Steps to being a NHL level hockey player – Ryan McDonagh
Ryan McDonagh is an American born hockey player from Saint Paul, Minnesota who currently plays defenseman and is the current captain of the New York Rangers Franchise. He played hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers and was part of the 2014 USA Olympic national team.
- Start as early as possible
Ryan stated playing hockey at the age of 6. His family was told by friends and other family that Ryan possessed a competitive skill that was greater than that of other 6 year olds.
- Live, eat, and breath it
     Despite Ryan’s incredible talent as a hockey player, he didn’t always play hockey. It wasn’t till he was accepted to Wisconsin when he dedicated himself to Hockey. In high school he played hockey, football, and baseball. Although at first he didn’t live, eat, and breathe hockey he did however live, eat and breathe for the joy of competition.
- Make it your only focus
In his senior year of high school Ryan McDonagh quit his other sports and made hockey his only focus. That year he won the Mr. Hockey award that is given to the best hockey player in the state of Minnesota. He then made the decision to play for the USA hockey development program while simultaneously playing for the University of Wisconsin.
- Learn from those with more experience, Play with people older than you (more experienced)
Ryan’s most instrumental teacher was his assistant coach I Wisconsin. Mark Osiecki. Mark is actually the person who told Ryan that he should try out defense. Ryan was a prolific scorer in high school but Osiecki noticed that Ryan’s incredible skating ability and his ability to skate backwards at high speed was really going to be his ticket to playing NHL level hockey.
- Establish what your mark on the game will be
“Still young at just 24, he embodies the old-school, blue-collar, meat-and-potatoes hockey player of previous generations, a player who embraces the concept of loyalty, commitment, honor and, most importantly, respect.” (Strang) Ryan is a fearless player, and when I say fearless I mean he will do anything to win. Ryan is known as a shot blocker when his team is in need. NHL slap shots sizzle at about 100 mph and he decides to jump in front of them.
- Create an identity that markets what you offer to a team
Commitment is Ryan McDonough’s identity, it’s a commitment to an, organization, a team, and fan’s. Since his unexpected trade from the Canadians to the Rangers Ryan has showed leadership qualities and a reputation as a shutdown defenseman. He now leads the New York Rangers as their active captain and top scoring defenseman.
Steps to being a NHL level hockey player – Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane is an American born hockey player from Buffalo, New York who currently plays hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks Franchise. Patrick entered the league at youngest age of eligibility at 18 and has already led his team to two Stanley Cup Championships
- Start as early as possible
Patrick started playing Mite division hockey at the age of 7, Mite division is the first division of organized hockey in the United States, commonly played at 8 years old Patrick’s family saw something in their son that was special and decided to start him as early as they could.
- Live, eat, and breath it
The commitment became a seven-day-a-week job. His dad drove Patrick to as many as four rinks a day. He even paid fee’s for Patrick to practice and try out with older teams which not only gave Patrick familiarity with that level but also a chance to learn what it takes to be a better player.
- Make it your only focus
Patrick at the ages of 9 to 14 according to his parents played in 300 games a year, and at 14 made the decision to leave home and play with a triple AAA hockey team in Michigan to even further gain experience and play at a higher level
- Learn from those with more experience, Play with people older than you (more experienced) Patrick always played with groups who were older than him, and always was one step ahead of game when it came to experience at the higher levels. When he played in Michigan he lived with former NHL player Pat Verbeek, who was the coach of his Triple AAA team, Verbeek was a prolific scorer at the NHL level and acted as a mentor for Patrick
- Establish what your mark on the game will be
Patrick at 5, 8 and 5, 11 on skates is statistically an undersized player, but that never stoped him. Always being told that a league with hitting would slow down his goal scoring production Patrick has since been a prolific goal scorer at the NHL level and has even scored a Stanley Cup winning goal.
- Create an identity that markets what you offer to a team
     Patrick knew that he had a gift in terms of puck control. Puck control being one of the most important aspects of the game at the NHL level is a great trait to have. That trait got him drafted number 1 overall to the Chicago Blackhawks.
