Happy New Year Everyone, hard to believe that 2020 is now behind us and hopefully will see a better normal in 2021.

Like many, I shut down our office Dec 18^th and returned back on Monday Jan 4^th and as I reconnected with many of my Canadian counterparts in particular when I asked how their holiday break was the answers were literally all the same …”had a opportunity to spend quality time with immediate family due to limits on social gathering, got lots of rest, watched many of the World Junior Games, read some books”

Same for yours truly, this fall proved to be the business Oct-Mid December timeframe I have had in years a result of various summits, coach clinics, webinars I hosted and when Dec 18^th rolled around was really looking forward to doing the same.

As I watched Team Canada on their run starting with their first warmup game on Dec 23^rd and sadly lost their team captain, Kirby Dach early in the game to a broken wrist (I knew right away when I watched him head off the ice as have dealt with several players over the years that did the same) I thought to myself what a crappy way to start.

Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney left the bubble to take Kirby to the hospital and was forced to quarantine in his room for another 5 days as a result but said when interviewed later in the tournament that it was the right thing to do, Kirby’s family could not be with him due to safety protocols and Kudos to Tom for doing so.

 

As the team entered the round robin and won games by significant margins (highest being against Germany 16-2) what impressed me the most is how they won the games with humility.

Unfortunately one of the tournament tie breakers is goals differential and when teams enter the cross over round goals for and against may impact their placement, but one of the rules that the IIHF implemented to limit blowouts was enforcing running time like they do in minor hockey tournaments.

When I watched the last game with my family much like many other Canadian families did on Tuesday I wore the same Hockey Canada Hoodie that I had since the first warm-up game and after the second goal was scored by Team USA early in the second period I went and got my Hockey Canada Hat and reversed as a rally cap as had done for years playing baseball/softball/slo-pitch but Spencer Knight and the rest of the USA team just did not give Canada much by keeping them outside the dots (limited high % scoring chances) other than a handful vs. what had been the case against other teams they faced.

When Bowen Byram, alternating Captain for the game required for IIHF rules (although Kirby remained captain on the team even though injured) was handing out medals to his teammates I could see the raw of emotion and disappointment that he had and brought back vivid memories for me for many of the teams I coached over the years when I was doing the same, handing out either the bronze or silver medals to my players after a tough loss.

What I would tell all of them before we hit the ice or the field for that last game of a tournament was three things much like coaches I had did growing up;

1. You worked hard to get to this game and all anyone can ask of you is for you to leave everything you have on the ice or the field and when the game is over whatever the outcome you can hold your head high

 

2. Make sure that you win with humility or lose with dignity, after the game no one should know whether you won or lost, there is nothing worse than when teams rub salt in a wound with excessive celebrations when they win or poor sportsmanship when they lose

 

AND

 

3. Most importantly, go out there, don’t worry if you make a mistake as your team mates will have your back and you will have our support as coaches and have FUN, getting to the final game in tournaments does happen often, relish the moment.

 

These three messages were shared with me over and over as I played numerous competitive sports and helped me overcome the adversity of tough losses like Canada’s young men experienced this year as well as taught me the importance of humility when we did win gold medals, banners, tournaments etc.

It also served me well for post-game talks as a coach, whether we pulled off the win or had a tough loss, to share how proud I was and reinforce how proud the players parents were of their kids for their amazing runs whether it be at a tournament or the end of a season, provincials etc.

Probably the best post game talk I have ever seen is one I wish I had seen early on in my coaching career, when David Belisle talked to the little league world series team he coached after being knocked out of the tournament I have shared in talks for both parents and coaches.

 

 

Whatever sport you are coaching, whether it be individual or a team sport, please ensure that you teach your players the same valuable lessons, as it is our responsibility as coaches not to make a living, but rather make a difference by developing youth into adults.

Kudos to Team Canada for their amazing run this year dealing with all of the adversity from losing the team captain out of the gate, challenges of the bubble, quarantine, being apart from their families with no fans in the stands and making all of us in Canada proud.

I am already looking forward to watching the next world juniors which also will be held in Edmonton/Red Deer in December but this time the fans, including the amazing supportive parents, should be in the stands to cheer on their sons as they chase their dreams wearing their countries national jerseys.