Another year and how time flies so quickly. It has been almost 10 months since I have posted any thoughts. Where has the time gone? For me, it has been a busy 10 months. I am now working for an OHL team; it has been a great experience working with a group of people with so much NHL experience. In addition, I have 2 boys playing this great game of hockey, so I am usually at an arena 5-6 days a week.
As I watch players grow from young adolescents to young adults to young pros, there are some common characteristics that certainly help them rise to the top. Three of the most important characteristics are
Character: The ability to be a team player and someone who is an encouragement to his teammates. The ability to be open to learning as a player. A player who makes others around them better because of who they are.
Class: from language to dress code to general deportment, the little things that separate the average from the outstanding. From the way that you treat the opposition to the way you leave the room.
Commitment- the willingness to work hard and not be discouraged by setbacks. The willingness to put in the time both on and off the ice.
Three players with whom I have had the opportunity to coach in high school and work with on ice in the summers who have displayed all of these 3 characteristics are:
Simon Mangos- Simon has been playing pro hockey for the past several years after completing his engineering degree at Ferris State. Simon was a graduate of Notre Dame Catholic Secondary in Brampton, Ontario. I coached hockey there from 1995-2001 and had the privilege of coaching Simon. In Grade 12, he went on to play Junior and then on to NCAA D1 hockey in Michigan. He was a second team all star defenceman in the CCHA. After leaving college, Simon has had a great pro career as a puck moving defenceman. Above all, no matter where he plays, he is first and foremost a class act.
Nicholas D’Agostino- Nick is a skilled defenceman currently playing at Cornell. What a privilege it was to have spent some time with Nick back in high school. A graduate of Robert F Hall Catholic in Caledon East, Ontario. Never drafted out of Minor Midget, he played high school and major midget and then moved on to play Tier 2 Junior “A” at St. Mike’s in Toronto. From there, he was able to get the attention of many Ivy League schools, not just because of his hockey skill, but also because of his attention to his school work and honor roll status as a high school student. Nick is in his second year at Cornell after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Nick Crawford- Nick left Robert F. Hall in Grade 11 and not only had to travel a distance, but had to leave Canada to play Major Junior in Saginaw, Michigan. I remember sitting in my office with his family and helping to plan his courses. This young man would play 4 years in the OHL, capped off by leading the OHL in scoring amongst defenceman in 2009-2010. He would be drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and in the summer of 2010 would sign his first NHL contract. He is a rookie this year in the AHL and having a great start to his pro career. An outstanding young man who was always so positive with his team mates, classmates and his coaches.
As a teacher, administrator and coach, I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work with the above 3 players as well as many more who have not only excelled on the ice, but off the ice. They are young players whose daily life includes a commitment to be a solid citizen.
Not every player will have the same opportunity to play at the level at which these three examples have; however, every player does have an opportunity to make themselves a better player, but more importantly, a better person.
