In addition to being a skills coach and a bench coach, I’ve also been asked to be an evaluator for teams at the local and provincial level. This means long hours sitting in rinks watching endless games where you don’t really know any of the players. 

At the big tournaments and provincial camps, there are always plenty of scouts and evaluators on hand. For the players in attendance, these competitions are often the first step on a long, challenging journey to reaching the college, university and national team level. It was very clear which players were ready to take on the tough road  ahead. 

We, as coaches, were asked to evaluate the players on a wide variety of criteria, ranging from skating ability to game sense. Sometimes we get so focused on one particular aspect of our game that we forget about the importance of other areas. The list of areas to evaluate was very long and detailed, but I wanted to share the four most critical areas with you today.

1. Ability to skate the game
This is by far the most important factor.  And it is about more than just being fast. This is about timing and support. Your play with and without the puck. Your quickness in small spaces. Your speed in open spaces. Your power and strength on your skates.
Without ALL of the above, you will not be able to compete at the highest levels of women’s hockey. Period. 

2. Have great individual skills and be able to use them in a team environment
On an individual basis: Are you a threat with the puck? Can you make moves, protect and control the puck? Can you give and receive a variety of passes? Can you shoot a variety of shots accurately with strength, power and a soft touch? Can you do all of the above while moving at a high speed?

On the team level: Are you a threat with and without the puck? Can you use your vision to see and create options for yourself and your teammates? Can you control the puck in all situations and exhibit creativity and courage? Do you create time and space without the puck by getting open, drawing checkers, anticipating the play?

3. Ability to think the game
As a coach who works mostly with the U14, U16 and U19 level, this is the No. 1 difference I see between good players and great players. I’ve watched hundreds of games this season where it is clear that certain players have tremendous skills, but don’t have a very good understanding of the game. 

Here are some examples of what it means to “think” the game:
• Are you defensively responsible?
• Can you play within the team system in all three zones?
• Do you anticipate and support the play on the forecheck, break-out and attack?
• Are you a factor without the puck?

4.  Grit and intangibles
This one might just be more important than all the rest. You can skate like the wind, have all the skills and great game sense, but if you aren’t willing to put in the WORK on and off the ice, or do whatever it takes to win a game in the last 10 seconds (even when that means diving in front of a huge slap shot), then you don’t have what it takes to get to the next level. You have to be able to win battles, fight through checks, play four games in one weekend and have your last shift be as effective and energetic as your first. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. You have to be willing to work hard and compete. You have to be able to deal with adversity.  

The road to the top of the women’s hockey world is very steep. There are many people near the bottom who say they want to get to the top. But as the road gets tougher, those who are willing to show their commitment start to separate themselves from the competition. The ones who reach the top are the ones who have all the things I’ve listed above, in addition to the unwavering desire to be their best. Having a great slap shot, 1-on-1 move or straightaway speed might be enough to allow you to stand out and get noticed at your current level. But it’s not enough to get you to the top.

For many of the players who were at the Ontario Winter Games a few weeks back, this will be their last taste of provincial, national or international competition. That may sound harsh, but the truth is, some of them will quickly realize that they don’t want to travel up this tough and uncertain road ahead. Other players who didn’t make this competition will emerge and pass them along the way to the top. As I reminded my team a few times over the course of the competition, I could barely skate at the age of 13, let alone perform at an elite level at a provincial tournament. You don’t need to be the best at the age of 14 to be the best at the age of 25 – which was the average age of the players on the Canadian and U.S. Olympic teams. But at every point along your journey to the top, you must commit to developing your game in each of the four critical areas listed above. If you do, you will be well on your way to success.

To get complete access to articles, videos, interviews and advice on how to take your game to the next level at totalfemalehockey.com. Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS, is an expert in the development of aspiring female hockey players. She is a former NCAA Division I captain at Dartmouth and played in the National Women’s Hockey League for six years. She is currently the Head Coach of the Toronto-Leaside Jr Wildcats in the Provincials Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and is the Director & Founder of Total Female Hockey.