What you do next matters more than what just happened.
A hockey player reached out to me recently looking for advice.
He’d just been cut from his team and things weren’t working out for him.
The coach didn’t like him. Apparently he played too aggressively for the coach’s liking.
Whatever the reason, he wasn’t on the team anymore.
His heart was broken.
He didn’t know what to do.
His dad didn’t know what to do either.
So they reached out to me.
Now if there’s one thing I know… it’s how to handle being cut from teams and how to deal with coaches who don’t believe in you.
I faced that pretty much my entire career.
Being doubted.
Being overlooked.
Being told I didn’t fit.
But here’s the interesting part.
That’s exactly what made it feel so much better when I finally found coaches who did believe in me.
And I had plenty of those too.
So here’s what I told him.
Keep going.
You can’t control how a coach feels about you.
You can’t control their opinions or their decisions.
But you can control a few very important things.
Your attitude.
Your work ethic.
How you treat your teammates.
How hard you train when nobody is watching.
And most importantly…
You control whether this moment becomes a lesson or an ending.
Because here’s the truth about hockey and life.
The peak and the valley are both teachers.
Whether you win or lose.
Make the team or get cut.
Score the goal or sit on the bench.
There’s always a lesson inside the moment.
So if a coach doesn’t want you on his team?
Good.
I know that sounds crazy. I know it hurts.
But good.
Not because you aren’t good enough.
Because it probably means there’s a better situation waiting for you somewhere else.
A different team.
A different coach.
A better fit.
Some people will doubt you.
Some people will believe in you.
But the most important thing is that you believe in yourself and keep moving forward.
Move on if you’re not in the right spot.
Keep going until you find your place.
And when you finally get there?
Outwork everybody.
Because preparation has a funny way of making the right coach notice you.
That’s where the driveway work matters.
That’s where the extra reps matter.
That’s where tools like Puckaround come in.
Puckaround lets you train your hands, passing, and puck control anywhere… your driveway, basement, garage, or street. The same way thousands of young players are sharpening their skills when the rink isn’t available.
If you’re serious about improving your game and being ready when the next opportunity shows up, start putting in those extra reps.
Check out Puckaround here and start training today.
Because the next coach who believes in you might be closer than you think.
And when that moment comes…
Make sure you’re ready.
Bobby Robins
Savage Motivator, NHL Alum, Writer for Wraparound