, and 16, Andrew points to strength and conditioning as a major separator.

Lots of players love getting on the ice. They love stick-and-puck. They love open hockey. They love skill sessions.

That part is fun.

But the players who commit to building their bodies, improving their conditioning, and taking care of their fitness often start to separate from the group.

This does not mean young kids should rush into heavy weightlifting. That is an important point for parents and players. Off-ice training needs to be age-appropriate. For younger athletes, mobility, coordination, balance, bodyweight strength, and general athletic movement can be great places to start.

As players mature, the gym can become a bigger part of development when introduced properly and safely.

The lesson is not “go lift weights right now.”

The lesson is this:

There is always something you can do away from the rink to become a better athlete.

Every Player’s Path Is Different

One of the best reminders in this episode is that no two hockey journeys are the same.

Some players develop early. Some develop later. Some love extra skill sessions. Some find joy in street hockey. Some grow through skating. Some grow through strength. Some need confidence. Some need discipline. Some need more fun.

There is no single path that works for everyone.

But there is one thing every player needs: ownership.

Parents can support you. Coaches can teach you. Teammates can push you. But they cannot want it for you.

That drive has to come from inside.

This is one of the most powerful messages young athletes can hear. You do not need to compare your journey to someone else’s. You do not need to be exactly like the best player on your team. You do not need to have everything figured out today.

But you do need to ask yourself:

What can I do today to get a little better?

That answer might be shooting 25 pucks. It might be stretching. It might be listening better at practice. It might be getting to bed earlier. It might be cheering for a teammate. It might be choosing not to quit during a hard drill.

Small choices matter.

For Parents: Support the Seed, Do Not Force It

This episode also carries an important reminder for hockey parents.

Your role matters. A lot.

You can help your player by encouraging good habits, supporting the coaches, helping them arrive prepared, and creating opportunities for them to enjoy the game. You can remind them to rest, help them manage school responsibilities, and give them space to build confidence.

But you cannot force the love of the game into them.

As Lee says in the episode, adults can water the seed, but the player has to want it to grow.

That is a powerful image. The best hockey development happens when support and ownership work together. Parents provide encouragement and structure. Coaches provide teaching and guidance. Players bring effort and desire.

When those pieces come together, growth becomes much more meaningful.

Final Takeaway: Build the Habits That Build the Player

Getting better at hockey is not about one magic drill, one perfect practice, or one big moment.

It is about building habits.

The habit of showing up ready.
The habit of listening.
The habit of working when no one is watching.
The habit of taking care of your body.
The habit of being a good teammate.
The habit of learning the game, not just playing it.

For young skaters and goalies, that is the real challenge — and the real opportunity.

You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to do everything at once. You just have to keep finding ways to grow.

So have fun. Skate hard. Learn something. And remember:

We believe in you. You should too.