A subtle and quick little skating move to create more shooting options for your D running the top of a PP

The pressure is real

The pressure in pro hockey today is no joke.
New contracts. Competing for ice time. Fear of injury. Living under constant evaluation — every single day.

I know, because I lived it.
After 16 seasons and more than 800 pro games, I’ve seen what makes a career last — and what doesn’t.

That’s why I started Victory Performance — to help players take full control of their own development.
I work one-on-one with players, outside the team structure, using video and performance coaching to find the small details that create a big difference.

Why players go external

Every team has coaches, systems, and a video room. But most of that work focuses on team performance — not the individual player.
And that’s fair. Coaches usually don’t have enough time to go deep with every player, shift by shift.

That’s where an external video analyst comes in.

By working outside the team environment, players get honest, clear, and personalized feedback — without the pressure or politics that can exist inside a locker room and without interfering the system and playbook.
It’s private, it’s focused, and it’s all about their game.

Players use external support to:

• Understand their habits more clearly.
• Find small adjustments that change big outcomes.
• Stay confident when things get tough.
• Keep improving even when they’re already playing well.

And when the player improves, the team benefits too.
It’s a win-win — without interfering with the coach’s work.

What it actually looks like

At Victory Performance, everything starts with the individual:

• Video analysis every 14 days — breaking down clips that reveal patterns and opportunities.
• 1-on-1 calls — translating video insights into daily habits.
• Mindset and confidence work — building tools to handle pressure and unknown situations
• In-season and off-season planning — staying consistent across the whole year.
• Access to my “Game Changers” — specialists who bring extra performance perspectives in any area it requires.

The results

Players start to see the game differently.
They learn to self-correct, they communicate better with coaches, and they play with more confidence.

For coaches, that means players who are more prepared, more consistent, and easier to coach — without adding extra work.
For organizations and agents, it means a stronger, more sustainable investment.

When it makes the biggest difference

External video support can be a real game-changer:

• When joining a new team or league.
• During contract years, when pressure, stress and unknown situations appears
• After injuries, when rebuilding confidence.
• When development plateaus.
• Or simply when a player wants that extra edge.

Final thoughts

In modern hockey, everyone is chasing new systems, skills, and stats. But the real advantage often comes from players who take ownership of their own game.

That’s what Victory Performance is about — giving players the tools, feedback, and mindset to keep growing, play with purpose, and quietly make life easier for their coaches.

Because when players take care of their game, everybody wins.

Welcome to another episode of The Individual Skills Hockey Podcast, where we delve deep into the world of hockey development. Hans Skulstad, a licensed therapist, joins to discuss how working on your mental game is like hiring a different type of skills coach.

Hans brings his wealth of experience and expertise, specifically tailored to the unique challenges faced by hockey players, coaches, and parents throughout their hockey journey.

In this episode, we uncover the psychological hurdles that often go unnoticed in the fast-paced world of hockey. From overcoming performance anxiety to navigating the pressures of competition, Hans Skulstad provides valuable insights and practical strategies to elevate mental resilience on and off the rink.

 

Watch the reads both Jets defence make during this play. Simple reads yet highly effective for defending. 

 

An important thing for center's to be aware of is supporting the puck and pushing the pace of play through the middle of the ice. These are good habits to have for players of all ages. IN this video I show several examples of the centerman being in great support position, and then going max effort in the snap of a finger to push the pace of play. When you are moving faster, so many more options open up for you and your teammates 

When you think of hockey development, you probably picture ice time, strength sessions, and skill work. But today’s generation of players — especially those navigating NCAA or CHL paths — are facing a new, invisible opponent: the mental pressure of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

The introduction of NIL into the hockey world has brought long-overdue recognition to college athletes who’ve spent years balancing school, training, and competition. For the first time, players can benefit financially from their personal brand — signing sponsorships, promoting products, and building online platforms that extend beyond the rink.

It’s progress, no doubt. But it also introduces a new kind of stress that’s reshaping what it means to be an athlete — and for hockey players, who are often taught to “just play and stay humble,” this change cuts deep.

The Upside: Opportunity, Empowerment, and Exposure

There’s no question NIL offers tremendous potential. For hockey players, it can:

• Offset the financial grind of junior or college life — travel, gear, and tuition add up fast.
• Increase visibility in a sport that doesn’t always get mainstream attention.
• Teach valuable business skills around branding, negotiation, and leadership.
• Create real-world connections with companies, mentors, and causes that align with their identity.

The best part? Players can take control of their story — using their platform to inspire, educate, and elevate others. NIL gives them permission to think bigger than “just hockey.”

But that freedom can quickly turn into friction if the mental foundation isn’t strong.

The Downside: Pressure, Perception, and Performance Anxiety

In a sport built on team culture, humility, and “earning it,” NIL can feel like an awkward fit.
Here’s what I’m seeing from the inside as a mental performance coach working with high-level players:

1. The Comparison Trap
   Players start measuring their value not by their work ethic or compete level — but by who got the latest gear deal, who’s posting content, and who’s trending online. The locker room energy changes when players start wondering, “Why him, not me?”
2. Image Over Integrity
   When an athlete’s identity becomes tied to their online image, authenticity suffers. They play to protect the brand — not to play their best hockey. The result? Tension, overthinking, and a loss of the raw, competitive edge that defines the game.
3. Heightened Pressure to Perform
   Every shift becomes a showcase, not a chance to contribute. Mistakes feel magnified because now they’re public — and potentially costly to reputation or deals.
4. Mental Fatigue
   Between school, training, games, and media obligations, players have little bandwidth left. Burnout creeps in quietly — disguised as distraction, frustration, or indifference.

The Mental Cause-and-Effect in Hockey

Let’s break it down:

External Noise (expectations, image, comparison)
→ Internal Conflict (self-doubt, fear, overthinking)
→ Performance Decline (hesitation, loss of confidence)
→ Emotional Exhaustion (burnout, disconnection from the game)

In hockey terms: they stop playing with flow.
They stop trusting their instincts.
They start chasing validation instead of the puck.

Building Mental Armor for the NIL Era

As coaches and mentors, we can’t ignore the mental ripple effect NIL creates. But we can guide players through it.

Here’s how I approach it inside my programs and 1-on-1 work with elite hockey players:

1. Start With Identity, Not Image

Before we talk about branding, we build a foundation: Who are you when the lights are off?
What values define you as a person and a teammate?
We craft a Player Identity Statement — a one-line compass that helps athletes stay grounded through success and setback.

2. Redefine What “Winning” Means

Winning isn’t just goals and deals — it’s progress, presence, and resilience.
When players define success internally (effort, focus, growth), their confidence becomes unshakable — no matter what’s happening online.

3. Teach Mental Recovery Like Physical Recovery

You can’t train your body seven days a week without a plan, and you can’t train your mind that way either.
Schedule time for reflection, stillness, and disconnection. The best athletes learn to protect their energy, not just spend it.

4. Reframe NIL as a Platform for Purpose

When players use NIL to give back — inspire younger players, raise awareness, or support community initiatives — it shifts the focus from ego to impact.
Purpose creates balance. Ego creates burnout.

5. Prepare for What’s Next

NIL won’t last forever. Contracts end. Attention fades.
But a strong mindset — built on discipline, self-awareness, and gratitude — carries into pro hockey, business, and life.

For Coaches: The Leadership Challenge

If you’re a coach, you’re not just managing systems and shifts anymore — you’re managing identity.
Players are growing up in a world where validation comes instantly, and judgment comes louder. The best coaches today aren’t just tacticians; they’re culture architects.

Help players:

• Understand that attention ≠ value
• Build awareness of emotional triggers
• Normalize honest conversations about pressure

The message is simple: the goal isn’t to avoid NIL — it’s to build the mental framework that lets players handle it.

Hockey Has Always Been About Character

NIL is simply testing it in new ways.
Whether you’re coaching a prep team, college program, or pro prospects, the conversation can’t just be about systems — it has to include mindset, identity, and the mental cost of visibility.

The players who thrive won’t just be the most skilled.
They’ll be the most centered.

Because in today’s hockey world, the real game isn’t just played on the ice — it’s played in the mind.

Victory Starts In The Mind

Please download this and feel free to try it with your team.

This week, I wanted to share a drill we’ve been running that really challenged our players to think about transition, backchecking, and communication. It’s a 3v2 out of the corner that quickly turns into a 5v5 — and it’s been one of the most effective ways to teach how quickly the game can flip from offense to defense.

We start with a 3v2 low out of the corner. The forwards attack, work for a quick shot, and as soon as that puck hits the goalie or goes wide, I blow the whistle. Instantly, a new set of three forwards jumps out and heads the other way on a fresh 3v2 rush.

At the same time, the forwards who just finished attacking now have to backcheck hard, and the two defensemen from that same side jump into the play as the D with the new group. Suddenly, you’ve got a full-ice 5v5 transition scenario. Everything happens fast — players have to react, communicate, and find their positioning under pressure.

The first time we ran it, it was chaos. Players were out of position, watching the puck, and chasing. I’ll be honest — I almost moved on to the next drill. But we stuck with it, slowed it down, explained it again, and by the third rep, things started to click.

What I really like about this drill is how many different elements it works on at once:

• Backchecking with purpose instead of gliding after a play.

• Sorting coverage and talking during quick transitions.

• Defending rushes with speed and spacing.

• Forwards learning to reload and track back.

• Creating natural forecheck and breakout situations.

It also keeps 10 players going at once, which helps with both engagement and tempo. The biggest benefit for me is how it exposes habits — players who stop skating after a shot, who watch the puck instead of reacting, or who forget to communicate. You can see everything you need to work on in real time.

By the end of the session, the group was starting to figure it out. Forwards were reloading, defensemen were talking early, and our pace started to look more like real hockey — fast, chaotic, but organized through communication and effort.

That’s what I love about this level. Sometimes the best drills are the messy ones. You have to let the chaos happen, teach through it, and trust that the players will grow into it. When it clicks, it’s a great feeling — not just for them, but for you as a coach too.

 

About the Author
Jesse Candela is a U10 Rep A coach and regional scout in the OJHL. He writes about youth player development, coaching lessons, and the challenges of teaching hockey IQ at the grassroots level.

 

Click to download the PDF

 

 

By Walter Aguilar – Mindset Coach

Many players think confidence comes from scoring goals, making big saves, or hearing praise from others. But true confidence comes from inside you. It’s built by learning to manage fear, stay aware of your thoughts, and focus on what’s happening right now in front of you, the present moment.

Let’s break down how low confidence connects to fear and how being present helps you perform your best.

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1. Fear lives in the future, not in the present

“You can’t be afraid of what’s happening now. Fear only exists in what hasn’t happened yet.”

When you feel nervous before a game, you’re usually thinking about what might happen, such as missing a shot, letting in a goal, or getting yelled at. That’s future thinking, and fear grows in that space. The truth is that fear only has power when your mind leaves the present moment.

When you bring your focus back to now, to your breathing, your body, and your next play, fear loses its grip. You’re no longer trying to control what hasn’t happened yet.

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2. Awareness helps you catch fear before it takes over

“You can’t control what you don’t notice. Awareness is the first step to confidence.”

When your confidence drops, it’s often because you don’t notice how fear sneaks into your thinking. Awareness means noticing what you’re thinking and feeling before it controls you.
For example, instead of saying, “I hope I don’t mess up,” you can catch that thought and change it to, “I’m ready for this moment.”

By being aware, you shift from reacting to your thoughts to choosing your focus. That’s the start of mastering your mindset.

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3. Preparation builds trust in yourself

“Confidence is built in the hours nobody sees.”

Confidence comes from knowing you’ve done the work. When you prepare through practice, visualization, and routines, you create trust.
Because your body and mind already know what to do, that trust reduces your likelihood of succumbing to fear. You don’t have to think your way through a game; you just play.

Preparation lets your body take over and frees your mind to stay in the moment.

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4. Managing your thoughts keeps your energy steady

“Where your focus goes, your energy flows, and it becomes your experience.”

When fear hits, your energy drops. You start overthinking, tensing up, or doubting yourself. Managing your thoughts means you decide what story to believe.
If you choose thoughts that keep you calm, focused, and positive, your energy stays steady. That’s when you feel in control instead of being controlled by fear.

The best players know how to shift their energy by changing their focus.

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5. Being fully present brings you into the zone

“The moment you are fully present, fear disappears.”

The zone isn’t magic. It’s mastery of awareness. When you’re in the zone, you’re not thinking about fear, failure, or what anyone thinks. You’re simply being.
You’re seeing the puck clearly, reacting naturally, and feeling free. Fear doesn’t exist in that space because it can’t survive in the present moment.

The more you practice being aware, the more often you can access that fearless, confident zone.

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Final Thought

Low confidence isn’t something you fix by trying harder. It’s something you shift by managing fear, building awareness, preparing with intention, and learning to stay present. When you can do that, you don’t have to overcome fear because you’ve already left it behind.

If you’re ready to strengthen your mindset, manage fear, and play with more confidence, contact me to learn how mindset coaching can help you perform at your best.

 

Efficient skating isn’t just about strength or speed, it’s about how well a player can move through the positions that create power. One of the most overlooked elements of stride mechanics is a player’s ability to stay low, shift their weight cleanly, and achieve true length through the adductors as the stride leg extends.

The “Hockey Walk” is a simple off-ice drill that directly reinforces these mechanics. For coaches looking to help their players build a more powerful, efficient stride, this movement offers a highly transferable way to teach the body what efficient skating actually feels like — even without ice.

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Why the Hockey Walk Matters

The skating stride depends on two qualities that young players often struggle to coordinate:

1. Adductor Length and Strength

To achieve a full stride, the athlete must be able to lengthen through the adductors while staying strong and stable.

Without this combination:

• The stride becomes short

• Players lack full blade contact on the ice

• Power leaks sideways instead of driving the player forward

The Hockey Walk trains controlled length with the same extended push we want to see on the ice during acceleration and top-end skating.

2. Postural Control in a Low Skating Position

The best skaters stay low and level through the entire stride.

What we frequently see in developing players:

• Bobbing up and down

• Leaning side to side

• Losing tension through the core

This reduces efficiency, wastes energy, and makes transitions slower.
The Hockey Walk teaches players to own that low skating posture while shifting weight cleanly from side to side and not rising, collapsing, or drifting.

How the Drill Works

When teaching the Hockey Walk, the coaching cues matter as much as the movement itself.

Starting Position

• Drop into your bottom skating posture

• Hips low, torso controlled

• Imagine being in a crawl space with a low ceiling

• If the athlete comes up, they “hit their head” on the ceiling

This instantly teaches posture discipline.

Step–Shift–Stack Sequence

Each repetition has three key phases:

1. Step Out

Take a small step to the side without rising up.

2. Shift Weight & Stack the Body

The athlete shifts all their weight onto the stepping leg and achieves a stacked position:

• Hip over knee

• Knee over foot

• Core engaged
  This teaches proper alignment for force transfer.

3. Full Adductor Extension

The trailing leg reaches full length. Exactly what we want from the striding leg on the ice.
Then the feet come together under control before repeating on the other side.

This rhythm replicates the mechanics of a clean stride pattern:
low posture → weight shift → long extension → recover → repeat.

What Coaches Should Look For

The Hockey Walk is simple, but extremely revealing.
Common errors include:

• Rising between steps

• Leaning excessively into the stride

• Failing to shift weight fully

• Keeping the trailing leg bent instead of extending

• Losing core tension

Correcting these positions off the ice leads to more efficient mechanics on the ice — especially for players who struggle to get low or achieve proper stride length.

Why This Drill Transfers to the Ice

The Hockey Walk develops the exact qualities we need in skating:

• Improved stride length through controlled adductor extension

• Stronger, more stable low-position mechanics

• Better weight transfer, which fuels acceleration and edge control

• Greater efficiency, meaning less wasted energy during long shifts

• Enhanced positional awareness, allowing players to maintain posture under pressure

Off-ice drills only matter if they reinforce what athletes need on the ice.
The Hockey Walk does exactly that.

Coaching Takeaway

The best skating drills aren’t always done on the ice.
When we can safely and effectively reinforce skating-specific positions off the ice, athletes develop faster and retain better mechanics when they return to the rink.

The Hockey Walk is a simple but highly effective tool for teaching players how to:

• Stay low

• Shift their weight efficiently

• Achieve full stride length

• Maintain control through the entire pattern

When athletes master these fundamentals off the ice, they become more efficient, more powerful skaters on the ice.

About the Author

Travis Martell is the founder and head coach of Martell Elite Fitness, specializing in off-ice development for hockey players.

📲 Follow on Instagram: @martell.elite.fitness