Skill development is the foundation of great hockey players and cannot be overlooked.
10 years into our hockey development business the Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach has finally convinced me that we are doing the right thing by focusing on skill development. I’ve always known that skill development is the foundation of hockey training. However in the youth hockey scene there are always doubters who believe that tactics, systems, and strategy and more important. Literature shows that players should focus heavily on individual skills to lay the foundation for their own development. Logic also supports this notion that if you can’t skate, pass, or shoot and how the heck can you run a great break out?
Then why do those naysayers still grind on me from time to time? My own insecurities, probably.
This week I have had the honor to have friend, mentor, and head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins Mike Johnston work with us for his fifth year in the row at the West Coast Hockey Prep Camp. He spent the first 20 minutes of each practice working on individual dekes that the week before he witnessed Crosby and Kunitz working on until they got it right. If it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for your kids! (To hear a 30 minute Q&A I ran with Coach Mike scroll down this page, as I’ve included the audio in this post.)
With a salary cap of $72 million on every team in the NHL, he explained to us that now every team is looking for other competitive advantages because paying for the best players is even across the board every team. Some teams get sleep coaches, some teams get nicer accommodations, some bring in amazing chefs to feed the players well, some do all of the above. The Pittsburgh Penguins built a two rink facility to accommodate individual skill development while maintaining nice fresh ice! I’m serious. They built a twin rink facility so that they can focus from 11 AM to 11:30 AM on individual skills on one rink then move to the other rink with fresh ice for team practice without needing an ice flood. While they are on for team practice the other initial a surface is being cleaned so that after practice players can go back to the other side on fresh ice and immediately start working on the refined skills once again. They literally built an entire new facility to focus on developing game specific hockey skills.
Coach Mike on Crosby:
If the team practice doesn’t cover the game specific skills he wants to work on he will stay out on the second ice surface after and create his own plan. He is absolutely dedicated to improving his own game.
In Coach Mike’s own words, “When I first arrived in the NHL I couldn’t believe players’ dedication to individual skill development. Now in Pittsburgh, I witness Crosby do every drill 100% top speed. If the team practice doesn’t cover the game specific skills he wants to work on he will stay out on the second ice surface after and create his own plan. He is absolutely dedicated to improving his own game. Fleury gets on the ice early before practice and stays late. He challenges players to score and loves the the feeling of shutting them out. Kris Letang knows he is a gifted offense of defenseman yet is committed to improving on his defensive skills on a day-to-day basis to be a more complete player for his team.”
[info_box]To hear Coach Johnston speak directly click the audio file below. It’s 30 minutes so settle in with a drink, because it is gold.[/info_box]
Questions I asked Mike Johnston, Head Coach Pittsburgh Penguins:
- What are 3 key habits you notice in your top players who would be great role models for our players?
- What do you see as the biggest success you had as a team, in your first year with the Penguins?
- What is the biggest challenge you faced?
- What is a greater achievement to you: Getting a head coach job vs winning championships?
- Does being around the game keep you young, or age you?
- How do you compare communicating with players at the Junior level vs NHL level?
- You focused on individual skills with us today. Do you face much resistance from NHL players who think they don’t need skill development?
- You are committed to personal goal setting. Any insight for us on goal setting, after one full season as a head coach in the National Hockey League?
I don’t care what the naysayers say anymore, I’m all in.
[info_box]Youth coaches looking for skill-based practice plans? We’ve got them for you. Click here.[/info_box]
Hey coach, share your expertise! Please comment below with a cool skill you love to teach.
