Staying Present And Having A Team-First Mentality With NHL Goaltender Carter Hart

SPEAKER_01 1:23

Super special edition of our kids play goalie today. We got Carter Hart, started goal attending for the Philadelphia Flyers on today, and we talked about some awesome stuff. One is uh how how players don't like using the word rebuild, although they understand they're in a position like that. I thought there was some really amazing perspective from him on how a player approaches something like that. Um, also, uh, one of my favorite topics, being present, Risky says, being the game. Uh, he gives some incredible insight in this episode uh from a goaltender uh point of view as a professional about how to get the best out of himself. Um, also his team first mentality. I'm just reading my notes here, so it was so good. Um, and then the importance of communication on a team, not just from the goaltender to the to the defensemen, but to the coaching staff and everyone around. There is a lot of gold in this episode, uh, and you're really gonna enjoy it. And remember, if you love this show, if you love this community, make sure you join our Facebook community. It's called Our Kids Play Hockey on Facebook. And make sure that you give us those five-star reviews and share the episodes with anyone that could gain value from listening to these. Again, our goal is to spread these messages and to make sure that as a hockey community, we're growing and doing better together. And uh, this episode is another great uh uh volume, if you will, into that mission. So here we go. It's our kids play goalie with Carter Hart. Hello, hockey friends and families around the world, and welcome to another episode of Our Kids Play Goalie, the hit sitcom based off of Our Kids Play Hockey. I'm Lee Elias here with Mike Vinelli, and our guest today has a short intro, but a powerful one. We are joined by World Junior Championship Gold Medalist and the starting goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers, Carter Hart. Carter, welcome to Our Kids Play Goalie.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

Hey, how's it going, guys?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Hey, man, it's it's great to have you here. I I gotta I gotta start with the obvious question that my whole uh crowd and family will jump on me if I don't ask. But look, there's been a lot of changes in the Flyers organization in uh in recent years and recent weeks. Uh, and from where I sit, it seems that an identity is starting to form for the future of that club. Uh, you know, the word rebuild has been thrown around a lot. Uh, Keith Jones recently said, you know, the Flyers are coming back, which is really exciting. So hockey fans get to see very little of what goes on outside of games, outside of practices, outside of press conferences. So, my first question for you is what is something that no one sees or realizes about a team in transition like the Flyers?

SPEAKER_02 3:48

Yeah, I mean, obviously he's kind of said it there that we're we're entering that kind of rebuild stage. Uh, it's something that we've been kind of avoiding the last few years. Um, with everyone knows how we finished the last few years and it's nowhere near where we want to be. Uh, we still want to be playing this time of year, but um, I think we're we're making the right steps to to build a better future and a future that um has the Flyers consistently being a playoff team and a playoff contender. And I think we're we're we're making the right steps. Uh Torts has been great for us this year on the bench. Uh Danny there at the end of the year coming in. I mean, Chuck's a great man. You never want to see anybody lose their job, but um Danny is a very smart hockeyman, and I think he's gonna be uh huge in turning this around and then hiring Jonesy there. Um, I mean, Jonesy travels with us on the plane. He's been with with D TNT and with NBC Philly, and he's been uh on the commentating side for a little while now, but played the game, played for the Flyers, another smart hockey man, and he's a he's a beauty too. So uh we're we're excited to have these guys uh kind of leading the charge, uh turning this around.

SPEAKER_01 4:57

Do you find it challenging at all when it comes to fans? And again, the the fact that you know everyone has an opinion, right? But they don't see the work you're putting in, they don't see the work the other guys are putting in. It again, from a day-to-day aspect, is that something you don't think fans see that, you know, obviously the players care, right? But how much energy goes into in a rebuilding stage of like you want this too, right? You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 5:20

Yeah, I mean, uh everyone throws that rebuild word around now a little bit more loosely, and it's not a word that us as players like to hear or like to um on a daily basis. Um, so I think it's something that uh obviously it's we're in that stage. Uh there's no avoiding it, but um, we want to turn this thing around as quick as we can and become a contender and a playoff team on a regular basis. And um, guys, this year I think we made some big steps with our young guys, our young players coming in. Tip had a great year. Uh, he had a really a really good breakout season. Morgan Frost, uh, a lot of skill. Uh Farabee found his game at the end. Uh, even some young guys coming up and playing some games with with Ronnie and with Igor Zamola came in and and played really solid. So um even Tyson Forster, I can't forget him. Uh he's he's a beauty as well, and uh played some uh big games for us there at the end and scored some nice goals. And uh no, I think our our pipeline has guys that are are gonna step in, uh maybe not right away, but uh in the future, and and just they need some seasoning first and some experience and and so they be can become a huge part of our team going forward. And um I think that's something that that Danny realizes and understands, and and that's kind of where we are now. Um but like I said, like this year, uh a lot of big steps, a lot of a lot of growth with with those guys, and and I mean you look at our team and and great group of guys this year, like in the room, we had a great room of guys, and and we stuck together. And I think that's why we uh we weren't obviously not where we want to be, but um I mean we were like four or five points out of a playoff spot right around uh the all-star break, and no one even thought we'd be there. They thought be we'd be way at the bottom. So um I I think kudos to to to our group for for sticking with it even at the end there, um, just grinding it out and some some some wins against some big uh some good teams this year. And and uh I mean maybe not we're not the most skilled group, and I think people realize that, especially this year. Um, but we're no one's no one's gonna outwork us. And and I think that's the mentality going forward when we do become better that has to stay with us.

SPEAKER_01 7:43

Right. You know, Cutter, I'll say this culture also always has to be built before the wins happen, right? And you can bring in as much talent to a team as you want, but if the culture's not there, uh it's not gonna pan out. And and I think just as a viewer last season, there's clearly a culture, there's clearly effort every game, right? So that's exciting from a fan point of view to see. Um, as a coach, as a player myself, you know, you know that has to be there or it's not gonna work. And and again, you're leading that that charge uh in a lot of ways. Um I I do want to turn topics now because I want to talk about you and your life, especially for our audience. Um, something unique I found when I was researching you is at the age of 10, 10. Now, my my kid's nine, so he's right there. He's a goaltender, right? You were trained by a sports psychologist. Um, what were some of the key lessons you were taught early at that age on you know mentally that has impacted your game and even your life?

SPEAKER_02 8:36

Yeah, so I mean, I started working with a guy there at a young age. He was my goalie coach, uh John. Uh, and then and then he he was a sports psychologist as well. And um, so I I was kind of exposed to that world at a pretty early age, and I think that's that's been a a huge part of my life on and off the ice, um, just with how I carry myself and how I live my day-to-day life. But um I work with a guy now uh based out of Vancouver, Walter Aguilar, and um this year he's been he's been a huge help for me. And uh once a week we we chat throughout the year and and just on Zoom call and um just to have another voice to talk to, whether it's about hockey, what's going on in my life, or or anything else. Uh it's it's just kind of nice to have somebody to talk to that's uh maybe not your your parents or somebody that uh you can tell uh some things that maybe you don't want to tell your parents, but um he he he's been a big help and and uh for me the biggest thing that I learned this year is uh when I'm at my best is when I'm just being and I'm just playing the game. No, I'm not playing the game, I'm being the game. Um I have uh no inner focus, my my focus is completely outer and I'm just completely present. Love it.

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Yeah, I mean, you know, just the way you speak to, you know, obviously, you know, and I and I could hear it in your voice too. And I I could certainly I know from a as a coaching perspective and and a player perspective, we never want to hear about you know rebuilds, right? And I'm always thinking, well, you know, if we re rephrased it more for a refit, right? About okay, well, who what pieces can we replace and what pieces can we, you know, improve on and what pieces do we like. And we just have to kind of fit those pieces together. And you alluded to a little bit about where some of the players were uh and how they progressed throughout the year. And I guess my, you know, so so the the really the defensemen really are really where you kind of have to communicate the most with, right? I mean, they're they're the they're the players that uh, you know, that I think if you're on the same page with them, that refit helps, right? Having guys back there that are supporting you, they know you're supporting them. And I just maybe real quick just to talk to the audience, like because we all we obviously we have goaltenders listening, parents of goaltenders, but also players and defensemen, you know, what are some of the steps that you ensure uh that you can when some of the strategies maybe that you use with your defensemen and and maybe relate it to a youth level too, right? Is that you know, obviously we don't have the meetings and the the time, you know, to to really have hours with our defensemen, but what are some of the strategies that you you would use as a goaltender uh to communicate uh with your defenseman and make sure that is the right fit during the season?

SPEAKER_02 11:19

Yeah, I mean, the biggest thing is communication. Um, I mean, you said it, it's it's the biggest thing between a goaltender and and a defenseman. They're they're defensemen are your best friends out there. Uh they they're the ones blocking shots in front of you. Uh they're the ones saving some goals sometimes when you're when you're slimming or flopping out of the net. Um and I think behind the net, playing the puck, uh, you have to be on the same page. And that's something that you work on. And uh when new guys come in come in and out of the lineup, uh like we saw towards the end of the year, uh, that's just kind of something I just kind of quickly talk to them and and make sure that they're on the same page and they know the calls and um so that we're all on the same page. And I mean, anytime that I can go behind the net and help break out the player, um, help them so they don't have to retrieve a puck and get crushed along the boards, I'm gonna try and do that because uh they they they do a lot for us and and they're a a huge part of our team. And um like there's guys that play 25, 27 minutes a night, and they're playing a lot. And anything I can do to go out there and and help them and uh save them, save their bodies, uh, it's it's from communication. And that's the biggest thing.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Yeah, so you know, that being said, you know, especially at the youth level, right? We've most always have two goalies. And so I've you know, you've seen on the NHL level that you see certain defensemen feel comfortable with one goal or the other, or they play differently, actually, right in front of a goalie. If you're a goalie that can come out and play the puck, or you're somebody that's more comp you know, wants to freeze the puck more and or you control rebounds differently than another goaltender, you know, just based off of your relationship with other goaltenders, you know, are you using the same verbiage? Like the is it the two goaltenders and the defenseman in strategizing, you know, how you want to play, or is there a distinct difference between, hey, I'm in the net, this is how I'm going to play, and that guy's in the net, and this is how he's gonna play. And do you see the big difference in how defensemen then def defend in the zone?

SPEAKER_02 13:19

Yeah, I mean, everybody's different, everybody plays a different style um in the net, behind the net, playing the puck. Uh, I mean, for me, like our our communication stays the same between me, Felix, and and all our defensemen. Um, in the net, in the play, like we kind of have our own structure, our own system that we play by. And that's something that I've uh I mean, this year was a little different with torts behind the bench, um, but we're on the same page. Like we go through in video, uh, we talk about it um almost on a daily basis uh with Shawzi, who's our D coach and PK coach. Um, like I think that's that's really important that uh you're on the same page with your defenseman, they're on the same page with you, you understand them, you know who's out there for you. Um, I think that that's really important.

SPEAKER_01 14:08

You know, if I can jump in, Card, you're you're it's happened on a few things that are really uh important to me as a coach. Uh one is that you you're alluding there has to be a trust between you and your teammates, number one. Number two, how important communication is, how it happens often, it happens daily. Uh, you know, we need to create more environments for our younger players to understand that. Um, and then the other thing you said earlier in the episode was that, you know, being the game, being present. Um, I think present moment awareness is essential if you want to succeed at anything at a professional level. So, my question for you is this, and and I'm I'm interested in two parts to this. One is, is that something you practice on your own? And is it something that you, you know, notice your teammates do as well? Because I think to achieve present moment awareness, you have to practice it all the time. It doesn't just, you know, snap your fingers, I'm in a game and I'm present, right? So, how do you how do you practice that and how's the team practice that?

SPEAKER_02 15:01

Uh, I mean, got everybody's different. Um, I mean, for me personally, like I really got into meditation this year. Uh, I use this tool called Muse. Uh, it's a headband that you wear that tracks your brain signals. You attach it to your, it's connected to your phone to an app. Uh, you put on your headphones, and the one I use uh is uh an unguided meditation, uh, 10 minutes before bed, uh 10 minutes in the morning, and then 10 minutes when I wake up from my pregame nap on game day. Um, so you're pretty much just practicing being in the zone. Um, the one I use uh plays uh campfire noises louder when you're thinking more, and then plays bird singing when you're uh when your uh mind is quiet. That's amazing. I think that's that's been a really good tool to essentially practice being in that flow state in the zone.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

I love that. And I'll tell you why, because again, when it comes to physical fitness, you know, we all know what to do, right? We all know what we need to do to stay physically fit or adversely not stay fit. I don't think we do enough of it mentally. And I love it, like you said it just what three times a day you do that, right? Uh just to continue to stay in a present state. So I think for all the young people listening, actually everybody listening, this isn't limited to just just young hockey players, you know, this is something you can practice. It's practiced at the elite professional level uh with a pretty damn good goaltender.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

If I can add, like I think please, yeah. Like it's for me, like I've struggled with sleep in the past, and and that's a the probably the biggest part of your body and your recovery is has been sleep. And one thing I noticed this year is being able to play more games. I think I played the most amount in my career in the season this year, and then play more consistently. And I think I accredit that to my some of my sleep. Um, doing meditations in the morning makes you more present throughout the day, kind of gets you going when you wake up, and then my meditation at night just clears my mind and I'm able to fall asleep like that. And in the past, I've usually been a guy that I'll try and read before bed, and then my brain's just racing. And next thing I know, it's like an hour and a half, you're still not asleep.

SPEAKER_00 17:09

Yeah, and think and think about how much control you have as a professional athlete, and then think about when you were 13, 14 years old and you're in the car with your parents and you're driving home from 11:30 at night practice and you just got off the ice or it's a tournament game and it ended at 9:30 on a Friday night and the next game is going to be at 7.30 the next morning. I mean, think about how important sleep is to the teenage body and and you know, not only a professional athlete, right? So using these type of tools and these type of techniques, you know, really does add so much. And we talk about nutrition, we talk about physical fitness, and we talk about you know mental acuity and and just mental, you know, your ability mentally to stay in the game. But one of the things obviously we don't talk enough about, and and you could maybe allude to it even more, is that the ability to find a way to get to sleep and clear your mind of how much that prepares you for your next day of training. And you know, what maybe what you know, obviously if a youth player can't uh afford news or or afford a system like this, like what are some other like out-of-the-box things that they could do, you know, to help them with this type of strategy? I mean, one of them I guess would be not being on uh Instagram until 11:30 at night, right? I mean, you know, shutting the phone down, and it sounds like you've been able to do that as a professional athlete, uh, but maybe some advice for those kids out there that maybe can't, you know, get access to this, you know, these other types of tools.

SPEAKER_02 18:30

Yeah, I mean, I think that it's important that you find a find a routine, uh, a sleep routine, whether that's just reading before bed for 15, 20 minutes, and then go on YouTube. You can find hundreds of of meditations or guided meditations unguided for sleep. Like they're they're all over there. And I that's what I first started with. Um I remember doing those coherent breathing meditations when I was 14, 15 years old, and just off of YouTube, off a YouTube track. And um, I think that's that's really important that you find that that routine and what works for you. Um, like I I've kind of had my own routine that I've played with um over the years, change things in and out as I get older, or uh what works for me and what doesn't. But I've kind of found one where I just I take a hot shower before bed, an hour and a half before bed. I do the last two minutes of the shower, cold shower. I get out, uh I read for about 20, 30 minutes, and then I do my 10 minute meditation, and then I'm usually asleep within the next 15 minutes.

unknown 19:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:35

So when my son listens to this, I'll have to watch his showers because I think well, you're you're always his first pick on uh NHL uh 23 right now. So maybe, maybe, maybe maybe that's gonna maybe that will add to it a little bit more, just understanding, you know, all these little strategies you can use, you know, to help you get to sleep and and and and find ways to you know clear your mind and your body just to prepare for the next day.

SPEAKER_02 19:57

Yeah, for sure. And I mean, I think that's that's a huge part of of training, of being ready the next day, whether it's game day or practice day or whatever, whatever you have the next day. Um, and that's something that I've learned uh the last I've learned the hard way. I remember during the COVID year, I wasn't sleeping at all. Like I was getting getting like this was in 2021 when we played the half season, and I remember I was getting like four or five hours of sleep a night after a game for practice or whatever it was, and I remember just feeling like crap, like for a lot of the year, and I had a terrible year. And I started to figure it out towards the end, and uh with my sleep and getting things on track and trying different things. And um, I mean, I I I heard LeBron James talk about it where he's getting, I think, 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. That's a little bit on the other extreme side, but I mean, he's 38 years old, he's a uh freak of nature, and uh he's still performing at a light out level.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

So yeah, I remember uh JJ Watt a few years back, you know, he was on uh the HBO specials about this football team, and I remember him saying to one of his teammates, Oh no, my life's really boring. I pretty much practice, I eat, and I sleep every day, and I try and get nine, nine, ten hours in a night. Uh, you know, and I appreciate you sharing all this because you're gonna teach these younger kids and families stuff that you didn't know, like you said. Um, I gotta ask this question because you brought it up. What does Carter Hart read? What are you reading?

SPEAKER_02 21:26

Uh, right now I'm reading The Power of Now by Yeah. So it's it's a it's a book about being present. Right. That's one of my favorites. Yeah. So I I try to read books that are kind of helpful and stuff that I'm doing in my life. And um, I was also reading the early in the year, I was reading the uh uh the Bob Probert uh uh biography there, and uh it's really really cool book. And um yeah, so just trying to read stuff that I'm interested in or have you read Keith Jones's book yet?

SPEAKER_01 21:58

I haven't no it's hilarious. You know, I have to that he that he's our president.

SPEAKER_02 22:02

Right, he's probably gonna he's probably gonna give us all a copy on our first day in camp. Yeah, you better have it in your small, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

You're gonna have to get the the updated edition, including his years as flyer president. Uh last question for me, Card. I know we're we're running short on time here. Um again, my son's nine years old, he's been playing goalie two seasons, loves it, right? Uh speaking to every kid in his position right now, like what's something you wish you knew then that you know now that you think a nine-year-old, a ten-year-old could apply to their game today?

SPEAKER_02 22:30

Well, that's a good question. Um I think I think for me is enjoy enjoy your time. Like don't try and rush. I remember when I was a little bit younger being, oh, I cannot wait to get to the next level, I cannot wait to become a junior hockey player, I can't wait to become a pro hockey player. Now I look back and even just catching up the other week I'm catching up with some some old friends that I played minor hockey with that I hadn't seen in probably five, six years. Um just reminiscing on the days where you just go to the rink, you put on your gear, you got or you just came home from school, your mom's taking you to the rink, you put on your gear, and you're just going out and having fun with your with your friends. And you miss those days where you go out and there's not a a worry in the world. And uh I think it's a little bit easier at at that age just to go out and and just have fun and just play. Um I think that's something that often gets overlooked and and forgotten about once you become a higher level athlete. And it's something that needs to stay important and needs to it needs to stay fun. Once it's once it stops being fun, then um why even play? So um I would say just enjoy your time with your friends and uh make the most of it and work as hard as you can. And the players in front of you will work just as hard for you.

SPEAKER_01 23:53

That's a fantastic answer. I think parents and kids both need to hear that. Uh Mike, you have any more before I before I close it out?

SPEAKER_00 23:59

No, I mean I just I I I you know your perspective is uh is great. We really appreciate your time coming on here and uh wish you the best of luck and the new the new group down there and uh and the start of the season and have a have a safe and um productive off season.

SPEAKER_01 24:14

I appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah, the future is clearly bright in Philadelphia right now, Carter. You're a massive heartbeat part of that and spine, whatever metaphor we want to use. So appreciate you coming on today and give us the time. We'll make sure we're gonna get you a copy of Jonesy, the book, just so you can have it. I want you to show up with it. I read your book, Keith, day one. He'll appreciate that. He's a funny guy. But Carter Hart, thanks so much for uh joining us on Our Kids Play Goalie today. It's a real honor. Um, and uh, we look forward to watching you this year.

SPEAKER_02 24:41

Thanks for having me, guys. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

All right, so that's gonna do it for this edition of Our Kids Play Goalie for Mike Benelli. I'm Leah Lyons, and that's Carter Hart. Thank you for being here today. If you want to hear more of Our Kids Play Goalie or our new show right to the ring or the main show, Our Kids Play Hockey, check out OurKidsplayhockey.com for all episodes or whatever podcast product you listen on. They're all there under that Our Kids Play Hockey monitor. Thanks so much for listening, and we'll see you on the next episode. We hope you enjoyed this edition of Our Kids Play Hockey. Make sure to like and subscribe right now if you found value wherever you're listening, whether it's a podcast network, the social media network, or our website, our kidsplatehockey.com. Also, make sure to check out our children's book 1hockey stops at 150 stops.com. The book that helps children deal with adversity in the game and in life. It's very funny. Thanks so much for listening to this edition of our kids by the way.