As young players are growing up, they are working towards playing at high levels of hockey through their youth days.
When these players succeed at these levels, their new goal then becomes junior hockey. The junior hockey level is one of the hardest levels for a young hockey player to adapt to. A lot of them have to move away from home, which can be hard. As these young players move up in the ranks of hockey, it just gets more difficult and intense. The players get better and the coaches get more demanding.
I hate to say it, but it becomes a job at the junior level for these athletes. These young athletes need to know that nutrition, the mental aspect and off-ice training is just as important as the on-ice ingredients.
Players need to be great athletes. There is so much, but so little when you think about hockey players. The first thing that comes to mind is that they’re athletes, as that is fact for a lot of great hockey players. There are some players out there that think by being skilled this will get them to the level that they want to be for juniors. These young players need to know that they just can’t rely on being a hockey player with skill – they also need to be an athlete.
This is where off-ice comes in, which doesn’t mean that you need to be big and bulky, but lean. Off-ice is where a player is made. The training that it takes to become an affective junior player is difficult, and it takes dedication and time. Off-ice is one of the tools that is missed when developing into an elite-level hockey player.
When moving up in the ranks, you need to be aware of nutrition, and you need to take care of your body. Your body is your biggest tool. With the on-ice and off-ice training that you’re putting your body through to play at high levels, nutrition comes in to play. The schedule that a junior hockey player has is hard, practicing at least three, maybe four days a week, and 2-3 games a weekend. This can be a lot on the body, but if you’re able to take care of your body, you as a player will be more effective. Nutrition is what feeds your body. If you’re eating and drinking right, your body will do wonders for you. This is also key because taking care of your body will also help lessen the risk of injury.
Mentally, the junior hockey level will be hard, but the successful athletes are mentally tough. Just like I talked about earlier, the schedule of a junior hockey player is unforgiving. The ups and downs of a hockey season are hard, the coaches ask more of you, and so do your teammates. That is where being mentally strong is crucial. Being a junior hockey player, you’re also gone from home, so you don’t have the support of your family and loved ones to help you through any obstacles. This is where you as a player need to become a young adult, which can be a lot to ask of a 16 to 20-year-old, so being mentally strong is probably tops on the list to be prepared to get to the junior hockey level.
As young players, you all need to know that hockey can be a demanding but a very fun sport. This game, in my eyes, is the closest thing to the real world. As a coach, our job is to give you as a player the best opportunity to grow into young adults on and off the ice.
Good luck to everyone’s hockey season this year, work hard and have fun!
Cam Clemenson is the goalie coach and 20U head coach for the Colorado Thunderbirds.
FAQs
The junior hockey level is one of the hardest levels for a young hockey player to adapt to. A lot of them have to move away from home, which can be hard. As these young players move up in the ranks of hockey, it just gets more difficult and intense. The players get better and the coaches get more demanding.
Is playing junior hockey worth it? ›
Junior Hockey provides many opportunities for a player to improve and showcase their individual and team skills. The opportunities are provided through a schedule of highly competitive league games and participation in showcase and league tournaments including national tournaments.
Where do you put your weakest player in hockey? ›
Hockey CoachCoach
- Weaker attack player on the left side, more attacks go over the right side and as attacker it is easier to score from the left side. Also the stronger players set-up the actions over the right side, needing the skills to do that, weaker players don't get through.
What percentage of youth hockey players make it to the NHL? ›
When it comes to boys who play hockey, the chances are about 1-in-1,000 of playing one NHL game. But even when you get to the elite levels such as major junior hockey, the odds are still against you. The fact is that players who play at that level basically have less than a 1-in-5 chance to play a game in the NHL.
Is 14 a bad age to start hockey? ›
Most kids start playing hockey between the ages of 4-9, however you are never too old to start playing.
Is 14 too old to start playing hockey? ›
Kids that start hockey before they are physically and mentally ready are more likely to have a negative experience. It is never too late to start playing hockey. Players have joined hockey programs at 12-13 years old and still made varsity hockey teams.
Do junior hockey players go pro? ›
Tier 1 USHL players compete in the toughest junior hockey league and two percent of these athletes are scouted and signed to NHL programs. The other 98 percent of USHL athletes are recruited by NCAA Division 1 programs and are the first in line for athletic scholarships.
Can junior hockey players get paid? ›
As of Apr 19, 2024, the average annual pay for a Junior Hockey in the United States is $52,462 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $25.22 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,008/week or $4,371/month.
How to get recruited for junior hockey? ›
Prospective players must contact the individual NAHL teams coaching and scouting staffs regarding their interest. Contact information can be found on the teams' individual Web sites, which can be accessed through nahl.com.
What is an F in hockey? ›
In ice hockey, a forward is a player, and a position on the ice, whose primary responsibility is to score and assist goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes of the ice from goal to goal.
Forwards work offensively and cannot go past the center line into their defensive area. The Goalkeeper has the most difficult job on a hockey floor team. The goalie uses his hands, feet or stick to stop shots from going in the net. Goaltending requires alertness, quickness and courage.
Can you wear 0 in hockey? ›
The league has banned players from wearing the number zero or double-zero. This is due to the NHL not being able to register anyone with the number in their database. There has been players in the NFL and college football that are currently wearing zero. This is also true in MLB and the NBA.
At what age are NHL players best? ›
Most research reaches the general consensus that these age effects are positional dependent; for example in [4] the authors conclude that the peak age for NHL forwards is between ages 27-28, while the peak age of performance for defencemen is between 28-29.
Where did Wayne Gretzky play youth hockey? ›
Junior Hockey
The following season, 1976–77, he played with the Seneca Nationals of the MTHL but also had a brief three-game stint with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In the 1977–78 season, Gretzky started playing full-time in the OHL, with the Sault Ste.
Is 30 too old to play hockey? ›
Is it too late to start playing hockey? Absolutely not, some of these guys STARTED at 60 years old!
Can anyone play junior hockey? ›
Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 15- to 20-year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
How much money do junior hockey players make? ›
How much does a Junior Hockey make? As of Apr 14, 2024, the average annual pay for a Junior Hockey in the United States is $52,462 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $25.22 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,008/week or $4,371/month.
What age is too late to start hockey? ›
And while many kids start hockey at ages 5-9, older kids can and should join whenever they become interested.
As young players are growing up, they are working towards playing at high levels of hockey through their youth days.