Playing the sport after minor hockey

[puckhoggy 0]

So I wanted to start a thread where people from MSH can share a story or else words of encouragement on pursuing hockey after playing minor 'hometown' hockey. It can either be your personal situation or someone else's you may know in some manner.

I wish to encourage someone to further himself in the sport, but he remains pessimistic of his chances outside his comfort zone.

So basically I am hoping our community may have a story or two I can share with him about overcoming sorts of obstacles to continue playing at a higher level hockey.

Thanks.

[Chadd 916]

If he doesn't have the confidence to go farther, there isn't much you can do.

[shooter27 116]

Like chadd said, Playing the game at high levels takes a tremendous amount of mental will and confidence to push yourself through all of the hard work and changes that are required (such as leaving home to play) if someone doesn't have the want to on their own, it's never going to work.

[Slapshot9123 0]

Most part for me leaving was the mental ability to go away and live on my own like stated above, I know I could live on my own so I decided to leave. If the person has no desire to play the game at a higher level there is no such reason to. No one should be pushed into something they aren't willing to do. My plan was to just go to college and move on with my life and maybe play club hockey.

My extra push was going to a Junior Prep camp after my junior year of high school. I was pursued by a few junior teams there and was named with one of the top prospects at the camp. After this I realized that I just couldn't give up on the game I love. Now going into my second year or Junior hockey and talking to a few ncaa college teams I am very happy that I continued playing and I became a much much better overall player and I have matured a lot living away from home.

[GoBucky 0]

If he doesn't have the confidence to go farther, there isn't much you can do.

This. Having the confidence to think that you can do anything that you set your mind to is what makes the difference. Its like they say, "whether you think you can or cant, you're probably right."

Perahps the OP could get the person he's talking about a practice with a team from the next higher level and just see how he does. The kid might see that those players arent as much better than him as he think and it would be the little push that he needed to believe that he can do it.