Jimmy Mullin from Merrimack College believes the word elite gets tossed around too often. Coaches know what makes a player truly elite or not: habits. 

Elite habits are the only thing that truly gives players the opportunity to ascend to the next level of hockey, or the next level of responsibility with their team, or to the next level of their own abilities. 

Mullin's full TCS x MHCA presentation will be released on Tuesday, February 18th!

For the first 20 minutes of every practice Mullin focuses on habits with his skaters. Energy is the greatest predictor of a successful practice, so Merrimack starts every day by increasing energy, increasing energy, and creating additional puck touches. 

Most coaches only have so much practice time each week to work on tactics, systems, skills, and so on. With elite habits, the results outperform the input. Or, rather, less-than elite habits deliver less-than desirable outputs. Elite habits represent the best aspects of every respective level of hockey. If players have built-in elite habits then the coaches don't need to spend nearly as much time on breakouts or forechecks or special teams or whatever. Everything is more efficient because the execution is elevated. 

It's never too early for young players to learn about the value of habits. Explain it to them this way:

• With elite habits, coaches spend less time teaching basic systems and tactics since execution is already elevated
• This means more time for small area games, compete, and fun!
• They allow players to expand their capabilities - this includes off the ice as well

Preaching elite habits and how they help players improve flows easily into off-ice habits. 

• How are you treating your body?
• What are you eating?
• What does your sleep hygeine look like?
• What are you doing when you're not focused on hockey?

For Mullin and Merrimack College, answering scout's questions about why NHL teams should draft their players, it comes down to their habits and understanding of concepts in practice. Mullin is pretty honest with himself and why he didn't play professional hockey, but he sees it from the other side of the bench now. Habits can always be preached, they can always progress, and eventually they show up in games in the most chaotic situations possible.