Mentorship in Hockey: Building Confidence, Community, and Character On and Off the Ice

In youth hockey, there's a quiet force that often shapes a player's journey more than skill drills or game strategies: mentorship. In a powerful episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Olympian and PWHL standout Hayley Scamurra and coach/trainer Nick Stoop joined the show to share their unique perspectives on how mentorship creates lasting impact both on and off the ice.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or player, this episode offers a blueprint for nurturing young athletes through trust, awareness, and authentic connection.

What Mentorship Really Means

Mentorship is more than just coaching. As Hayley puts it, it's a holistic form of guidance that encompasses the mental, physical, and emotional challenges athletes face. It's about being there—whether to answer big questions, provide reassurance before a life-changing tournament, or just offer a coffee walk when things feel overwhelming.

Nick expands on this by explaining that the best mentors don’t simply tell you what to do—they teach you how to think. They guide you through processes, helping you apply advice in ways that make sense for your goals, personality, and experience. True mentorship isn't about replication; it's about transformation.

Mentorship Beyond the Rink

A key takeaway from the conversation is that mentorship extends well beyond practice and game time. Nick highlights how much of what players carry onto the ice originates off the ice—from school stress to family dynamics. Recognizing this, he often mentors the whole family dynamic, not just the player.

Lee Elias, co-host and hockey coach, shares a story that captures this perfectly: a coach who told him as a teen, "When you walk into the rink, leave everything else outside." That small but powerful piece of advice stuck with him for life.

Mentors Come in All Forms

One of the most liberating insights from Hayley and Nick is that mentors don't need to be older, wiser gurus. They can be teammates, coaches, or even younger players. Hayley recalls how veterans like Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne-Schofield eased her Olympic nerves with simple acts of support, like late-night calls or sitting with newer players at team meals.

Now, she pays it forward. As a veteran in the PWHL and Team USA, Hayley actively checks in on younger teammates, understanding firsthand how transformative small gestures can be.

Creating a Culture of Mentorship in Youth Hockey

At the youth level, especially in girls' hockey, the mentorship culture matters immensely. Hayley encourages players to lean into relationships, seek advice, and be vulnerable with one another. But it starts with coaches creating a supportive culture where these relationships can flourish.

Lee shares how his daughter navigates co-ed and all-girls teams differently—highlighting the need for awareness and intentional culture-building from coaches and parents alike.

Tips for Creating a Mentorship Environment:

• Coaches: Identify natural leaders and give them mentoring roles.

• Parents: Be aware of the messages you send. Avoid tying performance to the money spent on hockey.

• Players: Talk to new teammates, sit with different people, and ask about life outside of hockey.

Mentorship Is a Two-Way Street

Perhaps one of the most touching insights from this episode is how mentorship flows both ways. Hayley shares how young athletes in her mentorship community helped her shift her mindset during a scoring slump by reminding her of all the ways she contributes beyond points.

Mentors often learn just as much as those they guide. Whether it's rekindling love for the game or gaining new perspective, every relationship is an opportunity for growth.

Building Community Through Connection

Nick and Hayley's joint platform, The Pro Athlete Experience, offers weekly mentorship calls that foster deep, honest conversation among athletes of all ages. Over time, they've seen participants grow in confidence and courage, forming bonds that extend far beyond the rink.

Their key ingredients?

• Vulnerability: Letting go of perfection and being real.

• Awareness: Understanding what's impacting your mindset.

• Connection: Seeing teammates as people first.

Final Thoughts: Keep the Conversation Going

As Lee says, "Mentorship in hockey isn't just about teaching drills or winning games. It's about lifting each other up and shaping great people along the way."

Whether you're a seasoned coach or a first-time hockey parent, embrace mentorship as a core part of the hockey journey. Make space for conversations. Be a guide, a listener, a learner.

And remember, the locker room is only the beginning.

Enjoyed this conversation? Be sure to check out The Pro Athlete Experience through the link in our show notes. And subscribe to Our Girls Play Hockey for more inspiring stories, expert advice, and community-centered conversations.

Skate on, have fun, and mentor each other well.