The overwhelming majority of young hockey players are fortunate, priveleged even, to be able to participate in the game. Equipment expenses have reached a new stratosphere, ice is expensive, some communities lack proper access to basic nutrition. Does that mean these players don't deserve the opportunity to enjoy the game and learn the skills that more fortunate kids do? That's what Kevin Hodgson and Heros Hockey has been working on for years, and the impact on the lives of hundreds of children is immense. 

Hodgson is teaching passion, persistance, grit, self control, connection, and character through hockey and having a meaningful, reciprocal relationship with someone outside the family sphere. Coaches in all sports have a responsibilty to teach all of those positive character traits, and what Kevin has taught us is that the audience might change in respect to challenges at home or access to resources. Those kids deserve to learn those lessons too. Hockey is a snapshot of society - when society leaves its most vulnerable citizens behind, it's failed. Hockey is a privelege, it's not a right like basic food, water, and shelter, but it's got a responsibility to break down barriers and provide opportunities for every child to have access to the game's mentors. 

Hockey is something people do, it's not who they are on a fundamental level. Learning who a person is behind the player gives you the most power to promote positive development in a child, and it gives you the biggest opportunity to grow and develop as a coach. It's a reciprocal relationship. Coaches want to be seen too. We want human interaction, we want to deliver a positive experience and be seen for it. We're proud of our work, right? And we should be!

As long as we remember that our place in the game starts with people first, sport next. 

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 0:30 Intro to HEROS/SuperHEROS
• 6:00 How is success measured?
• 8:50 Who are you coaching?
• 12:55 Have meaningful interactions
• 16:55 If we…Then we…So we…
• 19:20 Pokemon Go story