🏒 What separates players who simply react from players who always seem to be one step ahead?
In this episode of The Ride to the Rink, former professional hockey player and development coach Kevin Clark joins Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli to share practical advice that young hockey players can use immediately.
Kevin explains why players need a short-term memory, how additional development during the season can create long-term growth, and why scanning the ice before receiving the puck is one of the most valuable habits a young player can build.
The goal is not to turn your head just because a coach told you to look around. The goal is to collect useful information.
🔍 In this episode, young players will learn:
🧠 Why mistakes and great plays both need to be left behind quickly
🏒 How to stay focused on the next decision and the next shift
📈 Why development should continue during the hockey season
👀 How scanning helps players understand where teammates and opponents are
⚡ Why better information leads to faster, more confident decisions
🥅 What skaters can learn from the way goalies watch the entire game
Kevin encourages players to stop skating with blinders on and begin noticing the full picture around them. The earlier a player develops that awareness, the more naturally it can become part of their game.
The next time you step onto the ice, challenge yourself to look, learn, and collect more information before the puck arrives.
Listen now, share this episode with a teammate, and put one of Kevin’s lessons into action during your next practice.
This episode is powered by NHL Sense Arena.
No matter where you are in your hockey journey, we believe in you—and you should believe in yourself, too. Have fun, skate hard, and go learn something!
📖 Want a written version you can reference anytime? Check out our companion blog: See More, Think Faster: https://www.ourkidsplayhockey.com/blog/see-more-think-faster-building-better-hockey-awareness/
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