Guy is an absolute DBag. In a sport where the definition of talent is so subjective it's great to see a guy who is looking to shoot down a players confidence. Screw him.
Did you listen to the whole thing? It's the right message, and it's applicable to every single player out there, even NHL Hall of Famers. Work hard, keep working hard, and "if your good gets better, you've had a good year."
Playing junior and college hockey is a job. It's a grind most of the season. If you let yourself get too high or too low, your odds of making it decrease.
It is not a job. It is a game. Please have fun with it while you still can.
So, when, in your mind, does it become a job? NHL? AHL? ECHL? NCAA? Tier I? Tier II? Tier III?
I know things are tough over at Boston sand and Gravel on a hot day, but it is possible to love something, even if it is hard work. Playing junior and college hockey is hard work.
Its a job when you get paid to do it.
Its a GREAT job when you get paid AND love to do it.
So I guess you could argue that playing for free in Juniors/College qualifies...
D-I scholarship players are in essence (well some of them) getting paid. Sonny up at Southern New Hampshire U is still playing for the love of the game. Playing Juniors is either for the love of the game or the hope you'll someday get paid. . . and oh, the love of the game.
D-I scholarship players are in essence (well some of them) getting paid. Sonny up at Southern New Hampshire U is still playing for the love of the game. Playing Juniors is either for the love of the game or the hope you'll someday get paid. . . and oh, the love of the game.
A job isn't isn't defined by pay. It's more accurately defined by the tasks.
My wife is a volunteer executive for a charitable organization. She attends on-site meetings on a very regular basis, answers emails and has business calls seven days a week. She puts in a good 40 hours a week. That isn't a "job?"
CHL players are professionals under law. What is the difference in the daily hockey schedule of a CHL player, a D-I NCAA player, and a Tier I Junior player?
The toughest "job" of all of those is the D-I student athletes. They are "amateurs" but they put in 40 hours a week in season AND have to carry a full course load. D-III student athletes put in less time, but not that much less, and of course still have to attend classes. And those schools don't tend to have basket-weaving.
If your kid is playing junior or college hockey and is approaching it as "fun" he won't last.