ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GETTING RECRUITED - 247 Hockey

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GETTING RECRUITED

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE

CROWD, SHAPE YOUR GAME FOR HIGHER LEVELS, IMPROVE YOUR

HABITS, AND BECOME THE PLAYER THAT COACHES NOTICE!

1WIN AN 1 on 1 PERSONAL COACHING SESSION (details on the last page)

w: 247hockeylife.com /// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife

TABLE OF CONTENTS:/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

1. GETTING STARTED /// 3

2. DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE /// 4

3. SELF EVALUATION /// 8

3. COMPETING: YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG /// 12

4. OFF-ICE TRAINING FOR THE NEXT LEVEL /// 17

5. INTANGIBLES /// 21

6. EARN YOUR SWAG /// 22

7. BEING PROACTIVE AND CONTACTING TEAMS /// 23

8. HOW TO STAND OUT AT AN EVENT OR TRYOUT CAMP /// 25

9. FINAL THOUGHTS AND *CONTEST* /// 26



GETTING STARTED/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

[ATTENTION SERIOUS PLAYERS!!] If you read this entire guide you will be eligible for a 1on1 individual coaching session to help you reach your hockey ultimate hockey goals! If you have SERIOUS aspirations about playing at the next level, whether that is the USHL,

CHL (Canadian Major Juniors), D-1 College, or even just make the highest team in your age

group, this guide is going to layout strategies and planning to help you achieve that goal. Make

no mistake about it - skills, ability, and performance are the most important elements to playing

at the next level. There isn't a way to game the system. If you aren't good enough, you won't

make it.

However, in this guide we are going to explain in detail both how to improve your game to

prepare for the next level and also how to stand out and get noticed by coaches and scouts so

more opportunities are available to you. You may think you have the ability to play at the next

level because you are a top player at your current level. This does NOT mean you will play at

the next level. Coaches at higher levels look for players that not only are top players at their

current level, but they also have the skills and decision making ability of players at the next

level. This is a key point to understand. It is why you see so many really good players that get

passed up and they don't move on to that next level.

This is why we will cover how to honestly evaluate your current ability, how to train like a next

level player, and then how to stand out from the crowd when you are ready.

I am not here promoting any shortcuts. These are the fundamentals and it is hard work to

make that next level. However, I may be able to explain certain tips, tactics, and advice that

you have not heard before or help you understand why certain habits are important. If you can

understand that, and make small improvements to your game every day, you will be a player

that ends up on a scout’s list.



I have coached and scouted hundreds of players who thought they had the talent to play in

a top Junior league or D-1 college, and in most cases they did. Then why didn't they make

it? Why didn’t anybody draft them? Why did they get cut at their tryout camp? I will explain

specifically why talented players aren't able to make the jump to the level they desire and what

you can do to avoid that situation. It takes a very special player to make it to the USHL or CHL,

and most coaches look for the "intangibles".

But, just saying most coaches look for "intangibles" isn't going to help you very much is it? That

is why we will are going to break down each component of off-ice and on-ice habits, playing

styles, and tips to help you understand exactly what those intangibles are and how you can

implement them into your game. This will not only make you a better hockey player, but it will

also dramatically increase your opportunity to get recruited and make the jump to playing at the

next level.

Don't just assume you are good enough, don't think that just because you attend a couple of

tryout camps or exposure camps you will increase your chances. Learn exactly what it is going

to take to make those teams and what those coaches and looking for and add it to your game.



DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

So you want to want to make the next level huh? Congratulations, so does everyone else.

What it takes is dedication and sacrifice. Most players don’t have a clue what real dedication

and sacrifice looks like, so here you go.

SOCIAL LIFE

If your friends want to party, you are either in the gym or hitting the books. This isn't to say you

can't have a good time. Hard work and discipline deserve a reward, but it better not be very

common if you want to make it to a high level of Juniors, College, or Pro hockey. Sure, you can

see the gong show commercials and the perception is that all the top players do is party and

booze, but you would be sadly mistaken. First, they got there by making a ton of sacrifices.

Second, they spend most of their time training, eating right, and getting rest - the partying is a

very small fraction of their time.

Players that party all of the time and are 100% focused on training and improving do NOT live

up to their potential. If they had the talent to play in the NHL they will peak out in college or

major juniors. If they could have been in the USHL or CHL they will peak out in midgets and

play at a low junior level. Then, they get to live the rest of their life with regrets, and that is a

horrible situation. I have very good friends I played with growing up that were excellent hockey

players, but put their popularity and social life in front of their training and sports career, and to

this day they still talk about their regrets.

The players that make social sacrifices on a daily basis for their training and their studying will

excel.

TRAINING LIKE AN ELITE PLAYER

If you train for hockey the right way, it is a sacrifice. When your buddies leave the rink right after

practice and you stay for another 1-2 hours to work on your puck handling, shooting, cardio,



and do extra stretching so you are rejuvenated for the next day’s practice, it is a sacrifice. That

type of dedication will improve your skills to a higher level than your teammates but more

importantly, it will get people talking about your work ethic. Whenever you make a good play

or a scout asks about you, your coach will talk about your ability and also how hard you work.

Every coach and scout at a higher level wants to hear this. In their mind, you now stand out

above every other player they have watched with similar talent. You get your skills to a level

where you will stand out from your peers, but coaches will also comment on your work ethic.

Why is that important?

It is very simple, coaches at higher levels know that you are not good enough yet to play at that

level. They are selecting you based on your POTENTIAL. So, if they know you bust your ass

off the ice and train harder then other players with equal talent, they also know you will improve

at a faster rate and are more likely to make an impact at that level.

Keep in mind, it is not just the extra effort that is important, it is what you do with that extra

effort. Training properly and doing the right thing everyday is what will actually lead to on-ice

results that are so important if you want to continue making large improvements.

NUTRITION AND REST

It really isn't that hard to understand. If you take two players that train hard, the player that eats

better and gets proper rest, will improve more than than the other player. It may just be small

improvements over the other player, but those small improvements will continue to compound

over a season and pretty soon you have large improvements in strength, speed, and skills.

Eventually, you are just a better all around hockey player.

Why is that? It is a simple formula. When you eat properly and get proper rest, your body

will recover faster, you will have more energy, and you will be fueling your muscles for optimal

growth. This will allow you to become incrementally stronger each day versus someone who

isn't getting the proper amount of nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, and rest. Better muscle

recovery leads to better muscle growth. Combined with the additional energy you will gain from

proper rest and nutrition, you will be maxing the results of your training effort each day leading

to better performance in the short term and more improvement in the long term. You will be



improving a little bit more each day than other players in your age group, and those small daily

advantages will lead to huge advantages at the end of a season.

When it comes to nutrition and rest protocols, you can seek out professional advice from sports

nutritionists, and we will also have some very good information on www.247hockeylife.com.



SELF EVALUATION/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

You need to determine what your biggest strengths are as a hockey player so you can stand

out as being excellent in that area. Obviously, you are going to want to round out your game

as much as you can by improving in areas that are not strengths or can even weaknesses.

However, you will need to be excellent at one aspect of the game to move onto playing at a

higher level. Coaches at those levels are looking to fill specific roles on their team; if you don't

fit into a role, it is going to be extremely difficult for you to stand out and get recruited.

TWEENERS -- WHERE MOST PLAYERS ARE AND IT’S THE WORST SPOT TO BE

You don't want to be a tweener. This is a style of player that has good tools, but they aren't a

top playmaker or goal scorer and they aren't rock solid defensively. If you are a tweener at one

level, you have a 0% chance to make the next level. The best recommendation I can make to

a tweener is to read the next section on competing very closely and apply that to your game.

Typically, a lack of competing or understand what competing really is, makes a tweener.

You HAVE to be honest with yourself here. If you are not brutally honest at evaluating yourself

then you don't have the accountability to play at the next level. If it is one trend I have seen

more than anything in the last five years, it is players and parents constantly making excuses

why they aren't getting the results they should be and thinking they're a better player than they

actually are.

A good way to evaluate if you are a tweener is to give yourself the following quick evaluation

about your style of play and effectiveness. What category do you fit into? Are you the best on

your team or in your league at that category? Ask for feedback from other players and parents

you respect, don't just leave it up to yourself and your parents to judge your play. Find people

you trust. Tell them not to hold back and you can handle the truth.

FORWARDS



Goal Scorer: Bottom line, you can score. You average around a goal per game. You are the

top or second leading goal scorer on your team. A knock on players in this role is that they can

be selfish and have tunnel vision. There is nothing wrong with having a shoot first mentality.

But if you can dish the puck instead of forcing bad shots and play smart on the defensive side of

the puck you will have scouts all over you. Those types of players are rare.

Playmakers: You see the ice and make plays. You understand how to buy time and space.

When the puck is on your stick it seems like the entire game slows down. You know when to

move the puck to an open player quickly or hold it to it for the half second it takes for a play to

develop. You have awareness of the entire ice, you know what you are going to do with the

puck before you get it and where your players are around you at all times. You can put the

puck into open area of the ice or you can fire hard passes through a collapsing lane. These

are playmaker qualities. Quick Tip: As a playmaker, you are always thinking pass first, but

don't be afraid to shoot the puck. Work on your shot and take opportunities when they are

there. If you constantly try to force passes you aren't maximizing your skills. Train hard on your

off-ice shooting and become a threat to shoot or dish and your stock will rise tremendously.

Remember, a playmakers biggest downfall is they want to do too much, always trying to make

something out of nothing. Know when to make the simple play and when to take your chances,

and constantly evaluate and improve that decision making process.

Grinder / Energy / Defensive: It doesn't matter what you call it, most players are going to fit

into this category. Think about it - there are only four forwards on your team that are the top two

in goals and the top two in assists, maybe less if one player holds two of those spots in goals

and assists, which they usually do. That puts the other 6-9 forwards on a team in this category.

But, everyone can't be an energy guy. Only 2-3 of these players are needed at the next level,

and typically they bring more to the table than just hustle.

Does everyone on the team talk about how many shots you block? Are you regularly matched

up against the other team’s best player? Just because you don't score or get points does not

make you a defensive forward. A great defensive forward puts points on the board too. They

get ugly goals, rebound goals, and find a way to get assists. They create offense through hard

work and smart hockey plays. They are on the ice in crucial moments of the game and they are

the backbone of a team. Typically, at the High School or Major Midget level you would be a first



line player, maybe even a top point contributor on your team, but you just lack the ability to be

that top guy at the next level. However, if you possess the attributes of a grinder, you are more

likely to play in a top league.

Just remember, you can ALWAYS improve your skills. Just because you are a grinder or

energy player doesn't mean you can't spend hours off the ice improving your puck handling,

shooting, and skating to become an all around threat. Just don't let it go to your head. I have

seen players who were productive energy players, and ended up working their ass off to

become offensive threats. The only problem is they thought they were too good to continue

their grinding habits after they started to have success offensively, and their whole game went

downhill. The best forwards are well rounded. They are smart, hard working, tough, and

possess the skills to be an offensive threat. It doesn't get any better than that. Never be too

good to make smart plays and get your nose dirty.

DEFENSIVE

Offensive Defenseman: Let’s clear one thing up - being an offensive defenseman does not

mean you rush the puck all of the time. One of the best offensive defenseman to ever play

the game was Nicklas Lindstrom. He achieved this through making very smart first passes,

putting the puck in good areas for his forwards to be able to make the next play, getting shots

to the net, and being able to handle the puck with poise. He also had a phenomenal skill set of

skating, puck handling and shooting.

A word of warning. If you are an offensive defenseman that believes because you are a good

skater and you have good hands it is a license to force plays, over handle the puck, try to beat

players 1 on 1, and you constantly turn the puck over, you are doing it WRONG. Even if you do

make good offensive plays, coaches at the Junior, College, and Professional level will sniff out

your bad habits and reckless turnovers. The talent is too strong at higher levels; you will not

get away with bad decision making, forcing plays, and over-handling the puck.

I have seen is players like this that DO get recruited because a coach thinks this player just

hasn't been coached properly. But, when the bad habits continue, they end up getting cut.

Usually players with these habits think because they produce a couple points a game, they are

right and the coach is wrong. What they don't see is that at the next level the opposing players



are too good and you will turn pucks over and those turn overs will lead to goals against.

My advice to you - learn to move the puck to open players quickly, use your skills and skating

ability to make the first pass tape to tape instead of having to wrap the puck or making an

inaccurate first pass. Instead of trying to rush the puck, headman the puck and follow up the

play. When you do feel like an opposing player is over committing, take your chance to beat

them 1 on 1, but choose those situations wisely. Lastly, when you have extra time and space,

that is when you can look for that cross ice pass or longer pass, and if it isn't there, don't force it,

just hit the open player.

Defensive Defenseman: If you never get beat 1 on 1 on line rushes or out of the corner

you have the makings of being a solid defensive defenseman. It doesn't hurt if you are a

punishing physical player, but that isn't a requirement. You need to be smart with the puck

and if you happen to turn the puck over it should be so rare that your teammates can't believe

you made a mental mistake. Areas that can set you apart are having a great shot with a quick

release, excellent skating skills, and the ability to make tape to tape passes. A big defensive

defenseman that struggles skating and keeping up at one level is not going to play at the next

level.

Two Way Defenseman: Ideally, if you are a defensive or offensive defenseman you will also

have some skills that round out your game. If you aren't exceptional at one or the other, you

should be solid in both areas. This is going to make it challenging for you, but if you maintain

a solid set of skills, skating, and physical play, and you are smart with the puck you can fit in

with the right team at the higher levels of hockey. The KEY for this type of player that isn't a

stud offensively or defensively, but is good at both, is your ability to compete. If you block shots,

finish checks, and play with tenacity, you have a chance to get noticed.

You must be a competitor on the ice, have an insane off ice work ethic and continue to work on

both your skills and physical play to improve both elements of your game.



COMPETING: YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

Unfortunately, very few players at the High School, Midget, and younger levels understand what

it means to compete on the ice, shift after shift, game after game. The think they are competing

but they aren't even close. Competing is the #1 most important skill you can develop in your

game, it will make your strengths stronger and improve your weaknesses. And yes, competing

is most definitely a skill, and one of the hardest to develop, in my opinion. A player that truly

lays it on the line each shift is one of the rarest types of players to come by. Combine this

with some basic tools and solid decision making, and you might as well be wearing a bulls eye

because scouts are coming after you.

Now, I didn't create this site just to tell you that "competing" is important. The goal is to help

players understand how improve their game. So, even though "competing" can be considered

a very generic term, we are going to try and break it down into situations and tactics you can

apply to your game tomorrow and notice results.

SKATING HARD

This seems like such a simple skill, but it is the most common area myself and the coaches

I speak with see players lacking. They don't skate hard enough. How hard do you skate

when you are on the ice? Most players will say "hard" but the sad fact is they are wrong. The

majority of their shifts are spent watching the play, coasting, or skating at 50% - 60%.

Are you are playing at the pace of your current level? No coach at a higher level wants a player

that plays at that pace. They want a player who plays at a higher tempo than everyone else on

the ice. They get to pucks faster, they stop and start instead of circle, and they pressure the

puck. It is those small things that a coach notices to determine if you have what it takes to play

at the next level. If you like to coast, wait for drop passes, back-check half ass, try to pick off

passes instead of forcing the puck carrier and finishing checks, or watch the play instead of get

yourself open, you will not have any chance of playing at a high level of Junior Hockey.



Why is this SO important? Well, think about it. If you are attacking an opposing player that has

the puck, and you take a couple hard strides and then start to coast trying to pick off a pass, that

player now doesn't feel pressured, they pick their head up, and make a tape to tape pass. That

tape to tape pass will give the receiving player more time, momentum, and put them in a better

opportunity to make a good play.

Your job when you are attacking the puck carrier is NOT to steal the puck and get a turnover

yourself. If you attack that player with speed, your stick is on the ice taking away a passing lane

right on line with the puck. And when you pressure the puck carrier to make a quick decision

before they get hit, they are going to be MUCH less likely to make a good tape to tape pass.

Maybe they turn the puck over completely, or maybe they make a pass that is just a little bit off.

This may cause their teammate to have to slow down to receive the puck or catch it on their

backhand.

When this happens your teammates are in much better position to get an extra step towards the

player receiving the puck because he had to adjust to receive the pass or try to catch a pass

that was less than perfect. Now, they can finish their check and cause a turnover because of

the work that you did.

The point is - your effort may not result in a turnover immediately but the turnover may take

place one or two more plays following you pressuring the puck because you forced a less than

perfect play. Compare this to not pressuring the puck with speed and playing the body, where

two to three plays could lead to a goal for the opposing team because that first pass was perfect

tape to tape, the puck carrier didn't feel your pressure, wasn't worried about getting hit, and took

the time to pick his head up and make a great play.

This is just one small example, but this small plays happen 10-20 times a shift, and those are

all opportunities to change the momentum, gain possession of the puck, and make an impact.

Skating hard can also be applied to the offensive side of the game with forechecking, attacking

the net, moving into open ice, and more.

These are the small concepts that coaches understand. If they can see a player understands

how important these tactics are and consistently does them, you will get noticed. Not only that

but you will be a much more effective hockey player.



I want you to visualize this, I really want you to feel what it is like to skate this hard. You don't

need to be on the ice, just feel it in your body right now. Feel the explosiveness. Here is an

exercise:

It is hard to understand what it means to really skate hard when you are attacking a puck carrier

or going hard to the net. But, if I put a puck on the center dot, and line you up against another

player both standing on the blueline to race for the puck and go in to score on a breakaway,

how hard would you skate for that puck when the whistle blows? That is the type of short

explosive bursts that should take place 8-10 times during a shift during the appropriate times. If

you aren't skating that hard several times during a shift, you ARE NOT COMPETING and you

are going to struggle to get noticed and recruited to a higher level of hockey. No coach wants to

have to teach a player how to compete.

Keep in mind, these are short explosive bursts timed appropriately or anticipating the play. You

should not be skating full speed around the rink like an idiot. So, what should you be doing

when you are not skating hard.

INTENSE AWARENESS AND POSITIONING An obvious element of competing is how hard you play when you are around the puck, but how

hard do you compete when you are not around the puck? Having an intense awareness of what

is going around you, moving to always be in an optimal position, and hustling to support plays

both offensively and defensively are really going to separate you from other players.

Do you want to know why some players are always around the puck and have great scoring

opportunities? It is because they have an intense awareness of what the situation is and are

competing to get themselves in the proper positions on the ice.

Again, this is one of those habits that won't pay off all of the time. Many times you will be

hustling to support plays and nothing will come of it. That is fine. The key is that the 10%

of the time the play does develop, you will have anticipated properly and worked to be in the

right position with an intense awareness of the situation and you will be able to make the play.

And in case you are wondering, making the play makes you a playmaker. Everyone needs a



playmaker.

This is much easier to accomplish if you understand different positional scenarios on the ice

and what your specific "reads" are in those situations and how to react. If you don't know this, I

highly recommend you get in touch with me to help you understand your position better.

You should know what your read and positional responsibilities are in every single situation with

and without the puck. There are hundreds of them. If you don't know this, it is much harder to

be in the proper positions on the ice because you are just guessing and you will always feel like

you are a step behind. The difference is those players that end up with the puck on their stick

controlling the ice vs. the players that always feel like they are chasing.

USING YOUR BODY -- FINISHING CHECKS, USING YOUR BODY, & PLAYING TOUGH You don't need to crush people (although it doesn't hurt), but you have to use your body

intelligently. This is both on the offensive and defensive side of the puck. If you shy away from

physical contact you're in trouble.

You need to play the body, plain and simple. If you are fishing for the puck and you get beat 1

on 1 it is all over for you. This needs to be a consistent part of your game. Also, you should be

able to use your body to win loose puck battles and take hits to make plays.

You can use your body on the offensive side of the puck as well. Understanding how to

use leverage, initiate body contact, fight through checks and stick checks are also important

elements of knowing how to use your body.

Watch the top players in your position and how they use their body both on the offensive side

and the defensive side of the puck. We will be releasing some specific videos on tactics and

examples on how to do this, but in the meantime feel free to contact me with any specific

questions you have and I would be happy to help you understand the right way to use your

body.

WINNING BATTLES -- GOING INTO THE TOUGH AREAS OF THE RINK



Your ability to win battles in front of the net and in the corners comes down to effort. Yes, it will

help if you are improving your strength, skills, and skating, but ultimately it is about how bad you

want it.

Some tips are keeping you knees bent, stay low and powerful, initiate body contact, and skate

explosively.

When a coach sees you go into a loose puck battle or play a 1-1 in a tough area of the ice, and

you have such a high sense of urgency where everyone looking at you is telling you to "relax",

where your mindset is so focused on winning that battle and making a play (offensively or

defensively) it looks like your life is on the line, you WILL get a coaches attention. Now you

that you have that coaches attention, he is going to continue watching you. If you repeat that

intensity and urgency over and over again, you will end up on somebodies short list to watch

again, and that is exactly where you want to be. This is how you get noticed and stand out. It

isn't rocket science.

Skills are extremely important and they will help you get to recruited, but there is no substitute

for a player who always wins battles and does so without taking penalties. Throw some solid

skills on top of that and you will have teams competing for you. Add some smart decision

making to the mix and NHL scouts will start to add you to there list. That is truth. Go ask an

NHL scout (they are at all the big tournaments) - if they saw a player who consistently won their

1-1 battles, had solid skills, and made smart decisions whether or not that player would be on

their list. Bet you the answer is yes!



OFF-ICE TRAINING FOR THE NEXT LEVEL/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

Top players train harder than their teammates and their competitors. Lets get one thing straight,

when you are trying to reach the next level, EVERYONE is competing against you for those

spots. Nothing is more important than loyalty, and you should be very loyal to your teammates

and encourage them, but that doesn't mean you can't outwork them.

Now, there are examples of very good players that don't have a strong work ethic, in fact

they might even be lazy! However, for the rest of their lives they have to live with the fact

that they won't live up to their potential and at some point they will get passed up. Rarely, a

small percentage of players are so talented they can play at very high levels or even the NHL

without having a serious work ethic. Keep in mind this is a VERY low percentage, less than 1%.

Typically those players get passed up by players that outwork them, because those players

become better over time.

Get one thing straight, you will always be a better hockey player if you train hard versus not

training hard. So, if you choose not to train hard, you get go to bed each night knowing that you

took a step backwards toward reaching your full potential. You will need every day to make it to

the top! The one thing you will NEVER get back is time. It is the most valuable currency in the

world. Soak up each minute, use it productively, earn your time off, and you will go far.

If you want to lower your chances of playing at a high level, don't work hard. If you want to have

an equal chance to play at high levels, work as hard as everyone else. If you want to have the

best chance, work harder and smarter than everyone every single day.

As I mentioned in the "Sacrifices" section above, training hard consists of doing more than

what is required of you. Working on your strength and skills while other players are at home or

hanging out with friends is what will set you apart. Not because you are working harder, no one

cares how hard you work, it's because your SKILLS will improve at a dramatic pace.



But, and this is a big "but", if you are going to spend this time and energy on training harder,

you also need to train smarter. This means understanding the specific exercises, drills, and

techniques to maximum your effort. Technique, in addition to effort is extremely important to get

the maximum improvement from your training. This is why we will have abundance of training

resources on www.247hockeylife.com from some of the top players, coaches, and trainers in

the game.

You are doing it wrong if:

● You don't have a specific plan for each day you are working out, and skill development

drills

● You don't have a long term plan for the season and off-season that takes you through

hockey specific progressions and is personalized for the specific areas of the game you

need to work on and the skills you need to improve.

● You do only what is required of you each day and you are anxious to be done with your

workouts and go hang out.

● You are following a strength, conditioning, and training program from another sport or a

bodybuilding magazine.

The sad matter is even most "hockey" programs given to you by your team or high school are

NOT hockey specific. It is from a strength coach that probably is in an expert in something

other than hockey. Obviously, some teams and coaches do an excellent job getting a proper

program to their players but unfortunately, this isn't very common.

Training for hockey is unlike any other sport. The body mechanics are very specific. If you

have a proper hockey specific program that is personalized to your training experience, age,

and skill level you will be making improvements at a much faster rate than players who are not

following this type of program. I would so far as to say you will be making TWICE as much

progress towards becoming a better hockey player than they are. However, this statement is

based on what I have witnessed as a player and a coach, there is no specific data I can point to

because there would be too many variables involved.



FOUR MAIN AREAS TO FOCUS YOUR TRAINING SAQ: S.A.Q. stands for Speed, Agility, and Quickness. A combination of both off-ice and on-

ice drills are required to improve these areas. Understanding proper mechanics as well as

pushing beyond your comfort zone with specific exercises and drills is what is going to allow you

to improve in these areas. Think weighted sprints, agility drills in the sand, weight vests, etc.

Puckhandling and Shooting: Technique and the way you practice in these areas is going to

be critical to improving and getting recruited. Coaches love players that have top end skills.

Again, your training should be a combination of both on and off-ice training. However, you can

make huge progress by training these areas off the ice and that should be the primary focus if

you don't have access to ice time to work on individual skills. I can't stress the importance of

working on the proper technique and drills to improve in these areas. It is extremely easy to

waste your time by going through the motions. If you truly are interested in improving, learn

about position specific drills, situational drills, and drills that focus on improving technique.

It is this balance of different styles that will lead to amazing results. You can dramatically

improve your skills when the training is done properly. There is NO excuse not to have an

amazing shot and amazing hands, because it is just a matter of taking the time to train and

to train the right way. If you don't think you are maximizing your off-ice skill workouts, if you

aren't training in positional skill development and situational skill development, you will not

make the necessary improvements. This is one of my main areas of expertise, email me at

[email protected] and I will help you put together a proper off-ice skill development

training program that will push you WAY out of your comfort zone and give you real results.

Become a Very Strong Skater: This is a combination of strength, power, and technique. You

need to understand proper skating technique and constantly practice improving your stride.

NHL players have skating coaches for a reason. If you think you are too good to work on the

fundamentals of your stride you should stop reading this guide because you are wasting your

time. Training your skating technique should be done with both on-ice and off-ice drills. You

should be working on knee bend, stride extension, stride recovery, stride quickness and stride

power. Transitions, power turning, and changing directions are also very important. The key

to improving your stride and skating ability is to train on the technique so much that it becomes

habit. In a game situation you are not going to be thinking about your stride, so the technique

needs to be ingrained in your muscle memory from thousands of repetitions.



Strength/Power: As you move up levels, players are stronger. There is no reason you can't

be one of the top 2-3 strongest players on your team. Literally, all it comes down to is working

hard. Weak players are lazy, they don't train hard. It is obvious and high level coaches will

know this if they see you are weak. Hockey players should focus the majority of their energy

on lower body and core exercises with some compound upper body movements. Compound

movements mean you are using more than one muscle group. Examples are bench press,

shoulder press, and back rows. Upper body isolation movements are unnecessary for hockey

players and take time away from more valuable exercises. Isolation movements are curls,

shrugs, tricep extensions, flys, and similar exercises.

Quick Tip: Prove That You Have Been There Before - if a coach sees you do a power-clean

like a clown, he knows you have never done one before. The player that busts out 185lbs for

12 reps with perfect form proves he has been there before, it shows he has good training habits.

Granted that isn't going to win him a strong man competition, and if you are a Junior or Senior

in high school you should be power cleaning more than that, but it will prove you know how to

train. Don't be the guy that lifts weights like a beginner at a tryout camp or strength test.



INTANGIBLES/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

One topic that doesn't get talked about very often is how you carry yourself off the ice. Again,

this is a small thing but something that can set you apart from other players, which is what you

are trying to do.

I have witnessed several occasion where a coach writes a player off in the meeting room due to

the fact that they act like a clown when they are not on the ice.

Don't try and and prove to other players how cool you are, and don't try to constantly get

attention.

The best advice I can give you is to be a professional, not an amateur A professional comes to

the rink ready to do a job everyday. Yes, they can joke around and have fun, but they also stay

prepared.

When it comes to how you treat people, the attitude you have on and off the ice, remember to

show respect. If possible try not to dress like a complete slob at tryouts or your games, but in

the end, the most important thing isn't what you are wearing. It is showing the coaches that

you hustle, you do the little things on and off the ice to help the team win, you treat people with

respect, and you are a good person. Nobody wants a punk on their team that is going to cause

more problems and headaches for everyone.

Last thing, don't EVER pout. On or off the ice. If something doesn't go your way, if you get hit

hard, if you turn the puck over, put your head down and go back to work. Don't slam your stick,

sulk, bitch, or moan. All that shows is that you are weak and you can't handle any adversity.

Your name will get crossed off the list. You aren't too good to make mistakes.



EARN YOUR SWAG /// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

If you have done all of the above, and you have made the sacrifices, bled the sport, took

massive action on a daily basis to reach your dreams, you have earned Swag. You will walk

different, people will treat you different, and you will feel different. You will control the game on

the ice, you will see plays before they happen, and you will control the flow of the game.

Realize this, no one that has Swag acts like they have Swag or tries to have Swag. It happens

through their insane dedication to perfecting their craft. Once this is accomplished, the quiet confidence, is what equals Swag. If you are a loud mouth talking about how good you are,

how many points you have, or making fun of a player on your team that isn't as good as you,

you don't have Swag yet, not even close. Let other people tell you how good you are, and when

they do, just nod your head and tell them "I'm just trying to do my job." That is Swag.



BEING PROACTIVE AND CONTACTING TEAMS/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

When it comes to writing letters to coaches, shooting videos, or sending DVD's, don't waste

your time. Trust me, unless a coach asks you for game film, they aren't going to watch it. Send

them an email, ask them 2-3 questions about their team and the type of players they look for,

and let them know you are interested with your address. That will get you on a list to attend an

open camp. And, if you aren't being recruited at the time, an open camp is a good way to get in

front of coaches if you have done everything else in this guide.

The main thing to understand is that open tryout camps, prospect camps, and exposure events

are mainly a source of revenue for the teams or companies that hold them. You need to

understand this because you are starting out behind the eight ball. If you are going to these

events cold, meaning that a coach hasn't talked to you, called you, or shown interest in you, you

really have to stand out for anything positive to come from it.

Attending these events and being proactive will NEVER help you in your dreams of playing at

the next level if you don't do most (or all) of what I explained in previous sections. That is what

makes a next-level player, not knowing which events to attend. But, if you do follow through on

those habits and playing tactics, these events can potentially put you on the map because then

you will stand out and coaches will notice you at the event.

It doesn't hurt to get in front of the coaches or scouts at the levels you want to play at. This

means it is okay to attend a couple tryout or exposure camps each summer, but don't get

sucked into thinking that you are going to land a spot on a team if you are openly attending one

of these events. Your best bet is to try to make an impact and get noticed so that a coach adds

you to a list of players they want to watch for the upcoming season.

The best events to go to are the invite only events, but know the difference between an event

that says it is "invite only" and really they just take anyone versus a real "invite only" event.



Some examples of real invite only events are prospect camps held by that specific league or the

main tryout camps for specific junior teams. These are the events you want to be at, and it may

mean you have to attend that team’s open camp to try and stand out to get an invite to the main

camp. If you are prepared to do that, it could work out well for you as long as you execute some

of the tactics talked about above and you have the tools to compete at that level.

At the end of the day, you are much better off spending time training and working on your game

than going to 4-5 different tryout or exposure camps in the off-season. Hit up 1-2 that may do

you some good.

Good questions to ask the coach before attending the event in an email:

● How many teams will be there? (4 teams is ideal, 6 teams is okay, 8 teams is too

many.)

● What are the next steps?

● Will there be an all-star game?

● Will there be exit interviews?



HOW TO STAND OUT AT AN EVENT OR CAMP/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

This goes for tournaments, tryout camps, exposure camps, or any other events where scouts

and coaches will be at to watch players. First and foremost, the advice below is how you should

always play, whether it is a practice or a game, whether someone is watching you or not. If you

do that, you are already ahead of the game.

Competing: Play each shift harder than you can image. Compete, win battles, and just flat out

work the players you are playing against.

Decision Making: Make smart decisions. Don't think you have to do too much which can

hurt you versus help you. This doesn't mean play cautious! Each shift you should have 4-5

opportunities to highlight the strengths of your game, and be sure to do that. I explain more

about this in the next section.

Take Advantage of Your Opportunities: Go huge! When an opportunity presents itself to

highlight your strengths, make a statement. Don't pass up a good scoring opportunity if you

are a goal scorer, instead turn heads with the quickness of your release and speed of your

shot. If you have speed, take the opportunity to toast a defenseman to the outside vs. trying to

stickhandle through his stick. If you are a physical player punish someone coming across the

middle with a clean bone jarring hit. If you are a stay at home defenseman you better not let a

player carry the puck over your blueline. Remember to always win battles in the corner and in

front of the net, and when you fight for a loose puck...fight for your life. Those are the quick tips

that can help you stand out at an event, or in fact, any game. It is just how you should play the

game, leveraging your strengths and not exposing your weaknesses by trying to do too much.



FINAL THOUGHTS AND CONTEST/// f: 247hockeylife /// t: @247hockeylife /// e: [email protected] /// www.247hockeylife.com

Hopefully you understand one thing from this guide - there are no shortcuts. There isn't one

secret I can tell you; it is a combination of applying all of the above tactics to your game,

training, and attitude. The faster you can implement these, the faster you will start to get

noticed.

I hope this guide helped you. Right now I am offering free consulting or personal coaching to

any player that is serious about their future. Here are the details:

I’M GIVING AWAY:

● 20 min phone coaching session (50 available - $100 value)● 30 min phone coaching session (20 available - $150 value)● 1 hour skype or phone coaching session (10 available - $250 value)● Video breakdown coaching (1 available - $1000)

What is included? Depending on your level, obstacles, and goals I will include the following:

1. Specific goal setting objectives for each season

2. Personalized evaluation report card to track your progress after each game (this is very

important)

3. Personalized workout advice, drills, and exercises based on your level, position, and

experience

4. Personalized recruiting advice for the specific level you are trying to reach

*The video breakdown will include over 5 hours of analyzing YOUR game film, cutting clips for

you, giving you specific feedback on each clip and providing you with a DVD. It also includes a

1-hour coaching call.

HOW DO YOU WIN? (see the next page)



Here is How You Can Win: Send an email to [email protected] and prove to me how

serious you are about hockey and why you want this extra coaching help. For bonus points,

you could shoot a video and post it to YouTube and send me the link (I will also share the video

on our facebook/twitter/and website.) In the video or email you can show me your dedication,

explain your goals and what you are doing to achieve them, areas where you need help, and

anything else you think is important. I do enjoy it when parents get involved and participate.

I think that is very important, but I realize some people have parents that aren't as helpful or

involved as they should be and I won't hold that against you.

What challenges are you facing?! Let me know, [email protected].

Remember, go earn it.

-Zac



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ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GETTING RECRUITED - 247 Hockey