Offseason Hockey Training Starts With a Goal — And a Whole Lot of Belief

The offseason can feel different for every hockey player.

Some kids cannot wait to get back on the ice. Others need a break. Some are signed up for spring hockey, summer skates, camps, clinics, dryland training, or tournaments. Others are wondering what they should be doing at all.

That is exactly why this episode of The Ride To The Rink is such an important listen.

Former NHL defenseman Andrew “Albie” Alberts joins Lee for a direct, motivating conversation with young players about how to approach the offseason. And before they talk about drills, workouts, or ice time, they start with something even more important:

Where do you want to go?

Because if you do not know where you are trying to go, it is a lot harder to figure out how to get there.

Write the Goal Down

One of Andrew’s biggest pieces of advice is also one of the simplest: write your goal down.

Not just think about it. Not just say it once. Write it down and put it somewhere you will see it.

Maybe it goes on the fridge. Maybe it goes on your bedroom wall. Maybe it goes on the mudroom door where you grab your hockey bag. The point is not to make it fancy. The point is to make it real.

When a young player writes down a goal, they begin to take ownership of it. It becomes something they can look at every day. Something that reminds them of what they are working toward. Something that can help guide their choices when summer gets busy.

That goal can be big, too.

Maybe it is making a team. Maybe it is becoming a stronger skater. Maybe it is earning more ice time. Maybe it is playing high school hockey, college hockey, professional hockey, or even in the NHL or PWHL someday.

Big dreams are allowed.

In fact, they are encouraged.

But the dream is only the beginning. The next step is figuring out what it will take to move toward it.

Dream Big, Then Build the Steps

Lee makes an important point in this episode: there are no guarantees in hockey.

No one can promise a young player that every dream will come true exactly the way they imagine it. But that does not make the dream less valuable. The process of chasing something meaningful can shape a player in powerful ways.

When kids learn how to set a goal, break it into steps, and work toward it consistently, they are not just becoming better hockey players. They are learning a life skill.

They are learning how to:

• Stay focused
• Handle disappointment
• Build discipline
• Keep improving
• Respond to doubt
• Take responsibility for their own development

That matters far beyond the rink.

A player may start by chasing one goal and end up discovering strengths they never knew they had. They may not control every outcome, but they can control their effort, attitude, preparation, and willingness to learn.

That is where real growth happens.

Parents: Support the Dream, Don’t Own It

Andrew also shares a message that every hockey parent should hear.

A child’s dream should belong to the child.

Parents play a huge role in youth hockey. They drive to practices, pay for equipment, offer encouragement, and help create opportunities. But when it comes to the player’s goals, the ownership has to stay with the player.

That does not mean parents disappear from the process. It means their role is to support, not control.

A parent can ask good questions. A parent can help a child think through the steps. A parent can encourage effort and provide resources. But the motivation has to come from within the player.

That internal ownership is what helps kids keep going when training gets hard, when progress feels slow, or when someone tells them they cannot do it.

Belief Is a Skill

One of the strongest ideas in the episode is that belief is a skill.

Confidence is not something players either have or do not have. It is something that can grow over time. It is built through action.

A player starts to believe more when they see themselves putting in the work. When they notice improvement. When they stay after practice for extra reps. When they try something hard and realize they can get better at it.

Andrew puts it simply: if you do not believe in yourself, who will?

That does not mean young athletes will feel confident every second. Everyone has moments of doubt. Everyone has tough practices, bad games, or days when they wonder if they are good enough.

But belief can be strengthened by the process.

Show up. Work. Learn. Repeat.

Over time, that creates a foundation a player can stand on.

Choices, Not Just Sacrifices

Athletes often hear the word “sacrifice.”

And yes, pursuing a goal may mean giving some things up. There is only so much time in a day. A player who wants to improve may need to choose training, rest, practice, or preparation when other options are available.

But Lee offers a helpful reframe: do not only think of it as sacrifice. Think of it as a choice.

That difference matters.

When a player sees it as a choice, they take ownership. They are not just losing something. They are choosing something that matters to them.

They are choosing to shoot pucks. Choosing to work on skating. Choosing to ask for feedback. Choosing to get stronger. Choosing to get better.

That mindset gives the player power.

It reminds them that development is not something being forced on them. It is something they are choosing because they care.

What Should Young Players Work on in the Offseason?

Once the motivation is there, the next question is obvious:

Now what?

Andrew gives players a practical way to start. Sit down with a pen and paper and ask:

What value do I bring to a team?

Then write down the top three things you do well.

After that, write down three to five things you need to improve.

This is a simple but powerful offseason exercise. It helps players become more aware of their game. It also gives them a clearer direction instead of just training randomly.

Players can also ask a coach, parent, or trusted mentor what they think needs work. Sometimes another person can see things the player does not.

That feedback might point to skating, puck movement, shooting, strength, decision-making, confidence, compete level, defensive awareness, or creativity.

The key is to identify the areas that matter and then take small, consistent steps to improve them.

Today’s Game Rewards Complete Players

Andrew also talks about how much hockey has changed.

Players can no longer think too narrowly about their position. Defensemen are part of the offense. Forwards need to defend. Everyone needs to skate, think, move, adjust, and contribute in different situations.

The modern game rewards players who are well-rounded.

That means young players should use the offseason to build a more complete game. Skating is still a foundation. But players should also work on puck skills, awareness, creativity, physical readiness, and the ability to contribute in different ways.

Whether you are on the first line or fourth line, first defensive pair or third pair, a goalie, a winger, a center, or a defenseman, the challenge is the same:

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep adding tools.

The offseason is a perfect time to do that because there is more room to experiment.

Don’t Forget to Be a Kid

One of Andrew’s best reminders comes near the end of the episode.

Summer does not have to be constant structure.

Yes, training matters. Yes, goals matter. Yes, improvement matters. But kids also need time to play, explore, relax, and have fun.

Go to the lake. Go to the ocean. Spend time with friends. Play small-area games. Try new moves. Make mistakes. Be creative.

Unstructured play is not wasted time. It is where players often discover new skills, new confidence, and new joy in the game.

Hockey development should not remove the fun from hockey. Especially in the summer, young players need space to remember why they love the game in the first place.

Final Takeaway: Write It Down, Believe It, Work Toward It

This episode is a great reminder that offseason training is not just about how many skates you attend or how many pucks you shoot.

It starts with a goal.

Then it becomes a process.

Write down what you want. Dream big. Figure out what needs work. Ask for feedback. Make choices that support your goal. Build belief through action. And along the way, keep having fun.

Because the best players are not just the ones who train hard.

They are the ones who learn, adapt, believe, and keep coming back with joy.

So to every young player listening: set the goal, take the next step, and remember — we believe in you. You should too.