More Than the Next Superstar: Why Training With Your Kids Matters

It's Not About the Draft Pick

Every hockey parent has had the thought, even just for a second. Your kid snipes one top shelf in the driveway, and suddenly you're picturing them as the next Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, or Macklin Celebrini.

Dreaming big is great. Kids should dream big. But here's the truth: only a tiny fraction of players ever make it to the NHL. If that's the only reason you're out there training with your kids, you're missing the best part.

The real reason to lace up, grab a stick, and get out there with them has nothing to do with scouts. It's about who your kids become, and the relationship you build along the way.

What You're Really Building

Confidence. When a kid works on something with you and sees it get better, whether it's a crossover, a backhand, or just staying on their feet, they learn a lesson that lasts far beyond hockey: practice pays off, and I can do hard things.

Resilience. Pucks roll off sticks. Shots miss the net. Falls happen. When you're right there to say "shake it off, try again," they learn that mistakes are part of getting better, not a reason to quit.

A healthy lifestyle. Kids copy what they see. When they watch you get active, drink water instead of soda, eat a good meal before a skate, and get to bed on time, those habits become normal to them. You're not just training a hockey player. You're raising someone who knows how to take care of their body for life.

Connection. In a world full of screens and busy schedules, time together with a common goal is rare. Those driveway sessions and early-morning skates become some of the memories your kids hold on to most. They won't remember every drill, but they'll remember that you were there.

Keep It Fun, Keep It Encouraging

The goal is for your kid to want to come back tomorrow. A few simple rules go a long way:

• Let them lead sometimes. Ask what they want to work on. Kids who get a say stay interested.
• Keep it short. Fifteen to twenty focused, fun minutes beats an hour of drills they dread.
• Praise effort, not just results. "I love how hard you worked on that" builds more than "nice goal" ever will.
• Turn drills into games. Shooting contests, stickhandling races, and "beat the clock" challenges make practice feel like play.
• Leave the coaching to the coach. Your job isn't to fix every mistake. Be the one who cheers, not the one who critiques.
• Skip the car-ride breakdown. After a game, try six simple words: "I love watching you play." Let them bring up the rest if they want to.
• Know when to stop. If they're tired, frustrated, or just not into it today, call it. There's always tomorrow.

Most importantly, remember why you're there. If they walk away smiling, it was a good session, no matter how many pucks hit the net.

Simple Things to Do Together

You don't need a home rink, fancy equipment, or any hockey experience. Just show up and be willing to have fun.

On the ice and in the driveway:

• Public skate or stick-and-puck sessions together
• Stickhandling with a ball in the garage or basement
• Passing back and forth in the driveway
• A shooting target or an old bedsheet with holes cut in the corners
• Rollerblading around the neighborhood
• Backyard rink or pond hockey when the weather allows

Off the ice:

• Family walks, bike rides, or hikes
• Simple bodyweight workouts together: squats, lunges, planks, jumping jacks
• Stretching together before bed
• Cooking a healthy pre-game meal as a team
• Packing their hockey bag together (and airing it out after!)
• Watching a game together and talking about what the players do well

The activity matters less than the time. Ten minutes of real, phone-down attention can mean more to your kid than any camp or clinic.

Every Role Matters

There's no single way to be part of a young player's journey. Everyone who shows up plays a part.

Moms and dads set the tone. You're the rides at 6 a.m., the cheering section, the shoulder to lean on after a tough loss, and the example of what hard work and good sportsmanship look like.

Grandparents bring patience and perspective. You might not be skating circles around the rink anymore, but you can rebound pucks, tell stories about the game from years ago, and remind a frustrated kid that it's supposed to be fun.

Aunts, uncles, older siblings, step-parents, guardians, and family friends matter too. Every extra person in the stands, or in the driveway with a stick, tells a kid: people believe in me.

And if you've never played hockey yourself? That's okay. Some of the best moments happen when a kid gets to teach you something. Let them show you how to do a crossover. Fall down together. Laugh about it.

The Win That Lasts

Maybe your kid plays in the NHL someday. Maybe they play high school hockey, beer league, or pick up a totally different sport. Maybe they hang up the skates at 12.

No matter where the game takes them, the time you invest now pays off for life. You're building a kid who is confident, resilient, and healthy, and who knows the people in their corner have their back.

So grab a stick, head outside, and play. Not to build the next superstar, but to build them up. That's the real win.