Stats Don’t Define You — How Hockey Players Should Really Use Numbers to Get Better

📊 Stats Are Everywhere — But What Do They Really Mean?

If you play hockey today, stats are impossible to avoid. Goals, assists, plus-minus, save percentage, turnovers — they’re tracked, posted, compared, and talked about constantly.

On The Ride to the Rink, Mike and Lee tackled a question every young player faces at some point:

👉 Are stats helping you get better… or holding you back?

The answer isn’t simple — because stats themselves aren’t good or bad. It’s how players interpret and respond to them that makes the difference.

🧠 The Three Types of Players When It Comes to Stats

Mike and Lee point out that most players fall into one of three categories:

• The stat-checker: Always refreshing the league website

• The occasional viewer: Looks once in a while

• The avoider: Doesn’t look at stats at all

No approach is automatically wrong. But problems arise when stats are used one-dimensionally — focusing only on goals or points while ignoring the full picture of the game.

Hockey isn’t played on a spreadsheet. It’s played in all three zones.

🔍 What Stats Can Reveal (If You’re Willing to Look)

Stats can uncover uncomfortable truths — and that’s exactly why they’re valuable.

Lee uses a powerful example:
A player scores 40 goals, but their plus-minus is barely positive. That tells a deeper story — one about defensive responsibility, decision-making, and overall impact.

Even though plus-minus is an older stat, at younger ages it can still provide insight into:

• Whether you’re contributing at both ends of the ice

• How often you’re on the ice for goals against

• Your overall reliability as a teammate

Elite players don’t ignore these numbers — they attack them.

Lee references Sidney Crosby, who early in his career recognized weaknesses in faceoffs and backhand scoring. Instead of avoiding those stats, he worked relentlessly to turn weaknesses into strengths.

That mindset is the difference-maker.

🗣️ The Most Important Skill: Talking to Your Coach

One of the strongest messages in this episode is simple — and powerful:

If you don’t like a stat, use it as a conversation starter.

If your coach tracks something like blue-line turnovers, that’s an opportunity to ask:

• What should I be doing differently?

• What options do I have in that situation?

• What can I work on at home to improve?

Good coaches love hearing players ask how to get better. It shows maturity, accountability, and commitment to growth.

🏒 Don’t Chase Numbers — Chase Impact

Mike adds an important reminder:
Stats without context can be misleading.

Scoring seven goals in a blowout isn’t the same as scoring when the game is tight. Recruiters and high-level coaches look beyond raw totals. They want to know:

• When are you making plays?

• Are you reliable in close games?

• Are you a liability — or someone they trust?

Some players in the NHL don’t score much at all — yet they’re on the ice every time their team is protecting a lead. That trust is earned through complete play, not stat chasing.

🚨 The Bottom Line for Young Players

Stats are a snapshot of the past.
They don’t skate for you. They don’t compete for you. They don’t define your future.

What matters most is:

• How you respond to feedback

• How you improve weaknesses

• How you contribute to the team

• How well-rounded you become as a player

Use stats as information, not identity.

💬 Final Ride to the Rink Reminder

Whether you’re a stat geek or someone who never checks the sheet, remember this:

📈 Growth comes from honesty, effort, and balance — not just numbers.

Wherever you are on your hockey journey, keep showing up, keep learning, and keep believing in yourself.

We believe in you.
See you on the next Ride to the Rink 🏒