By Bobby Robins – Former NHL Player, Father, Author
Let’s say my son came to me and said:
“Dad, I want to go pro.”
Here’s what I’d tell him.
Not “awesome, let’s sign you up for skills camp.”
Not “great, we’ll get you on the best team.”
Not “time to chase the spotlight.”
I’d say:
“Son, chase the fire, not the fame.”
Because if you want to really make it — in hockey and in life — you need something deeper than applause.
You need to love the work.
You need to wake up early when no one’s watching. You need to shoot pucks when your friends are scrolling TikTok. You need to train on the driveway when your teammates are gaming online.
Get a little better every day.
Have the long view.
That’s how the tortoise beats the hare.
And every moment — every rep, every win, every failure — view it through this lens:
“I’m learning. I’m leveling up. This is part of my quest.”
Win a tournament?
Awesome. What did you do right?
Cut from the team?
Good. What can you improve?
With that mindset, you become unconquerable.
Because nothing can stop you — everything just makes you stronger.
But here’s the final truth:
Hockey won’t make you whole.
Only character will.
If you become the kind of person who shows up, works hard, learns, leads, and doesn’t quit?
You’ve already made it.
Whether you hoist a Stanley Cup or raise a good family one day —
That’s greatness.
And most of that greatness?
It’s born right there — on a cracked driveway…
With a stick in your hand and no crowd in sight.
Just a dream in your chest and the fire to chase it.
Every NHL player starts as a Driveway Hero.
Every legend was once a kid training alone.
So grab your stick. Grab your puck.
And get after it.
— Bobby Robins
Ex-NHL Boston Bruins | Author | Dad